Bab 26: Ansel’s Calculated Care
Dignity, the dignity of Seraphina.
If one could overlook the entire grand life of the Sky Wolf Emperor, it would be easy to discover that this dignity, this savage heart from a remote village, was the strongest force assisting her in reaching the pinnacle.
Unyielding to any hardship, unyielding to any pain, and never to be crushed by anything, the resolute soul allowed Seraphina to overcome one desperate situation after another, achieving the ultimate strength.
However, only Ansel could see this.
At this stage, Seraphina's dignity had not yet transformed into a will more unshakable than the mountains; her dignity was more like a misconception of her own power and status, combined with recklessness and foolishness... a child's temperament.
Only after experiencing the successive enormous despair could she draw the power of awakening from the destruction that nearly drove her to collapse and madness.
However, Ansel would not give her that chance.
Despair or awakening... everything about this girl would be bestowed upon her by him personally.
.
On the chilly, windswept streets, Ansel pondered his upcoming training plan.
Precisely because Seraphina's dignity now tended more towards a "child's temperament," her dignity would yield to the concrete rather than the abstract — Taking the previous example, she was unwilling to be paralyzed and manipulated by Ansel; she feared what other humiliating tactics Ansel might devise next, like leaking, so she would rather call Ansel her master and temporarily submit to a more superficial threat.
In simpler terms, she cared about saving face.
Based on this foundation, Ansel could think of many ways to play, but he had no intention of focusing his efforts on this.
Simply put, because Ansel of Hydral needed a great warrior, a loyal pact head, not a readily available plaything.
Merely toying with and humiliating Seraphina was meaningless to him; all training must ultimately point to valuable things, either to help Seraphina grow or to bring her closer to obedience and loyalty.
As for why he now ponders how to manage this unruly girl, it is not that Ansel thinks on the spot; he had perfected the entire training plan for Seraphina a year ago.
However, the young wolf's reckless behavior made Ansel realize that under the dual influence of human uncertainty and the turbulence of fate, his plan must be constantly adjusted to cope, otherwise, unexpected "coincidences" may occur at any time.
Ansel's effortless mastery and control in front of Seraphina are all due to such frequent thinking and repeated planning.
"So this time, for Seraphina's proper growth..." The blond youth murmured softly, a chill flickering in his dreamy sea-blue eyes.
"Unstable factors need to be dealt with properly."
.
Ansel, who told Seraphina to go to the streets and find a random restaurant, inexplicably arrived at a very simple clock shop.
He pushed the door open, and as the crisp wind chime rang, the middle-aged man behind the counter raised his head. Upon seeing Ansel, he revealed a very obvious sense of humility and fear.
The awe of commoners towards nobles was evident here.
"…Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
The man forced a smile, his tone cautious.
"How much did the Duke of Gray Tower give you?" Ansel strolled around the shop, looking at the various clocks in the display case, speaking calmly.
The shopkeeper looked puzzled: "I don't quite understand… You, the Duke of Gray Tower? Isn't he one of the two grand dukes of our northern land? How could I—"
"You made a mistake."
Ansel interrupted the man, casually picking up a clock on display and examining the dial.
"That is, in the current Red Frost territory, especially among commoners, no one is unaware of the appearance of Hydral."
"And all the commoners in the Red Frost territory who see me—"
He smiled at the ordinary clock shop owner: "They will only cheer for my kindness, praise my greatness, and not tremble in fear like you."
"…"
The clock shop owner fell silent for a moment, then rubbed his forehead and sighed: "So that's what's going on, but it's still quite unreasonable, Lord Hydral."
"You've only been here for half a day," the man said, spreading his hands.
All the clocks in the shop… began to spin wildly at different speeds.
"Half a day is already a very long time for me."
The shop owner walked behind the counter and poured himself a cup of hot water. The process of the water falling from the kettle into the cup seemed… incredibly slow.
"But for you, a young lord who has only brought a butler and a group of maids to the North…"
The man scooped up the cup, letting the water slowly churn, and continued in an incredulous tone: "How could it possibly be enough for you to discover my identity?"
"Are you implying that you underestimate Hydral?" Ansel asked with a smile.
"No, no, no... I wouldn't dare," the man shook his head vigorously. "My mentor said I have a boundless future, destined to step into the fifth stage and achieve greatness. How could I waste my life on something as foolish as 'underestimating Hydral'?"
"I'm just curious, and if you could enlighten me..."
He smiled as he put down the cup, and all the clocks stopped spinning. Time in the cup resumed its normal flow, the water remaining calm.
"I'd be willing to provide you with some additional information about this assassination attempt, no need for a bonus, because, to be honest, I don't like that old fox, the Gray Tower either."
The man was arrogant and confident, but he possessed the corresponding strength.
Approaching the final phases of the Throne, he was about to be promoted to the Scepter. He had an unimaginable talent in time manipulation, and once promoted, he would become the youngest mentor in the Chronos Guild.
The Chronos Guild was the top assassin organization on the entire continent. They adhered to ancient principles — unrelated to justice or evil, light or darkness. They sought only powerful forces to achieve unparalleled lethality, becoming assassins … comparable to time itself.
So why would such a promising individual be involved in the assassination of two ordinary barons?
"I don't need any information, my friend. I don't need you to provide anything," Ansel said with a magnanimous smile.
"The so-called schemes and conspiracies of the Duke of Gray Tower are too crude for me."
The man raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "That's a rare assessment. Everyone knows the cunning reputation of the Gray Fox, but he's worthless in your eyes?"
"What do you think is most important in the so-called game of strategy and calculation, Mr. Assassin?"
The young lord twirled his scepter playfully, asking curiously, "Is it wisdom? Background? Energy? Or those... mysterious, intangible things?"
"No, it's not any of those. It's something even you know very well."
"What determines everything is simply the difference in information."
"Just knowing something the other person doesn't can destroy countless calculations."
"So.. what do you think the Duke of Gray Tower doesn't know?" The young Hydral, who had not yet acquired any pact heads, smiled as he tapped his scepter on the ground.
The talented assassin, who had a bright future in the Chronos Society and could control time, looked curious. "Are you willing to tell me?"
"I've already told you," Ansel said with a grin, pointing to his chest.
The assassin, puzzled, glanced down at his chest. Then he saw a silver serpentine dagger emerging from his own chest.
"A truly great assassin," Ansel's voice echoed, "would have no one know their name, abilities, or appearance. Their greatness lies in their nonexistence. In the eyes of those who try to glimpse them, they are merely... a void."
"You've witnessed such greatness. So, do you want to glimpse the truth that will also make you achieve this greatness?"
The devil whispered in the ear of the bewildered, powerful assassin, "I can take you to witness… that vista called infinite."
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