Taming the Protagonist

Volume 3

Chapter 3 · The Serpent’s Will is Extending

The pressure of the Beast King was undeniable, that spiritual essence of hunting all living things and pursuing the utmost strength, could make any life feel a threat or even fear from the bottom of their hearts.

But in this spacious office, not even a single person looked up at Hitana, all continuing their own work.

Marina, who was hugged by Hitana, struggled frantically immediately after being dazed for two or three seconds:

“Hit... let go of me, let go! You can’t run wild here... let go of me!”

Mingfuluo, sitting on Anselm’s shoulder, watched this scene and whispered:

“I felt something was wrong when we came in, the difference in time flow speed between inside and outside, is a bit exaggeratedly large, right.”

“At the very least... more than ten times.”

The Scholar Miss looked at Anselm with somewhat suspicious eyes: “You put that ordinary person Miss Marina here, are you sure it isn’t murder?”

Any man-made independent time block would affect the human body itself due to the different flow speeds, this was unavoidable.

Although living and doing things seemed normal, a slowed time block would make people’s thinking increasingly sluggish, while an accelerated time block would intensify the human body’s energy consumption according to the multiple of time.

Transcendent beings, especially powerful transcendent beings, naturally did not care about this at all, but for an ordinary person... if thrown into an accelerated time block without sufficient nutritional supplements, they would be exhausted to death in a day and a half.

But Anselm also appeared somewhat surprised, he frowned slightly, whispering:

“I also didn’t expect, she would be competitive to this extent.”

“...Competitive?”

“Rhine.” Anselm turned his head to look at the only two independent offices in this office space, slightly raising his chin, “Come out and explain to Hitana what is going on, otherwise be careful she dismantles the Garden.”

“I...”

Hitana looked at her sister struggling constantly in her arms, the fierce expression on her face gradually dissipated, her body also returned to its original appearance, but she still hugged Marina, her voice hoarse: “I won’t do anything, Anselm, I just want an answer.”

Hitana wanted to tear the person who turned Marina into this state in half, but it did not mean the current her would completely follow the wild thoughts in her heart and act recklessly.

Anselm would not deliberately torture her sister, Anselm’s subordinates also had no reason to deliberately make things difficult for her sister, exactly why...

The office door was pushed open quietly, but no person was seen coming out.

“Miss Marina rejected the suggestion to open up a normal flow speed office area specifically for her, the supply of nutrient solution was also voluntarily stopped a day and a half ago.”

A fluffy Ragdoll cat jumped onto the desk, licked its paws, and spoke in human language: “I approved leave slips for her, she also rejected them. The Garden never forces work, but also never forces getting off work, furthermore I very much appreciate her attitude and determination to work so hard for Lord Anselm.”

“So, it became this appearance now.”

This Ragdoll cat had a very mature female voice, appearing to be the Ms. Rhine in Marina’s mouth.

Anselm rubbed his temples: “Even the matter of voluntarily stopping the nutrient solution supply, you should have told me, Rhine.”

“Is that so?” The well-behaved squatting Ragdoll cat tilted its head, “Do not dampen the subordinate’s work enthusiasm, this is what you taught me, Lord Anselm. Standing from a personal perspective, I feel Miss Marina’s reason is very legitimate—she thinks it is absurd for the work unit to unconditionally supply her with nutrient solution, she does not need this kind of privileged treatment, even if it was your instruction.”

“So, when the share of nutrient solution exceeded her salary conditions, Miss Marina stopped the supply herself... ah, actually she still has four bottles of nutrient solution stored in her hand, but Miss Marina thinks...”

The cat looked at the emaciated Marina, saying softly: “Have to wait until running out of oil before taking it, only then can the value be maximized.”

Hitana looked incredulously at her sister in her arms who seemed like she would die with a light squeeze, her lips trembling slightly.

“Sister... Why? You, why do you want to go to this extent! Since... since no one forced you, why do you refuse to even rest?”

“...Let go.”

“Lina—”

“Let go of me!”

Marina shouted without warning, scaring Hitana into subconsciously letting go of her, the freed Marina grabbed the documents on the table, swaying as she walked towards the cat squatting on the desk.

“Regarding... all reports on Blue River Territory, I have organized them.”

Her hands handing over the documents to Rhine were trembling, the emaciated arms that had already lost their shape looked very distressing.

“Mm, done well, can transmit to the fifth floor.”

The Ragdoll cat did not even need to browse, it just looked at the cover of the document, seeming to have already finished reading the entire content of the document.

On Marina’s extremely thin and haggard face, at this moment it glowed with incomparably bright vitality, she nodded happily, holding onto the desk all the way, coming to a square box at the end of the office space, putting the documents inside.

Hitana, who followed Marina all the way with heartache, did not know what she should do, then watched Marina sway back to her seat after panting for a while, taking out a potion emitting a glowing green light from the storage cabinet under her feet, opening it and drinking it with her head up.

Not long after, her body that seemed to have run out of oil filled up at a speed visible to the naked eye, her skin became snowy and fair again, her cheeks also became full and lively again, the whole person regained vigorous vitality within a few seconds.

“...Phew.”

Marina rubbed her cheeks vigorously, turning her head to smile at Hitana: “Sorry Hit, let you—”

The corner of her eye caught Anselm not far away—only now did she discover Anselm also came along.

The young girl’s body trembled immediately, she frantically smoothed her hair, touching her cheeks that had regained flesh and blood, panicked and uneasy.

The young Hydra sighed, he waved his hand, saying softly: “Change to a place suitable for talking, Rhine.”

The snow-white Ragdoll cat meowed, its paw pad gently patted the desk. In the next moment, the entire office space seemed to freeze, only Anselm and the others could move freely.

Looking at the uneasy Marina, Anselm’s eyes were calm as water.

“Marina.” He said peacefully, “Did my expectation bring too much pressure to you?”

Anselm of course knew clearly what the situation of the Garden and Shadow Swamp was now, and knew their work intensity, but why did he still put the ordinary person Marina here?

Because Anselm also acknowledged Marina’s talent—logistics, government affairs, personnel, social interaction... work in so many aspects advancing together, while also taking into account learning and self-improvement, and falling behind in no aspect, indeed extremely rare.

And precisely because she was already used to squeezing herself to the limit, Anselm would let her choose one between the Garden and Shadow Swamp to work—squeezing herself under someone’s guidance was always more efficient than squeezing herself under purely personal exploration.

After all, when following Anselm, no matter how much Marina squeezed herself, she was still very attentive to her physical health condition, even if most rest and eating were replaced by spells and nutrient solutions, this did not mean doing so was bad for the body, ordinary people just could not bear this high-intensity pressure on the mental level, but Marina could.

As a result, she now actually disregards even her body?

And not because of work intensity, but... that inexplicable persistence?

Anselm’s question made Marina freeze for two seconds, then she hurriedly shook her head vigorously, the young girl denied in extreme panic: “How is it possible... your expectation is the driving force for me to move forward, is the source of my strength, how could it bring me pressure?”

“Then your situation just now.” Anselm tilted his head slightly, “Even nutrient solution has to be drunk only when squeezing yourself dry to the point of running out of oil... what, I think I cannot even afford to provide a bottle of nutrient solution?”

Marina could only deny somewhat feebly again: “No, I...”

She did not think Anselm would not know why she did this.

Because she did not want to possess this privilege.

Because she knew clearly exactly where her privilege originated from.

I admit I am a lucky one, but I do not think... I only have luck.

Mr. Anselm definitely knows I would think this way... but why does he still ask me this?

Anselm looked at the young girl lowering her eyes in silence, then looked at Hitana who was so anxious she was about to cry, a bit of helplessness emerging in his eyes.

“Then, make it clear now.”

He said: “Marina, the words you want to say in your heart, make them clear to Hit now... Rhine, withdraw for a bit.”

The Ragdoll cat looked at the two sisters with those watery big eyes, slowly walking with cat steps back to its own office.

“Then what about me?” Mingfuluo sitting on Anselm’s shoulder rubbed his cheek with her tender small foot, “Do I need to withdraw for a bit?”

“Just don’t make fun of Hit with this matter.”

Anselm, who responded softly to Mingfuluo like this, saw Marina still looking at him foolishly, and sighed helplessly:

“Marina... Marina, in your eyes, am I someone who likes watching the relationship between you and Hitana getting worse and worse?”

The current Anselm no longer needed to use Marina to pressure Hitana, so that kind of vulgar plot of “breaking up because nothing was said” only needed to happen in third-rate stories.

After all, once a rift really arose between sisters, Hitana would be very sad.

Marina was already pale-faced by Anselm’s words, looking at the distressed Hitana she couldn't help but whisper: “Anselm, you, don’t be fierce to my sister, how could she think like that.”

I am helping you, silly girl.

Anselm shook his head somewhat amusedly, not saying much, just quietly waiting for Marina’s answer.

“...No, of course you aren’t.”

Marina bit her lip, responding softly: “It was me being too... self-centered, as you said, I should have talked to Hit about this matter earlier.”

She turned to look at Hitana who had been pitiful all along and now could finally reveal a slight smile, on that pale face which appeared weak, she tried hard to hold up a firm expression.

“Hitana... don’t get too close to me anymore.”

“...Eh?”

“I am Marina Lansmarlos, one of the ordinary members of the organization [Garden] under Mr. Anselm. That is all, no longer having any other superfluous identities.”

Marina and Hitana’s expressions gradually swapped, the former became increasingly serious and tough, the latter’s face gradually turned pale.

“The things I obtain should only come from this identity, and not anything else.”

“Hit, Miss Hitana.”

Marina bowed respectfully to Hitana:

“I can no longer receive any extra grace and care from Mr. Anselm because of your existence.”

Marina had already made up her mind as early as when Hitana left the village and went to the Imperial Capital alone.

She did not know whether this determination of hers came from the denial of Hitana’s reckless behavior, or from jealousy that her sister could act so willfully... in any case, Marina could be sure, this was indeed her inner desire.

She had already received too much extra care from Anselm due to Hitana’s existence, she could not continue like this.

Marina Lansmarlos, apart from Anselm’s followers, did not need any superfluous identities.

Being able to be favored by Anselm, possessing the possibility to change her life, and the luck of being able to join the Garden so easily now... along this journey, the favors she obtained because of Hitana were already enough.

Marina absolutely was not willing to continue with peace of mind... being her sister’s appendage.

Therefore, even a small extra grace of a bottle of nutrient solution, she was unwilling to accept.

Hitana stared blankly at her sister bowing to her, if it were before, or the one who had not met Anselm, she probably would have already started shouting incomprehensibly.

[You are my sister, what’s wrong with relying on me?] [Why can’t there be preferential treatment, the Contract Head’s sister of course should have preferential treatment!] Words like these that make blood vessels burst might have blurted out.

But the Wolf Miss who had experienced so much with Anselm, how could she have no growth at all?

Even if she could not fully understand Marina’s thoughts now, she also vaguely sensed that Marina wanted to obtain her... respect.

Although Hitana herself felt getting something for nothing was never a bad thing, and also felt as Anselm’s Contract Head, there was no problem at all for Marina to live a good life—how well do the people in the village live now!

She went through life and death with Anselm, Anselm was infinitely good to her; she liked Anselm so much, Anselm also liked her... so what was the problem with this, very reasonable!

But since Marina wanted her to respect her, then no matter how reluctant in her heart, she should respect her.

“...Lina.”

Still somewhat sad, Hitana said in a low voice: “Even so, you are definitely still my sister, right?”

Marina, who raised her head, revealed a soft smile: “As long as it is in life, not at work, I will always be your sister.”

Forcibly holding back the urge to say “why must it be separated so clearly”, Hitana still responded somewhat downcastly: “Alright, I know. I will... will not come to find you casually like just now in the future, Lina.”

“It is Marina, Miss Hitana.”

“Ugh...”

A burst of awkwardness made Hitana stomp her foot, she walked to Anselm’s side, making sad whimpering sounds.

Anselm rubbed the young girl’s head: “Making it clear now is better than contradictions accumulating more and more, isn’t it?”

“...Mm, thank you, Anselm.”

Hitana said somewhat disappointedly: “If not for your reminder like this, I wouldn’t know Lina thought like this...”

Marina still stood properly, not revealing any emotion.

“Don’t be sad, Marina has been running around for me during this period, you didn’t spend much time with her, it is normal not to be clear about her thoughts.”

Anselm comforted like this, then turned to look at the calm Marina, smilingly said: “However, even having to pay for nutrient solution with your own salary, is indeed a bit too harsh on yourself... from now on, during this period until the work intensity decreases, ensure your health status, for nutrient solution and various supplements, just ask Rhine to take them freely.”

Marina’s expression changed slightly: “Please do not...”

“This has nothing to do with Hitana.” Anselm said warmly, “It is my investment in you, my acknowledgment of you, Marina.”

“What kind of workaholics your colleagues are, I know much better than you. Being able to gain a firm foothold under this extremely high work intensity, and be acknowledged by Rhine, has already demonstrated your ability and value.”

“No... just, just that the more difficult work was all done by colleagues.”

Marina waved her hands, flattered: “What I did was the most basic overall analysis... the vast majority of tasks I simply cannot handle.”

Anselm laughed heartily: “How long has it been since you left Chishuang Territory? If you could start from scratch so quickly and completely master their affairs, then how could I bear to let you work overtime recklessly with them, I would only keep you by my side.”

Under the young girl’s instantly brightening eyes, Anselm’s tone was full of encouragement: “You are already very good, Marina, in this world, ordinary people who can achieve your level can’t be found many, this is my acknowledgment of you, unrelated to Hitana.”

“Moreover... only by guaranteeing your health well, can you help me better, right?”

In Marina’s eyes, there was no longer hesitation and wavering, she was full of joy, responding energetically:

“Yes, Mr. Anselm!”

Anselm, preparing to walk towards Rhine’s office, patted Marina’s shoulder on the way: “Work hard, I believe you will go to a higher place.”

Under that attached and burning gaze, Anselm and his two Contract Heads walked into the office.

This office indeed looked decent, not a cat paradise with a shell, but ordinary people seeing that cat swinging its tail on the desk would still doubt—is this really a place for work?

Rhine, the person in charge of [Garden], a very formidable Ragdoll cat, had extremely profound attainments in the field of ether domains. At the same time, it also had a very special identity.

“Has Lord Anselm handled that hypocritical little girl’s matter?”

Rhine yawned slowly: “Truly troublesome, still need you to make a trip personally.”

“Hey, what do you mean?”

Hitana frowned slightly, this weird cat was quite nice to Marina just now, why did it suddenly change its face?

“Oh, fierce wolf beast, madman trampling the Emperor... Miss Hitana, truly disrespectful.”

Although saying so, it did not reveal any emotion of respect towards Hitana.

Until feeling Anselm’s gaze, Rhine stood up slowly, using that mature female voice, regarded as seriously and respectfully greeting Hitana and Mingfuluo, considered as a salute.

“Anything worth focusing on recently?”

Anselm sat on the big chair behind the desk, it seemed this chair was actually prepared for Anselm.

“The North Lands independently caused a heap of mess, Ironblade who originally agreed with Gray Tower suddenly defected, he contacted Eastern Port, planning to wipe out Gray Tower in one breath, the Revolutionary Army is fishing in troubled waters, the momentum is getting bigger and bigger.”

Ms. Rhine licked her paws calmly while answering: “Specific intelligence has been placed on your desk, all arrangements and preparations have been completed, just waiting for your order.”

“What about the West Kingdom?”

“Blood Dust and Sky Soil are fighting inextricably, but the West Kingdom’s space is increasingly unstable. In seven days twenty-three temporary entrances to Zero Point Labyrinth opened automatically. According to your calculation, it might be related to that Grand Princess whose whereabouts are unknown.”

“...” Anselm did not speak, his fingertips tapping the desktop lightly.

“As for Eastern Port, it is even more interesting there.”

The cat stretched its front paws forward, sticking up its butt, elongating its body, stretching beautifully: “Fomo believes there must be hidden facts behind that inexplicable fishing village massacre before, tracking down found it was indeed so, only that pushing further down is slightly difficult, need to allocate manpower there?”

“Mm, just right, people from Eastern Port should be coming soon... take this opportunity, arrange more manpower down there.”

“Then Lord Anselm, what about the West Kingdom?”

“Let Shadow Swamp be responsible over there, they are most suitable for that kind of place.”

Those two places Marina wanted to join, whether the former or the latter, were never organizations only handling Hydra’s local affairs.

In the Garden floor, currently there were twenty-three formal “employees”, and those responsible for coordinating Hydra’s Domain affairs were actually less than one-third.

The remaining people had to supervise various territories of the entire Empire, otherwise... this group of talents personally selected by Anselm, each with ability no less than Marina, how could they work at a base of ten times the speed simply because of Hydra’s political affairs?

This would be looking down on people too much, and if it were really so, then what use was that group of administrative staff downstairs?

With several years of development and strict selection, these two organizations had long penetrated into all corners of the Empire.

Myov was also right, whether Shadow Swamp or Garden, they were both government affairs organizations, only, not Hydra’s Domain’s government affairs organizations, but government affairs organizations belonging solely to Anselm, capable of influencing even the entire Empire.

In the current decline of the Flame-Feasting Royalty, their sharp edge would be unrivaled.

Anselm Hydra has been good at using tools since childhood.

Even without Contract Heads, he was still an unparalleled genius.

After briefly understanding many matters, Anselm already understood in his heart, more important things had to wait for him to go back to handle, just saying here, definitely could not be finished.

“If there is any situation with Marina, please notify me first.”

“Lord Anselm cares about her very much, is it because of Miss Hitana?”

“It is not!” Hitana bared her teeth slightly, looking quite angry, “It is because Lina is already very amazing, has nothing to do with me!”

“From a mortal’s perspective it is indeed correct...”

Rhine said indifferently: “But her upper limit is just here, she will soon realize this cruel reality.”

“You.”

Before Hitana could speak, Mingfuluo suddenly jumped off Anselm’s shoulder, walking expressionlessly in front of Rhine.

She examined this Ragdoll cat for a while, suddenly stepping on the cat’s face.

“You seem to lack some kind of respect for us.”

Click—

The ether firearm condensed out of thin air was instantly loaded.

Mingfuluo pressed the muzzle against Rhine’s forehead: “Meow once for me to hear.”

“...Meow.”

“Hmph.” Mingfuluo sneered, “Even I can see the ambition, you think Anselm cannot see it? Be honest, domestic cat.”

She floated back to Anselm’s shoulder again, too lazy to even look at Rhine.

And when Anselm had left the office, Hitana still hadn't reacted to what happened.

On the way back, Mr. Anselm and his two Contract Head misses were chatting idly.

“So, what exactly is going on with that Rhine?”

Hitana looked suspicious: “Little dwarf, you also don’t look like that kind of fellow who is inexplicably overbearing suddenly.”

“Can’t you tell? Its attitude towards Contract Heads is not normal at all, either its brain is broken, or... it also wants to be a Contract Head, so inwardly it vaguely regards itself as equal to us.”

Speaking to her, Mingfuluo looked at Anselm dissatisfied: “You clearly have dozens of ways to beat that domestic cat, why did I have to do it?”

“Because only this shows you understand me.”

“...Glib tongue.”

“Eh... Eh?!”

Hitana was greatly shocked: “That cat wants to be a Contract Head?!”

“In this situation now, it is only natural for it to have this ambition.”

Mingfuluo said casually: “Although Anselm’s strength on paper is still the strongest, in this chaotic situation, one can never have too much power. Anselm definitely wants to accelerate the absorption of Contract Heads, that cat mostly values this point. Moreover, Anselm probably had too good an attitude towards it before... otherwise it couldn’t be this arrogant.”

“...So in the end, it is still possible that it is oppressing Lina? It wants to make achievements quickly, fight for credit?” Hitana was instantly angry.

“That is of course Marina’s own choice.”

Anselm smiled, comforting Hitana: “She cannot keep up with others’ work efficiency, others will handle her work in passing, because no one wants to waste time. And if the work is all done by others, then staying has no meaning, so Marina would squeeze herself without stopping.”

“It’s just something I didn't expect... she would be this competitive.”

He said that sentence he said not long ago.

“Uh, this... Anselm, don’t, don’t hate Lina, thinking she is self-righteous or something, she actually...”

“How could I hate her? This is a good thing, Hitana.”

The young Hydra sighed with emotion: “I originally thought, her disposition was already able to utilize all resources she could utilize without hesitation. Because Marina’s ultimate goal is to help me, then maintaining her own body well can help me better, so she shouldn’t have ruined her body like this, right?”

“...Seems like this is the case.” Hitana nodded with half-understanding.

“So I said this is a good thing—it shows in Marina’s eyes, helping me, is not the entirety of her life, if it were, she could ignore everything, as long as it is beneficial to helping me, just do it directly.

“But she still cares about and defends her own dignity, this is very important.”

“You should thank me, puppy.” Mingfuluo raised her chin slightly, while gently rubbing Anselm’s cheek with her small foot wrapped in black pantyhose, “If not for me, Anselm would not care about so much now.”

“First, I am not a puppy! Second... Anselm is originally a great person, how could he not care!”

“...” Mingfuluo looked at Anselm with astonishment, “What strange persona did you set up in front of her?”

“Bad guy.” Anselm shrugged.

“Then why does she still like sticking to you so much.”

“Then why do you still like rubbing my cheek so much?”

“I didn’t.”

Mingfuluo moved her foot away expressionlessly.

Hitana was thinking about Anselm’s words, not caring too much about this little interaction.

Dignity... sure enough, it is dignity.

The young girl’s heart held a few inexplicable melancholy feelings.

Lina has already made a decision...

Should I also think of a way to take a step further forward?

The chaotic Empire, everywhere could be my hunting ground, plus my current state...

The Wolf Miss clenched her fist gently, seeming to have already decided the place she would go to.