Taming the Protagonist

Volume 3

Chapter 30: In Marina’s Eyes

The transforming snake lowered its eyes slightly, whispering in its heart: Do not let me down again.

For the vast majority of people, the experience of a job is sometimes not necessarily linked to their own standard, but rather often depends on the superior’s ability and thinking.

Working for a good superior, even if the ability is insufficient, the work experience will not be that bad; but if working for a terrible superior, even if the ability is outstanding, the work experience will be... hard to describe in a few words.

It should even be said that, facing a superior who is terrible to the extreme, the more capable the person, the more despair they feel instead.

Inside the tavern mixed with various scents, Marina looked at the clumsy waiter who was being shouted at by others, rubbing her temples and sighing:

“Two batches remain... where would it be better to put them.”

Among the slaves rescued by Hitana and Mingfuluo, a portion were residents of Strife Fortress; after these people were saved, they could just be sent back the way they came.

But there were still quite a few who were captured by Varied Snake from other places, slaves prepared to be sold off in Strife Fortress; these people basically had no ability to return, so Marina was finding for them... not to say a chance to settle down and get on with life, but at least a chance not to starve to death.

But things would not be this simple.

Among them, only a small portion possessed a skill and could be considered able to find a passable job, while the majority did not have skills that could be shown; some slaves had even been tamed to the point of personality collapse, losing even normal thinking logic, only knowing how to carry out the matter of “serving the master”.

Marina could only temporarily arrange these people into the service industry, or industries with relatively lower thresholds like selling physical labor, but arranging them in was one thing, whether they were willing to work and could continue working was another matter, and whether employers who would accept this batch of slaves could be found was yet another matter.

Moreover...

Standing up, Marina looked toward the boss who was bitterly scolding the waiter, and sighed silently.

Moreover, after knowing about this matter, Hitana even requested that Marina must find reliable, kind employers for these slaves, and could not let them work under vicious people; the reason was very simple, she did not wish to see these slaves who were innocently trafficked suffer secondary harm.

From the starting point, Hitana’s thoughts possessed an integrity and kindness that were beyond reproach, but when put into practice... What use did this integrity and kindness have?

Could her integrity and kindness change the mixed dragons and fish, the dark and disorderly status quo of the Lower District of Strife Fortress?

To find employers here willing to accept this group of slaves as employees was already not easy, and she still wanted to add the condition of being reliable and kind on top of that?

“If Hit knew I privately lowered the conditions, she would be exasperated, right.”

The thin and weak adventurer wearing a beret passed through the tavern crowd, pushed the door open and went out, standing on the ground of the Lower District that was full of grease stains and dirt everywhere.

Walking to the edge of the street, Marina held the railing, looking at the projection projected at the central hollow passage of the Lower District, her expression somewhat complex.

She was not irritable or angry at that overly upright sense of justice Hitana harbored, but instead felt very fortunate that her younger sister was an anomaly extremely rare among Transcenders.

Because Marina knew very clear that Hitana’s “justice” was not exaggeration and propaganda in words, she really would put into practice for the things she thought of in her heart—if there were oppressors, deal with the oppressors; now she also learned to work hard to let the people she rescued have the ability to stand on their own after she left.

But this could only prove that Hitana had a sufficiently pure will and inconceivable power of action. It never proved that the things she did were correct.

—In a moral sense, perhaps absolutely correct, but the effect morals can have in this world is truly limited.

Continuing like this, Hit would sink deeper and deeper here.

On the day she took over the affairs of the Lower District, Marina had basically already figured out the situation here clearly.

Crime was rampant, order was chaotic, hiding filth and accepting grime... Strife Fortress never thought of managing this area at all; for Transcenders, this place was a black paradise; to change this place while being controlled by others was no different from a fantasy.

But... there was still a chance.

Marina gripped the railing, slowly exhaling a breath.

“Mibaita is no longer Mibaita, if operated properly... I should be able to let Hit leave with satisfaction before Mr. Anselm leaves Strife Fortress.”

Back when Anselm casually took off Mibaita’s head, a thought suddenly emerged in Marina’s mind.

Since she could use Faust’s name to control Queen Bee...

Why not try using Faust’s name to directly control the Whistling Legion?

At the moment when Bayebop led a large batch of Whistling Legion elites to transform into war hyenas, wasn't it exactly the most suitable opportunity to exploit the weakness and enter?

So, with Anselm present, Marina carried out a bout of earnest exhortation to that Mr. Secretary who understood Mibaita very well—simply put, if you do it, you might die sometime; but if you don't do it, once Indote discovers it, you die immediately.

Of course, the temptations that should be there were also there; the Mr. Secretary disguised as Mibaita naturally could enjoy everything Mibaita enjoyed... but this Mr. Secretary obviously cared more about his own little life.

And on Indote’s side, things were even simpler.

This thought of Marina’s was not something she came up with by slapping her head; she never groundlessly popped up with the idea of “doing this seems to have a chance”, that was Hitana’s style.

Because in the intelligence provided by Queen Bee, it was mentioned that Indote... was also a restless ruthless character.

She joined the Whistling Legion, became Bayebop’s woman, and advanced step by step to become the Whistling Legion’s second-in-command, craving higher authority and power.

She could be considered the most traditional sense of a Transcender chasing advancement.

So Marina had confidence in persuading Indote.

As for the process... actually, it was not much different from the process of controlling Queen Bee, only that compared to Queen Bee who surrendered immediately, Indote obviously had some doubts about Anselm, about the strength of this “Faust”; although she temporarily agreed to cooperate, she still very much wanted to find an opportunity to test Anselm’s depth.

The only big problem was Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke; this old fox was very likely to discover Mibaita’s problem, and once exposed, how to smooth it over... although Marina had preparations, they were not stable.

Moreover, Indote... Indote was also an unstable factor; although Mibaita managed government affairs, adventurers did not care about these, and the people of the Whistling Legion still obeyed Indote.

Ways must be found to make her convinced by Mr. Anselm from the heart, only then could Strife Fortress be thoroughly brought under control. So what should be done...

Marina, leaning by the railing, watched the huge light screen absent-mindedly while thinking like this.

Residents of the Lower District also had the right to watch this selection match; places like bars that easily gathered streams of people, and this huge hollow cylinder in the center of the “Mine” Lower District, would all broadcast the scenes during the match, using this to deepen the commoners’ awe and... worship of Transcenders.

Mibaita indeed had some methods in this aspect; no matter how miserable the people of the Lower District were, they never thought of leaving Strife Fortress... clearly they did not want to live in the Lower District at all, yet were unwilling to leave; being able to let commoners live on with such a contradictory mentality, if this person was utilized well, actually... hmm?

Just as Marina pondered matters concerning Mibaita, the scene presented on the huge light screen before her eyes suddenly changed.

The expression on the young girl’s face gradually turned from pondering to shock, then from shock to sluggishness.

Faust, who abruptly beheaded people in public; Faust, who casually tossed the heads to the two people; Faust, who cut Indote into a thousand pieces without moving a single finger; and... Faust, who dared to provoke Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke and retreated completely unscathed.

Because she was helping Hitana do things according to Anselm’s order, although Marina had been constantly thinking about how to continue doing things for Anselm during this period, she had not contacted Anselm and did not know his itinerary for what followed; naturally, it was impossible for her to know he would cause such a big disturbance when the [Strife Selection Tournament] began.

Why did Mr. Anselm suddenly want to kill people?

What was the matter with those two people killed by Indote?

Why was Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke indifferent to Mr. Anselm’s provocation?

Provocation... Mr. Anselm... Faust...

In this instant, the various difficult problems and doubts that had been plaguing Marina were split into fine powder by a clap of thunder.

“Indote definitely didn’t die, but this time she is surely convinced from the heart.”

“Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke... Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke... even if he discovered Mibaita’s problem, as long as he knows the one controlling Mibaita is Mr. Anselm, he may not necessarily take action; he is a businessman, Faust has no enmity with him, his first reaction will definitely be to do business with Faust.”

“So Mr. Anselm’s provocation was a type of probing... no, it was a hint! It was the release of a signal; this way, Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke will not intervene in the affairs within Strife Fortress, and Mr. Anselm can easily and completely master this place.”

Although still lacking a bit of information from the truth, Marina’s deduction was actually already not far off. On her pretty face, slightly dull from exhaustion, an unnatural flush emerged; the young girl clutched her chest, calming her mood, breathing gently.

“Mr. Anselm can... can...”

Her voice gradually went lower.

“No... wrong, it isn't Mr. Anselm.”

Ma Ganlei, who was murmuring, gripped the handrail until veins popped out from excessive force, starting to tremble; but this loss of control was not due to fear and panic, but out of... uncontrollable excitement.

In those red eyes of hers, which were incredibly similar to Hitana’s but did not possess any wildness, a heart-palpitating gloomy light flickered, like ghost fire.

“It is... me.”

Marina spat out these two words somewhat feebly with a trembling voice.

“The adventurer Faust has no interest in managing this territory city, so the one truly controlling Strife Fortress is his servant, it is me... it is Marina, it is... Ma Ganlei!”

Marina’s hands and feet went somewhat soft; what made her mind sway was not this authority, but... Anselm’s dedication, Anselm’s trust.

Did Mr. Anselm... do these things for me?

The young girl forcefully supported herself on the railing, not letting her weak-legged self slump to the ground; she panted unceasingly, looking at the back figure leaving on the light screen.

Her eyes, after being blurred for a few seconds, turned bit by bit into the usual clarity and calmness.

... No, do not think too much, Marina; with so many things, Mr. Anselm might not necessarily do it solely for you.

Think about it... think about it, if you were not here, would Mr. Anselm still does this?

If he did, then the purpose is—

In less than a moment, the young girl who had sunk into sweet love and fantasy broke free by herself.

She felt the coldness of the railing in her palm, and a gloominess she herself did not perceive emerged between her beautiful brows and eyes.

“Shadow Swamp.”

Marina whispered softly: “If not for me, Mr. Anselm would also have reasons to do this; perhaps not necessarily this method, but Mr. Anselm would definitely use some means to create opportunities, letting Shadow Swamp completely dominate Strife Fortress in the dark.”

The increasingly enlightened young girl raised her head; at this moment, the image on the light screen had already changed back to the adventurers rushing toward the three Maze Realm gates, but inside her eyes was already another scene.

“Mr. Anselm planned to control Strife Fortress from the very beginning; on the way to find Ivora, he also intended to change the West Kingdom. This place is Mr. Anselm’s... is Faust’s base.”

“If not for my presence, Mr. Anselm would have let Shadow Swamp secretly control this place, but because of my existence... Mr. Anselm decided to change to another way.”

Although it was not entirely because of her, the fact that Anselm was willing to make changes in the plan because of her existence already moved Marina deeply.

In Mr. Anselm’s heart... perhaps, perhaps I still have some weight?

Just as Marina was thinking this, the forest-cold aura coming from behind interrupted her thoughts; the young girl turned around immediately, and saw that tall and thin figure standing in the center of the street.

“... Lady.” Marina gently exhaled a breath, “You actually have free time to come find me.”

She did not address Nailan by name directly on the street where streams of people came and went, but the latter seemed not to care, because those passersby seemed not to see her at all, nor did they hear what Marina said.

“Excellency Anselm told me not to mind you.”

Nailan slowly moved forward; her body was actually like a ghost, directly passable by pedestrians.

That quiet and indifferent voice also entered Marina’s ears without attracting anyone’s attention.

“But based on Excellency Anselm’s actions today, I feel it necessary to give you some warnings, lest you generate some thoughts you shouldn’t have.”

Marina tilted her head slightly: “You refer to... the thought that Mr. Anselm did this all for me, right?”

Under Nailan’s slightly stagnant gaze, the young girl smiled calmly: “I am not yet so self-righteous, Ms. Nailan.”

After confirming that Nailan should have used some spell, she also became direct.

After a brief silence, Nailan nodded slightly: “That is also true, you are not someone so lacking in self-knowledge.”

“So, what does Ms. Nailan want to say to me?”

This woman, who was like a ghost, seemingly living only in shadows forever, stared at Marina for a long time, then said indifferently: “Do you think you can control Strife Fortress?”

“So it is this question.”

The smile on the young girl’s face became increasingly brilliant: “Not bothering you to worry, Ms. Nailan; on this small matter, I still have confidence.”

“Small matter? I see that you are tired enough just dealing with the Lower District.”

“Oh? So do you have the confidence to complete his task without disobeying Miss Hitana’s will?”

“...”

After another bout of silence, Nailan said coldly: “You should also be clear that this work should have been completed by Shadow Swamp.”

“So?” Marina responded softly, “Do you plan to seize the control of Strife Fortress directly from my hands next? How do you plan to do it?”

“Kill Mibaita and Indote directly? Must the conflict between Shadow Swamp and me be resolved at the cost of destroying Mr. Anselm’s plan? You won’t do this... ah, I misspoke; in the eyes of you and Shadow Swamp, I probably don’t yet have the qualifications to generate conflict with you.”

Hands folded in front of her lower abdomen, although wearing ordinary adventurer cloth clothes, Marina, whose posture remained quiet and elegant, narrowed her eyes slightly:

“You are merely doing things for Mr. Anselm according to your own will, right.”

Before Nailan could speak, Marina said again: “Then, like how I threatened Mibaita and Indote, win them over to Shadow Swamp’s side? But I, as Ma Ganlei, can borrow Faust’s name; you, as Shadow Swamp... whom can you rely on?”

She tilted her head slightly, chuckling: “An organization walking in the darkness, that shouldn’t be known by anyone, wants to use Mr. Anselm’s name to win them over?”

“Ah... power; displaying power is also a possibility, but Indote has already personally experienced even more terrifying power, hasn’t she?”

Marina, whose eyes flickered with pitch-black light, took a step forward; her tone and pitch unknowingly carried a few points of naturally formed... cold oppression:

“Or is it to say, do the gentlemen of Shadow Swamp... have the confidence to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Anselm’s killing power?”

“You...”

The young girl who was usually always gentle and quiet, who in records had never shown any signs of gloominess, like a docile lamb, now with this posture, caused even Nailan to suffer a moment of speechlessness.

“... Heh.” After a brief stagnation, she actually laughed once; her lips painted with pale black lip gloss curled up slightly, “You have grown, Marina.”

“People always have to grow.”

Marina smiled: “Do you have anything else to say?”

In the next moment, her figure was suddenly yanked upward into the air.

Nailan’s ghost-like figure actually appeared instantaneously in front of Marina, slender fingers clutching her throat, lifting her directly off the ground.

However, when Nailan did this action, she did not leak any malice; she just choked Marina like this for a moment, not even causing her pain, then put her down.

By the time the young girl came back to her senses, she was already on the ground.

Marina subconsciously touched her own neck, her tone slightly cold: “What is the meaning of this, Ms. Nailan.”

“I am showing you the thing you need.”

“...”

This time, it was Marina’s turn to be silent.

“You are right, Marina.” Nailan frankly admitted very directly, “Currently speaking, Shadow Swamp has no way, and no heart, to directly seize the control of Strife Fortress from your hands, but I still need you to hand it over.”

“You seem extremely obsessed with this.” Marina asked, “Is Strife Fortress very important?”

As a result, Nailan said something completely out of Marina’s expectation.

“Not Strife Fortress, it is you.”

The tall and thin woman looked at Marina: “Excellency Anselm has never given any mortal such preferential treatment as yours; I cannot see clearly the height of your ability, but I can judge based on the trust Mr. Anselm gives you that you possess an inconceivable limit.”

“Your evaluation makes me somewhat flattered.”

“Just seeking truth from facts.”

Nailan said calmly: “You have Excellency Anselm’s support, using Strife Fortress as a foundation, radiating continuously outward... and according to Mr. Anselm’s trust in you, you indeed have the ability to manage a huge network here.”

“But having ability does not mean you can do the correct things.”

Marina pulled the corners of her mouth; she didn’t expect the evaluation she had for Hitana would actually be used on herself.

“So, having said so much, you are still persisting in your set of theories?”

The young girl looked up at the cold-expressioned Nailan: “I cannot help Mr. Anselm, right? Even with ability, it is so.”

“... No.”

Nailan’s answer once again made Marina bewildered: “Previously it was indeed so, but now, I have other thoughts.”

She extended her hand toward Marina, saying:

“Join Shadow Swamp, we will lead you to the path that can truly help Excellency Anselm.”

Marina paused, then burst into laughter: “Can’t take the control of Strife Fortress, so you plan to directly take me?”

“The control of Strife Fortress doesn’t matter, what I want is only you.”

Nailan’s serious appearance made Marina slightly restrain the smile on her face; she stared at Nailan for a long time, then said rather doubtfully: “Is this... a spur-of-the-moment idea?”

“Spur-of-the-moment.”

“Is that so...”

The young girl pondered for a moment, then shook her head and refused.

“Sorry, Ms. Nailan, I do not think my path is wrong, nor do I feel... only Shadow Swamp’s path is the correct one.”

She had already seen the path Anselm wanted to walk, a difficult, great, blazing path of miracles like the sun.

Marina had seen several times Anselm’s happy and relaxed appearance when completing tasks, seen him pretending to be inadvertent or even mean and indifferent, but actually always earnestly completing the commoners’ commissions...

Anselm changed; he was liberated a little from that heavy pressure she did not know of, starting to look at this world with different eyes, also wanting to change this world, wanting to... become the sun.

Then, she herself wanted to become a person chasing the sun, bathing in sunlight; how could she live in the shadow that could not see light.

The garden was her destination; her talents could be displayed to the greatest extent there, her strength... could be completely contributed to Anselm there.

Rejected once again, but this time, Nailan did not show an expression of disdain and ridicule toward Marina like in the clock tower.

She just nodded slightly, saying indifferently: “It doesn’t matter, you will think it through sooner or later. But since it is so, you are now still Shadow Swamp’s opponent; we will still think of ways to stop you from continuing, under the premise of not harming Excellency Anselm.”

The woman reached her hand toward Marina’s neck, but did not use force, only slightly clasping it: “Do you still remember the words I said to you just now?”

“... The thing I need.”

Marina’s breathing became a bit unstable; she looked directly into Nailan’s eyes, whispering: “Power.”

“Stop right here, peacefully do the most basic secretarial work by Excellency Anselm’s side.”

Nailan withdrew her hand, spitting out words that truly moved Marina so far:

“After the trip to the West Kingdom ends, Shadow Swamp will give you the method to achieve transcendence; the effect is stronger than Water of Redemption. Although the implementation difficulty is very great, you are worth it.”

Marina did not speak, and Nailan was not impatient, quietly waiting for her answer.

“So... truly pitiful.”

Marina slowly sighed.

“Even doing my utmost, even with Mr. Anselm’s assistance, as long as this condition is used as an exchange, I cannot suppress the palpitation of my heart no matter what... if there were no choice, even if I burn all my hard work to ashes, I would want to agree.”

She looked at Nailan, saying softly: “Thinking so highly of me who has such a huge gap with you, I am extremely grateful, Ms. Nailan.”

The condition Nailan offered was nothing more than whether Marina was willing to take a gamble.

If Marina could truly, under the circumstances of having no roots or support, use only the name “Faust” to build a massive domination network in the entire West Kingdom, allowing Anselm to easily set about changing this place, this merit would be enough for her to ask Anselm for the method of promoting to Transcender.

But is this kind of thing really that easy to succeed?

Will Anselm continue to provide Marina with such key help in the future as he did today?

Everything is unknown.

And Nailan offered Marina a more secure path; as long as she let go now, she could advance to Transcender.

If Marina’s ultimate goal was this point, then choosing to retreat at this moment was obviously the better choice.

Anselm might be disappointed by Marina’s retreat, but Anselm was never a leader who would give up on others because of one disappointment; as long as she had the aptitude for transcendence, with Marina’s ability and talent, she could certainly win back Anselm’s favor in the future.

And furthermore...

“I know, over at Garden, that cat Rhine will definitely offer you the same price.”

This was the final killing move Nailan used to stop Marina’s rise, so she was already considering things with extreme thoroughness: “And what it needs is not hard to guess. Miss Hitana is currently in prison; as long as you can help Miss Hitana break free, stabilize her in the follow-up, and continue to contend with us, she will definitely also be willing to give the method of promoting Transcender to you, but...”

“Marina, you who are unwilling to rely on Miss Hitana no matter what, who do not wish to receive any preferential treatment because of her existence.”

The woman leaned down, staring into Marina’s pupils:

“Do you have the determination to turn her into a stepping stone to climb upward?”

Marina watched Nailan quietly; just as she opened her mouth preparing to respond, enthusiastic shouting came from the distance:

“Lina uh... Ma Ganlei! Why haven’t you come back for so long, I suddenly had a brilliant ide—hmm?”

The tall young girl who ran over happily all the way, making all passersby avoid in fear, gradually slowed her steps.

“Hey, you.”

Miss Fenrir, who was addressed with both respect and fear by the outside world as the Wicked Wolf, narrowed her eyes slightly, walking step by step toward Nailan.

“A thing that is neither human nor ghost... what do you want to do to my sister?”

Her words made Marina’s expression stiffen, while Nailan, after glancing at Hitana, said indifferently: “My promise is always valid; if you want to see me, just find Attendant Snake.”

Finished speaking, Nailan’s figure truly began to fade like a ghost until it dissipated—no—

It did not disappear, because... a huge red-black beast claw directly squeezed her whole person into the center of the claw.

“I was asking you a question.”

The wolf beast who had drunk its fill of fresh blood and hostility on the wilderness licked its lips, dark red eyes flickering with wildness and fierce light.

“Haven’t answered me yet, and you want to leave? Hmm?”

The red-black beast claw extending from her left shoulder actually crossed a distance of more than ten meters in an instant, directly squeezing Nailan firmly to death!

The red-black airflow dissipating from that beast claw seemed to make Nailan’s fading become not so stable; the woman turned her head slightly to look at Hitana, but did not speak immediately.

“... Miss Fenrir.”

It was still Marina who sighed: “Let her go, she is one of us.”

“Eh?”

The ferocity and hideousness on the Wicked Wolf lady’s face vanished in an instant like smoke and clouds, leaving only blankness and sluggishness.

“I, one of us? Oh oh oh ah! That, sorry, I... uh, leaving?”

Hitana had just released that ghost-like woman, and her figure disappeared immediately.

The extremely guilty wolf lady cautiously leaned close to Marina, saying extremely nervously: “That... I, I didn’t hurt her, who told her to look so sneaky and not like a good person... Lina, don’t tell Anselm okay?”

Marina looked at Hitana’s pitiful appearance; she first fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled brightly:

“Rest assured, she won’t take it to heart.”

Hitana then let out a long sigh of relief; she patted her chest, relieved: “That’s good... right, Lina, those poor people, how are your arrangements? Have you found some good employers for them?”

Looking at her younger sister whose eyes were sparkling, Marina said softly: “Already arranged, just need to finish processing the remaining two batches.”

“Yay!” Hitana hugged Marina’s arm at once, getting clingy, “Hehehe... I knew Lina was the most reliable!”

“Please call me Ma Ganlei, Miss Fenrir.”

“Aiya it’s fine, aren’t I saying it to you quietly, quietly.”

Marina glanced at Hitana whose face was written full of happiness, and suddenly said: “Miss Fenrir, no need to go see them?”

“See them? Then no need, didn’t Lina say, can’t let them receive excessive preferential treatment because of my existence, have to rely on their own self-reliance.”

Hitana said happily: “I feel Lina is right! Although they are very miserable... but ultimately they still have to rely on themselves to live on, after all I will leave sooner or later, and...”

She kissed her sister’s cheek, smiling and saying:

“And Lina is so reliable, don’t need to go look to know they will definitely live very well.”

“I believe in Lina the most! Believe just like believing in Anselm oh!”

“...”

Would Nailan fail to detect that Hitana had arrived?

As an elite of Shadow Swamp, could she not even react to this kind of thing?

No, absolutely impossible; she was just telling me—look, Marina, look at your sister, how much she cares about you, how much she loves you.

You who don’t even want to rely on her, could you really bear to utilize her?

Marina gently pulled out the arm hugged by Hitana, and under the latter’s unhappy expression with pouted lips, said indifferently: “Must keep distance, Miss Fenrir.”

“You... humph!”

Utilize? Why would I need to utilize, I am merely solving Hit’s problem.

Mr. Anselm built such a stage for me; if I cannot even perfectly solve Hit’s problem, how can I talk about chasing Mr. Anselm’s footsteps?

Only when ability is insufficient will one be forced to choose sacrifice, and I will absolutely not sacrifice Hit.

Ms. Nailan, in the final analysis, you still underestimated my ability.

And also underestimated my ambition.