Category: As a villain, I just want them to behave

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 234

    Chapter 234: Good News

    “Don’t be silly, that idiot Ottovia doesn’t know anything.” Carol patted Illusion’s head. “It seems she’s been greatly affected and probably knows even less than Fox. I called everyone here mainly to exchange information.”

    Illusion looked away from Ottovia. “Even so, I can’t say anything. What I know could have even worse consequences. Honestly, I’m worried you’ll destroy the world.”

    According to the normal course of events, she shouldn’t exist.

    As long as no one remembered what had happened, the past would cease to exist, and all the changes would become logical and smooth.

    Having observers and not having them were two completely different concepts. Illusion’s existence had made a previously avoided fate line possible.

    The more people who knew about the previous life, the more loopholes there would be in the world. That’s why Illusion didn’t want to tell Carol and the others the truth.

    “Thank you.”

    Carol took the black tea from Fox and thanked her. She took a sip and said, “It’s not wise to refuse to eat for fear of choking. Isn’t the premise of our discussion the existence of a huge loophole? Ignoring the problem will only make us lose the initiative. Finding the root cause and solving it is the key.”

    “This is such a headache.” Illusion sat down on the chair next to Carol and said to Fox, “I need coffee with lots of sugar, not too hot. Thanks.”

    Fox nodded. “Sure. What about you, Unlucky Entity?”

    Ottovia, avoiding Carol’s gaze, whispered, “Black tea, please. Or Holy Water. And I have a name!”

    “If you want Holy Water, go find Carol. I don’t have that weird stuff here.” Fox couldn’t help but smile.

    As one of the “villains,” she naturally knew what kind of Holy Water Ottovia was referring to. Please forgive her for her immoral laughter.

    That Kailun was truly evil, tricking the Unlucky Entity into drinking that stuff. A normal person would probably go crazy if they knew the truth.

    “There’s none left, not even a single drop. If you want Holy Water, go find Chrissy. She’s the one who produces it.”

    Carol suddenly remembered something and turned to Illusion. “Should we call Bella and Isabella?”

    Illusion moved her chair further away from Carol. “Not for now. We haven’t reached a consensus yet. Calling them over would be pointless. Let’s contact Kailun and let him make the decision.”

    Carol took another sip of her tea. “I’ll tell him later. For now, let’s exchange information. The ninth-rank magic I just cast can prevent things from getting worse to a certain extent, but it only lasts for three hours.”

    Illusion paused. “…As expected of you.”

    Carol was still the same Carol. Illusion could see the shadow of the world-destroying witch in her, the only difference being her additional role as a devoted maid.

    Fortunately, Kailun had “captured” Carol early on. Otherwise, she would have been the biggest variable.

    Just recalling the tragic fates of Ottovia and Helena made her scalp tingle.

    “It’s getting late. Can I go back now? I still have to clean tomorrow morning.” Ottovia pleaded pitifully, unable to withstand Carol’s pressure.

    Facing Carol, she felt like she had encountered her natural enemy. Her instincts urged her to flee.

    This fear was far more intense than anything Fate or Kailun had ever made her feel.

    Carol smiled at Ottovia. “No, you’re a key player. Don’t worry about cleaning for now. After our discussion, you can clean in advance. This way, you can sleep in tomorrow. Isn’t that a good arrangement?”

    “I… really thank you!” Ottovia was on the verge of tears.

    What kind of demon would make her work at night? It was too painful. She would rather face Kailun alone than see Carol.

    Compared to Carol, the villain Kailun didn’t seem so bad after all.

    Carol: “You’re welcome. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to thank me in the future.”

    Ottovia: “…”

    “Tsk, tsk, tsk, how tragic.” Illusion secretly mourned for Ottovia.

    “Back to the topic, what do you all know?” Fox placed the tea and coffee on the table and sat down next to Illusion.

    “The world might have been destroyed once.” To be safe, Illusion used a vague expression.

    Carol: “The original story was replaced, and everything was developing in a better direction. But someone wasn’t happy about it.”

    Illusion: “The current story is real, an established fact. We have to acknowledge this.”

    Carol: “Besides that…”

    Illusion and Carol revealed some information, but nothing related to the core secrets.

    To the others, it was an exchange of information, but to Ottovia, it was torture.

    As a transcendent entity, she knew nothing.

    She felt like she couldn’t keep up with the times, a relic of the past. How tragic.

    ……

    Meanwhile, Kailun had been using the fate divination device for most of the night, but the results were all chaotic.

    According to Meggie Liran, the future was blurry, with no discernible possibilities. The device had completely malfunctioned.

    “What a waste.”

    Meggie Liran looked at the fate stones scattered on the floor, her heart aching.

    She had been frugal in the past, while Kailun was now squandering her resources. Every stone he wasted was one she had saved.

    “What time is it?” Kailun tossed the last fate stone aside and looked at Meggie Liran.

    He rubbed his temples. He had been so focused that he had lost track of time.

    Every attempt yielded different results, seemingly unrelated, but not entirely.

    The immense mental exertion had led to a new discovery, but it wasn’t enough.

    He needed more information to confirm his judgment.

    “It’s four in the morning. Are you going back to rest?” Meggie Liran stretched. Even she, who was just watching from the side, felt sleepy.

    Kailun shook his head. “Anyone who sleeps this early is a lazy dog. It’s still early. Take me to the Temple’s library.”

    He yawned. He was a bit tired, but it wasn’t a big deal.

    “Follow me.”

    Meggie Liran stared at Kailun for a moment and then led him towards the library.

    It would be great if this guy tired himself out.

    As they walked, Kailun enveloped himself in white light.

    “There won’t be any outsiders on this path. You don’t have to worry about anyone seeing your annoying face.” Meggie Liran commented.

    “Look who’s talking. I’m just worried that Your Holiness might covet my youthful body. As for being seen by others, I’m not worried at all. I can just kill them to silence them. Right, Your Holiness?”

    Kailun slowed down and walked side by side with Meggie Liran.

    “…”

    She stopped replying. It was a blatant threat.

    Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Temple’s library. Kailun asked Meggie Liran to fetch the books she had mentioned earlier. There were thirteen in total, piling up like a small mountain on the long table.

    Kailun casually picked up a book and flipped through it. “Is this all?”

    Meggie Liran: “Yes.”

    “Alright, I hope you’re not lying to me. For every extra book I find, I’ll bully Chrissy once more.”

    Kailun found a comfortable position and leaned back in his chair. “What are you waiting for? Come and give me a massage. You’re so old, yet you have no sense of propriety. How embarrassing.”

    ‘Bastard!’

    Meggie Liran cursed silently and walked behind Kailun, reluctantly giving him a shoulder massage.

    Who would read books in the middle of the night? She wanted to slap him to death for being so troublesome.

    “Flip, flip, flip!”

    Seeing Kailun flipping through the pages at an incredible speed, she sneered. At that speed, it could only be called flipping, not reading.

    She had thought he was dedicated, but it was just an act.

    Time passed slowly, and two more hours went by. Kailun was almost done flipping through the books.

    As the Pope was drifting off to sleep, she heard Kailun say, “As expected, there’s no crucial information in these books. I’ll let you off the hook this time.”

    Meggie Liran shivered and woke up. She punched Kailun’s shoulder hard and complained, “You didn’t even read them carefully. What does it have to do with me?”

    Kailun closed the last book. “How do you know I didn’t read them carefully? You can’t judge everyone by the same standard, foolish Pope.”

    “Hmph, all talk and no action. Why don’t you let me test you?” The Pope snorted.

    Kailun smiled brightly. “Are you even worthy, Your Holiness?”

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    [Goodwill -1]

    Kailun, mentally exhausted, didn’t have the energy to play with the Pope. He felt an inexplicable sense of urgency.

    Ignoring the fuming Pope, he left his chair and searched the bookshelves for other relevant books.

    If he just wanted to learn about Fate’s origins, he could have forced the Pope to hand over all the related books. But Kailun’s goal was more than that.

    Besides learning about Fate’s origins, he also wanted to explore every important event related to the Temple of the Celestial God. This meant that he had to personally read many books.

    It was indeed troublesome, but it was safer.

    The now-idle Pope sat down angrily in the chair Kailun had just been using. She carefully observed him as he read, noticing his serious and focused expression.

    This seriousness didn’t seem like an act. His eyes scanned every page intently, his gaze following the flipping pages without wavering.

    It didn’t seem like he was pretending, and there was no reason for him to do so.

    This realization made Meggie Liran feel even worse. It meant that Kailun’s mental power had reached a terrifying level.

    He was not only powerful and intelligent but also diligent and serious… How could she possibly turn the tables?

    She felt numb. Was there anyone who could save her? If this continued, the Temple would be truly doomed.

    Perhaps the Pope’s loyal followers heard her prayer. At eight in the morning, Charles, having just recovered, arrived at the library entrance with gifts in hand.

    He had gone to the Papal Palace to see the Pope, but Helena had told him that she was currently reading in the library.

    So he came to the library with his prepared gifts. Coincidentally, he ran into Paul, who had a similar purpose. In a good mood, he invited Paul to join him.

    But for Meggie Liran, this wasn’t good news at all.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 233

    Chapter 233: The Problem of Existence

    “You know, that’s actually a possibility.” Kailun wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I originally thought that entity might have some connection to you, but it seems she’s closer to the Empress. The Temple probably isn’t her priority. Of course, this is just a guess. I can’t guarantee it’s 100% accurate. But it’s worth considering…”

    Kailun voiced his thoughts as he pondered. During his time in the Temple, he had tried to find traces of Fate, but unfortunately, he hadn’t found anything.

    It seemed that she had a closer relationship with the Empress. The Temple was likely being “free-ranged.”

    “Who is this ‘entity’ you’re talking about?” Meggie Liran caught the key point.

    “Oh, it seems the ignorant Pope isn’t aware of her existence. Does the word ‘Fate’ ring any bells?” Kailun guided her patiently.

    “The word ‘Fate’ does leave a deep impression. Both the Temple and the Empire have fate divination devices. Whether it’s the selection of the Pope or the Emperor, or the selection of Holy Sons and Saints, it’s all related to Fate. In a way, the word ‘Fate’ permeates the entire management of the Temple of the Celestial God. Moreover, this name also appears in some of the Temple’s hidden books. I don’t know the specific titles or content, though.”

    Meggie Liran understood Kailun’s intentions, but she also wanted to exchange some information, so she revealed some less important details.

    In fact, she remembered the titles and content of those books. She withheld this information to gain more leverage.

    Kailun: “That’s easy. I can order hundreds of clerics to search for any books with the word ‘Fate’ in their titles and set them aside.”

    Meggie Liran panicked. “No! Absolutely not! The Temple’s knowledge must not be shared with outsiders!”

    She hadn’t expected Kailun to be so decisive. For any faction, knowledge was an extremely important asset and couldn’t be shared with ordinary people.

    The Temple had a vast collection of books. Finding those related to Fate in a short time would require a lot of manpower.

    Unless everyone involved was killed, this knowledge would inevitably be leaked.

    “Your Holiness seems to have forgotten that I’ve done something similar before.” Kailun chuckled.

    Meggie Liran: “!!!”

    She suddenly remembered that it was Kailun who had lifted the restrictions on knowledge below the seventh rank. Now, even commoners had access to seventh-rank magic books.

    This demon had a history of such actions. He was capable of doing it again.

    To ensure that the Temple’s knowledge wasn’t leaked, Meggie Liran reluctantly said, “I can tell you the titles of those books, but you can’t let anyone else see them.”

    Kailun shrugged. “Tell me first.”

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    His infuriating attitude made her want to scream.

    It was truly despicable. She could only watch helplessly as Kailun harmed the Temple’s interests.

    Not only was she restricted by Kailun, but according to their contract, he was the acting Pope for this month, possessing the same authority as her.

    Her previous arrangements were useless against him. Afra’s strength had far exceeded her expectations.

    “Temple Chronicles, Temple Memoranda, Temple…”

    Meggie Liran reluctantly listed a few titles. These books contained records about Fate, but only brief mentions.

    She didn’t know much about Fate either, only that she seemed to be the origin of the Temple.

    “Good attitude. I won’t knock you unconscious tonight.” Kailun nodded with satisfaction. Any change was a good sign.

    Afra: “I think it’s better to knock her out.”

    Helena: “Knock who out?”

    “Nothing. It’s a secret between us and the Pope.”

    Kailun wiped the Dragon Fang dagger clean and tossed it back to Helena. “I’m taking the Pope to see the fate divination device. You two can rest early tonight. Don’t wait for me.”

    Afra suddenly felt relieved. She patted her ample chest. “Be careful. If it’s too late, don’t come back. You can sleep in the same room with the Pope. I won’t mind, really.”

    “You’re so generous.” Meggie Liran looked at Afra with mixed emotions.

    From her observations over the past few days, Afra had endured tremendous pressure. Anyone else would have probably broken down by now.

    She thought of her “daughter” Chrissy, wondering if she had been “broken” by Kailun’s torment.

    If she put herself in Chrissy’s shoes… No, what was she thinking?

    “I believe you’ll become my ally soon. Want to make a bet?”

    Afra smiled at Meggie Liran. No one could escape Kailun’s grasp once he set his sights on them.

    She had witnessed too much. Kailun was good in every aspect, except that he was a bit too greedy.

    But in a way, this was also a good thing. If he only focused on one person, it would probably be a tragedy.

    Afra suddenly envied Chrissy and Phils’ strength. She probably had no hope of defeating Kailun in a fair fight.

    “Vulgar.”

    Meggie Liran snorted and left the room first.

    She couldn’t stop Kailun from seeing the fate divination device. All she could do was pray that he wouldn’t cause any trouble.

    ……

    “I’ve finally recovered to the sixth rank! This time, I’ll definitely escape!”

    Ottovia licked the remaining white “Holy Water” from the corners of her mouth.

    Shamefully, she had not only gotten used to the strange taste but had even become addicted. She felt uncomfortable if she didn’t drink it every day.

    “It’s not that I like the taste. I just like the feeling of increasing my strength.”

    Ottovia made an excuse for herself.

    She placed the clean bottle on the table, stood up, and looked at Rose across from her. “Foolish Rose, I’m about to leave this hellhole. If you kneel and kowtow to me twice, I might take you with me.”

    “You’re crazy.”

    Rose, soaking in the bathtub, looked up and rolled her eyes at Ottovia. “Didn’t you try to escape last time? And you still failed.”

    Ottovia proudly puffed out her chest. “Last time was an accident. Without the correct coordinates, I could only teleport randomly. Now it’s different. I’ve pinpointed the location of the manor. Escaping this hellhole will be a piece of cake.”

    Rose raised an eyebrow weakly. “Sure, sure, sure…”

    “Tsk!”

    Ottovia clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. “You have no ambition at all. Staying here will only corrupt you under Kailun’s influence. He has a strange magic that even I can’t completely resist. I advise you to leave as soon as possible. Following him won’t lead to a good ending. Fate has already set her sights on him.”

    Rose suddenly asked, “Aren’t you Fate?”

    “How can that mere Fate compare to me? I was just lying to you. You humans aren’t worthy of knowing my true name. That woman is even worse than Kailun, a true lunatic. Forget it, why am I even telling you this? Enjoy your bath. I’m leaving now.”

    She waved to Rose dismissively and vanished in a flash of white light, reappearing three seconds later.

    “Long time no see, Ottovia. Are you here to clean my room?”

    Ottovia turned around stiffly and saw Fox standing behind her with a smile.

    “What a coincidence. Would you believe me if I said I was just passing by?” She took a step back dejectedly.

    All her calculations had been accurate, but she still couldn’t escape the manor.

    Not only had her strength plummeted, but she had also encountered Kailun’s “pawns.”

    Fox looked at Ottovia carefully and nodded. “I believe you. You seem to have forgotten everything. But that’s normal for a pitiful consumable.”

    She had been having strange dreams lately, dreams that felt like real experiences.

    Through these fragmented dreams, she had pieced together a terrifying truth.

    Connecting the dreams with reality, many things made sense, and Kailun’s actions became more logical.

    However, her dreams lacked crucial information, preventing her from fully understanding the cause and effect.

    As the content of her dreams became richer, she felt her own existence fading, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind, just like Illusion.

    “Remember something?”

    Ottovia noticed Fox’s strange behavior.

    “I won’t tell you. Hee hee~” Fox giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

    Ottovia: “…”

    “Clang!”

    Just then, Carol pushed open Fox’s door, one hand gripping Illusion by the neck.

    Illusion, held by Carol, was shouting, “Don’t force me! I can’t say it! If I do, the world will be destroyed! Stupid Carol, do you understand the gravity of the situation?! Bastard, stop hitting my butt! Only stupid Kailun can hit my butt!”

    Fox: “…”

    Ottovia: “…”

    Hearing Illusion’s rant, another person fell silent.

    Carol carried Illusion to the table. “I sensed the unlucky entity’s magic fluctuations and came over. I have something to discuss with you.”

    “I have a name…” Ottovia whispered, hiding behind Fox.

    Illusion shouted at Fox, “Don’t listen to Carol! She’s an idiot!”

    “Let’s sit down and talk. What tea would you like?”

    Fox wagged her tail and walked to the table. The more important the matter, the less she should rush.

    “Black tea, please.” Carol placed Illusion on a chair.

    As she spoke, she casually cast a very special ninth-rank spell.

    Sensing the fluctuation of ninth-rank magic, everyone looked shocked.

    Illusion’s expression was the most exaggerated. She asked in a daze, “Didn’t you just reach the eighth rank? How can you cast ninth-rank magic?!”

    Carol released Illusion’s neck and rested her chin on her hand. “Yes, I’m only at the eighth rank. So, do you realize the gravity of the situation now?”

    Illusion gulped nervously. “It seems we’re doomed.”

    Something that was impossible had now happened. This meant that a huge loophole had appeared in the world’s rules.

    This loophole could be man-made or naturally occurring. Fixing it would be incredibly difficult.

    When the loophole expanded to a certain extent, the world would collapse.

    Very few could survive such a catastrophic collapse. Two confirmed survivors were Fate and Ottovia.

    Illusion suddenly looked at Ottovia with a dangerous glint in her eyes. “This entity might also survive. I’ll tear her apart right now.”

    Ottovia: “Meow, meow, meow?”

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 232

    Chapter 232: A Prophecy Fulfilled

    “Don’t be so angry. Isn’t this the best outcome? Did you really want me to purge them?” Kailun stepped away from Meggie Liran. “If you really wanted that, I could have easily fulfilled your wish. After all, dealing with a ninth-rank mage isn’t difficult for me. What do you think?”

    Meggie Liran remained silent, her mind filled with thoughts of tearing Kailun apart.

    Why did such a sinister person exist in this world? Even though she knew much about his deeds, experiencing it firsthand fueled the anger in her heart.

    She knew that uncontrolled rage would blind her judgment, but she couldn’t help it. This bastard Kailun was simply too infuriating.

    Kailun glanced at Pope Meggie Liran. “Forget it, there’s no point in saying more. As a responsible acting Pope, I will manage the Temple well for you. You don’t have to thank me. Just don’t be so surprised when you sleep at night. By the way, your name is a bit strange. Can you change it?”

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    Silence was the best strategy.

    “Stop teasing her.”

    Afra, unable to stand it any longer, spoke up. “If you really want to bully her, do it at night. At least I’ll enjoy it.”

    Afra gave Kailun a resentful look. Did he know what she had been through these past few days?

    Without Carol and the others’ help, she had single-handedly resisted Kailun’s “attacks.”

    Saying “resisted” wasn’t quite accurate, as she had been utterly defeated every time. Their “battles” rarely lasted more than half an hour, even with her attempts at seduction, it barely doubled the time.

    It wasn’t that she hated it, but it was humiliating. The Pope, with her keen senses, was always a witness, having seen her pathetic attempts.

    It was like experiencing social death.

    ‘Birds of a feather!’

    Meggie Liran labeled Afra in her heart.

    ……

    Half an hour later, Kailun and his group arrived at Cardinal Huallomen’s residence. He presented the prepared gifts in front of Meggie Liran.

    Although the Cardinal looked suspicious, he didn’t overthink it for the moment.

    The poor Meggie Liran could only watch helplessly as her followers established connections with Kailun. She could feel her own existence being gradually replaced by him.

    This wasn’t just a psychological attack. It was like digging out her heart and stabbing it repeatedly.

    The good news was that Kailun wouldn’t do anything to the Huallomen family for now. The bad news was that she would be controlled by him because of this.

    After delivering the gifts, Kailun swaggered to the next location. The second Cardinal wasn’t as lucky as Huallomen. Expecting to receive gifts as well, he was instantly subdued.

    Knocked unconscious, tied up, and stuffed into a sack. Afra’s actions were swift and smooth, leaving Meggie Liran and Vanni dumbfounded.

    After this, Kailun had someone spread the news that “the Pope has also sent precious gifts to so-and-so.” After a short stay, he waited until the news had reached certain people before moving on to the next location with his entourage.

    He repeated the same tactic, successfully capturing the second and third Cardinals. Only one managed to escape.

    By evening, the “Pope’s” actions were known throughout the city. The Cardinals were on edge, not even trusting their former friends. The division within the Temple was taking shape.

    Meggie Liran, having witnessed the entire process, became increasingly despondent. The more she knew, the less hope she had of turning the tables.

    Kailun not only possessed the ability to anticipate his enemies but also a precise understanding of human nature.

    He had divided the Temple into small pieces in just three days. She could imagine that the next step would be assimilation and devouring.

    Sadness filled Meggie Liran’s heart. Even someone as mature as her couldn’t accept this reality.

    The higher one’s position, the more reluctant they were to relinquish their power. Even she couldn’t escape the greed inherent in human nature.

    Back at the Papal Palace, Meggie Liran looked at the hard bread on her plate with a dejected expression.

    “Can you tell me what you really want?” She looked at Kailun, sitting across from her, and asked the same question again.

    Kailun grabbed Helena’s Dragon Fang dagger, cut a small piece of steak, and fed it to Afra. “Didn’t I already answer you?”

    Meggie Liran: “I want to know the real answer. If I can, I’ll help you achieve your goal sooner, so you can get out of the Temple earlier.”

    After feeding Afra, Kailun cut himself a piece of steak. “You’re so clever. Why would I return the magpie’s nest after occupying it? As a villain, bullying men and dominating women suits me better. It’s a pity that your Temple’s Saints have all been ‘consumed.’ Otherwise, I would have taken them home to be my dancers. But then again, Your Holiness, you also have the talent to be a villain. After all, so many Saints have died at your hands.”

    Kailun sighed. It was truly a pity.

    Every generation of Saints in the Temple was exceptional. If he could take them back and have Isabella train them as dancers, it would be wonderful. Unfortunately, only Edlin and Chrissy remained.

    Meggie Liran said with a straight face, “It’s the duty of the Holy Sons and Saints to dedicate their power to the successive Popes. The Temple’s gifts have always come with a price. So are you trying to accuse me on moral grounds?”

    Seeing Helena staring at the dagger in his hand, Kailun cut a piece of steak for her and brought it to her lips. “Of course not. You’re overthinking it. I don’t have time to accuse you. I’d rather spend my time playing with Sister Afra.”

    Afra’s hand, holding the knife and fork, trembled slightly. “Please, go find the Pope instead. If this continues, I’ll really be ‘broken.’”

    Kailun: “You can’t blame me for this. Mother has ordered me to produce a grandchild as soon as possible. You should try to convince her, not me, right?”

    Afra’s usually cold face finally showed a hint of helplessness. “That’s too much! You’re always making things difficult for me. What kind of brother are you? You don’t treat me like a sister at all.”

    “Indeed, there aren’t many people who care for their sisters as much as I do.” Kailun smiled and fed Afra another piece of steak.

    Afra glared at him playfully. “You’re so mean!”

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    Sensing the cheerful atmosphere at the table, she felt out of place. And her question still hadn’t been answered.

    Once again, Kailun had brushed her off. It was infuriating. Did she have to kneel and beg him?

    Unable to contain her anger, Meggie Liran snatched Helena’s steak. “Here’s your bread. I’ll eat this!”

    Wanting to vent her frustration, she naturally targeted Helena.

    Helena: “???”

    She was stunned for a moment, then immediately snatched the steak back. “Your Holiness, you should stick to hard bread.”

    The poor Pope couldn’t even suppress Helena now. She was completely at a disadvantage.

    As the Pope was halfway through her hard bread, Kailun suddenly said, “By the way, let me tell you something interesting. Didn’t some people in the Temple recently claim that the Pope was incompetent and wanted to elect a new successor? Their efficiency is quite impressive. I received a letter from the Empress this afternoon.”

    Meggie Liran: “Shouldn’t she have contacted me?”

    Kailun took out his communication device and placed it on the table. “You’re right. That’s exactly what she did.”

    Meggie Liran’s eyes widened. “When did you steal it?”

    “Your Holiness, don’t put it so harshly. I was just taking precautions. Cutting off your contact with the outside world was a necessary measure. And I was just doing what you do. Can a villain’s stealing be considered stealing? It’s called ‘confiscation.’ By the way, aren’t you curious about what the Empress said?” Kailun tapped the table.

    He had no bottom line. Compared to gambling on whether the Pope had any hidden moves, he preferred to be a pure villain.

    Meggie Liran snorted. “There’s nothing good coming out of that woman’s mouth.”

    “You might be disappointed. Not only did she agree with some of the Cardinals’ views, but she also sent you an invitation, expressing her willingness to reconcile and work together to produce the next generation. Not only that, but she also invited you to the Imperial Capital to hold an engagement ceremony witnessed by the world. How about it? Isn’t that interesting?”

    Kailun rested his chin on his hands, curious about the Pope’s reaction.

    Meggie Liran didn’t disappoint him. Her expression was incredibly complex.

    Those simple words contained many hidden meanings, like a trap specifically designed for her, forcing her to make her next move.

    As women, they were natural rivals. Under normal circumstances, in a few decades or even centuries, they would face the issue of choosing a successor, and the conflict between tradition and change would erupt.

    Moreover, the Empress had always presented herself as a female figure, leaving an “anchor” in people’s minds. They would instinctively assume that the Pope was male, putting Meggie Liran at a natural disadvantage.

    But if she refused, it would mean she intended to divide the Temple of the Celestial God, making her the biggest sinner. All the blame could be placed on her.

    This was a blatant scheme against Meggie Liran.

    “Damn it!”

    Meggie Liran slammed the table angrily. This was just as despicable as Kailun’s actions.

    Kailun smiled brightly. “Don’t be angry. The Empress is only doing this for the harmony and stability of the Temple. She’s sacrificing her own happiness for the greater good.”

    Meggie Liran glared at Kailun fiercely. “Don’t underestimate that woman. Her motives aren’t that simple. You think she just wants to undermine me? No, she might have already guessed your existence. The Empress’s divination device is far more advanced than the Temple’s.”

    She said this to scare Kailun, as a normal person wouldn’t guess that he would be so audacious as to replace the Pope.

    “Oh, is that so? Then I’ll have to think about this carefully.”

    To the Pope’s surprise, Kailun actually seemed to be seriously considering this possibility.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 231

    Chapter 231: Righting Wrongs

    Time flew by, and three days passed in a flash. Kailun successfully recruited a group of “loyal” bishops, signing short-term cooperation contracts with them.

    Although this seemed strange, most of the Cardinals reluctantly agreed under Kailun’s “friendly persuasion.”

    Some even suspected that their newly formed group had been discovered by the “Pope” and immediately betrayed their comrades, offering up their names.

    After obtaining a more detailed list, Kailun did what he always did: unite some, divide some, and suppress some.

    He ignored the rest, letting them stir up trouble within the Temple.

    He needed someone to create chaos. Otherwise, his previous efforts would be in vain.

    Through his efforts over the past few days, Kailun had, to a certain extent, replaced the Pope.

    If someone thoroughly investigated his identity, he would be exposed. But fortunately, the current situation was under his control. No one would be foolish enough to confront him.

    “Your Holiness, the team you requested has been assembled. Shall we depart now?”

    At eight in the morning, a minister who had previously served the Pope bowed respectfully to Kailun.

    Having interacted with the Pope frequently, she had sensed something amiss with Kailun.

    It felt like “he” was a different person, which was strange to her.

    But she didn’t tell anyone about her discovery, nor did she question the current “Pope.”

    Her intuition told her that if she acted rashly, she would die instantly, with no chance to fight back.

    Moreover, she had worked for the Temple for hundreds of years and was ready to retire. Now, she just wanted to enjoy her retirement peacefully.

    She had dedicated her youth to the Temple, leaving her alone in her old age, with no family or attachments.

    “Yes, thank you for your hard work. I’ll leave the future affairs of the Temple, big or small, to you, Vanni.”

    Kailun, hidden behind the white light, replied.

    This woman held a more important position in the Temple than Helena. If he could make her choose wisely, his plan to control the Pope would go even more smoothly.

    As a veteran of the Temple, Vanni had a certain degree of influence.

    “But Your Holiness, I’m old and lack the energy to handle such tasks. Please leave the future work to the younger generation. I think Holy Son Paul is a good candidate. He has great potential.”

    Vanni shook her head repeatedly. She could retire in a few years. Why should she choose sides and put herself in danger? She had worked for the Temple for hundreds of years and was tired.

    To an entity like the Pope, those below her were merely consumables, tools, often represented by simple numbers.

    This mindset stemmed from the previous Meggie Liran’s indifference towards her subordinates.

    Her recommendation of Paul wasn’t because she favored him, but because she felt that this “unlucky” fellow was a suitable candidate.

    Her position wasn’t easy. She often had to take the blame for others’ mistakes. If she made a major blunder, she would be hung on the pillar of shame for a hundred years.

    Kailun continued, “I trust your abilities. I’ll have someone increase your resource allocation. There have been many discordant voices within the Temple recently. I need someone as dedicated and responsible as you to keep an eye on them.”

    “But…”

    Vanni wanted to say something more.

    Kailun: “Triple your resource allocation, retire three years early, and I’ll teach you Time Magic to extend your lifespan by a hundred years.”

    Vanni’s face lit up. “You’re right, Your Holiness. The situation is special, and I’m willing to contribute to the Temple. By the way, what’s the name of the person you’re planning to capture today?”

    Kailun smiled. “His name is Kailun.”

    Vanni: “???”

    Kailun: “Through our informants, I’ve learned about the places where Kailun might be hiding. Interestingly, several of these locations are related to Cardinals. Isn’t that interesting?”

    “!!!”

    Cold sweat beaded on Vanni’s forehead. As a veteran of the Temple, she had witnessed countless power struggles. The “Pope’s” tactic felt strangely familiar.

    Setting aside the truth of the intelligence, those Cardinals who were “harboring” Kailun would definitely suffer.

    Vanni shivered. Thankfully, she hadn’t investigated the Pope’s identity too closely. Otherwise, she might have been implicated in harboring Kailun.

    Before Vanni could recover, Helena walked over, leading a woman hidden under a mage’s robe. “Your Holiness, I’ve brought the person you requested.”

    Kailun looked at the Pope, who was hiding under the robe, trying to pull her hood down to conceal her face.

    For Meggie Liran, if Vanni saw her face, she would be truly finished. It wasn’t just a matter of losing face; she would completely lose her identity as the Pope.

    When the “Pope” and Meggie Liran appeared simultaneously, she would only be Meggie Liran for the rest of her life. The title of “Pope” would no longer have anything to do with her.

    Kailun’s move was a psychological attack, forcing her to make a choice, to submit to him.

    She could imagine that if she disobeyed him, he would likely pull off her hood in front of Vanni.

    The thought alone filled her with despair. Without her “aura,” she was just a slightly stronger ninth-rank mage.

    “Your Holiness, who is this, she seems familiar?”

    Vanni looked at Meggie Liran, hidden under the robe. She felt a sense of familiarity.

    Because of this strange feeling, she even almost addressed her as “Your Excellency.”

    “I…”

    Meggie Liran instinctively used her neutral voice, but she quickly corrected herself. “It must be a mistake. I don’t know you.”

    Her mature and sophisticated voice dispelled Vanni’s suspicions. She sighed. “I apologize. I must have mistaken you for someone else. You resemble the Pope, like siblings.”

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    Who was siblings with that bastard?

    If she ever regained her power, she would definitely give Vanni a lot of extra work, making her work 996 every week. (working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week)

    “Wrong, not siblings, father and daughter. Otherwise, why do you think I’m having a conflict with the Empire? It’s all for her future. Once we take over the Empire, she’ll be the new Empress.”

    Kailun, seeing the right opportunity, cracked a joke.

    Vanni: “Huh?!”

    She was startled by his words, but then she realized it was a joke.

    Judging from the time the Pope had ascended to the throne, even if he was incredibly capable, he couldn’t possibly have a daughter this old.

    Although no one had seen the Pope’s face or knew his true age, he was probably around the same age as the Empress.

    Meggie Liran was fuming. She wanted to fight Kailun to the death right now, but the slave collar around her neck restricted her. Even if she tried her hardest, she couldn’t even scratch him.

    “Your Holiness, you must be joking.” Vanni took a step back. She felt that the Pope before her had nothing to do with holiness.

    Instead, she sensed a strong sense of mischief.

    “I’m not joking. Little one, call me ‘father.’” Kailun looked at Meggie Liran.

    This was a test of her bottom line. No matter the outcome, he wouldn’t lose.

    “Go to hell!”

    She snarled. Even if it meant exposing her true feelings, she wouldn’t call Kailun “father.”

    However, Kailun wasn’t angry. “Going through a rebellious phase, huh? Sigh, it’s hard to discipline children when they grow up. Let’s focus on the task at hand. Where’s the first location, Pell?”

    Helena smiled at Meggie Liran. “Your Holiness, the first location is Cardinal Huallomen’s residence.”

    Hearing those words, Vanni’s expression changed drastically. Cardinal Huallomen was a loyal follower of the Pope. His entire family served as her trusted aides.

    She suddenly regretted it. This was clearly an attempt to uproot the Pope’s foundation.

    Meggie Liran, the real Pope, clutched her mage’s robe tightly. The demon Kailun was capable of such a thing.

    If he wanted to completely replace her, the Huallomen family was an obstacle he couldn’t avoid. Given his methods, they would likely suffer a terrible fate.

    Moreover, seeing her loyal subordinates suffer because of her filled her with guilt.

    This guilt wouldn’t have been so strong in the past.

    But today, she felt strangely guilty, as if influenced by Kailun.

    “Can they leave first? I have something to tell you.” Meggie Liran gritted her teeth.

    Kailun pretended not to understand. “Tell who?”

    Meggie Liran: “You!”

    “Me? Who am I?” Kailun took a step closer, enveloping Meggie Liran in his “holy” light.

    The sacred light didn’t soften his expression. In Meggie Liran’s eyes, he still looked as annoying as ever.

    “You, esteemed Pope.” Meggie Liran said through gritted teeth.

    She hated him, hated herself for not eliminating him sooner.

    “Oh, that’s a good attitude.” Kailun turned to the others. “You two wait outside. I’ll be there soon.”

    “As you command, Your Holiness.” Helena and Vanni bowed simultaneously.

    After they left, Kailun lifted Meggie Liran’s hood and looked at her beautiful face. “You have one minute. Speak your mind quickly.”

    Meggie Liran lowered her head. “If, and I mean if, if I call you ‘father,’ will you spare Cardinal Huallomen?”

    Kailun lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I won’t budge on strategic matters. But I can be lenient, depending on your attitude. Oh, right, you only have thirty seconds left. Your Holiness doesn’t have much time to be sentimental.”

    Perhaps it was a “sickness,” but seeing her hateful gaze excited him.

    He had never had any good feelings towards the Temple of the Celestial God, and he even loathed this high and mighty Pope. Don’t forget, it was the Temple that had labeled him a traitor and a human sympathizer.

    Now that the tables had turned, he could also give the Pope some interesting labels.

    “Fa… Father…”

    After another ten seconds, Meggie Liran closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling.

    “Too quiet. Call me ‘daddy.’”

    Kailun pinched her lips, making them form an oval shape.

    “Da… Daddy…”

    Meggie Liran, pushed to her limit, shed a tear.

    Kailun, ever resourceful, caught the tear in a bottle. “Good girl. Now let’s go to Cardinal Huallomen’s residence.”

    “You liar!” Meggie Liran opened her eyes abruptly.

    Kailun put the bottle containing her tear in his pocket. “Why are you looking at me like that? Can’t I give you a gift?”

    “Clap, clap!”

    Kailun clapped twice, summoning Afra, who was carrying a gift box. He pointed at the exquisite box in her hand. “See? These are the gifts I prepared. By the way, you don’t have to thank me. I took them from the Temple’s treasury.”

    Meggie Liran looked at the gift box in Afra’s hand. “…”

    [Meggie Liran hates you to death. Goodwill -2, Total Goodwill -95]

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 230

    Chapter 230: Setting Things Right

    “I suggest you learn from Ottovia. I also need someone to clean. Are you interested? If you perform well, you might even become a bed-serving maid, a much higher position than Ottovia’s.”

    Before leaving, Illusion couldn’t resist tempting Rose.

    She didn’t hold any grudge against Rose. They hadn’t interacted in the previous life. Her targeting of Rose was solely because of Kailun.

    Seeing Rose unmoved, Illusion added, “Don’t underestimate the position of a bed-serving maid. It’s far superior to your current role as a wine server. If you work hard enough, you might even achieve a class promotion. Then, you could control not just one Rose Kingdom, but even several kingdoms. Think about it carefully. If you’re too slow, Ottovia might seize the opportunity.”

    Rose: “…”

    A few days ago, she would have scoffed at Illusion’s words. But Ottovia’s transformation had instilled a sense of crisis in her.

    Except for the person who delivered her meals every day, almost no one visited her.

    She spent every day alone in her room, and she might be forgotten by the world if this continued.

    Being forgotten by everyone was more painful than death.

    Both her “grandfathers” had treated her as a tool, attempting to gain favorable treatment through her.

    She strongly condemned Ottovia’s competitive behavior. It had put her in a very awkward position.

    Rose: “Can I ask when Kailun will be back?”

    Illusion turned back. “I don’t know. He didn’t say. Maybe he’ll only come back after destroying the entire Holy Temple. Hee hee~”

    “Destroy the entire Holy Temple…”

    Rose instinctively wanted to comment that Kailun was being too ambitious, but he always managed to create miracles. Such an outrageous feat wasn’t impossible for him.

    She hoped that the Pope could defeat Kailun, but her intuition told her that the possibility was slim.

    Illusion left the dungeon, satisfied with leaving Rose in a state of shock. She enjoyed seeing people’s astonished expressions.

    ……

    “Your Holiness, choose.”

    Inside the Papal Palace, Kailun placed three items on the table for the Pope to choose from.

    One was a whip with thorns, one was the pillow he had slept on last night, and the last was a bottle of “Holy Water” he had forgotten at home.

    Helena looked at the whip in front of the Pope, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Choosing the whip meant that the Pope would be subjected to her interrogation.

    As for choosing the pillow, it went without saying. The Pope would be “interrogated” by Kailun himself.

    The Holy Water was an unexpected addition, probably just Kailun’s way of offering the Pope a drink.

    However, he had explicitly told the Pope that the Holy Water came from Chrissy, but he didn’t explain how it was “produced.”

    “Either answer my questions or choose one.” Kailun closed the magic book in his hand and looked at the Pope.

    Disguised as the Pope, Kailun could obtain high-level magic books through various channels. He could continue to expand his knowledge during this time.

    He had asked the Pope some questions, but she refused to answer.

    “You’ll never get any useful information from me. I’ll say it again: if you want my body, come and take it yourself.”

    The Pope looked at Kailun with a mocking gaze, then opened the bottle of Holy Water and poured it into her mouth in front of everyone.

    Despite her defiant words, she still made a choice. Being whipped by Helena would be humiliating, and being “educated” by Kailun would mean losing her “purity.”

    “Cough, cough, cough…”

    But she instantly regretted it as soon as she swallowed the Holy Water. The strange taste made her head spin, and the physical discomfort made her want to vomit.

    Just as she was about to throw up, Kailun’s voice rang out. “If you dare to spit it out, I’ll make you drink fresh, hot Holy Water. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

    “Ugh~”

    The Pope quickly covered her mouth with her hands, but some of the Holy Water still spilled from the corners of her lips.

    Her face contorted in pain. Her delicate features, combined with her mature charm, especially her struggle to swallow, exuded a strange allure.

    Strands of white liquid trickled down her chin, sliding down her neck and disappearing into her cleavage, like a milky river.

    She glared at Kailun with hatred. The strange taste made her feel terrible.

    However, the more uncomfortable the Pope was, the more excited Kailun became. He had the urge to “feed” her more.

    But remembering that he hadn’t fully taken control of her yet, he restrained himself.

    He needed a controllable Pope, not a resentful woman who only sought revenge.

    He was always in control of people’s hearts, pushing their boundaries little by little.

    Although the Pope claimed she didn’t care about her “purity,” if Kailun actually took it, she might become even crazier than Hilna.

    Kailun, sitting on the chair, placed the magic book on his lap. “Helena, go rest in the next room tonight. It’s too crowded here, and it might disturb your sleep.”

    “Huh?”

    Helena, who was stroking the whip, looked up at Kailun. “I don’t mind. If you’re worried about me crowding you, I can sleep on the floor.”

    Kailun glanced at Helena. “Forget it. Since you don’t mind, I won’t force you. It’s getting late. We should rest, right, Sister Afra?”

    Afra, who was about to sneak away, turned around with a stiff expression. “It’s only nine o’clock. There’s still an hour or two before bedtime. I’m going out for a walk to familiarize myself with the Papal Palace. You can ‘educate’ the Pope.”

    Afra, who knew Kailun very well, had already guessed his intentions. She was no match for him alone. She never wanted to experience such a one-sided “battle” again.

    She looked at Helena pleadingly, but the latter scratched her head in confusion, unable to understand.

    Then, Afra looked at the Pope, hoping she would anger Kailun and be “punished” severely.

    After all, it was the Pope’s fault that Kailun had these thoughts. She shouldn’t have looked so alluring while drinking that “Holy Water.”

    “No rush. I’ll accompany you tomorrow. Let’s rest early tonight.” Kailun appeared behind Afra in a flash and wrapped his arms around her waist.

    Afra, caught off guard, felt her body go limp and collapsed into his arms.

    “Rest. We’ll talk about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow.”

    For the next hour, the room fell silent. But this peace only lasted for an hour.

    Close to ten o’clock, the Pope, who had fallen asleep, sensed a faint magic fluctuation. She first looked at Helena, who was sleeping soundly on her right.

    Then she slowly turned her head to the left. But with a single glance, she immediately closed her eyes, her body stiffening.

    She suddenly realized that the magic she had just sensed was a silencing spell, used to suppress the transmission of sound.

    [The Pope is shocked and her worldview is shattered. Goodwill -1, Total Goodwill -93]

    Just as her disgust increased, the Pope felt Kailun’s gaze. She squinted, trying to peek, but as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a hand chop approaching her face.

    Besides the sharp hand chop, she also saw Kailun’s mischievous smile, as if he was mocking her.

    “Thud!”

    But the Pope had no time to react. Kailun’s hand chop easily knocked her unconscious.

    Afra looked at the Pope with a hint of disappointment. She was truly useless. The magic fluctuation she had deliberately leaked hadn’t even woken her up.

    She made up her mind. During these few days, she would definitely drag the Pope onto the “pirate ship.”

    This was a life-or-death struggle. She couldn’t back down. At worst, she would drag Helena into it too.

    “Hmm?”

    Helena, in her sleep, turned over. She felt a chill down her spine, as if someone was watching her.

    ……

    The night in Alaye was restless. Many ambitious Cardinals, taking advantage of the darkness, secretly gathered together.

    They exchanged information and plotted the future of the Temple.

    Some were acting on their own initiative, while others were following someone else’s orders. If one investigated carefully, they would discover the Empress’s hand in this.

    But the busiest one was Paul. Even late at night, he was still burning the midnight oil. As one magic circle after another was engraved on his body, his strength slowly increased.

    However, his skin had limited space. To engrave more and larger magic circles, Paul had to take off his clothes, letting the magic circles cover every inch of his body.

    In the quiet night, his room was filled with his agonizing screams. The passing clerics covered their faces and fled in terror.

    Every increase in strength came with a price. Paul had gambled everything, hoping to reach the pinnacle through this transformation.

    He didn’t know that once these magic circles were complete, not only would his potential be sealed, but he would also become a perfect “leek.”

    ……

    In contrast to the turbulent Holy Temple, the Celestial Empire was relatively peaceful. After the recent split, the Empire was transforming into a different form.

    Compared to the Pope’s loose management style, the Empress implemented absolute autocracy.

    It was worth noting that one-third of the Empire’s top forces had been dispatched to the town of “Portland” within the White Jade Alliance’s territory.

    They had sealed off the town, and no one knew what they were doing inside.

    The remaining two-thirds of the elite forces were also fully mobilized, ready to strike deep into enemy territory at any moment. It seemed their target was… the Abyss?

    The Empress stood atop the Empire’s clock tower, gazing calmly at the vast Imperial Capital. Golden “threads” intertwined and rubbed against each other in her eyes, creating a strange radiance.

    The main actors were all in place, and the world’s carrying capacity had reached its limit.

    The disrupted fate lines would eventually be set right. Those who had passed away should stay dead.

    “Ding~”

    She tapped the pendulum beside her with her finger, the clear, metallic sound echoing throughout the city.

    A thief could only succeed once. Now, she would take back what belonged to her.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 229

    Chapter 229: The Faithful Charles

    “Go, the glory of the Temple will illuminate your path. The world will know that the true lineage of the Temple of the Celestial God belongs to the Holy Temple.”

    After the contract was signed, Kailun stood up from his chair.

    He summoned a burly ninth-rank mage and two elderly ninth-rank mages. They would be responsible for engraving the magic circles on Paul.

    Contacting his subordinates was handled by Helena. As the “Pope,” Kailun only needed to make a brief appearance.

    “Give me a few more days.”

    Paul didn’t reply to the “Pope.” He glanced at Harry and left the hall with the three ninth-rank Cardinals.

    Although he appeared calm on the surface, his mind was in turmoil, especially after hearing Kailun’s subtle hints.

    Was it possible that the Temple wanted to separate from the Empire? Otherwise, why would he use the term “true lineage”?

    Not only Paul, but even the three Cardinals had strange expressions on their faces. They were pondering the Pope’s intentions.

    However, for now, they had to complete the task assigned by the Pope. They looked at Paul with a hint of “hunger.”

    It wasn’t a physical hunger, but a hunger for Paul’s unique constitution.

    Every generation of Holy Sons and Saints had a distinct characteristic: they could absorb the power of the previous generation with minimal loss, minimizing the depletion during inheritance.

    Similarly, they could also pass on their power to the next generation of Holy Sons and Saints with minimal loss.

    This was what Harry and the others called “aptitude,” the aptitude of a Holy Son.

    In the past, they wouldn’t have dared to have any thoughts about the high-ranking Holy Son, but now it was different. Paul’s position wasn’t recognized by many.

    The three Cardinals exchanged glances, a hint of amusement in their eyes.

    After Paul and the others left, Kailun turned to Harry. “Your injuries haven’t fully healed. You need to continue receiving treatment. Otherwise, you might not have even a year left to live. If you can accept this outcome, then forget what I said.”

    Kailun left those words behind and left the hall with Helena. He had achieved his goal.

    To him, Harry was just a tool to control Paul. As for how effective this control was, it remained to be seen. At least, Kailun wouldn’t gamble on Paul abandoning Harry.

    After “harvesting” Paul’s attributes, Kailun would not only recover to his peak state but even surpass it slightly. Using this opportunity, he could completely control the “Pope.”

    Since no one had seen the Pope’s true face, he could become the real Pope.

    With the Empress’s existence, people would subconsciously assume that the person sitting on the Pope’s throne was male. In a sense, Kailun would be even more “real” than the real Pope.

    During this time, he needed to select certain individuals and strengthen his connections with them, turning them into his loyal followers.

    After some observation, Kailun felt that Charles was a good choice.

    Therefore, after leaving the hall, he asked Helena to take him to Charles’s residence.

    Before leaving, he even had someone fetch precious gifts from the Temple’s treasury.

    ……

    “I feel like I’m missing something important, but I can’t remember what it is.”

    Charles, lying in bed recovering from his injuries, stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. He felt that there were many missing details from last night’s events.

    First, the explosion in Alaye, then the fight with “Pell.”

    Although the explosion hadn’t caused any casualties, it had created immense chaos, as if it were intentional.

    Another suspicious point was “Pell’s” sudden increase in strength, which was beyond reason.

    Moreover, the Pope’s behavior was also strange. It was the first time he had seen the Pope engage in physical contact with someone. He had thought the Pope wasn’t interested in women, but now it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.

    And… there were simply too many suspicious points. He couldn’t tell what was real and what wasn’t.

    But out of absolute loyalty to the Pope, he didn’t delve deeper into these thoughts. He saw it as a sign of disloyalty.

    “Knock, knock, knock!”

    “Master Charles, the Pope and Pell are here to visit you.”

    As he was pondering, Charles heard a maid knocking on his door.

    “Oh… What? Who did you say?”

    Charles didn’t pay much attention at first, but then he caught the word “Pope.”

    He instantly forgot about his pain and scrambled out of bed. “Why didn’t you say so sooner? Prepare to welcome them!”

    “Don’t rush. I’m already here.” Kailun pushed the door open and walked in, Helena carrying a gift box behind him.

    “Your Holiness, why are you…”

    Charles was stunned, his mind unable to process the situation. But seeing Helena, he felt a chill run down his spine and quickly came back to his senses.

    Kailun: “Is there a problem with me visiting my loyal subordinate?”

    Charles looked at the Pope, bathed in white light, feeling the gentle radiance.

    His” words seemed to carry a strange magic, making him feel like he was basking in the winter sun, his mind relaxed, involuntarily following her lead.

    Seeing the confusion in Charles’s eyes, Kailun smiled with satisfaction. It was worth increasing his mental power. The effect of his mental contamination could now affect even ninth-rank mages.

    However, this was also related to Charles’s injury. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so easy. Speaking of which, he had to thank Helena.

    If she hadn’t attacked so ruthlessly, his mental contamination wouldn’t have been so effective.

    “Pell, give the gift to Charles.”

    To increase his credibility, Kailun addressed Helena as “Pell.”

    She gave him a resentful look and placed the open gift box on Charles’s bedside table.

    Charles’s pupils constricted slightly when he saw the contents of the box. He was overwhelmed by such a generous gift.

    Kailun pressed his advantage. “Thank you for your hard work. As you know, the situation in the Temple is quite complicated recently. I haven’t been able to pay much attention to you. I even had to sneak out to visit you.”

    Charles looked at him. “What do you mean, Your Holiness?”

    “First, there’s the internal problem. Some Cardinals are getting restless. They’re trying to instigate a union between me and the Empress to force an early abdication. So I need someone to infiltrate their ranks. You’re the best candidate. Also, that insidious Kailun has already infiltrated Alaye through the teleportation magic circle. He’s currently hiding in the city, planning to deal a fatal blow to the Temple.”

    Kailun’s voice was heavy. “Never underestimate Kailun. You’ve encountered him many times. You should know how dangerous he is.”

    Charles frowned. “You’re right, Your Holiness. That bastard Kailun is incredibly cunning. He must have a grand scheme for coming to Alaye. He’s a madman, capable of anything. We have to be more careful.”

    He chose to ignore the first part of Kailun’s statement. He didn’t dare to comment on the internal problems of the Temple.

    He wasn’t qualified. He was afraid of saying the wrong thing and being disliked by the Pope.

    Kailun raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. So recover quickly and continue your mission. The Temple needs you. I need you.”

    “Your Holiness…”

    Hearing Kailun say that he needed him, Charles felt inexplicably moved, as if all his years of service had been rewarded.

    “Alright, it’s getting late. I have to go back and deal with that foolish woman we captured last night. Rest well. If you need anything, just let me know. Whether it’s healing potions or resources to increase your strength, just ask.”

    To avoid revealing any flaws, Kailun kept the conversation short. He was about to leave after chatting for a while.

    “Okay, Your Holiness. Farewell. I’ll always be your loyal subordinate. I’ll protect your glory with my life.”

    Charles struggled to sit up and bowed to Kailun.

    “Hmm.” Kailun nodded, not showing any further emotion.

    “Let’s go, Pell. We have to go back. There are still many things waiting for me to handle in the Temple. We probably won’t have any free time today.”

    Kailun glanced at Helena and walked out of the room first.

    “Okay~”

    Helena smiled at Kailun and then made a throat-slitting gesture at Charles.

    Charles: “…”

    As expected, Pell was still the same Pell. Only the Pope could control her.

    Pell was a lunatic. If she hadn’t been only at the eighth rank before, she would have become a nightmare for many.

    But now, she was terrifyingly strong. Charles felt that he was no match for her now.

    Her strength was probably a gift from the Pope. Charles was a little envious.

    After the Pope and Pell left, Charles lay back on the bed, one hand on his forehead, the other stroking the box on his bedside table, a satisfied smile on his face.

    Kailun, after leaving Charles’s residence, asked Helena, “Where to next?”

    Helena: “Aren’t we going back directly?”

    “We don’t have much time. There’s still a lot to do to control the Pope.”

    Kailun stretched his neck. The thought of all the troubles waiting for him gave him a headache.

    ……

    Compared to the chaotic Alaye, the Xiya Kingdom was experiencing unprecedented peace.

    Phils, Anna, Ella, and the others were diligently maintaining the kingdom’s normal operations. Roden, Philip, and their team also played important roles.

    The most miserable one was Rose. She was still imprisoned in the dungeon, deprived of her freedom.

    Ottovia had earned several bottles of “Holy Water” by cleaning for Carol and was slowly recovering her strength. In a few days, she would be able to try teleporting again.

    Fox, unable to find anything else to do, continued to search for the reason behind her lost talent. She had gained some clues.

    Isabella often followed Carol around because she had discovered that Carol played a key role in influencing the world.

    Bella often stayed in the courtyard, lost in thought. Without her daily “mission” to continue her lineage, she felt like she had lost her purpose in life.

    Fortunately, Saint Chrissy provided her with plenty of entertainment, preventing her life from becoming too boring.

    “Um, can you ask Kailun what he wants me to do?”

    At noon that day, Rose, unable to bear it any longer, asked Illusion, who was delivering her meal.

    Illusion: “Don’t flatter yourself. He’s already forgotten about you.”

    Rose: “…”

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 228

    Chapter 228: The Villain

    “Ahem, can I go out now?”

    Harry looked at the Cardinal in yellow robes with anticipation. His injuries had only healed halfway, barely clinging to life.

    His strength was almost completely depleted, barely retaining the power of a third-rank mage. It was slightly better than nothing.

    He knew that the Temple of the Celestial God was using him to control Paul. He was the key to keeping Paul in check.

    Sometimes, he even wanted to bash his head against the wall and end it all, freeing Paul from his burden.

    But ultimately, he couldn’t bear to. After much hesitation, Harry chose to live.

    “Go out. The Pope has graciously granted the Holy Son’s request to visit you. But don’t forget, your injuries haven’t fully healed. If you don’t want to die, don’t try anything funny.”

    The Cardinal’s words were laced with a thick layer of threat. When he mentioned the “Holy Son,” his voice was full of disdain.

    “I understand. I always follow the Pope’s orders. If he tells me to go left, I’ll never go right.”

    Harry quickly expressed his loyalty. After all, the Cardinal before him was a powerful figure in Alaye, even though he was only at the eighth rank.

    “Rank crushes people” was a common phenomenon in Alaye. If it weren’t for his deep-seated disgust for the twisted web of relationships here, he wouldn’t have left the Temple for the Xiya Kingdom.

    The Pope might have absolute authority, but she couldn’t manage the vast Temple of the Celestial God single-handedly. Some problems had existed for thousands of years, becoming unspoken rules.

    If it weren’t for the absolute power wielded by the successive Popes, things would have gone wrong long ago.

    It was worth mentioning that the Temple’s repeated failures at the hands of Kailun had significantly weakened the Pope’s authority. Some had even proposed an early change of leadership, urging the Pope and the Empress to produce a new successor as soon as possible.

    The reason behind this was simply to usurp the Pope’s power. In the past, such voices wouldn’t have dared to surface because the Pope would have Helena nip them in the bud.

    Now, however, the Pope was not only preoccupied with Kailun but had also lost Helena, her “tool” for dealing with trouble. This had led to the emergence of many undesirable voices within the Temple.

    But Harry didn’t know the deeper reasons. He only knew that the Temple was on the verge of danger.

    After another ten minutes, he was led by the Cardinal to a relatively clean and tidy hall.

    “Wait here. I’ll go get someone.”

    The Cardinal left after uttering those perfunctory words.

    “Farewell, Your Eminence.” Harry bowed to his retreating figure with a fake smile.

    After waiting for a while, he finally saw Paul, whom he had missed dearly.

    However, there was no joy on Harry’s face when he saw Paul. Because there were two other people in front of him: “Pell” and the “Pope,” enveloped in white light.

    “I apologize for not welcoming you sooner, Your Holiness. Please forgive my transgression.” Harry immediately knelt on one knee, showing his submission.

    Kailun walked past Harry without even glancing at him. “Your attitude is commendable. It’s worth the Temple’s effort to treat you. I’m here for two things.”

    Harry, helped up by Paul, quickly replied, “Please speak, Your Holiness. We will do everything in our power to fulfill your requests.”

    Paul, supporting Harry, remained silent. For some reason, he felt that the Pope before him was very familiar. Every time he looked up at “her,” he felt a surge of hatred, an urge to pull out a knife and fight to the death.

    So he could only lower his head and stare at the ground, afraid that his hateful gaze would be exposed.

    It was truly strange. Could there be a connection between the Pope and Kailun?

    “Good. I’ll remember your words.”

    Kailun had Helena toss two prepared contract scrolls to Paul and Harry. “Paul has performed well recently. I intend to promote him and make him a true Holy Son. I believe you both know that Saint Chrissy betrayed the Temple of the Celestial God and sided with that despicable Kailun. Therefore, we need a Holy Son to lead the new generation.”

    Paul: “Huh?”

    Harry: “Huh?!”

    Kailun sat on the main seat in the hall. “What? Is there anything surprising about this? Now is the time to recruit talents. The Temple is happy to accept another useful ninth-rank mage. Moreover, you have an irreconcilable conflict with Kailun. I don’t have to worry about you siding with him.”

    “No, I…” Paul was speechless for a moment, looking at the contract scroll in his hand. It felt strangely familiar.

    Casually throwing contract scrolls was Kailun’s signature move. He suddenly had a vision of Kailun hiding behind the Pope’s white light.

    It was too similar, incredibly similar.

    But how could that be possible? Even with all his abilities, Kailun couldn’t infiltrate the headquarters of the Temple of the Celestial God, let alone disguise himself as the Pope without being detected.

    A surprise attack and infiltration were two completely different levels of difficulty. Kailun couldn’t do it.

    And even if he had infiltrated the Temple, “Pell,” who was always by the Pope’s side, wouldn’t mistake her master, right?

    The most crucial point was that the Pope had just cursed Kailun in front of them. With Kailun’s narcissism, he wouldn’t belittle himself.

    Thinking this way, Paul quickly suppressed his wild guesses.

    Harry glanced at the content of the contract and said, “I apologize, Your Holiness, but contracts are a serious matter for us. Could you give us a few days to consider?”

    The contract’s requirements were simple, just a basic subordinate relationship and some restrictions. It didn’t seem problematic.

    However, having been tricked by contracts many times before, he didn’t dare to sign it rashly. After all, Kailun’s deceitful actions were still fresh in his memory.

    “There’s no time for you to consider. There’s a top-secret piece of information you might not know.”

    Kailun said seriously, “Last night, that despicable Kailun infiltrated Alaye through the teleportation magic circle. Our preparations failed to stop him, and he successfully escaped. After some divination, we’ve confirmed that he’s still hiding in the city, probably planning something sinister. As his enemies, do you think you can escape unscathed?”

    Hearing the Pope’s words, a chill ran down Paul’s spine. He instinctively touched the back of his neck. It was damp again, but this time, his fingers felt a bone-chilling coldness.

    Cold sweat soaked his clothes. Paul recalled the character for “fool” that Kailun had left on his forehead yesterday.

    That demon was definitely playing with him, like a cat toying with a mouse, ready to kill him whenever he got bored.

    Even if he wasn’t Kailun’s main target, it would be difficult for him to escape unscathed. Thinking this way, he realized that he and the Temple of the Celestial God were in the same boat now.

    Paul gritted his teeth and asked, “What will we get in return?”

    “Paul!”

    Harry shouted at him. He didn’t think this was the right choice.

    “It’s okay. I’m just asking. The final decision depends on the reward offered by the Pope.” Paul deliberately raised his voice, as if to make sure the “Pope” heard him.

    Since the Pope needed his help, he could be a bit more assertive and try to get as many benefits as possible.

    Only by becoming stronger could he survive this chaotic situation.

    Kailun: “Good question. I know you’ve walked a difficult path, a path that requires engraving many magic circles. However, you don’t have the ability to do it yourself. To increase your strength, you need someone to engrave them for you. So I’m willing to have the Temple’s ninth-rank mages engrave ninth-rank magic circles for you. How about five?”

    Unexpectedly, Paul refused immediately. “Not enough! At least ten!”

    Kailun was amused by his words. This was what a high-quality “leek” looked like. If all the “leeks” in the world were as self-aware as Paul, he might have already become invincible.

    Kailun slammed the table. “Ambitious! I can have them engrave ten ninth-rank magic circles for you, but only if you can withstand it. The path of the battle mage is not easy. Without talent, blindly pursuing strength will only lead to death. If you can endure it, I can not only give you more resources but also more power. Even the position of Cardinal isn’t impossible.”

    Kailun continued to dangle his bait. The decision to engrave magic circles had already been made. Ottovia’s weakness had weakened him, so he needed to find someone to “replenish” his attributes.

    No one was more dedicated as a “leek” than Paul. Kailun had his eyes on him for a long time.

    Paul’s talent was exceptional. He should be able to withstand ten magic circles, right? Probably?

    Normally, adding ten ninth-rank magic circles would triple Paul’s strength, but that wasn’t what Kailun wanted.

    He would modify these magic circles, making them appear powerful but only increasing Paul’s combat power by one and a half times, turning him into a perfect “vessel.”

    As the vessel’s mana capacity increased, so would Kailun’s free attribute points. He would gain much more from this than Paul.

    After all, mana and combat power weren’t the same thing. Kailun could convert it into attributes with 100% efficiency, but Paul couldn’t.

    “Paul, have you gone mad?! Snap out of it!”

    Hearing that Paul wanted to engrave ten ninth-rank magic circles, Harry completely lost his composure. This was an unprecedentedly crazy move.

    “I’m sorry, Harry, but Kailun is in this city. If I don’t do anything, he’ll play with me until I die. Even if there’s only a one percent chance, I have to try. I don’t want to live under his shadow anymore.”

    Paul shook his head at Harry. After yesterday’s experience, he knew there was no turning back.

    He couldn’t stay stagnant, or he wouldn’t even be able to protect Harry.

    Harry looked into Paul’s eyes and could only sigh helplessly. There was nothing he could do…

    Witnessing this scene, Kailun remained silent. He had already planned Paul’s fate.

    Not only would he have people engrave magic circles for Paul, but he would also grant him some power.

    Unfortunately, he wasn’t going to be charitable. Every gift came with a price.

    Paul’s existence would ignite the internal conflicts within the Temple, gathering all the restless individuals.

    They might create chaos, they might cause damage, but they would all be ruthlessly eliminated by Kailun.

    And Paul would be the scapegoat, the “temporary worker” left to take the blame.

    Was this “returning the favor” in kind?

    Kailun felt that no one was more evil than himself.

    ***

    “leek” means he’s(Paul) someone being exploited or “harvested” for someone(Kailun) else’s benefit.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 227

    Chapter 227: The Devil Has Arrived

    “What do you really want?” The Pope, barely managing to compose herself, asked Kailun.

    Kailun withdrew his hand and propped his chin on it. “Didn’t I already say? I want the position of acting Pope.”

    She frowned. “You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

    Even now, she couldn’t figure out Kailun’s true motives. His actions seemed incredibly complex.

    Kailun chuckled. “What else could it be? World peace? No way. I’m more likely to become the source of chaos than a peacemaker. So what else could it be? Your voluptuous body? Please, you’re just an old woman.”

    Pope: “…”

    As expected, she couldn’t get a straight answer. Looking back on the events of the past two months, Kailun had been hostile towards the Temple of the Celestial God from the very beginning.

    She had investigated the reasons, but it had nothing to do with Harry. There was no root cause for Kailun’s targeting.

    Logically, many of his actions were unreasonable. Any other person would have been crushed by the Temple long ago. Only he had managed to reach this point.

    Now, the Pope had to admit that she had completely failed. She could foresee herself becoming Kailun’s puppet, and perhaps even the entire Temple falling under his control.

    She had many questions about Kailun: Where did his immense magic power come from? Why were his schemes always a step ahead of hers?

    He seemed to know many secrets. Everything that had happened in the past two months seemed to be within his grasp.

    It was unreasonable, incredibly unreasonable. She couldn’t figure out the key, no matter how hard she racked her brains.

    Kailun was shrouded in mystery. She felt she could use this opportunity to learn more about him. After all, she had no better options, right?

    “Give me some reaction! Your indifference is making me feel unaccomplished. Smile, or I’ll immediately contact Chrissy and have her come to the Temple to play ‘stacking burgers’ with you. I’m sure you’ll make many interesting expressions then.”

    Kailun raised his eyebrows at the Pope. Her indifferent reaction wasn’t entertaining at all.

    Among the women he had encountered, the Pope, besides Ottovia, was the oldest, probably around twenty-eight or twenty-nine. She exuded the aura of a mature woman, even more so than Rose.

    She had a voluptuous figure. The thin blanket covering her body revealed her curves, and the soft light cast a warm glow on her fair skin. Her alluring figure held a hint of sacredness.

    In short, she had a holy face and a seductive body, a different flavor from Chrissy.

    Looking at her stirred a desire to “taint” her, to reach out and grab her soft flesh, kneading and shaping it.

    He felt that the title of “pure and seductive” suited the Pope better. Isabella, although possessing considerable charm in her current state, was still too young and innocent.

    “You vulgar scoundrel! You’ll pay for your evil deeds! Chrissy will see through your true nature and leave you one day!”

    The Pope glared at him with disgust. Although she didn’t know what “stacking burgers” meant, she could tell from Kailun’s eyes that it wasn’t anything good.

    “Thank you for the compliment. But what you don’t know is that Chrissy saw my true nature on the first day we met. She accepted all my evil. Instead of leaving me, I think she’s more likely to tie you up and send you to me.”

    Kailun lay down on the pillow. “But that’s all for later. Let’s discuss tomorrow’s plan first. As long as you’re obedient, I won’t carry out a large-scale purge of your Temple. If you perform well, you can still be the Pope after this is all over.”

    The world had suffered under the tyranny of the Temple of the Celestial God for far too long. Now that he had the opportunity, Kailun wouldn’t let it go to waste.

    Stability was essential for him to achieve his goals. But true stability required eliminating the Temple, a major obstacle that stemmed from both his past life and the current conflict of interests.

    To achieve his goals, Kailun would inevitably damage the interests of the Temple and Fate. Reconciliation was impossible.

    “It’s very late now. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” The Pope turned her back to Kailun, pretending to sleep.

    Kailun slapped her perky bottom. “You can rest, but have you considered the danger of turning your back to me? What if I lose control and do something to you?”

    “!!!”

    Feeling a jolt of electricity, the Pope reluctantly turned to face Kailun. This was the only way to prevent him from doing anything sneaky.

    What if this demon took advantage of everyone sleeping and…

    Although she had told him to do as he pleased, she actually cared about her “purity.”

    However, when she turned around, she didn’t see Kailun’s annoying face. He was facing away from her, towards Afra. His previous threat was just a joke.

    Kailun was holding Afra, fast asleep, completely ignoring her presence.

    Feeling slighted, the Pope wanted to strangle him, but her rationality stopped her.

    “That bastard…”

    She muttered under her breath, closed her eyes in frustration, and tried to sleep.

    ……

    “Your Holiness, Holy Son Paul requests to visit Harry. Should we grant his request?”

    Early the next morning, a maid knocked on the door.

    “Refu…” The Pope was about to refuse when Kailun interrupted her.

    Imitating the Pope’s voice, he replied, “Grant his request. But only if I accompany him.”

    “Understood. I’ll make the arrangements right away.” The maid replied and left.

    “I’m not going.” The Pope glared at Kailun coldly.

    Kailun finished combing Afra’s hair and placed the silver comb aside. “Please understand that I’m the Pope now. If you don’t want to be dealing with Temple affairs with a big belly in a few months, then shut up.”

    The Pope didn’t reply, only clenching her fists as she stared at Kailun silently.

    “Your Holiness, don’t give in! You can’t submit to him! The Pope I know would never surrender so easily. I believe in you. Rebel against him!”

    Helena walked over to the Pope and encouraged her.

    “Pell, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You’re just waiting for me to fail so you can trample on me.” The Pope snorted at Helena.

    Helena: “Oh my, you saw through me. But how did you know I wanted to whip you with a barbed whip? And my name is Helena. I don’t know who Pell is.”

    Pope: “…”

    If she ever had a chance to settle scores, she would definitely repay Helena generously.

    “Alright, stop bullying our poor Pope. Helena, come with me. Let’s go meet an old friend. I can already see a field of leeks waving at me.”

    A white light enveloped Kailun, making him look exactly like the Pope.

    “I understand. But if the Pope disobeys in the future, can you let me whip her?” Helena ran to Kailun’s side, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Her green eyes looked much more lively now.

    “Of course. I think no one is more suitable for this job than you. But only if the Pope disobeys. After all, the Pope has many ninth-rank subordinates. Even I’m afraid of her.”

    Kailun patted Helena’s head. This little assassin was also a promising talent.

    However, there was a life-and-death conflict between her and Bella. How to resolve it was up to Bella.

    It wasn’t that he was heartless, but emotions were complex. To treat Bella sincerely, he had to address the issue openly.

    It wasn’t the right time yet, not the time to reveal all the truth.

    Helena played along with Kailun, pretending to be afraid. “Yes, it’s scary. The Pope is a tyrant. She always sends me to assassinate those who disobey her. I’m so scared.”

    Pope: “…”

    In terms of cruelty, she felt she was no match for the Empress or Kailun.

    Most of the people she had ordered Helena to assassinate had serious problems. Of course, she didn’t deny that some of them were due to her personal grudges.

    After all, at her position, killing someone was no different from crushing an ant. Not only could she crush an ant, but she could also silence it completely.

    But was there any difference between her and Kailun?

    They were both hypocrites who pursued their own interests. It was just the pot calling the kettle black.

    Kailun, perhaps sensing her gaze, looked directly into her eyes, as if trying to see through her thoughts.

    The Pope instinctively averted her gaze. Even through the white light, she could feel the mockery in his eyes, as if he was mocking an ignorant child.

    “Sister Afra, I’ll leave the Pope to you. Make sure she doesn’t leave this room.”

    Kailun stopped talking to the Pope. Before leaving, he gave Afra a reminder.

    “Leave it to me. I’ll do my best to fulfill your request.”

    Afra nodded seriously, her expression as impassive as ever.

    “Don’t work too hard. Just treat it as a vacation.”

    Kailun shrugged helplessly and left the room with Helena.

    Since he wasn’t familiar with the inner workings of the Temple of the Celestial God, Helena was essential. She would help him avoid many unnecessary troubles.

    ……

    “Holy Son Paul, you’re in luck today. The Pope has agreed to your request to visit Harry. Come with me.”

    Fifteen minutes later, a cleric in a yellow robe found Paul and conveyed the news.

    Although Paul held the noble title of Holy Son, his status wasn’t even comparable to that of an ordinary bishop. If it weren’t for his ninth-rank strength, he might have already been bullied by some burly men with peculiar tastes.

    “Really? That’s great! Take me there, now!”

    Paul was overjoyed to hear the Pope’s approval. He had made up his mind. This time, no matter what, he would take Harry away.

    Alaye was no longer safe. The demon Kailun had arrived!

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 226

    Chapter 226: The Pope’s Future “Sister”

    “Mmm~”

    Later that night, muffled sounds came from under Ottovia’s covers.

    She had successfully removed the slave collar that Kailun had put on her and was now working on erasing the marks all over her body.

    Only by removing these marks could she escape from this “den of evil.” The thought of that girl named Carol made her want to leave immediately.

    The marks on her face and ears were easy to remove, but the ones on her chest were proving difficult.

    Every time she tried to erase them with mana, they would glow and heat up, sending waves of warmth radiating outwards. It was unbearable.

    “Hng~”

    Ottovia tightly gripped a pillow between her legs, hiding under the covers to prevent Rose from seeing the light emanating from her body.

    However, this turned her bed into a small furnace, the rising heat making her face flush.

    Besides the heat, she also felt an indescribable itch, a deep, bone-chilling itch she had never experienced in her long life.

    “Ugh… I can’t… I can’t hold it anymore…”

    For some reason, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame, her body weakening, a strange wetness spreading.

    But her muffled sounds couldn’t escape Rose’s ears. The latter, who was about to sleep, sat up in annoyance.

    Rose: “Ottovia, can you stop moaning? Don’t you sleep at night?”

    Although she hadn’t experienced it herself, Rose could guess what Ottovia was doing based on her knowledge from books.

    How shameless! Even as a prisoner, she was still thinking about pleasure.

    But Ottovia’s moans did sound pleasurable. Was it really that good?

    Strange thoughts crept into Rose’s mind. For years, her focus had been solely on her kingdom. She had never considered romance or those mundane emotions.

    Now, Ottovia’s sounds were expanding her understanding of the world.

    “I’m not… I’m just… Hng~”

    Ottovia wanted to explain, but the process of removing the marks couldn’t be stopped. She could only utter half a sentence before returning to her struggle.

    “Tsk, how vulgar!”

    Rose snorted and covered her ears with a pillow, but the sounds still seeped through the gaps and reached her ears.

    What was even worse was that it kept reminding her of Kailun. Deep down, she had already accepted her inevitable fate.

    Failure wasn’t scary. What was scary was losing the will to resist. Rose saw herself as a pathetic loser, destined to live under Kailun’s shadow for the rest of her life.

    She was incredibly unwilling. She had to prove her worth, right?

    Lost in her thoughts, Ottovia suddenly vanished in a flash of white light. Sensing the magic fluctuation, Rose immediately threw away her pillow and sat up to investigate. But she was too late. All she saw was an empty bed and a crushed Unlucky Flower.

    ……

    “Yes! I finally escaped! But where am I? Why do I have a bad feeling?”

    Ottovia, having successfully teleported, found herself in an unfamiliar room. After observing for a while, she realized that the room was quite luxurious, clearly not belonging to an ordinary person.

    She felt uneasy. This environment still looked like the Xiya Royal City. She should have teleported far away from the city.

    Her strength was almost completely depleted. She urgently needed to find a hidden place to recover slowly. If that wasn’t possible, she would have to bury herself somewhere.

    Just as she was about to leave, a small, white hand landed on her shoulder. “Where are you going? Since you’re here, why not clean my room?”

    “!!!”

    Ottovia turned around stiffly and saw Carol, wearing pajamas, smiling at her.

    Ottovia’s smile was uglier than crying. “Good evening. I was just passing by. Your room is very clean. There’s no need to clean it.”

    She never expected to teleport into Carol’s room. Was it a coincidence, or something else?

    Carol glanced around her room. It was indeed clean and didn’t need cleaning.

    “Wait here. Don’t run around.”

    She patted Ottovia’s head and walked to the wardrobe by the wall. Opening the bottom drawer, she took out a bottle of viscous “Holy Water.”

    “Slap!”

    Without hesitation, she threw the bottle to the ground, spilling the liquid everywhere.

    Carol clapped her hands. “Alright, now you can clean it, right?”

    This was what Kailun had left for her. When he handed it over, he was clearly mocking her, telling her to “indirectly” give it to Ottovia.

    Producing this type of “Holy Water” wasn’t difficult for Chrissy. She just needed to moan a little. It was practically an inexhaustible resource.

    But tears weren’t as simple. After all, Kailun rarely made Chrissy cry now.

    He would occasionally make her cry during their “activities,” but it was very rare, so the Holy Water Carol collected rarely contained tears.

    Ottovia: “…”

    She clenched her fists, wanting to roar at Carol. But as soon as she raised her head and met her gaze, she quickly lowered it again.

    “What? Do you have a problem with that?” Carol snorted.

    “No, ma’am.” Ottovia pouted, feeling aggrieved. She went to the bathroom, fetched cleaning tools, and started wiping the floor.

    She never imagined that she, once so high and mighty, would experience such humiliation. It was truly mortifying.

    “Work hard. The future will be better. I’m going to sleep now. Go back to the dungeon after you finish cleaning. Remember to wear your collar, understand?”

    Carol stared at Ottovia with her wine-red eyes, her words filled with a threatening tone.

    The poor Ottovia suddenly missed Kailun. She nodded pitifully. “I understand. I’ll go back myself…”

    “Good attitude. Keep it up. Tomorrow’s cleaning duty is also yours.” Carol said as she walked towards her bedroom.

    Ottovia: “Okay…”

    [Ottovia suddenly misses you. Goodwill +1, Total Goodwill -69]

    After Carol returned to her bedroom to rest, Ottovia got down on her hands and knees and started wiping the floor with a towel. Looking at the spilled “Holy Water,” she felt it was a waste, so she cautiously touched it with her finger.

    “That evil woman should be gone, right?”

    She glanced around, making sure Carol had left, and then put her finger, now coated with the “Holy Water,” into her mouth and licked it.

    The strange taste didn’t seem so bad anymore. She had gotten used to it.

    “My strength has increased a little. The Holy Water is truly effective.”

    She muttered to herself after tasting the “Holy Water” on the floor. As if addicted, she didn’t reject it but wanted to taste more.

    After repeating this a few times, Ottovia finally realized what she was doing. “What am I doing? Why am I tasting things off the floor?!”

    She quickly shook her hand, her face flushed with embarrassment.

    “Things on the floor are dirty. I should drink fresh ones.” She comforted herself and quietly walked towards the wardrobe.

    After rummaging through it, she found three bottles of “Holy Water,” one pure and clear, and two viscous and white.

    Excitedly, Ottovia put the clear Holy Water back and then, after eating two Unlucky Flowers, gulped down the two bottles of “Holy Water.”

    “Ah~ That hits the spot~”

    She let out a sound like someone savoring a fine wine, seemingly enjoying it immensely. To avoid wasting any, she even licked the corners of her mouth with her pink tongue.

    “This time, I recovered quite a bit. With a few more bottles, I should be able to try teleporting again. I’ll have to study why I failed today. I’ll endure it for now. When I return, they’ll all die!”

    To avoid feeling embarrassed, she once again engaged in self-persuasion.

    Feeling it wasn’t enough, she tried the remaining bottle of “Holy Water,” but unfortunately, it had no effect.

    For Ottovia, even if Carol discovered her stealing, it didn’t matter. She just wanted to escape this place. At worst, she would be beaten up. Surely Carol wouldn’t kill her, right?

    With this twisted logic, Ottovia quickly finished cleaning the floor and then left the room, running all the way.

    She didn’t obediently return to the dungeon but explored the surroundings. After confirming that she couldn’t easily escape, she returned to the dungeon with a dejected look.

    “This entity… she’s probably really broken.”

    Carol, who had witnessed the entire process from her hiding place, was speechless. She felt that this legendary entity was heading down a path of no return.

    ……

    “Your Holiness, you’re awake. Shall we follow the procedures first, or get straight to business?”

    The Pope woke up to see Kailun sitting by her bed, looking at her with “affection.” She was just as shocked as if she had learned that the Temple of the Celestial God had collapsed.

    Not only that, but she also discovered that Helena was lying beside her, curled up and sleeping soundly.

    The silver-haired girl was lying next to Kailun, her head resting on his arm, fast asleep.

    Judging from their positions, Carol and Helena were sleeping on the outside, while Kailun and the Pope were in the middle. This scene alone made the Pope’s mind go blank for a long time.

    But she eventually recovered and forced herself to appear calm. “Tell me, what are your ‘procedures’? And what’s the ‘business’?”

    “What do you think?” Kailun leaned closer and grabbed the collar around her neck.

    The Pope met his gaze. “If you want my body, take it. It’s just a useless shell.”

    Kailun: “No, the ‘procedures’ I’m referring to are about the position of acting Pope. Have you forgotten our agreement, Your Holiness? I’m only here to claim what belongs to me. As for your ‘shell,’ keep it. I find your daughter, Chrissy, more interesting.”

    “You!”

    Hearing him mention Chrissy, the Pope was enraged, but she quickly calmed down and said with a straight face, “Chrissy is not my daughter. There’s no blood relation between us. If you want to humiliate me through her, you’re mistaken.”

    Kailun chuckled. “It doesn’t matter if there’s no blood relation. I have ways to make you even closer. If I play my cards right, I might even make you call Chrissy ‘sister.’ How about it? Doesn’t that sound exciting?”

    Pope: “…”

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 225

    Chapter 225: Captured

    “Your Holiness, your expression seems rather complex. Do you have anything to say, after betraying our contract?” Kailun waved to the Pope, the unconscious Charles lying a short distance behind him.

    Helena had successfully drawn the Temple’s attention, weakening their defenses.

    Interestingly, he had run into Paul as soon as he arrived and even given him a little “surprise.”

    He had already received Paul’s goodwill feedback and was quite pleased. Such self-aware “leeks” were rare.

    “I haven’t betrayed our contract. These were their own actions. If I were involved, wouldn’t I be suffering the consequences of the contract right now?”

    The Pope answered Kailun’s question while slowly backing away, moving closer to Helena.

    She saw both breaking through and taking Helena hostage as viable options.

    During their previous clash, Helena had been injured and was now at less than half her strength, making her the best target.

    As for why she wasn’t directly confronting Kailun?

    She already had the answer after seeing Afra standing beside him. She finally understood how Kailun had broken through her carefully laid plans.

    Kailun didn’t seem that strong, only around seventh or eighth rank. However, Afra was terrifyingly powerful. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that even two of her wouldn’t be a match for Afra.

    Faced with such a formidable opponent, her instincts screamed at her to retreat and avoid confrontation.

    “It seems Your Holiness isn’t willing to admit your betrayal. But it doesn’t matter. I’m here to fulfill the contract and become the acting Pope. You can disagree, but it won’t change anything, right?” Kailun took a step forward.

    This seemingly ordinary step put the Pope on high alert. She instantly appeared beside Helena, grabbing her by the neck. “Take another step, and I’ll crush her!”

    The white light enveloping the Pope flickered unsteadily.

    Helena, now a hostage, chuckled. She sensed the Pope’s nervousness, her grip tightening around her neck.

    ‘So even the Pope is just an ordinary person who fears death.’

    She tried to speak, to tell Kailun to leave her be, but no sound came out. The Pope’s hand was choking her voice.

    Seeing this, Kailun didn’t rush to rescue Helena. With his current strength, even if her neck was crushed, he could revive her.

    Even if she died, he could bring her back to life, but only within a short time frame.

    Thinking this way, Kailun calmly walked towards the Pope. “Your Holiness, there’s no need to be so dishonorable. Taking my subordinate hostage won’t change the situation. How about we exchange hostages? I’ll trade myself for Helena.”

    Even though Helena knew what Kailun was planning, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.

    She had always been a tool for the Pope, helping her deal with many cruel bishops and followers. In return, she received only strength and a rare eighth-rank Dragon Fang dagger.

    “No need. I’ll release Helena when I leave. I can assure you of that.” The Pope retreated a few steps with Helena, keeping a safe distance from Kailun.

    She knew that his strength wasn’t as simple as it appeared. If she took him hostage, Afra would definitely chase her to the ends of the earth, which would be even worse.

    Now, she could only escape by holding Helena hostage. Confronting Afra alone was unrealistic.

    It was strange. How could such a powerful person exist in this world?

    The current resources couldn’t support the advancement of such an existence. Moreover, Afra was only in her early twenties. Reaching the sixth rank at this age was already considered exceptional.

    The Pope looked at Afra again. After meeting her emotionless gaze, she wisely averted her eyes.

    She couldn’t win, absolutely not. Afra was a monster.

    “That’s a pity. I was going to let you go, but you chose to be stubborn. If you had captured me, I might have even played some games and chatted with you. But you captured the easily angered Helena. Now, you can only wait for her revenge.”

    Kailun shrugged helplessly. It seemed that the Pope had learned her lesson. She finally realized the difference in their strength.

    To “help” the Pope, Kailun allocated all his attributes to Helena.

    “Hmm?”

    The Pope sensed the change in Helena’s strength. Just as she was about to crush her neck, Helena reacted even faster, grabbing her arm and attempting to throw her over her shoulder.

    Although the Pope specialized in magic, she was quite flexible. With a nimble bend, she broke free from Helena’s grasp.

    Seizing the opportunity, she activated a holy artifact hidden on her body and transformed into a beam of white light, fleeing into the distance.

    Helena chased after her for a few steps but gave up. She couldn’t match the Pope’s speed, especially with her injury.

    Even if she teleported next to the Pope, she would still miss her.

    “Whoosh!”

    Just as she stopped, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air beside her. It was like a silver thread stretching towards the horizon, its speed far exceeding the Pope’s.

    “Was that Afra?” She turned to Kailun and asked.

    “Yes, she played a crucial role in breaking through the Temple’s defenses.”

    Kailun looked at Helena. “Thank you for your hard work. You performed well this time. I’ll reward you accordingly later. By the way, how’s your injury? Are you alright?”

    Helena touched her aching abdomen. “I’m fine. I was just hit by the Pope’s magic. I’ll be fine after a night’s rest. Speaking of which, I have to thank you for the power you bestowed upon me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to hold my own against the Pope. How did you do it? This is practically a miracle.”

    Kailun casually replied, “Just a small trick.”

    “You’re so humble.” Helena chuckled and sat down on a large rock nearby.

    Her injury wasn’t serious. She just needed to rest. She felt a sense of relief after surviving this ordeal.

    She had missed the thrill of battle recently, but she had gained many interesting experiences. It wasn’t bad.

    Soon, Afra returned, carrying the unconscious Pope. The white light that had concealed her was gone, revealing a woman in luxurious attire.

    Coincidentally, Charles, who had fainted nearby, woke up and stood up unsteadily.

    He shook his dizzy head and looked at the Pope with blurry vision. In his eyes, the Pope was still as glorious as ever. The only difference was that the Pope and Pell were no longer enemies.

    They seemed to be talking about something. There seemed to be two extra people present, one with silver hair and the other in luxurious clothes.

    “Your Holiness, are you alright?”

    He stumbled towards them.

    “I’m fine. Thank you for your hard work. Stay there and don’t move. I’ll have someone treat your injuries later.” Kailun, enveloped in white light, imitated the Pope’s voice.

    “I’m fine. It’s just a minor injury. I only lost an arm and a leg. I’ll recover after some rest. But didn’t Pell betray us? Why…”

    Charles frowned, looking at Helena sitting on the rock. He couldn’t understand what was going on.

    “It was all an act. Pell has always been my most loyal subordinate.”

    Kailun put a collar on the Pope. “Look, our enemy has taken the bait. As long as we capture her, Kailun will definitely come to us. Don’t ask who she is. I can only tell you that she’s one of Kailun’s concubines. Although her status isn’t high, she’s enough to lure him in.”

    “Huh? Oh…”

    Charles was confused. He couldn’t understand.

    However, he had never doubted the Pope’s identity and wouldn’t question Kailun’s words. He was only wondering if his brain was also injured.

    After listening to the “Pope,” he glanced at Helena. If it was just an act, why had she attacked him so ruthlessly?

    He felt like he had almost been killed.

    “Alright, wait here for treatment. I’ll take the enemy back for interrogation.”

    Kailun lifted the Pope and walked towards the Papal Palace. Afra, supporting Helena, followed behind.

    “Farewell, Your Holiness. May your glory last forever.” Charles, supporting his injured body, bowed to Kailun.

    Only after they had disappeared did he collapse to the ground, completely relaxed. “The Pope seemed a bit strange today. And that silver-haired woman beside him… she’s terrifyingly strong. But was Pell really acting? It doesn’t make sense.”

    Before he could figure it out, Charles fainted again.

    Thanks to the chaos in Alaye, Kailun and his group returned to the Papal Palace safely. He even managed to reach the Pope’s private chambers.

    With his powerful aura, the identical white light, and his perfect imitation of the Pope’s voice, no one suspected him.

    He had to thank the Pope. The high and mighty Pope rarely interacted with her subordinates. Some bishops had served for ten years without even seeing her once.

    “It’s much easier than I imagined. It seems controlling her won’t be difficult.” Kailun tossed the Pope onto her large bed.

    Afra locked the door and returned to Kailun’s side. “What are you going to do?”

    “Let’s learn about the Pope’s daily habits first. Helena, please enlighten us.”

    Kailun beckoned to Helena. “Come here. Let me heal you. Otherwise, you’ll be in pain for a long time.”

    Helena shook her head, clutching her abdomen. “There’s no need to trouble you, sir. It doesn’t hurt much anymore.”

    “Come, sit down. Be obedient.”

    Kailun’s voice was slightly sterner.

    “Okay.”

    Helena walked over, clutching her stomach. She wasn’t used to being close to people.