Chapter 45: Being a Villain Isn’t So Bad
The early bird gets the worm. The Fran Black Market at dawn was always full of danger and opportunity.
Shady magic potion peddlers hawked their unapproved concoctions, slave traders with dog leashes attached not to dogs, but to beastkin crawling on their knees, bound by contracts.
Hat-wearing merchants from colorful mushroom houses displayed goods from all over the world. These diminutive figures possessed sharp business acumen. If you wanted to get rich, you could try your luck with them, but only if you had enough fingers to trade; otherwise, it was a simple exchange of goods and money, best to stay away from these mushroom-headed madmen.
And then there were the mercenaries lining the streets, appraising passersby…
“Look at that fine lass, that child-bearing ass, swaying so enticingly! Too bad she’s a dark elf, not my type…”
“Come on, everyone knows you have a thing for magic-powered mechs, wishing you could stick your barrel in…”
“I’ll buy a Bang Bang Potion, pre-mixed, no bubbles… I’m going to blow up my wife for cheating on me with a prostitute!!”
Vulgar language mixed with the cacophony of the market, assaulting the senses of newcomers.
Some were hardened criminals with hundreds of lives on their hands, some were rookie mercenaries being shown the ropes by veterans, and others were just passersby, unwilling to linger in this dangerous place.
Each carried their own secrets and sorrows, forced to abandon their dignity and live in the shadows of society.
Baptized in the blood and violence of day and night, many had lost their original intentions, even forgetting their own names.
As long as you had money, you could buy anything here.
Lack of imagination would only hinder you in this gold mine, and opportunity often lay in the hands of a select few.
…
“So slow…”
Lena raised her arm to shield her eyes from the glaring sun.
She had checked the time countless times, but instead of the person she was waiting for, she was met with a group of leering thugs.
The result?
Lena turned her face, her beautiful features a stark contrast to the row of lifeless faces behind her.
“You all want me? Then stay with me forever.”
The skeletal warriors nodded stiffly, their jaws clattering to the ground.
Many witnessed this scene, some marveling at Lena’s strength, while others remained indifferent.
In this lawless place, human life was as cheap as dirt. Only the strong preyed on the weak; this was the eternal theme of the Fran Black Market.
People died when they were killed; they were used to it.
And they had seen people like Lena, controlling corpses for protection.
But none as powerful as Lena. After all, Necromancers were rare, and high-ranking ones even more so.
“Senior Lena…”
“Senior Lena!”
Alice and Emma walked together, Caramy trailing behind, expertly utilizing his professional skills to approach unnoticed.
“Everyone’s here?”
Lena frowned. They were later than expected. Weren’t they afraid of angering her?
“There was a slight mishap. Imperial Princess Diana appeared and invited us to the freshman ball. It was hard to refuse…” Emma stammered, hesitant to continue.
Lena: “You agreed?”
“No, we wouldn’t dare,” Alice said. On the way, she had learned of Lena’s current rank from Caramy. Lena was the towering figure she had dreamed of, powerful enough to blot out the sun. “Emma and I made an excuse to leave, but…”
Lena’s gaze swept over the two delicate faces, settling on Caramy.
Caramy sighed, choosing his words carefully. “Yes, I was held up by Princess Diana. Under pressure, I agreed to join her faction…”
Afraid of being misunderstood, Caramy quickly added, “I believe with my professional skills, I can infiltrate the princess’s faction and gather intelligence. If you’re against the princess, I can definitely help you!”
“Don’t worry, it’s a minor issue.”
Lena took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe nonexistent sweat from Caramy’s face, her smile beautiful and deadly.
“Do I look like someone who holds grudges? It’s good that you’re staying with Diana as an informant. It’s best if you become her right-hand man, making her completely trust you and entrust you with important matters, which you can then relay to me…”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Caramy didn’t dare breathe too loudly, afraid of provoking Lena and being killed a hundred times over.
The feeling of repeatedly teetering between life and death was unforgettable, haunting his dreams and waking him up in a cold sweat.
Thanks to Lena, Caramy hadn’t dared to sleep these past two days.
He simply couldn’t. Closing his eyes brought back the fear that surpassed death. Even if he invited a few beautiful succubi to lull him to sleep, he would only be plagued by nightmares. Who could sleep like that?
Compared to Diana von Tepes’s straightforward expression of emotions, Lena Falmouth’s methods were far more terrifying. Only those who had experienced it firsthand knew Lena’s true nature.
And unfortunately, Caramy had experienced it dozens of times because of his loose tongue.
Each time a different kind of death, he was almost becoming a masochist…
“Here are three notes. Find the items listed on them before sunset, and you’ll pass the test. I’ll recognize your position within the Falmouths and grant you my protection.”
Lena distributed the notes to the three of them.
“Oh, and my undead creation will be following you during this time, so don’t even think about running or snitching. You know I hate dishonest people.”
“No problem, no problem, I won’t say a word, even if I die!”
Caramy nodded vigorously, clearly terrified.
Alice presented the report she had prepared overnight, along with Emma’s diary, which detailed the Saintess election, including information on the other known candidates, their vote counts, even their measurements, preferences, sexual experiences, and sensitive spots…
“Quite informative.”
Lena seemed impressed, reaching out to test the two nuns’ softness.
Surprisingly delightful!
Like two warm marshmallows enveloping her hand, soft and delicate, truly top-notch!
And seeing their embarrassed expressions, Lena almost wanted to devour them whole.
Ah, calm down, she couldn’t be too obvious, it would make her seem like a low-class gold digger…
Sensing Lena’s heated gaze, Alice, ever the pragmatist, and Emma, having grown up in the monastery and thus more mature than their peers, unbuttoned the top two buttons of their clothes, revealing their ample bosoms, a tempting, milky fragrance filling the air.
“If Senior Lena wants, we can do it right here.”
“Since Alice has said so, Emma… Emma is also willing…”
For the first time, Lena was surrounded by two beautiful girls with generous assets, their soft bodies pressing against her arms, a blessing usually reserved for harem anime protagonists.
Being a villain wasn’t so bad…