Chapter 35: I’m No Gentleman, But I Can Listen
Alice and Emma appeared, pushing through the dense bushes, emerging from the dimly lit snow-needle forest, their expressions uneasy.
“H-hello!”
Emma addressed Lena, who was reclining on the bench.
Lena didn’t respond, burying her face deeper into Angel’s soft lap, enjoying the lap pillow service from the empire’s popular idol.
“Speak up if you have something to say. Do I need to ask first?” Angel, seeing their hesitation, spoke up for them.
Alice reacted quickly, stating their request, “In the upcoming Saintess election, can we serve you alongside Junior Angel? Ah, I mean, we desperately need a strong backer, and Senior Lena seems suitable…”
Alice was speaking to Lena, but also explaining their reasons for switching sides to Angel.
To appear more convincing, Alice had smeared a mixture of blood and mud on her face, as if she had just endured a difficult journey.
“Catherine is too aggressive in her campaign for Saintess. We’re worried her aggressiveness will lead to her downfall, so we wanted to distance ourselves. And as you can see…”
Alice clutched her bleeding arm, swaying as if about to collapse with Emma supporting her.
“A few days ago, Junior Angel’s pet white dragon was cursed with necromantic magic. It was actually Catherine’s doing. To eliminate her competition, she hired a fourth-rank Necromancer to cast a curse, aiming to break Junior Angel’s spirit. Emma and I were there, we saw it with our own eyes.”
Alice’s impassioned performance was so convincing that even Angel felt like giving her an Oscar.
“I’m sorry, I can’t make that decision right now.” Angel shook her head. “But do you remember that Necromancer?”
“Yes!”
Alice’s eyes lit up. “We have his address and contact information.”
Angel: “Tell me.”
“Well…” Emma hesitated, looking at Alice.
Angel offered a bargaining chip. “If the information is accurate, I might be able to persuade Lena to let you bask in the glory of the Falmouths…”
Insignificant pawns destined for mediocrity, who would care whether their refuge was rubble or a roof?
If it rained, they would find shelter. If the roof was sturdy, they would settle down.
“Thank you!” Alice and Emma were about to bow.
“Don’t thank me.” Angel stopped them, like a secretary handling trivial matters for her CEO. “Just tell me what you know, and then you can leave…”
In other words, don’t disturb her and Lena’s rendezvous. They needed to maintain their togetherness.
After all, they had already come out, and third wheels were annoying, no matter the world.
“Okay.”
Alice recounted the entire story.
She sold out her teammate faster than a rocket launch, even shocking Angel.
Angel glanced at Lena, finding her resting with her eyes closed, seemingly unaware of their conversation.
“I didn’t expect your memory to be so good, remembering so many hidden details…”
“More knowledge, more power to protect ourselves.”
Alice’s answer was simple, but Angel had to consider whether they would betray her and Lena in the same way.
She had to be cautious.
This wasn’t just Lena’s test for her, but also a crucial opportunity for her to gain Lena’s trust.
A bright future beckoned!
Strive! Fight! Go, Angel! You can do it!
Angel took a deep breath. “Can you still contact that Necromancer?”
“He lives in the Fran Black Market. He seems to be short on money, taking on jobs not suitable for a Necromancer. I think as long as the reward is sufficient, he’ll take the bait… Um, do you want to do something to him?” Alice asked, seemingly worried about being implicated.
Hearing the suspicion in Alice’s voice, Angel was almost certain of their fate.
Traitors would always be traitors; you couldn’t tame a wolf.
If she were Lena, she would never allow them to join the Falmouths. It would be like planting a time bomb, having to constantly worry about their betrayal. The risks far outweighed the rewards.
Thinking about what Lena would do…
The image of a gray-haired tyrant appeared in her mind.
“How about this, you go back and make a detailed report for me. We’ll meet tomorrow. Is that okay?”
“No problem!” Alice readily agreed.
Angel gave her signature sweet smile. “It’s settled then. See you tomorrow.”
…
Alice and Emma left.
Lena slowly opened her eyes, as if waking from a long sleep, or perhaps she hadn’t been asleep at all.
“You’re learning my insidious ways quickly. You have a tenth of my wickedness.”
“I didn’t learn from you! I was just thinking about what you would do. Besides exploitation and oppression, you’re just a venomous snake.”
“I thought you would take this opportunity to scold me more harshly.”
Lena sat up from Angel’s lap, her gray hair pulling taut. A few strands were caught between Angel’s legs, beneath her nun’s habit, and her scalp stung as she sat up.
“That’s all? Ouch!”
“Serves you right, hee hee.”
Angel waited a second before releasing her legs, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Seeing Lena in a predicament was a delight, slightly easing the pain from yesterday.
But she quickly extinguished the flames before Lena could get angry. “You said you wanted to play the part, so I’m cooperating…”
“By the way, are those two insignificant lackeys really that important? They seem ordinary, even their talent is mediocre. Or are you playing the long game, saving the bigger fish for later?”
With Angel’s intelligence, it wasn’t difficult to guess Lena’s true intentions. She quickly listed several possibilities, eliminating them one by one.
“I feel like you can predict what’s going to happen. Do you also have a talent for divination?”
Lena almost burst out laughing at this conclusion. “You won’t understand for a while. Just know that if you obey me, I can guarantee you’ll become the Saintess. That’s enough. Isn’t it all written in the contract? Didn’t you read it?”
“I…”
Angel hadn’t actually read it carefully.
She had been too anxious to save Little White, signing her name without paying attention to the contents. Now that she thought about it, she had been too impulsive!
“Anyway, we’re on the same side now. I’ll help you improve your reputation, and you won’t bully me anymore. As for the contract, we won’t sign it. A gentleman’s agreement.”
“Who’s the gentleman? You? Or me?” Lena teased.
“Don’t be a scoundrel!”
Angel hopped up, hands on her hips, standing before Lena.
Her usual energy returned, like when she was singing on stage, holding the microphone, her true self, performing lively dance moves for her adoring fans…
“I’m serious, Lena.” Angel approached Lena, crouching down and whispering.
Lena rested her forehead on her hand, not looking at Angel, a smile playing on her lips. “I’m serious too, kitten. And you should call me Master first, then speak to me in a respectful tone.”
“Mas…Master…” Angel said, a mixture of shame and anger in her voice.
“Hmm?”
“Damn it! I can’t stand you! Master!”
“Hahahaha, use a cuter tone, treat me like your fan, use your idol skills.”
After a moment of silence,
“Master?~ Suki?~ Daisuki?~”
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