52 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 52: The Death of Lynn (Part 2) "Miss Milani," Lynn asked while lying on the hospital bed, "how can one leave an unforgettable impression on a woman?" Hearing this, the brunette girl stopped her examination. She glanced at Lynn, a trace of concern appearing on her face. "I know my body holds great allure for you, but isn't it a bit early for such thoughts?" "No one has such desires towards your body," Lynn retorted sarcastically. "Impolite little brat," Milani responded, rolling her eyes in mock annoyance before resuming her usual relaxed demeanor. She picked up an instrument from nearby and started measuring his head. "Interestingly," she mused aloud while working, "after you, I tried with fifteen more subjects, but none were successfully hypnotized. Perhaps your case is unique?" In a way, she guessed right. Those death-row prisoners didn't possess a godlike skill like the Ingestor. Lynn internally scoffed at the thought. The two chatted casually as Milani conducted her examination. Lynn, completely cooperative, lay still throughout. "Ah, I almost forgot. Her Highness asked me to give this to you," Milani remembered midway through the examination, tossing a small bottle to Lynn. Catching it, Lynn noticed a tiny green light, like a firefly, floating inside. He was momentarily stunned. "This is..." "Correct," Milani nodded. "This is the latest research achievement from Lab Eight, a god-bestowed factor stripped of its original owner's imprint. You should be quite familiar with it." Lynn fell silent. He indeed recognized it—part of the plan by the Mosgra family that led to him becoming a god-forsaken. Those thoughts always ate away at him. Why were the Batlion family so targeted, like wolves pouncing on prey? Only the day he had his revenge might bring clarity. "To acquire this, Her Highness spent considerable resources," Milani remarked seriously. "She might seem domineering, but she deeply values you." I'd rather not have such regard, Lynn thought with a hint of disdain. Milani noted his silence and let out a gentle reminder, "This is a god-bestowed factor from the faith of 'Holy Cognition.' Among the options for you, it's the best fit. This faith thrives in the republic of Sirenster on the southern continent, where most followers are scholarly wise. Although not strong warriors, they provide keen intellect and exceptional memory—ideal if pursuing technical research." "You know how to use it, right?" "Of course," Lynn replied perfunctorily. Not that it mattered; he wouldn't use it anyway. Real men fight! Even now, his goal remained unchanged—he needed to possess the strongest god-bestowed factor and overturn the damn world himself. To achieve this, he planned for the future Terminus Witch to remember him eternally and willingly make him her follower. But he needed to hasten. A delay in achieving supernormal status despite possessing a god-bestowed factor might draw suspicion. Lynn sighed at his thoughts. "By the way, in your opinion, what is the most profound emotion?" he asked, curious. "Anger? Despair?" Milani pondered a moment, then smiled gently and shook her head, "Neither." "Then what is it?" Lynn inquired further. "Anger and despair might be intense initially, but they fade over time," Milani explained, "Only those that grow stronger with time, those that last, are truly profound. Like regret." Lynn had to admit, it was mature wisdom indeed—wait, what? Suddenly, a revelation flickered in his mind. He might finally know how to make the Terminus Witch remember him forever. "Madam, are you knowledgeable in alchemy?" "Are you underestimating me?" ... "Knock, knock." "Come in," Ivyst softly responded upon hearing the gentle rapping at her door. At that moment, after a long workday, she reclined in a velvet chair by the window, appearing weary. Her legs crossed, she twiddled a glass of wine between her fingers, the rich red liquid swirling under the moonlight. With the cold demeanor she held around others melted away, Princess Ivyst seemed slightly softer. She had traded her daytime attire for a sheer, white lace gown, with her black hair cascading to her shoulders, embodying elegance and intellect. Yet, the moment she saw who entered, a familiar smirk curled her lips, erasing all previous composure and intellectual grace, revealing her inherent mischievous nature. Pleased at Lynn's obedient presence in her chamber, Ivyst felt satisfied. Clearly, he was growing more compliant, like a well-trained pet. Musing on this, Ivyst activated her extraordinary power, preparing to hypnotize Lynn when he came near to uncover the secrets he'd withheld today and to ascertain how to forge an alliance with Duke Tyr Uss—an issue of utmost importance to her. Relying on that bunch of useless nobles was futile. Surprisingly, this seventeen-year-old boy was her only dependable ally. Pondering this, she watched Lynn approach her slowly. Just as she was about to raise her hand, the young man abruptly spoke, "Your Highness, I have an immodest request." ... "Your Highness, I have an immodest request," Lynn repeated, halting before the stunningly beautiful woman. Just raised, her hand paused mid-air. Ivyst narrowed her eyes, "What is it?" "I seem to recall you possess a ring capable of detecting lies," Lynn noted, "The one you wore when the Orthodoxy messengers arrived." Caught, was he? It wasn't entirely unexpected; she hadn't intended to keep it a secret. Curiosity piqued, Ivyst noted the shift in his demeanor—unusually calm and devoid of his usual feigned subservience. Intriguing. Sipping her wine, Ivyst replied nonchalantly, "I do have such a ring. Why?" "I hope you will wear it," Lynn requested with a bow, "I need you to discern the truth in what I am about to say." "Very well," Ivyst agreed, curious to see what he would do. She retrieved the ring and slipped it onto her slender ring finger. "Then I'll begin," Lynn stated as she complied, nodding slightly. Under Ivyst's scrutiny, Lynn took a deep breath. "My first statement is... With my full support, you stand a seventy percent chance of winning the royal selection." The sudden declaration caused Ivyst's hand to tremble slightly as she sat upright, looking at the young man in astonishment. The ring remained unresponsive, indicating that, in Lynn's mind, his claim was undeniably true. Though unsure of how he calculated such odds or whether they were reliable, based on his previous impressive skills and quick thinking during crises, Ivyst was inclined to believe it was an accurate self-assessment. Even if the actual odds weren't as high as seventy percent, for Ivyst, who stood almost no chance of winning, it was a godsend. But... why bring this up all of a sudden? Ivyst felt both excited and puzzled. It was, after all, the first time Lynn had opened up to her. She hadn't expected him to offer such assurance. Without addressing her confusion, Lynn continued, "The second thing I want to say is that from the first day I was captured until now, I've never stopped yearning for freedom." The ring showed no reaction. Her earlier good mood vanished instantly. Ivyst was displeased. "You..." She began to speak, but Lynn cut her off once again. He smiled slightly, "I've said two things, Your Highness. In exchange, I hope you'll say something into the ring for me." "And what would that be?" Ivyst asked, frowning. "In my eyes, Lynn Bartleon is an independent being with human dignity, not a slave for entertainment." Upon hearing this, Ivyst's eyes turned icy cold. An invisible wave of malice spread across the room. "Are you threatening me?" Ivyst's voice was chilling. Ignoring her question, Lynn shook his head, "Is that a refusal? In that case, I have a third thing to say." "Ivyst, I'm tired of you and your tedious games," Lynn declared nonchalantly, changing his tone. "So, let all this end today." He pulled out a vial from his pocket. Under the lamplight, it contained a clear, viscous liquid. "This is a pure essence of water demon toxin," Lynn explained calmly. "A regular human would die from heart paralysis within a minute of ingesting it." Watching the ring remain unresponsive and hearing the boy's unsettling words, Ivyst felt a wave of unease. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice tense. Simultaneously, endless thorns appeared from thin air, rushing toward Lynn to restrain him. But they were too late. Seeing both bewilderment and anxiety in Ivyst's eyes, Lynn smiled. "I'm doing... this." With those words, he downed the liquid from the vial in one swift motion.