Chapter 219: How Great Would It Be If He Were My Subordinate? - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Noting that Lynn, blindfolded, did not exhibit the slightest panic or fear, but rather began to negotiate calmly, Shirina, seated at the desk, raised her eyebrows. At that moment, she had taken off her flesh-colored stockings and placed her bare, beautiful feet in cotton slippers, donning a loose, relaxed home-style dress, rendering her whole demeanor somewhat leisurely and comfortable. More composed than expected. But—Herlemius’ Tomb? Shirina lifted her cup, sipping the hot coffee while letting the steam envelop her vision. This topic was currently a confidential matter, known only to Saint Roland VI, the imperial council, and a handful of princes. The entire project was solely handled by Shirina, under her full oversight. It appears that perhaps Iveste let him in on some of the key secrets. But merely knowing some inside information, and then what? Could he possibly resolve her urgent crisis? Moreover, wasn’t her initial intent to uncover the truths hidden within this guy? How could he so easily turn the tables with just a few words? Shirina was just about to speak when Lynn, misinterpreting her prolonged silence as disdain towards his proposal, inquired. “Don’t you trust me? Do you think I'm just a smooth-talking swindler?” Lynn asked softly. “As the mastermind behind the abduction of the Silent Saintess, you don’t seem to have any right to justify your actions.” Shirina responded with a slightly mocking tone. Strange, what was I going to ask earlier? Suddenly realizing she had been led astray by this young man once more, she couldn’t help but gently shake her head. But the night was long, and she still had plenty of patience to engage in this charade with him. Besides, her words contained a hidden trap. Shirina knew clearly that the young man before her wasn’t actually the culprit behind the abduction of the Silent Saintess. The truth was quite the opposite—Tia was the one who had embarked with him on the path of escape. Throughout her life, she had encountered numerous self-proclaimed young talents, most of whom were nothing but superficial. After all, men are such creatures, easily losing themselves when a beautiful woman converses a bit with them. Thus, Shirina, using such a slightly disdainful tone to provoke him, held a probing intent. If Lynn sought to establish favor with her by distancing himself from Tia, claiming “I’m actually the victim abducted by the Silent Saintess,” Shirina’s impression of him would significantly diminish. Simultaneously, she would harbor unprecedented doubt about Lynn’s previous act of taking the blame. Only the devious would perform such contradictory deeds. Fortunately, the young man seemed stumped by the question, fell silent for a moment, then sighed lightly. Choosing to conceal the truth to the very end, it seems? Still somewhat like a man. Shirina pursed her lips, her animosity toward Lynn slightly diminishing. “Remember the first time we met? You were rather sharp-tongued then; how come you’re at a loss for words now?” She shifted, crossing her long, beautiful legs, with the elegance beneath the dress just barely visible. It’s a shame the only man present was blindfolded, unable to appreciate such a sight. “It’s not that I can’t speak but that I don’t know how to respond… After all, given the connection with Princess Iveste, no matter what, you wouldn’t fully trust me.” “In that case, our transaction and cooperation could be entirely based on caution and wariness.” Lynn paused, then continued, “Of course, if you doubt my capabilities, I can—” “Helping my incapable younger sister climb up from the bottom of the ranks within just two months, and singlehandedly securing five thousand points in the royal selection score… Lynn Bartleon, if you lack ability, then perhaps no one would dare claim they possess it.” Unexpectedly, Shirina interrupted him, observing him with keen interest. Initially learning about Lynn’s feats filled her with disbelief, given how challenging securing points in the royal selection was; as a competitor herself, she understood best. The current Herlemius’ Tomb incident, even if handled well, could earn only about two thousand points, including a promise from Saint Roland VI. Typically, earning a few hundred points a month was already a good gain. Therefore, upon realizing Lynn’s accomplishments were genuinely achieved, a slight curiosity toward him arose within her. It wasn’t of a romantic kind but rather the yearning of a leader for competent subordinates. Such is the nature of humans. Even the Second Prince, Felite, upon meeting Lynn at the frontier, experienced unprecedented excitement, desiring to bring him over from Iveste but ultimately failed. Shirina had heard of this and, aware of Iveste’s possessive tendencies, had merely pondered over Lynn’s allegiance without extending any olive branches. Seeing him approach her proactively, one reason Shirina chose not to report this was the restlessness stirring within her heart. At this instant, she forgot her original intentions. Or perhaps, regarding whether Lynn was indeed the “Connected Limb,” after a brief exchange, she had already arrived at an answer. It wasn’t that she easily believed the young man before her but had seen firsthand the dark methods of those aristocratic worms. Understanding this, she decided to follow her heart’s decision. “Go on, then.” Shirina arched her foot slightly, the elegant curve making her cotton slippers sway, “The specifics of the trade you mentioned, what are they exactly?” Seeing her finally show a hint of interest, Lynn heaved a sigh of relief internally. Progress had reached this point, indicating a high likelihood of success. “To demonstrate my sincerity, I’ll first explain what returns I can offer,” Lynn sat up slightly, speaking with a serious tone, “I’m aware of your pressing concern right now; it is none other than that mysterious tomb related to the First Epoch Ancient God.” Ancient God?! Upon hearing this term, Shirina nearly rose from her seat. The connection between the tomb and the First Epoch was intelligence acquired through numerous sacrifices by the gravedigger squad. She thought she had accorded it enough importance, but the words from this young man left her utterly astonished. In the First Epoch, filled with darkness and chaos, many were deemed gods. Even many of today’s rank six or seven beings were labeled “gods” back when the extraordinary system was unclear. Yet those who could truly be called “Ancient Gods” were uncommon. Only fragments of ancient texts hinted at a glimpse of their madness and ineffable presence. If indeed an “Ancient God” was involved, the danger level of the entire affair would undoubtedly escalate several notches higher. Shirina frowned deeply, scrutinizing the young man before her. Was he exaggerating to elevate his value to leverage a return? After all, how could this guy possibly know such information? A down-on-his-luck noble heir, he couldn’t possibly relate to the First Epoch. “That’s impossible.” Returning from her shock, Shirina took a deep breath, “Judging by the extraordinary factors in the tomb, the being buried within doesn’t exceed the seventh rank, even considering the passage of time, it shouldn’t be...” “The Ornn City incident, no one thought they'd be dealing with a 0-level seal tied to a high-dimensional demon.” Lynn shut her down with just one sentence. Seeing some lingering disbelief, the young man sighed: “Additionally, before resolving the seal disturbance, no one believed I could survive against two major demons.” This statement extinguished her desire to argue any further. Indeed. This was already an absurd world; nothing was entirely impossible. An eerie silence quickly settled in the room. After a brief moment, Shirina parted her soft lips and spoke, "Regardless, what you’ve said lacks evidence. I have no reason to trust you, nor can I recklessly risk the lives of my people on such dubious information. You—" “When this matter concludes, I will personally accompany you to the tomb, ensuring its complete exploration,” Lynn interrupted firmly, each word laden with undeniable resolve. Shirina was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t anticipated that the young man before her would possess such boldness. Anyone with a glimpse of the inside story knew how perilous Herlemius’ Tomb was. If not for the orders from Saint Roland VI, she would never have chosen to uncover this ancient site, likely to bring disaster upon the empire. Simultaneously, a faint belief in the intelligence Lynn shared took root in her heart. "But there's one thing I hope we can agree on." At this moment, Lynn shifted the conversation. “Go on,” Shirina said. “No matter what, do not involve my lady in this matter.” Lynn spoke firmly, as if it were an inviolate boundary. After all, his initial decision to pose as the limb inheritor was a strategy to quickly solve the case and prevent Iveste from having to venture into Herlemius’ Tomb. Hearing this, Shirina paused for a few seconds before nodding. "Regarding that, I can agree to your terms." Indeed, during a long-overdue night chat with her sister Iveste after the recent ball, she repeatedly hinted at the dangers of Herlemius’ Tomb. Ultimately, she had some sympathy for her younger sister and did not want to see her encounter danger. What she hadn’t expected was that Lynn’s loyalty far exceeded her imagination. Despite the curse mark on Iveste’s face, he was willing to go to such lengths for her—a commitment worthy of admiration. Regrettably, she was unlikely to ascend to the throne, rendering all current efforts and attempts futile. Thinking this, Shirina discreetly collected her thoughts. She wasn’t particularly elated merely by Lynn’s promise. Having discussed the returns, it was time to talk about what she needed to offer. Shirina regarded the young man with an assessing gaze. “So, what do you intend to gain from me?” Since it was a trade, it should naturally carry equal weight. She had considered that, given the involvement with Herlemius’ Tomb, he might make some rather excessive demands, such as completely quelling the anger of the imperial council or absolving him of any charges. Alternatively, requesting a new identity to lead a superior life elsewhere. To be fair, although simpler than dealing with Herlemius’ Tomb, these demands were still based on mere verbal agreements, leaving room for post-resolution reneging. Naturally, Shirina couldn’t proceed without caution. As he mentioned earlier, the transaction didn’t require trust and could be fully established on vigilance and doubt. Without much hesitation, Lynn straightforwardly stated his request. “I need to borrow the sealed bell on your wrist.” He spoke slowly, “Of course, I don’t require you to transfer control, just your assistance in conducting a trial.” This trial was crucial for Lynn, directly impacting Tia’s future. In slightly dramatic terms, it might be his final ripple. Days of traveling and battling had long drained Lynn physically and mentally, sustained only by sheer willpower. No one could stand by his side on this path. Even the witch, after accessing past memories, chose to respond with cold indifference, clearly demonstrating her anger at his defiance. Thus, he had just one chance. As previously stated, the opponent was the unprecedented true form of a deity, and once again, he had to wager his life just to barely qualify for a seat at the table. What the actual outcome would be still remained unknown. Upon hearing Lynn’s request, Shirina fell into a prolonged silence. The issue wasn’t the feasibility of it. Quite the contrary. Considering the risk he'd face afterward, simply borrowing her level 0 sealed artifact made the demand strikingly easy. So easy it felt almost deceptive. Yet, the firmness and resolve unmistakably conveyed in the youth’s voice led Shirina to instinctively dismiss such doubts. Unlike Tia and Iveste, her ability to discern people’s true nature was far superior. After a lengthy pause, Shirina spoke again, “I agree to your demand, but...” “Before that, could you answer two questions?” “Please, go ahead.” Straightening her posture slightly, Shirina revealed her full contours as she earnestly asked, “The first question... Your request—is it not for yourself?” Lynn hesitated briefly before choosing honesty, “Of course not.” “Tia?” Shirina pressed on. Lynn chuckled silently, “That’s your second question.” He seemed unwilling to respond directly. But from his reaction, the underlying truth was already apparent. Taking a deep breath, Shirina found herself reassessing Lynn Bartleon, inch by inch. She had noticed a clue earlier. This guy... seemed never to consider his own interests. Even the earlier discussion about the rewards of their deal had shown no concern for his potential life risk post-tomb exploration, focusing solely on not dragging Iveste into the affair. For some reason, Shirina suddenly felt a bit envious. Envious that her underachieving younger sister could be so fortunate as to win such loyalty from him. If only he were my subordinate. For a fleeting moment, this thought surfaced in her mind. But the next second, Shirina forcefully shook her head to dispel it. "The second question." Desiring a distraction, she continued, "This sealed artifact of mine is sequence level 0, the most dangerous tier, so before proceeding, I need to know your purpose in borrowing it." In response, beneath the blindfold, an intense and dangerous light flickered in Lynn's eyes. “I need to… awaken the demon within me.”