A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

She frowned her eyebrows even more upon seeing Suellen's request for the first time.

The request was to create a data system "capable of branching into sub-units, allowing many people to simultaneously possess the system."

Ravenna initially feared that the true value of the data system, as proposed by Ansel, had been discovered.

However, it seemed Suellen had not fully realized this potential but had merely approached the idea.

However, considering such an expansion of the data system was indeed impressive… no wonder she's the princess designated by the empress to oppose Evora.

"Is it very difficult?" Suellen tilted her head slightly, "I believe, given Miss Ziegler's capabilities, it shouldn't be a problem."

"...I am currently only a third-stage sorcerer," Ravenna replied, placing the documents on the coffee table and pushing them towards Suellen, clearly indicating her reluctance to proceed with the transaction.

It was natural for Ravenna to avoid anything that might lead to the data system's true functions being revealed.

Any excuse would suffice to decline.

Yet, Suellen didn't seem ready to give up, raising an eyebrow, "As far as I know, the creation of the data system relies entirely on Miss Ziegler's extraordinary cognitive abilities and unique logical system. The requirement for power isn't as strict, is it?"

Before Ravenna could respond, Suellen chuckled, "You don't need to make excuses to refuse me, Miss Ziegler."

"..." After a moment of silence, Ravenna calmly asked, "So, may I refuse?"

Suellen's smile was warm and inviting, "Of course, I don't have the power to force you, nor would I want to. I'm not like my dangerous sister."

But before Ravenna could refuse, Suellen added, "Wouldn't you want to hear the price I'm willing to offer before declining?"

"It's not about the price—"

"Eileen."

Suellen's eyes narrowed slightly, "In addition to abundant resources and the favor and support of the four factions of the Etheric Academy, I'm also willing to provide a crucial clue regarding Eileen's death."

"The first point might be negotiable, but the second and third..."

Suellen said, her smile growing as she observed Ravenna's stiff expression, "I think that should be enough for you to consider, Miss Ziegler."

"...No."

Ravenna firmly refused after taking a deep breath, "Unless you change the requirements for the customized data system, I will not agree, as the value is not equivalent."

"Regarding... my grandfather's death," Ravenna added, as if to pressure Suellen, "Lord Ansel will assist me."

"Hmm? But does this conflict with the clues I've provided you?"

Suellen, however, was not the least bit annoyed; instead, she continued to advise and tempt with a smile, "The clues given to you by Lord Ansel, surely, are just that as well? Because you cannot afford the price of obtaining the answers directly from him. Given this... why not gather some clues from me, and then combine them with Lord Ansel's, to uncover the truth at the least possible cost?"

"You see, all I desire is a data system."

"..."

Ravenna fell silent.

Indeed, if she had clues from Suellen, in addition to those from Ansel... it might not be long before she could discover the cause of her grandfather's death, identify the murderer, and uncover the truth.

But the data system... no, that was absolutely out of the question.

Even a simple customization would be fine, but it could threaten Ansel's concept, the potential of the etheric network, it should not exist!

Seeing Ravenna still silent, the confidence and sweet smile on the Young Princess's face gradually faded.

"Could it be... you're being a bit too greedy, Miss Ravenna?" Suellen's tone cooled slightly, "Has Ansel's support given you such courage? Do you truly believe that Ansel values you so much?"

"I simply cannot create that thing as per your request, that's all."

Ravenna looked into Suellen's eyes and responded thus.

"…What?"

The Young Princess's brows furrowed deeper: "You really can't do it?"

"To split a common offspring from the data system is too difficult, I simply cannot do it now, and naturally, no one else could possibly do it either."

"…"

Suellen narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly pondering something, and after a while, she asked again: "Then when is the earliest you can complete it?"

"At least it would take years."

Hearing this, the Young Princess closed her eyes, and after a few seconds, reopened them, returning to her gentle and beautiful demeanor.

"Well then, I'll change the conditions, forget about the offspring... let's go back to the original basic requirements, but slightly enhanced—can you create the most stable, largest magical record library out of this data system?"

"That's no problem, but you'll have to do the data entry work yourself," Ravenna replied without hesitation.

Her decisive answer improved Suellen's mood somewhat, and the iris-like pure girl slightly lifted her head, her smile radiant: "Very well, I appreciate your straightforwardness.

The funds and resources will be sent to the Tower of Babel immediately, and people from the four faculties of the Etheric Academy will come back for exchange and learning, as a simple gesture of sincerity to start with—of course, not to provoke or cause trouble. Make sure your people are also aware."

"As for the end..."

Suellen paused: "I won't keep you in suspense any longer, this piece of information is indeed very precious, and undoubtedly valuable to you as well, I've stepped back, you originally shouldn't have been able to obtain this intelligence, but..."

The Young Princess sighed helplessly: "But who asked you to be involved with Lord Ansel?"

When threatening her, it's "Do you think Lord Ansel really values you?", and when cooperating with her, it's "Who asked you to be involved with Ansel?" Sometimes... compared to arrogant Evora, Ravenna despised the hypocritical Young Princess before her even more.

And at this moment, this hypocritical Young Princess... would be the starting point of her irreversible path.

"Listen well, Ravenna."

Suellen stood up, walked over to Ravenna, and whispered in her ear: "The murderer of your grandfather."

"—Is among those closest to him."

*