Chapter 195 The Late Victim - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

"Death is the least I am willing to do for you." This was what Lynn unconsciously uttered when he was on the verge of death due to Sia's severe torture in the interrogation room. This very statement engulfed Tia in a wave of guilt, leading to everything that unfolded afterwards. Yet ultimately, she only felt this way because of the harrowing condition Lynn was in at that time. Setting aside this primary factor, Tia didn't actually have much to think about regarding these words. Given her personality and character, she remained indifferent to any man, so how could she possibly be swayed by sweet promises from a man? In truth, she felt nothing remarkable. Those seemingly ambiguous words left her feeling at a loss. They felt too vague to evoke any real sensation, reminiscent of the lofty declarations men often make in a state of passion. Thus, Tia didn't dwell on them too much. However, at this moment, the youth’s nonchalant words revealed an unprecedented resolve. The matters he spoke of directly pertained to his life and death, yet they had become a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Demon King, as if he had completely disregarded his own life. As long as she could make it out unscathed, that would be the greatest joy. He demonstrated through actions his commitment to his words. In all her years, Tia had never encountered someone like him. Why? Why would someone like this exist? Realizing what was happening, she found her face drenched in tears. Even when she discovered he had been wronged, Tia’s eyes only reddened slightly. Though overwhelmed by guilt, she hadn’t shed tears. But now, she felt a peculiar soreness and repression in her heart, both slightly sweet and excruciatingly agonizing. For the first time, she was crying over a man. Tia was not a woman made of tears, and occasions where she would cry were rare. Yet now, the crystal-clear drops wouldn't stop, cascading down her pale cheeks in large droplets. She should have realized it sooner. Someone of his character, having made such a promise, was bound to have sacrificed something unimaginable to negotiate any sort of reprieve from the clutches of a demonic oppressor, for her and the others. But she, such a contemptible woman, had seemingly ignored this, allowing him to face the enemy alone while she and Louise comfortably basked in his protection and care. Utterly despicable. Utterly contemptible. Barely moments prior, she had rejoiced over his revival, only to turn around and watch him walk into another dead end. At this moment, Tia clenched her slender fingers into a fist, her nails piercing the tender palm, drawing thin streams of blood. But it’s hardly her fault for having such complicated thoughts. Just look at what Lynn had done. Heroic rescues in desperate circumstances always bring one to tears. And Lynn not only awakened at a critical moment, but appeared heroically in a manner unforgettable to all. Picture it—a teenage magician strolling nonchalantly through an old factory, casually dodging the lethal strikes of his opponent, disregarding his own life, negotiating with a terrifying high-dimensional demon with composure, even arrogance. Most would find it impossible to maintain their calm under such a presence. And his bargaining chip? His own life. What could be more captivating than such a scene? Even if it weren't Tia, if any woman were here, or even Empress Silina witnessing this moment, they couldn’t remain indifferent. Of ten women, at least nine would fall for him then and there. At least for Louise, having witnessed what just transpired, her prior dislike and poor opinion of him disappeared completely, her prejudice vanishing entirely. Yet when she saw Tia's current state, her heart involuntarily skipped a beat. Meanwhile, under the gazes of both young women, the youth slowly raised his right hand. Based on his earlier explanation, they had a general understanding of this ability’s function and effect. In simple terms, Berthuman’s life was now linked with the Fourth Prince’s. Once Lynn snapped his fingers, both would perish. For Kusiestine, without a suitable vessel to descend upon, even as a high-dimensional demon, he couldn’t influence Grossdine from such a great distance and through such a lengthy span of time. With this, the situation had reached a deadlock. Lynn’s decisive move had closed off all escape routes for the opponent. But Tia turned pale and her mind was in turmoil. Because she knew that this not only blocked Kusiestine’s way but also severed his own path to survival. Earlier, upon learning Lynn wasn’t a prosthetic, Tia had been relieved. If it was only the assassination attempt on the Empire’s senator without fatality and the abduction of a prince, if the Empress wielded her power and she, as the Silent Saint, maneuvered in secret, it was likely they could save him from execution. As long as he was alive, there was hope. However, in this moment, not only was Lynn risking bodily collapse to alter the fate of a Fifth Level Legend, but he also had to personally kill Joshua. For the Fourth Prince, a vile scientist conducting extensive human experimentation in secret, Tia harbored immense disdain. But he was nevertheless a prince. Once Lynn killed him, he would be burdened with irredeemable guilt, with no chance of survival. This was what deeply terrified Tia. Thus, seeing Lynn raise his hand made her instinctively scream out. "No!!!" Her voice trembled in panic, as if afraid he would vanish at any moment. But Tia was still a moment too late. Or rather, for that prideful youth, no one could alter his decision. *Snap!* At that snap of the fingers, the Fourth Prince Joshua, who had just been sheltered in a corner, suddenly convulsed and writhed, as if seized by a seizure, foam frothing at his mouth. Moments later, with a foul stench of incontinence filling the air, his head lolled, and he completely lost signs of life. A remarkably exalted prince of the Empire, casually died in the negotiation and trade between a person and a demon. Died under Lynn’s snap. He was plunged into unconsciousness, leaving no final words or resistance, as if a stray dog on the roadside, kicked to death. Time seemed to freeze in that instant. Kusiestine, who just moments ago had been angry and monstrous, had his expression freeze solid. He slowly looked down. The monstrous form once resembling a towering building was now disintegrating into dust. At the same time, his once vast and potent demonic power was called back by his true body, charging through the spatial passage with an unstoppable force. Everything felt familiar. As if replicating the scene from over two months ago in the Solon Mountains, it unfolded identically in Grossdine. How could it be so alike? Not until the rampant pull of the energy ripped away his consciousness did Kusiestine realize. Through the chaotic spatial passage, his massive scarlet eyes, vast enough to block out the entire sky, glared at Lynn filled with resentment and murderous intent. Again. Again!!! Clearly, from any angle, he was the stronger side. In a straightforward battle, even a thousand Lynns could easily be obliterated by him. Yet, just like last time, the inability to exert his power left Kusiestine feeling nearly explosive. This was the first time he had suffered such a humiliating defeat twice in a row from the same person. "Lynn Bartholeon. I will remember you." In the end, Kusiestine didn’t leave any memorable harsh words. He seemed to finally accept his fate. As the dimensional portal was about to close, across that great distance, with a deep and gritted tone, he spoke. Far calmer than expected. It indicated that the next encounter would be an all-out battle. As the abandoned factory returned to silence, Lynn pondered while standing amidst the ruins. It seemed he had made enemies of two god-tier beings: the Tyrant King and the Lunar Goddess from a hundred thousand years into the future. Anyone else would have felt unprecedented pressure at this point. But Lynn remained calm. Because more pressing matters needed his attention. In a flash of light, his mage attire vanished, transforming back into a Pinyas card, which he pocketed. And now, the consequences of forcefully using the Trickster mode became apparent. "Crack, crack." With fine cracks surfacing, Lynn's body appeared like a shattered porcelain vase, threatening to crumble with the slightest breeze. Even so, he didn’t entertain thoughts of dying here. True to his past actions, this incident was another high-stakes gamble. A gamble that wagered his own life. The stakes being Tia’s fate. Based on the outcome, with a 37.55% deviation in the storyline, it seemed he’d won. He had not only racked up system points, but Miss Witch likely freed herself from the chains symbolizing the Lunar Goddess. Even if not completely free, she would at least revert to the state before the seal was reinforced. Thus, despite being on the brink of death, Lynn showed no signs of despair. Afterwards, when Evester arrived and found his condition inscrutable, she would naturally seek help from Miss Witch. Neither the Empress nor Miss Witch would just watch him die, nor would they use his peril to coerce each other. His safety wasn’t a joke to either of the two women. However, Lynn was at a loss for how to deal with inquiries from Saint Roland VI and the imperial council, opting to take things one step at a time. For now, the matter seemed concluded. He hoped that when he woke, he’d find himself in his warm, comfortable bed at home, perhaps with a beautiful elder sister gently holding him. With such thoughts, Lynn let his body tilt backward. Darkness enveloped his vision as he lost consciousness completely. But little did he know. Sometimes, as deviations in another party’s storyline increased significantly, his own destiny might shift along with it. Things he wouldn’t want to see, or hadn't anticipated at all, occurred in bizarre and unexpected ways. Due to the different flow of time inside and outside the barrier, when Sia finally arrived, he found himself the first one on the scene. For some reason, the once tightly sealed Tomb of the Silent suddenly disintegrated, leaving only the ruins of the factory and a field of gruesome corpses. The scene before him was ghastly and tragic. And due to the commotion caused that night, the area around the old factory in the lower city had attracted a crowd of onlookers. His subordinates had already moved ahead to disperse and stabilize the crowd, leaving only Sia frowning deeply as he surveyed the scene. He was searching for Tia. Yet to Sia's disappointment, he didn't find any trace of her. But among the bodies, he did recognize a few familiar figures, like Casimo and the Fourth Prince Joshua. Realizing this, Sia felt a tremendous shock. Clearly, the night’s events would cause a massive uproar throughout Grossdine. The council had just begun, and a prince exited in such an undignified manner. Was there manipulation by other princes or princesses involved? Sia did not know, but not finding Tia left him feeling restless. At that moment, he noticed a familiar figure lying in a distant corner. Louise? Sia was certainly not unfamiliar with Tia’s close friend. Thus, he swiftly approached and nudged her shoulder with his long sword at his waist. "Ugh..." Moments later, Louise slowly regained consciousness. As soon as she saw Sia, undisguised disgust flashed in her eyes, and she rubbed her aching forehead. To the deceitful man who had betrayed her best friend, Louise obviously harbored no good will. However, this was not the time for criticism. As she realized the environment she was in, the lingering confusion vanished, replaced by a sudden paleness. Sensing this, Sia furrowed his brows and asked, "Did you remember something?" "No, nothing." Surprisingly, Louise’s first reaction was complete denial. But her evasive eyes clearly indicated she was lying. A baseless irritation rose within Sia. He took a deep breath, "Tell me, where is Tia now?" Trembling slightly, Louise forced herself to remain calm, "I don’t know." “Shing!!!” The razor-sharp knight’s sword unsheathed instantly, resting against her neck. Sia’s demeanor was icy cold, "I’m not joking with you." The relentless anxiety within drove him to want to see Tia desperately. Most likely, something beyond her control had occurred. Otherwise, he couldn't fathom any reason for her deliberate avoidance. But Louise wasn’t someone easily frightened. Sensing the cold edge at her neck, she squinted her eyes, slowly standing, "I told you, I don’t know." "Also, I don't recall a subordinate relationship between the Silent Church and your military, Captain Sia. In what capacity are you speaking to me now?" The atmosphere grew tense. After a while, Sia sheathed his sword, shot her a cold glance, and left without looking back. Watching him leave, Louise finally exhaled slightly. It wasn’t that she deliberately withheld information. She simply couldn't speak of it. She hadn’t anticipated that her own saint would suddenly act irrationally, and after injuring the surviving official extraordinaries, take Lynn away from the scene. In hindsight, she realized just how outrageous and daring a move her friend had made. Tia had risked everything to prevent Lynn from facing persecution by the imperial council. Seeing no hope of survival, Tia had resorted to such impulsive actions. Rather than seeing him hanged, she wished for Lynn to live on. At the least, she wanted to ensure his temporary safety. This act, however, pitted her against the entire empire. Please don’t get caught, Tia. Gazing at the bright full moon, Louise prayed with worry etched across her face.