Her breathing became rapid, her tone carrying an unmistakable... greed and desire.


    "Your... spirit essence."


    "Although melle has hidden it well, although you have controlled it well, all the intelligence I''ve gathered over these six years points to the answer I desire."


    The young Hydral cocked his head with a quasi-smile, "What are you referring to?"


    His repeated feigning of ignorance did not displease the Empress; instead, it excited her even more.


    "Possibility!"


    The figure behind the curtain almost lifted the semi-transparent veil, the Empress dered with utmost fervor and excitement:


    "The possibility... to transcend this despair!"


    Ansel sipped his drink, sighing softly, "But I don''t have that capability, Your Majesty, you overestimate me."


    "No, you do, it''s just that ites at a cost unknown to me... a very great cost for you. Otherwise, you would have already helped melle achieve a breakthrough."


    The Empress whispered with a trembling voice, "Such power, of course,es at a normal cost."


    "So... Ansel."


    Hands reached out from behind the curtain, moving towards Ansel''s face, the supreme ruler of the world murmured in utter madness, "How could I be against you, you are my... most precious treasure."


    "As long as you can help me, I can do everything to mitigate that cost, and provide you with everything you need... whether it''s helping melle, creating the most powerful pact head, or personally disciplining my foolish daughter, including half of this empire, even..."


    The crazed voice then turned sultry, as Ephesande stretched out her legs, one foot skillfully gripping a wine bottle, then raising that leg high, pouring the wine over the other leg.


    "Even myself... you can have, to take as you wish."


    "At your age, desires should be at their peak, shouldn''t they? Just think... imagine you, who have not yet be a true divine species, freely roaming over me, a seventh-stage being... What a blissful…ha…hmm… heart-racing delight that would be!"


    In the face of such extreme conditions, anyone else might have already grasped Ephesande''s wine-drenched, luminously glowing leg and uncontrobly licked it.


    However, Ansel simply poured himself another ss of wine and, after leisurely drinking it, replied very politely:


    "I hold nothing but pure respect for you, Your Majesty."


    "..."


    The woman behind the curtain fell silent for a moment, then began tough lowly with a hint of madness.


    "That''s fine... It would have been less interesting if you had just licked it. So... let''s talk about something serious, something you and melle would definitely not refuse."


    "Those five people."


    As soon as these words were spoken, Ansel''s wine ss instantly cracked.


    "The five people responsible for the death of Annelisa, and those behind them. You and melle have been investigating for six years without any results, but I... have made some progress."


    "Please..."


    The young beast that grew from the abyss spoke softly with his cold voice: "Don''t joke, Your Majesty."


    "Ah... Ah!"


    Gazing into Ansel''s eyes, now tainted with pitch ck, Ephesande let out a thrilled, trembling cry:


    "That''s it... that''s it... indeed... indeed! The abyss! The abyss...


    it''s within you!"


    She impatiently reached out to Ansel, a tremendous force gathering in the pce, dragging him towards her without exnation: "Come here, let me see... let me see more clearly... the path..."


    And the next moment, the ckness receded like a tide, leaving only clear, bright sea blue.


    "..."


    During a moment of stillness from Ephesande, Ansel adjusted his cor and calmly stated:


    "Up to this point, I do not believe there is a possibility for a deal between us, Your Majesty."


    "An...sel."


    Regaining herposure, the Empress uttered a chilling, deep voice: "I think I have shown enough sincerity."


    "Clearly,pared to what you have received, it is still not enough."


    "Heh... hehehehe..."


    Ephesande''sughter grew increasingly tinged with madness: "So, are you expecting me and melle to engage in a battle that could destroy everything?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Perhaps." Ansel shrugged. "You can choose to submit to death."


    "I can burn even death itself!"


    The Empress roared hysterically: "It has no right to subdue me, none!"


    "Then, perhaps you could try offering a higher price?"


    The young Hydral smiled, "Finding a price that could move me is not impossible."


    ...


    In the silence of Ephesande, Ansel stood up and bowed respectfully to her.


    "Since our conversation is over, I should take my leave, as staying here too long..."


    "Father would be displeased."


    Throughout it all, facing all temptations and threats, the young Hydral left the pce without any significant emotional disturbance.


    And after Ansel hadpletely departed, the previously furious and mad Ephesande suddenly changed her demeanor.


    "He... was confident."


    The woman murmured softly, "even though I have uncovered his secrets, his confidence remains unshaken... No, that''s not right."


    "Could those ws have been deliberately left for me? Since six years ago, all those inconspicuous individuals he cast into the abyss, including the current female musician..."


    "Could it be that he intentionally ced these people within my sight? If so, why would he do such a thing?"


    But the more she pondered, the faster her remaining sanity eroded, and Ephesande, unable to find the correct answer, finally ceased her contemtion, fixating on one undeniable fact—


    That is, Ansel''s power is absolutely real.


    That authority, akin to the abyss itself... is the key to ascending to the seventh stage!


    "Be it through a pact or by force... Ansel... Ansel!"


    Clutching her own body, the woman trembled with ecstasy, calling out the young man''s name.


    "You must be... mine!"


    *


    Outside the royal residence, Ansel, facing concerned gazes, smiled and took Helen''s hand:


    "All is well, rest assured."


    But Helen, who usually would nod obediently at these words, did not respond as usual.


    She reached towards the corner of Ansel''s eye and whispered softly:


    "But Father, you are clearly not well."


    "…Is that so? That must be your misconception, Helen, how could I possibly—"


    "But you truly are not well."


    Feeling the slight moist touch at her fingertips, Helen spoke with unwavering resolve, "Please, you must tell me what has happened."


    Ansel fell silent, gazing at Helen''s fingertips before touching the corner of his own eye. After about ten seconds, he spoke softly, "Is it that obvious?"


    "Because I understand you, father."


    Hearing this, Ansel seemed momentarily dazed. In that instant, Helen''s concerned expression ovepped entirely with Ravenna''s typically indifferent face.


    "The me now," Helen said as she tiptoed and embraced Ansel''s neck, whispering in his ear, "can I share some of your burdens now?"


    ...She indeed wanted to know.


    Ansel knew he had guessed correctly; Helen wanted to learn more, to uncover his secrets.


    Yet, for some reason, he felt no resistance.


    "Then... let''s go back, Helen."


    Ansel gently embraced Helen and responded, "I want to tell you a story."


    He might have been waiting for such an opportunity, for someone like this.


    Someone who could hear about his past pains, who could understand his once-desperate plight, and who was utterly loyal and reliant on him.


    Most importantly... someone who could understand him.


    Seraphina was loyal enough, but she never truly grasped the weight of that pain for Ansel.


    Marlina was intelligent enough, but shecked the corresponding status and power.


    Only Helen, only the Helen of now, if it were her, she would surelyprehend that profoundest despair, because of her, because of him, because of their striking resemnce.


    "The story of a foolish and powerless child… who couldn''t change anything."


    *