Marlene smiled, though her expression remained cold. She continued, addressing Broken’s cautious demeanor.
“Is it important to you that it be Princess Alora, or would anyone suffice as long as you can achieve what you want-power, money… women?” she asked, her voice gentle yet her eyes fixated on Broken with a calm but icy stare, creating a strange sensation for him.
It took a little while for Broken to respond. “I’m not particularly concerned about who will be the next ruler of the Dissidia Kingdom, but I’m certain that Princess Alora is the best candidate for the throne. Now that I’ve gotten to know her better, I’m even more confident that she is the most suitable person to be the new Queen of Dissidia, especially since she is the rightful heir.”
“You seem to know quite a bit about her, huh?” Marlene remarked.
“No, not really… I’ve only had a few conversations with her, and I don’t know her deeply, but I’ve given you my answer,” he continued.
Marlene slowly shook her head. “But you know that Princess Alora has failed to gain the trust of the people of Dissidia Kingdom, right? She is not of pure Human race, and many believe she will bring the kingdom to its downfall.”
Broken’s expression hardened. “Your point being?”
“My point,” Marlene said, leaning forward slightly, “is that intentions and rightfulness aside, leadership is also about perception. How the people see and accept their ruler can dictate the future of the kingdom. Are you willing to support someone who may not have the people’s confidence or trust?”
Broken thought for a moment before replying. “Princess Alora may not have the full trust of the people right now, but trust can be built over time. A ruler who is both just and wise can win the hearts of even the most skeptical subjects. I’m willing to support her because I believe she has that potential.”
It was now clear where Marlene was steering the conversation. Her attempts to cast doubt on Princess Alora’s suitability for the throne underscored their position as opposition, supporting a rival faction notorious for causing deaths among both native inhabitants and players alike.
“What about you?” Broken asked, his voice steady.
“Me?” Marlene echoed, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, you stand with the opposition, don’t you? I want to know your opinion,” he said.
Marlene smirked at his boldness. “You’re quite straightforward in conversations, aren’t you?”
“I see no reason why we shouldn’t have a straightforward discussion when everyone already knows where you stand,” Broken replied. “Do you believe that the candidate you’re supporting will lead the Dissidia Kingdom to an even greater future than what we have now?” Marlene’s smile widened slightly. “The Dissidia Kingdom will not only experience growth on the Southern Continent, but its influence will spread across the vast plains of Yunatea. Even the High Elves can be brought under our control if we follow the path my side and I have chosen. I am more than willing to explain the evidence that supports my claim.”
“I would be grateful if you could elaborate,” Broken replied, intrigued.
Marlene leaned back slightly, her demeanor shifting to one of confident assurance. Yet, for some reason, she felt an irresistible determination to tame the man sitting before her.
“Let’s chat over drinks so we can better enjoy the topic we’re about to cover,” she suggested. With delicate movements, she stood and approached him, sitting down beside him on the couch. She picked up a glass from a nearby table and poured the contents of a bottle into it. “Take it,” she said, extending the glass toward him.
“Thanks,” Broken responded slowly but firmly. “But I would appreciate it if you could explain what you mean more directly. I really don’t have the best time.”
A flare of anger ignited within Marlene, bubbling up until she was almost shaking with it. She gritted her teeth, struggling to maintain her composure.
Despite her desire to lash out in rage at his insolence, she managed to keep a polite smile on her face.
“No need to be so hasty, Broken,” she replied coolly. “Surely you can spare a few moments to hear me out?”
Broken didn’t look back at Marlene, who now sat conspicuously close to him, speaking softly. “Can you see my two adorable wolves over there?” she said, gesturing towards the magnificent creatures.
He followed her gesture to the two wolves. Their fur, dark and glossy, glistened under the dim light. Their eyes, a deep crimson, seemed to warn everyone to stay clear. Despite their intimidating presence, their beauty was undeniable-they were twice the size of normal wolves, clearly not ordinary creatures.
Broken fixed his gaze intently on the beasts, meticulously noting every intimidating detail of their physical appearance. He narrowed his eyes as he observed their status information and processed what he saw.
[Name: Wolfing]
[Level: 219]
[Strength: 878 | Agility: 451 | Intelligence: ??? | Constitution: ??? | Stamina: ???]
[Name: Howler]
[Level: ???]
[Strength: ??? Agility: 799 Intelligence: ??? Constitution: 432 Stamina: 651]
Broken inhaled sharply as he examined the stats of the two wolves, feeling a surge of excitement at their extraordinary capabilities. Both had levels above 200. Though the exact level of the second wolf was obscured, he was certain it was high. The first wolf seemed focused on Strength, while the second had higher Agility stats. It was clear these wolves had immense combat potential; even Polly would have a tough time against them. No, Polly would surely lose because her level wasn’t as high as theirs yet.
“They are Demon Beasts,” Marlene continued.
Broken glanced back at Marlene, intrigued by this revelation. “Demon Beasts?” This was the
first time he had heard of such creatures.
“Yes, Demon Beasts. You have a high-grade Spirit Beast, right?” she probed.
Broken nodded hesitantly.
Her voice grew more intense as she elaborated. “You may not know this, but players can form contracts with Demons as well as Spirits.”
Broken stared at Marlene intently, his eyes wide with anticipation. She was clearly trying to tempt him with this information, though he wasn’t quite sure what her ultimate goal was. Was she intending to offer him the chance to contract with a Demon Beast?
Marlene noticed his curiosity and leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Demon Beasts offer a unique set of abilities and strengths. They are not merely creatures; they could become powerful allies if you know how to control them. Imagine the power you would wield with such beings at your command.” freēwebnovel.com
He continued voicing his curiosity. “But there’s only one slot for a contract, isn’t there?” Marlene shook her head. “Did you know there are Divine Champions in this world, Broken?”
“Yes, I’ve heard about them,” he replied flatly.
“And I am one of them,” she continued. “As the Champion of Gluttony, I have a special skill to form contracts with demon beasts.” She paused, then added, “And uniquely, I can share the
contract with someone else.”
Broken was unfamiliar with such a concept. Information on demons wasn’t widely available, apart from the low-intelligence demons often used as fodder for leveling up.
Marlene continued, “What if I offered you the chance to attempt this contract?” she said
softly. “Yes, with a Demon Beast.”
“What do you want in exchange?” Broken asked, his curiosity piqued.