Chapter 54: Because They Have No Choice
“In short, I’ve said everything I needed to say. How you proceed is up to you.”
Herbert smiled at Svan Ni , winking at her gently.
“I know this is sudden, and you can’t accept it right away—but that’s fine. We have time. You can take more time to think.”
Finally.
Although Herbert’s attitude was sincere and moving, and his offer sounded highly appealing, Svan Ni still did not accept it on the spot.
She said she needed time to consider.
After all, doing so would mean cutting ties with her past self and severing bonds with her blood relatives.
Such a major decision shouldn’t be made so lightly.
Herbert understood, and didn’t pressure her to decide immediately—he was willing to wait until she had thought it through and gave him an answer.
Moreover, concerned she might feel awkward, he kindly refrained from pressing further and decisively left, giving Svan Ni the space she needed.
“This visit ends here. I’ll take my leave. Think it over carefully.”
“...Mm.”
Herbert turned easily toward the treehouse exit, waving behind him. “No need to see me out.”
Behind him, Svan Ni said nothing, standing silently at the doorway, watching him step away, one by one, into the forest.
After entering the luminescent forest, Herbert’s expression remained unchanged, his pace steady and unhurried, as if strolling through the night woods.
Only after fully exiting the forest and returning to darkness did he stop, squinting as he slowly exhaled.
Huh…
After a long exhale, Herbert nodded silently, smiling with quiet depth.
“Heh.”
In his mind, the Xieshen ’s mocking voice chimed in: 【“Looks like your beauty trap failed~”】
【“Looks like your charm isn’t strong enough—she didn’t even accept your invitation!”】
“Heh. What do you know?”
Herbert snorted lightly, not angry at all, speaking casually.
“If someone doesn’t outright refuse on the spot, it’s already a success—there’s at least a seventy percent chance it counts as agreement.”
“When they agree? That’s just a matter of time.”
Herbert thought the self-proclaimed Xieshen , Xieshen , truly didn’t understand these subtle nuances.
“I’ve literally pointed at her nose and told her to rebel—and all she says is she’ll think about it.”
“Do you call this a failure—or a success?”
【“…”】
Nenasha fell silent, realizing things weren’t as simple as they seemed.
Seeing the Xieshen fall quiet, Herbert didn’t press further, shaking his head with a light laugh.
Heh.
Teasing an ally was fine—but there was a limit.
Know when to stop. Don’t push Him too far.
As for his first meeting with Svan Ni , Herbert was overall quite satisfied.
In Herbert’s view, as long as she hadn’t Dongshou and thrown him out the moment he finished speaking, it was already a basic success.
Giving Svan Ni time to think was merely offering her a face-saving exit, so things wouldn’t look too ugly on the surface.
Anyone who could casually betray her own kin wouldn’t be seen as an easy mark.
Even if she truly was such a person, she wouldn’t want to appear that way.
“You really don’t understand human hearts.”
Nenasha: ?
【“Hmph!”】
The Xieshen had been ready to drop the topic—but upon hearing this, he grew displeased, snorting: 【“Listen, my dear ally, perhaps I don’t understand human hearts—but do you truly understand women’s hearts?”】
“I say, my dear ally, I may not understand human hearts—but do you truly understand women’s hearts?”
Herbert blinked, amused. “Do you have some profound insight?”
Herbert blinked, asking with a hint of amusement, “Do you have some brilliant insight?”
Herbert couldn’t see Nenasha’s expression, but he sensed his smug tone.
【“She may agree to your invitation—but don’t you find the whole process too easy?”】
Herbert raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding His meaning.
“You think Svan Ni is… too agreeable?”
“Do you think Svan Ni behaves… too easygoing?”
【“Don’t you think so?”】
Nenasha’s voice, unusually serious, called him by name: 【“Herbert, no legendary cultivator is simple.”】
【“You don’t know how hard the path to becoming legendary is. No one becomes one easily.”】
【“Whether it’s this seemingly quiet little elf, that singing little fish, or that seemingly weak little bat… none of them are as simple as they appear.”】
“Whether it’s this seemingly taciturn little elf, or that little fish who loves to sing, or even that seemingly defenseless little bat… they’re not nearly as simple as they appear.”
Nenasha continued, but Herbert suddenly interrupted: “I think you’re right—but wait a moment… where’s my Valentina?”
“Why don’t you mention her? What did Valentina ever do to you? Why leave her out when you talk about legendaries?”
Is she a legendary cultivator or not?
I’m asking you—is she a legendary cultivator?!
Don’t you dare exclude Valentina from this!
She’s just a little slow, a little dense, a little greedy—that’s all!
Do you really need to treat her differently?
Our “Valentina Protection Association” rejects this double standard!
【“So… you think I’m lying to you?”】
The Xieshen ’s tone grew sour, as if ready to explode.
“No, I actually agree with you.”
Herbert shrugged, smiling soothingly. “I know exactly what you mean.”
“Not just these legendary cultivators—even ordinary people wouldn’t fall so easily.”
Human interaction and relationships aren’t a game where “pick the right option and they’ll love you unconditionally.”
Human interaction and relationships are not a strategy game where “choosing the right option guarantees unconditional love.”
They aren’t easily changed.
Unless under forced hypnosis, no one will kneel and submit just because someone radiates “kingly aura.”
Herbert’s current external advantages and special abilities merely lowered the threshold and sped up the process.
“But, Nienasha , you’ve overlooked one thing—does Svan Ni even have a choice?”
“But Nenasha, you’ve overlooked one thing—did Svan Ni even have a choice?”
“Yes. Choice.”
Herbert walked through the endless darkness, savoring the silence.
“If she were outside, she’d ignore me entirely—treat me like a fool.”
“But here, in the Third Law Prison, she’s a prisoner—and I’m the only warden who’s shown her kindness.”
“If she doesn’t want to remain unchanged, she has only one option: to cooperate with me.”
Herbert’s lips curled slightly, a faint smile glimmering in his pale eyes.
“So it’s not that Svan Ni is easygoing, nor that Freime and the others are overly obedient.”
“It’s that they simply have no choice.”
(End of Chapter)
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
