[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-villain-s-path-system":3,"chapter-villain-s-path-system-villain-s-path-system-chapter-97":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Villain's Path System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1138551,1475,"Chapter 97: A Curious Stranger","villain-s-path-system-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>As soon as Cassian left, Lucian stood frozen in place, his mind spinning in circles around a single question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did he mean by ’you don’t know anything’? and Why did he sound so sure of himself? Does he really think Aria won’t care\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resting a hand on his chin, Lucian sank so deep into his own thoughts that he completely tuned out the voices of the two girls standing right next to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lucian, What the heck was that? Did you know that was going to happen? Is that why you brought us here?!\" Sera blabbered, waving her hands around in a vague, panicked gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her impatient behavior, Elira spoke up with absolute bluntness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sera... didn’t you see how big it was?\" She held up her wrist to demonstrate the rough size to Sera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-yes I know—No! I don’t know! I didn’t see anything, and stop making those dirty gestures!\" her face flushed a deep pinkish-red, and she crossed her arms, looking the other way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm... So if it goes in from here... it would reach all the way up to... here. Right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She basically placed a hand just above her own navel to measure the estimated depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that.. Sera flushed, Her eyes practically rolled back as imaginary steam blew out of her ears, she couldn’t control her degenerate thoughts hitting at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile Lucian finally snapped out of his brainstorm and snapped his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Cassian really doesn’t care, then I need to ignore his bluff and confirm one thing for myself. I just need to ask Aria in the chapel, sweet-talk her a bit, and find out exactly how much she actually knows about Cassian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made up his mind, he opened a portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Girls, both of you head back to class. And stick together, I have some business to take care of.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay,\" Elira replied while holding her hand against Sera’s stomach, still trying to measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sera bashfully tried to push Elira’s head away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shameless, move! What are you doing? He is watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian just let out a heavy sigh and stepped through the portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood outside the chapel library for two minutes, gathering his thoughts. Then, with the familiar creak of the heavy wooden doors, he stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around the quiet hall. Aria was nowhere to be seen; only a few other students were scattered around, reading their books. He walked over to Aria’s usual seat — the spot where he had read up on healing theory last time. It was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, Lucian noticed two of Aria’s \"believers\" — the girls who usually followed her around. He closed the distance with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me. You two are usually with Aria, right? Would you mind telling me \"Why aren’t you with her today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the girls blushed slightly under his direct gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.. Aria’s sick. She came down with something, so she’ll be absent for the next two days. She already let us know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second girl leaned in a little closer, giving him a bright smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you ask, Lucian? Were you looking for her? If you need something, I’d be happy to pass along a message.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian simply smiled politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, it’s nothing. I’ll just meet her when she gets back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he turned to leave, the two girls immediately started whispering and gossiping behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you see that? Lucian definitely likes our Saint too...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah! Who do you think is better for our Saint, Lucian or Cassian?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d always want to see Cassian with our Saint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nah, I’d rather see her with Lucian. His black hair matches so well with Aria’s blonde hair...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian completely tuned out the meaningless gossip fading down the hall. His eyes drifted back to Aria’s usual seat near the stained glass windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aria wasn’t there, but the seat wasn’t empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian observed her from behind. She sat with perfectly straight posture, a book in one hand and a teacup in the other, radiating the undeniable presence of a high noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about her felt strangely familiar. Without overthinking it, Lucian closed the distance and approached her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl paused midway through turning a page. She set her teacup down on the saucer with a soft, preciseclink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her short blonde hair shifted slightly in the faint breeze as she turned her head to look at him. A simple silver earring caught the light, but it was her eyes that locked him in place—deep, piercing emerald. They were entirely unreadable, studying him as if she were inspecting a fascinating, rare gem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not the one who usually sits here,\" Lucian asked gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slow smile touched her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And you are looking for a Saint who isn’t here. Isn’t that right, Lucian Valemont?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t remember introducing myself. Do I know you? Or have I suddenly become that popular?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She picked up her cup and took a slow sip of her tea. \"You could say that. The infamous Valemont taking a sudden interest in the academy’s precious, untouchable Saint. It makes for very entertaining gossip.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian only smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, since Aria isn’t here, I should be going now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looking at you right now, I can tell you aren’t here for her blessings, are you?\" her voice stopped him. \"Sit. We can have a talk. Even if Aria isn’t here, I know her quite well. My name is Iris.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian turned back. He scratched his temple, playing up a harmless, sheepish act to deflect the tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, actually, I really need to go. I have some urgent business to take care of. Well... nice meeting you, Iris.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his back on her and took a few steps toward the chapel doors. But before he could get far, Iris’s voice cut through the quiet air one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you really aren’t going to keep me company instead? What a pity, I was very curious, Lucian... about exactly what you are planning to do with the Hero.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1008,"2026-06-03T12:08:46.872Z","2026-06-03T12:08:55.588Z",1,"novelbin.me","7a5149b077f8834acd09b8fd22ffcdadb57fc3f239ca5210b02f68f0b46b06d8","villain-s-path-system-chapter-150","villain-s-path-system-chapter-149",157,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fvillain-s-path-system-cover.jpg"]