CHAPTER 50: 50 BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE

"In short, I’ve said everything I needed to say. As for what to do specifically, it depends on your own consideration."

Herbert smiled at Svanni, winked at her, and said gently:

"I know this matter is a bit sudden, and you can’t accept it immediately, but it’s okay. We have time, you can think about it a bit more."

Ultimately.

Although Herbert’s attitude was sincere and moving, and the conditions proposed sounded very tempting, Svanni still did not accept his invitation on the spot.

She stated that she needed to think about it.

After all, doing so would undoubtedly mean cutting ties with her past self and breaking off with her blood kin.

Such a big matter shouldn’t be decided so frivolously.

Herbert also expressed understanding, not forcing her to make a decision immediately, willing to wait for her to give him an answer after careful consideration.

Moreover, worried that Svanni would feel awkward, he very considerately refrained from entangling further, decisively choosing to leave, leaving the time to Svanni herself.

"This visit will end here then. I’ll take my leave, take your time to think about it."

"...Mm."

Herbert turned lightly and walked towards the treehouse exterior, waving his hand behind him: "No need to see me off."

And Svanni behind him did not speak again, just stood quietly at the door, watching him step by step away, walking into the forest.

After entering the Fluorescent Forest, Herbert’s expression did not change, his pace neither fast nor slow, as if casually strolling through the woods at night.

Only after completely exiting the forest and returning to the darkness did he stop and slowly exhaled deeply.

Hoo...

Herbert exhaled deeply, then silently nodded and smiled meaningfully.

"Hehe."

In his mind, the schadenfreude voice of Harmonious God timely sounded: ["Seems your beauty strategy failed this time~"]

["It seems your charm isn’t big enough, she didn’t accept your invitation at all!"]

"Heh, what do you know?"

Herbert snorted lightly, not angry at all, and said easily:

"In matters like this, as long as there’s no immediate rejection, it is already a success in itself, with at least a seventy percent probability of being seen as consent."

"As for when she’ll agree, that’s just a matter of time."

Herbert thought that this Harmonious God, who claims to be the Evil God, might really not understand these intricacies.

"I’ve already practically forced someone to rebel, and yet they only said they’d consider it."

"Would you say this exchange was a failure or a success?"

["..."]

Nenasha fell silent, realizing things were not as simple as they seemed.

Seeing the Evil God silent, Herbert didn’t press further, lightly laughing as he shook his head.

Hehe.

It’s fine to mock allies, but to a degree.

Know when to stop, don’t push them into desperation.

As for this first meeting with Svanni, Herbert was mostly satisfied overall.

In Herbert’s view, as long as the other party doesn’t act to expel him on the spot after he’s finished speaking, it’s basically a success.

Giving Svanni time to consider was just providing her with an out, to avoid making things too ugly on the surface.

A person capable of easily betraying their own kin, no one would think she’s easy to deal with.

Even if she indeed is such a person, they wouldn’t want to show it outwardly.

"You, really don’t understand human hearts."

Nenasha: ?

["Hmph!"]

The Evil God was planning to bypass this topic but was a bit displeased after hearing this, snorted lightly and said:

["I say, my dear ally, perhaps I don’t understand human hearts, but do you really understand a woman’s heart?"]

"Oh? How so?"

Herbert blinked, asking amusedly: "Do you have any high opinions?"

["Of course!"]

Herbert couldn’t see Nenasha’s expression, but he could feel the smugness in Her voice.

["She might agree to your invitation, but don’t you think the process is a bit too simple?"]

Herbert raised his eyebrows and immediately understood Her meaning.

"You think Svanni seemed... too agreeable?"

Too naive?

["Don’t you think so?"]

Nenasha’s voice unusually carried some seriousness, directly calling him by name: ["Herbert, no legendary strong person is simple."]

["You don’t understand how difficult the path to becoming a legend is, no matter who, it’s never easy to become a legend."]

["Whether it’s this seemingly inarticulate little elf, or that singing-loving little fish, or that seemingly easy-to-bully little bat... they are not as simple as they appear."]

Not a single strong person is naive.

Nenasha was about to continue, but Herbert suddenly interrupted, "I think you have a point, but wait a moment... what about my Valentina?"

"Why don’t you mention her? What did Valentina do to you? Why don’t you include her when talking about legends?"

Is she not a legendary powerhouse?

I’m asking you, is she a legendary powerhouse or not!

Stop excluding Valentina!

Is she just a bit silly, a bit clumsy, a bit gluttonous?

Is that reason enough to treat her differently?

Our ’Valentino Protection Association’ won’t accept such double standards!

["So... are you saying I’m lying to you?"]

The Evil God’s tone seemed a bit aggrieved, like about to explode at any time.

"No, I actually agree with you."

Herbert shrugged, lightly smiling as he reassured: "Those things you said, of course I know them."

"Not to mention legendary powerhouses like them, even ordinary people aren’t easily swayed."

Interpersonal interactions aren’t like strategy games; it’s not just ’choose the right option, and the other party will unconditionally fall for you’ that simple.

People are complex.

They’re not easily changed by others.

Unless there’s forced hypnosis, you won’t see people submitting just because of someone’s domineering aura.

The external conditions and special abilities Herbert currently possesses only lower the threshold and speed up the process.

"But, Nenasha, you overlooked one point—does Svanni have a choice?"

["Choice?"]

"Yes, exactly choice."

Herbert strolled through the seemingly endless darkness, relishing the tranquility.

"If it were in the outside world, she wouldn’t even pay attention to me, treating me as a fool to ignore."

"But this is the Third Commandment Hall, she’s just a prisoner, and I am the only Prison Warden willing to show her goodwill."

"If she doesn’t want things to stay unchanged, then her only option left is to cooperate with me."

Herbert’s lips curled up slightly, a hint of a smile flashing in his pale eyes.

"So, it’s not that Svanni is easy to talk to, nor that Fremay and the others are overly obedient."

"It’s that they simply have no other choice."