Chapter 71
Chapter 71: Making an Effort
First, one point needs clarification: Michelle was still an honest person in most situations. The entire Temperance Institute probably couldn’t find a second agent more self-disciplined than her. Everyone who had worked with her had offered praise and commendation for her character and conduct.
However, Michelle had encountered a rare lesser demon during a case when she was eighteen—one with curved horns and breathtaking beauty, whose every frown and smile radiated irresistible temptation.
She was forced to submit to this lesser demon.
After that, Michelle could never again feel interest in any human being, male or female.
Upon realizing she had been subjected to suggestion, Michelle recalled that dreamlike, blissful experience from back then. She recognized Funniss as a succubus, and her long-buried desires were aroused once more.
So the mistake was that Funniss was a little succubus, and one who had voluntarily delivered herself.
Poor Funniss thought she had grasped control of the conversation, never expecting to encounter Michelle—such a rare case who already had experience being hypnotized and bewitched. The equal cooperative and complicit relationship transformed into a one-sided coercive relationship.
Just as Michelle had said, the church had always eliminated weak demons remaining in the human world. This was the Loyalty Institute’s job—demon hunters whose blazing blades would scorch and torment demonic souls.
If Michelle made her species public, she would definitely be killed over and over until she forgot all past memories.
Funniss had appeared as domineering and aggressive before, but now felt equally panicked and afraid.
“Little succubus, do you know?” Michelle continued whispering in her ear. “Actually, you didn’t need to bewitch and hypnotize me at all. I was already convinced by your words. These little tricks actually backfired.”
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Funniss began sobbing quietly.
She regretted it so much.
She shouldn’t have applied suggestion to Michelle.
If she had known that words alone could handle Michelle, she definitely wouldn’t have used her crude succubus techniques. Now she had given Michelle a fatal weakness to exploit.
“I’ll provisionally accept what you said as true, but what about Charlotte? Have you told Charlotte that you’re actually a little succubus?” Michelle stroked the back of Funniss’s head, occasionally leaning close to gently smell the faint floral fragrance at her neck.
“Please… please don’t tell Charlotte. She… she doesn’t know… I…” The girl covered her face with both hands, leaning against Michelle’s shoulder. Her light pink, silky long hair fell down, swaying gently with her slight trembling.
“If she found out your true nature, she would definitely hate you terribly, wouldn’t she? That girl Charlotte is so upright—what she hates most are little demons like you who come from hell.”
“No… no… please don’t do this… I beg you…”
Michelle watched this little pink bundle pleading pitifully in her arms with a sweet voice, her heart blooming with joy.
The cute girl who had been so polite, confident, and smugly certain of victory just moments ago was now exposed and could only curl up in her arms, begging for mercy with a tearful voice. This sense of conquest and satisfaction was incomparable.
She gently stroked the hair behind Funniss again, her fingertips moving like flowing through a clear stream, the texture warm and delicate. Threats aside, how could she bear to hand over such an adorable creature who had crashed into her arms to the church for torture and abuse?
“So are you lying to me? About your past, your experiences, and what you encountered with the witch.” Michelle’s low, husky voice carried slight magnetism—the unique charm of a mature woman. “Little succubus, no lying this time. Tell me the truth.”
Funniss trembled as she looked up at Michelle. At this moment, Michelle’s amethyst-like serene eyes were filled with tender affection, completely viewing the pitiful girl in her arms as her possession.
At least she won’t hurt me, right? Funniss thought to herself.
“No… no, at least most of it… I was originally a succubus who got lost and couldn’t return to hell, accidentally captured by the witch for various experiments.” Funniss tried to repair this story that had developed holes. “But those magical drugs didn’t have much effect on me. The witch quickly grew bored and wanted to abandon me. Also, meeting Mr. Cela was true… He didn’t mind that I was a succubus and said I was his last hope. He told me that if I could ever escape, he hoped I could stay by Charlotte’s side.”
“Mr. Cela… a little succubus recognized by Mr. Cela. How curious.” Michelle took Funniss’s small hand and gently pulled her closer, so she could hold this petite girl against her chest. “I admit you did learn quite a lot from Mr. Cela, and I do face troubles that need your help. Otherwise, my usual self wouldn’t bother listening to such absurd claims.”
When discussing serious matters, this woman’s tone became more proper.
Funniss was even beginning to think Michelle was somewhat schizophrenic. This woman seemed to have become mentally unclear from excessive work pressure, or perhaps after many years had finally found someone like Funniss as the perfect emotional outlet—
She remembered chatting with an old friend before, who said that some women who appeared to abstain from desire and focus on their careers in public were actually more perverted in private, because they had been repressed by life and work for so long that they had to release and vent intensely in places others couldn’t see to relieve pressure.
Michelle probably fit this strange description perfectly.
“Trouble? Do you mean… the case that happened on the street?” Funniss was forced to sit duck-style in Michelle’s arms. After hearing Michelle’s words, she looked up cautiously and asked carefully.
“That’s just one of many troubles. You were the one who initially threatened me with this, little succubus.” Michelle played with the hair by Funniss’s cheek, like gently parting a layer of luxurious gauze curtains. “You should have seen the crime scene with Charlotte. Do you already have some leads?”
Funniss felt conflicted.
Cessia had asked her to help the Temperance Institute establish a foothold in Gray Cloud Fort, probably because having the Temperance Institute established there would help Cessia’s future plans. Funniss had originally wanted to appear before Michelle as a savior, then lead the branch through difficulties, but she hadn’t expected to stumble at the crucial moment.
However, despite the twists and turns, she had still gained Michelle’s trust and could use her abilities to give the branch a push.
From a certain perspective, this also fulfilled the witch’s requirements. She was working diligently and dutifully, even throwing in her own body as well.
“I have some ideas, but… I need more investigation time to be certain…”
However, Funniss chose to delay temporarily. She looked away nervously, putting on a troubled expression.
Besides considering the complex relationships that might be involved behind a sixth-sequence extraordinary being of the Diligence Path, Funniss also wanted to try competing for her own value and position, so as not to lose all initiative.
She couldn’t really end up becoming the plaything of her former subordinate turned current superior while keeping it from her daughter, could she?