Stepping out of the antique magic shop,

Winnie shot a glance at Cecile beside her.

"Just be honest—does the Authority of Arrogance really reside in you? I’d believe others lowering themselves, but you? Why?"

Winnie could truly sense the Arrogance Authority on Cecile. Yet!

Everything this woman did strayed far from arrogance.

Strangely, whenever she acted this way, the Arrogance Authority remained utterly unmoved. Winnie had been secretly vying for its power all along.

But she found Cecile’s grip on the Authority only grew stronger—impossible to wrest away.

A direct confrontation? Winnie felt her free will had been stripped; she stood no chance.

If she dared try, she’d likely roll over and apologize the next second.

Damn that traitorous brat—twisting her entire worldview.

"The humble phase within Arrogance is merely a prelude to ultimate conquest, much like you, Winnie," Cecile replied.

"Ugh, don’t remind me—I’m mortified..."

Though she and Cecile were evenly matched, Winnie felt utterly dominated.

Resentment burned in her heart.

"Earlier, you wanted to gamble. I’ve decided the terms."

Cecile pinched Winnie’s cheek, grinning wickedly. "Hmm? Think carefully. If it’s something I can easily achieve, that outfit of yours stays on forever."

"Annoying!" Winnie flushed slightly.

"That aloof dragon girl—you wanted her, right? If you win her over tonight, you win the bet."

"This wager..." Cecile hadn’t actually planned to make Hilris kneel and sing surrender in one night.

The odds were extremely low...

That woman feared little, with no clear weaknesses shown in the story.

If she cared about anything, it was Yahar City.

"Can’t do it?" Winnie scoffed. "Knew you couldn’t."

"Fine, I accept. But..."

"But?"

"I’m glad you’ll gamble, yet I disliked your tone just now."

It was tough, but not impossible.

"So, I’ll raise the stakes... adding one harmless little condition."

"Whatever. It’s trivial anyway—you won’t win."

Winnie doubted Cecile could seduce the dragon girl overnight.

"Should we now follow that dragon girl’s orders? Crush that Pleasure faction... and those Darkkin things?"

Cecile nodded. "Yes. She’s paid half upfront. By contract, we must act."

"Hah! You have contract spirit? Even Hell’s devils are more trustworthy."

"Not necessarily..." Cecile thought of An.

She wondered how An was faring. She should visit Hell later.

But recalling Hell’s nauseating chaotic time and space, she dropped the idea.

It’d be smarter to summon An to the mortal realm.

Other demons projected here—An surely could too.

Though An’s abilities suited Hell best. Mortal exorcism methods were endless, unfriendly to demons.

Her Silence Authority flickered unpredictably here.

But An...

This devil seemed skilled at manipulating people. Last time, she’d schemed against Cecile.

Cecile silently called her true name.

A soft meow sounded by her ear.

"Master?"

Cecile turned. A small cat—black-tipped head, pure white body—stood atop Helena’s head.

Its crimson eyes gazed obediently at Cecile.

Helena curiously scooped it into her arms.

She scratched its soft fur, happily petting it.

"An?" Cecile eyed the cat.

Winnie also stared, her playful smirk fading.

She sensed an unknown threat from it.

Its sudden appearance, undetected by her, was rare.

Likely an unknown avatar.

"Yes, Master. This is my projection in the mortal realm," An bowed slightly to Cecile.

Having been apart awhile, An showed utter obedience.

She’d learned well.

Honestly, Cecile didn’t know what that manual contained.

But she’d tossed it to An anyway—obedience was enough.

Devils spoke truth, yet vaguely.

Cecile refused to overanalyze it.

"Why not project your true form?" Cecile sounded disappointed.

She’d hoped An would set an example for Winnie, showcasing how flattering sheer robes were.

As a cat, that alluring figure was hidden.

She couldn’t just point and shout: "Transform for me!"

...That’d sound unhinged.

The dog ears and tail she’d prepared for An were useless now.

An replied, "My strength here doesn’t rely on my true self. Projecting it gains me nothing... only wastes my Hell power. If this projection is destroyed, I’d suffer greatly."

"I’m unlike other Overlords of Hell. I... can’t devour them." An lowered her head, dejected.

"Can’t devour them? What do you mean?" Cecile truly didn’t grasp Hell’s system.

In games, she’d crush Hell projections effortlessly.

Just XP fodder.

Sometimes, she’d ignore them—too time-consuming.

They gave only XP and skill points, nothing else.

One hit could cost heavy HP.

Poor risk-reward ratio.

Plus, Hell had little story presence—no proper bosses, not even durable or vivid ones.

No Overlord of Hell had appeared in the mortal realm.

Even An only showed up in post-game CGs, never during gameplay.

"I can’t strengthen myself solely by devouring. If I tried eating them, they’d devour me instead."

"Even if I dragged a gravely wounded Overlord to you, you couldn’t consume them?" Cecile realized why An was so weak.

Too small an appetite—couldn’t eat anyone. Seriously?

"Though I’m an Overlord of Hell, I lack their true power," An murmured, nearly burying her head.

Cecile knew this well.

An’s strength wasn’t in combat—her eerie abilities terrified most.

The Silence Authority was something few dared face.

"Then how do you grow stronger? As an Overlord, you can’t stay stagnant."

"Well... I have another quick method. But..." An hesitated, eyes darting between Cecile and the floor.

"Out with it. I need you useful in Hell. Like this, I doubt you can help."

An met Cecile’s gaze. "Human desire. I avoid my true form because I can possess others. If you stir their emotions—especially romantic desire—it greatly empowers me. The stronger the host, the stronger the feedback."

"I’ve never liked this method. But for you, Master... I’d accept it! Wholeheartedly!"

Her crimson eyes seemed to sparkle with faint pink hearts.

"Also, I can subtly influence the possessed... They might feel nothing, but I do. That feedback amplifies if they respond. Illusions can become real over time."

Cecile froze in shock.

She’d never expected this answer.

What was this?

A perfect conquest cheat code!

Beside her, Winnie’s lip twitched. She turned away, avoiding Cecile’s gaze.

Of course—monsters surrounded that traitorous brat.

She’d stay quiet.

If An possessed her...

Ugh! Just the thought chilled her.

Helena, clueless as ever, happily petted An.

The soft fur on An’s head was utterly irresistible.

"Oh, about pure-blooded blue dragons—how do you give them intense pleasure?"

"The horns and the mark on her forehead—especially the mark. It only appears during extreme emotional spikes. Even blue dragons may not know it’s there."

"An, you know so much. Must’ve practiced often?"

"A... few hundred times. But rest assured, Master—my body and soul are yours now! Yours to play with as you wish!"

"Tsk. So thoroughly tamed." Cecile scratched under An’s chin. "Good kitty..."

"Meow..." An nuzzled Cecile’s hand, licking it gently.