Struggling as a Villain

Bella didn't have many memories of the time she spent after her brother departed from the world.

She remembered her days in isolation when she was hunting beasts as a source to keep herself engaged. She wanted to not dwell on her loss, or she knew she would lose herself and also the chance of reuniting with him.

The best source of finding a way to meet her brother was to extend her contact with people. She realized that there were unique and different abilities that each individual possessed—as such, she recognized the need to expand her reach and bring more people under her command.

Around that time, she was in Vegas, where she started building her Empire and recruited people who worked for her tirelessly so they could expand her territory. Within a few years, there was no ruler left in Vegas who dared to defy Bella.

Around that time, she met a girl named Lena who was quite good in administration and was powerful enough to make Bella use some of her strongest spells against her. And the most significant quality of hers—she talked very little.

Bella, at that time, didn't like to interact with people and Lena was the perfect person to understand her intentions without her saying it.

As such, she made her the head of the administration and left the group in her hands before she disappeared.

However, so many things happened once Bella was summoned in that world, that she completely forgot about her existence—until the silver head appeared right before her all of a sudden.

"My Queen....I sensed your presence..." Lena muttered, completely unbothered about the fact that she was currently tied with the ropes.

The commotion, fortunately, didn't alert the sensors around or they would have to evacuate immediately.

"That's not possible..." Bella uttered, "Miles away, how could you have sensed me? Tell me, are you from the side of the enemy?"

Lena's expression remained the same. However, Akira and Carl panicked, gripping their weapons; they were just a call away from attacking the silver head.

However, "I had formed a Soul Bond with you, My Queen—betraying you means death." Lena simply stated that her confidence doesn't come from the Soul Bond but from the devotion she carries for her queen.

Bella remembered there was a time she agreed to some Bond which Lena mentioned—never thought it would be that serious.

"Why did you attack Boris?" Carl demanded.

"Because I assumed you all have restrained my queen and suppressed her mana," Lena stated, her eyes narrowing at the young man; clearly still quite wary of them.

Bella rolled her eyes, "I have been suppressing my mana to not get noticed....then, how did you notice me?"

Lena explained, "It must be because of the Soul Bond that since last night, I have been feeling your presence."

That makes sense to Lilia. She has also formed a Soul Bond with her master in the past, and faintly, she could sense his presence if he is within the same plain as her.

His presence disappeared only once when he jumped into the Endless Hold to satiate the need to summon the Demon General.

It was the period that Lilia never wanted to experience again.

"Why are you here?" Finally, the brunette called out—elevating the tension in the air.

Carl and Akira stepped away, leaving Lilia and Lena face to face.

Lena wouldn't lie—she was quite impressed by the brunette's fighting skills and how easily she subdued her. However, none of that can force her to lie about her intentions,

"I came here to fulfill my duty as My Queen's retainer."

Lilia crossed her arms on her chest, before asking, "Yet you risked her life by arriving here so abruptly? I see no sense of responsibility in you."

For the first time since her arrival, Lena seemed hesitant to speak...more like the stoic woman seemed embarrassed as she lowered her eyes in shame.

Carl felt guilty conscience towards the silver head as he tried to soothe the situation, "Now-now, don't scold her, Miss Lilia. If she is someone close to Big Sis, she is our ally as well, no?" He glanced at Bella and found her busily munching on potato chips.

"..." Your comrade is getting scolded here!

Lilia heaved a sigh before turning towards the young miss, "What should be done with her, is in your hands." Lilia said, since she cannot regard Lena as their enemy considering she was bound with Bella through friendship and Soul Bond.

As such, the responsibility of the girl falls on Bella; that is what she wants to do about her.

Bella handed the bag of chips to Akira before stepping towards the blue-eyed female.

"Tell me, Lena...what is the status of that group I left behind...what was its name again?"

"The Crimson clan..." Lena muttered, making Bella wonder why she chose such a basic name before she added,

"Yeah...how many people are there in that clan?" Last she remembered, she stopped recruiting after the number reached four hundred—considering she found that little guy named Anvil who gave her the slight hope of jumping through dimensions. However, it failed in the end.

Bella was thinking that the guild might have expanded in the years...however, never did she assumed the numbers to be,

"Seven thousand spread in four countries."

".....!!"

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A few hours of sleep it all took for Richard to wash away all the fatigue he had been accumulating after entering this world.

He was, somehow, reminded of that time when living another day was the greatest fortune. In a world where survival was becoming more and more difficult each day, a single night of sleep seemed quite a luxury to him.

Around those times, Richard used to sleep just anywhere and in any position. That's why when he had to leave a comfortable bed and sleep on the ground while continuously keeping an ear to his surroundings, even while asleep, it reminded him of old times.

"Are you awake now?" Richard asked as he saw Emily looking up at him with starry eyes.

She slowly nodded but made no move to show that she wanted to get up now.

Richard smiled at her before reminding the girl, "We are still in the middle of investigating the enemy's territory, y'know."

Emily couldn't have told him how much she wanted to remain in the blanket...she nodded to his words before getting up, allowing Richard to stretch his body and remove the blanket.

He could sense the movement of beasts in the surroundings, and when he looked around, he found a big deer lying dead nearby, its innards being pulled out while Lailia continued to watch around.

Richard was impressed by Ben's working speed, as he said, "You seem experienced in this…"

Ben was startled for a moment to hear his voice as he turned to look at the redhead before wiping his face.

"I learned from the situation. Initially, I used to waste a lot of meat."

"Well, I was no better at it as well. Bella always handled this." Richard said before he called out, "Come down, Laila; let's have dinner."

The pink head flinched before she turned to look at the leader. She was standing atop a tree, so she had to climb down carefully—however, she was saved from the effort when suddenly a translucent barrier appeared around her, and the girl was brought down to the ground.

"Thank you…" With a smile, she thanked the blond.

Emily nodded before she picked a few branches which Ben previously picked and made a small campfire.

Ben brought some chunks of meat as Richard ignited the branches.

Soon they settled around the campfire and placed the meat near the heat to let it cook.

Laila took out a few snacks she had brought along and shared them with others.

While eating, Richard said, "In an hour, we will leave."

The atmosphere instantly dropped upon hearing that as they realized that it was finally time.

"We will move in groups of two—Laila and I will remain hidden while Emily and Ben will enter the base." Richard directed, " We will be just behind you two, hidden by Emily's barrier. If there comes a mana detector, Emily, just give us a ten-second half, and we will escape."

The blond nodded, " Understood."

"Laila, your role is to navigate me and take care of guards when I ask you to."

The pink head diligently nodded.

And Ben, Richard began again, "I need you to look at the fortress as much as you can…learn the structure and make a mental note of everywhere you go."

The masked one nodded.

With his eyes situated on the flames, Richard clenched his fist as some words seeped through his lips,

'Just some more time Rena…I promise I will save you ….'

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