Chapter 612: Puppeteering Villains Like A Mastermind
"Then, let’s get you ready so we can finally head out."
No matter how obedient Vera seemed to be, Aurora was no longer the kind of naive person who would trust someone just based on words.
The demonstration she gave earlier wasn’t something that she did just to prove a point. Rather, it was a prelude to the real safety device that she was about to install.
"Sure, go ahead."
Continuing to prove her own point, Vera immediately agreed without even bothering to ask what Aurora’s words meant. She was truly committed to the decision that she had made.
"It’s great that you are so willing, but let me explain first."
Not wanting to waste anymore time, Aurora started her little demonstration.
Pointing her right index finger upward, she released a marble-sized orb of light, letting it fly freely in circles.
"You see, this little fellow here is the exact same thing that I have inserted into your lovely sister’s arm. I don’t think I need to explain its function, but..."
Gesturing forward with her hand, Aurora sent the light marble flying to the very end of the final room before snapping her fingers.
Boom!
The light marble instantly exploded.
"Just to be as clear as possible, there is very little that I can’t do using it, and fortunately for you, as it is a part of me, no amount of distance between us will affect my ability to control it. So..."
With her index finger still in the same position, six more light marbles flew out, each couple floating towards one of the Thorn Siblings.
"As long as you bravely accept these into your bodies, we can all go outside right now. Of course, we would still have to match up our stories, but that shouldn’t take too much time."
Instead of being forceful, the light marbles stopped right in front of the three sisters. In order for this to really work, compliance was truly a prerequisite.
Just like the light maelstrom Aurora had unleashed earlier, these light marbles were also an Ability she learned in response to Yvonne’s outburst.
The finer details regarding this ability were rather blurry, but with the light testing that she did with Yvonne, Aurora quickly grasped the basic frame of things.
Although she could force it in just like she did with Yvonne, doing so would erase the possibility of using it as a control device.
With normal people, there was no limit to its use, but when used on Ability Users, they had to prime their Enigma for the intake of a foreign energy. Otherwise, it would flare out in response like antibodies.
’I can’t have all three of them collapsing like this.’
This was exactly what happened to Yvonne. When met with a superior Enigma like Aurora’s, the immune response of native Enigma could only turn into a severe case of anaphylactic shock.
A strengthened Ability User wouldn’t die from this shock, but their body would be wrecked, which would ruin the facade that Aurora was still trying to maintain.
"I wouldn’t hesitate if I were you."
Naturally, Aurora made sure to omit that fact. In that way, unless Viva and Vera truly submitted, their bodies would end up flaring out, which in turn would reveal any hidden schemes that they might have.
’If it doesn’t work, then it just doesn’t work.’
As for being found out, Aurora wasn’t going to let that thought control her and force her into using more uncertain means.
If failing her original plan was inevitable, then she just had to figure out another one.
"Honestly, you should be thankful that I have something like this. Otherwise, I really would have no option other than instant disposal."
The villainous phrases were hard for Aurora to utter, but she found it necessary to instill the right amount of fear.
After all, even the compliant Vera didn’t agree as quickly as she did at the start. Instead, she looked at her sister, who was still bound like a bundle, seemingly thinking it through one more time.
"It stays in only until the next Gate is done, right?"
Although she claimed total submission, it wasn’t like Vera was willing to be a slave her entire life.
In reality, she was half-willing to even give up her sisters in order to survive herself, but surviving as a slave was not that different from death.
"Of course. What use would I have of pests like you? All I want is your temporary silence."
This time, Aurora told the outright truth. The Thorn Trio were scum, but she had no obligation to kill them herself.
In fact, if the three were willing to run out of Enigma City, she would have no way of controlling them. The range wasn’t really infinite; it was just extremely large.
"We will do it."
Receiving confirmation, Aurora finally released both Viva and Yvonne. However...
"No! We wouldn’t do it! Look at what she did to big sis, I would rather-"
"Shut up, Viva."
At first, it appeared like Viva possessed the same strain of mad defiance that her big sister had, but with a single shout from Vera, she went quiet like an obedient puppy.
"I- I will do it."
No one heard it other than the Thorn Siblings, now more of a duo rather than a Trio, but the Thorn Princess was thoroughly convinced with just two sentences sent through their vine channel.
’If you really want to save big sis, then just follow along. Otherwise, I will abandon you both and save my own skin.’
Vera’s threat might have sounded very simple, but in reality, it touched on Viva’s greatest fear since childhood, loneliness.
Ever since a certain traumatic event in her past, Viva could never handle being alone; that was precisely why she surrounded herself by vine knights like some fairy tale princess.
Yet, for the sake of saving Viva herself, Vera had no qualms about treading into this forbidden territory.
’It’s for your own good... Mine as well.’
"Very well, go ahead and spread your palms."
With another gesture from Aurora, the light marbles seamlessly passed through their skin and into their arms.
Unfortunately, while the first marble was satisfied with latching onto their shoulders, the second one kept on swimming through... Only stopping when it finally found its way into their hearts.
