Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 213: Chapter 212- Rena(2)

There was no doubt; that the person chained up by the wall was none other than his childhood friend.

Her condition made his heart heavy. All the color from her face was drained, her eyes were hollow and lifeless. The girl seemed nothing but a ragged doll that existed just because she was forced to.

The same lively girl who always waited for him near his house so they could go to school together. The same person who always motivated him to keep looking forward. The same person who used to smile so brightly that it made him feel warm.

"Rena..." Along with grief, Richard was feeling frustrated about why he couldn't find her when the apocalypse broke out. If he had been, then Rena would have remained safe beside Bella all this long.

"Feels pity? Well, I guess you will." The voice of the young man who was lazily sitting beside Rena echoed in the cell.

Smoke erupted from his balled fist as Richard looked at the dead meat with burning fury.

"Release her...and I promise your dogs will get your bones to chew."

Jin grinned; he loved such people who, until the end, thinks that the game was in their favor.

Crossing his leg, he rested his hand on his knee, before suggesting, "Why don't you try and break the bars first?"

Richard's expression remained the same as he held the metallic bar—however, the moment he tried to burn them, the collar around Rena's neck began to stiffen, choking her as she struggled to breathe.

He instantly removed his hand and absorbed all the heat from the bars.

Jin's grin widened, "You see, the technology I developed was just to keep her caged up. Any foreign substance that enters the cell will harm Rena in one way or another."

"What do you want?!" Richard barked, his tone and demeanor suggesting the extreme frustration he was feeling at the moment.

The young man leaned forward before replying, "Nothing."

Richard frowned, "Tell me your price—whatever it is, I will pay you. Just let her go-"

"You got it wrong, mister. I don't greed anything; the power, money, and men I have are all I can sacrifice just right away if I want to."

Through his gritted teeth, the redhead asked, "Then why are you doing this to her?!"

"Because I hate Rena." His answer was quick and simple. There was not a speck of complication in his eyes, nor did his demeanor suggest that he was hiding his true motive.

Richard was flabbergasted and failed to say anything after that—allowing Jin to explain.

"I used to love her. After my mother, it was only she who took care of me as a family member. I adored her...wanted to protect her from the world. However, when I confessed to my feelings, do you know what she said?"

The aura of the man began to flicker, signifying his agitation as he muttered through his gritted teeth,

"She said she already has someone in her heart."

The Pope of the Cathedral was the person she wanted to meet the least in this world.

After all, Bellarine had never had a good relationship with the church; even in the previous lifetime, she didn't get along with the people who had only a single life motive: to serve God.

Bellarine never liked such stubborn people who could go to any length to prove the other one wrong, if they said anything against their God.

'If it's some bullshit once again, I might as well just withdraw my participation in all this and return to my baby.' With those thoughts, she finally entered the conference hall where a weary Gideon, the chief advisor, Bennet, and Duke Aeromore could be seen.

Turning her eyes, she found the Emperor and the familiar face of the Pope looking back at at her.

Her mood was already irked seeing that face but she held her distaste and approached them, "Yes, Your Majesty? Did you need something from me-"

"I want you to not participate in this war." The Pope suddenly called out, making Bellarine frown.

"And who are you to decide what I should do and what I shouldn't?" She challenged, not liking how the man just talked to her.

The worshipper's brows knitted in a tight frown as he voiced, "As the servant who is devoted to the benefit of humanity, I cannot allow you, an evil worshipper to take part in something which can risk hundreds of lives."

"But, Your Holiness, Duchess Bellarine has devoted herself to this war. She has taken an oath to erase the threat which has been threatening the lives of our citizens." Hayden voiced.

"Indeed, Supreme One. If anyone then it's Bellarine who could ensure minimal casualties from our side in this war." Gideon supported.

The Emperor had a slight frown as he asked, "Why are you going against everyone here?"

"Because I know, when the time comes she will take their side and betray us. Again."

**CRACK**

The wooden surface beneath her feet cracked, and the whole place was overwhelmed by Bellarine's presence.

Hayden began sweating profusely and the others felt a grave sensation clawing at their consciousness.

Seeing her growing aura, Bennet suddenly got up and said, "Excuse my impudence, father, but you are accusing the wrong person here."

Suddenly, the tide of the conversation shifted as the blond-haired spoke, "I know Commander Bellarine better than anyone in this room, and I can confidently say that regardless of the situation, she won't ever betray us."

He snarled, "And you bet your life on that?"

Bennet narrowed his eyes as he heard the Pope adding, "Can you take an unbreakable oath that you two will eradicate the source of this chaos? Tell me."

Bennet's eyes turned cold before he said, "If that's all it takes for you to stop disrespecting my teacher, then yes, I will take the unbreakable oath."

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A/N:- There is this Holiness, and there is that Holiness in my other work. Sigh~