Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start? - Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Chapter177-Owen’s Two Demands
“Are you serious?”

Seeing that Owen seemed inclined to negotiate, Dean Rictor looked at him skeptically.

“Of course I’m serious. The reason I kidnapped Rachel and want to negotiate with your Melodic Academy is because Middle Earth forced me into this. If you hadn’t attacked me, would I be doing all of this for fun?”

Owen snorted, turning the question back on him.

Watching Owen play the victim, Dean Rictor’s mouth twitched slightly.

Indeed, Middle Earth was the first to make a move against Owen, but Owen’s retaliation—killing Kaldan and several Protectors—was clearly excessive.

Even before Melodic Academy’s people had made a move against him, Owen had either killed or enslaved them, and now he was threatening the academy.

For someone like that to claim to be a victim was something Rictor found hard to accept.

However, outwardly, he nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, the various forces of Middle Earth may have been too aggressive this time, but our Melodic Academy had no part in it. Consider the deaths of those two Protectors as our apology. As long as you release Rachel, I can swear on my position as dean that Melodic Academy will not pursue this matter any further.”

Rictor followed Owen’s words, trying to extricate the academy and Rachel from the situation.

Hearing this, Owen chuckled and said, “I appreciate your sincerity, Dean Rictor. Since Melodic Academy also bears some responsibility in this matter, I have a simple request: help me keep Pyrothrone Kingdom at bay for one year. Make sure they don’t bother me. That’s my first condition.”

Keep Pyrothrone Kingdom at bay for a year?!

Rachel, standing in front of Owen, instinctively shook her head repeatedly.

Pyrothrone Kingdom was a colossal force within Middle Earth, with countless powerful figures.

The Emperor of Pyrothrone Kingdom was known to be extremely protective.

After Owen killed Prince Kaldan, the entire kingdom, from top to bottom, would undoubtedly be enraged and would not let Owen off easily.

Asking them to stay quiet for a year was almost impossible.

Moreover, while Melodic Academy wielded considerable influence in Middle Earth, being one of the three ancient academies, it was a relatively loose and neutral organization, rarely involving itself in the conflicts of other powers.

Owen was simply dreaming if he thought he could threaten the academy into acting.

“Owen, when you killed Kaldan, you should have anticipated Pyrothrone Kingdom’s retaliation. This isn’t the time to be grasping at straws. Our academy cannot help you with this,” Rachel said directly, attempting to reject Owen’s demand.

To her, this request was simply impossible.

Even if Melodic Academy decided to intervene and prevent Pyrothrone Kingdom from acting against Owen, it wouldn’t be justifiable.

However, Owen ignored Rachel and instead focused on the hesitant and conflicted Dean Rictor, speaking slowly, “Dean, if Melodic Academy steps in, Pyrothrone Kingdom will surely respect that. A year’s time isn’t an unreasonable request for either of you, is it?”

“Pyrothrone Kingdom is fiercely protective. You’re overestimating our academy’s influence. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about this,” Dean Rictor sighed, shaking his head slightly.

Seeing his refusal, Owen wasn’t surprised. He pointed upward, “If you can’t make this decision, why not consult with your academy’s founding mage?”

At these words, both Rachel and Dean Rictor’s pupils shrank slightly.

The academy’s founding mage was ancient, the very foundation upon which the academy stood as one of the three great institutions of Middle Earth.

This mage had surpassed the god-tier and was in seclusion, known only to a select few.

Most people in Middle Earth believed that he had either perished or ascended.

Owen’s confident mention of the founding dean made it clear he knew some of the academy’s deepest secrets, which troubled Rictor deeply.

Out of caution, Rictor decided to consult with the founding dean. After a brief moment, he received the response: permission granted.

The founding dean had agreed.

This development caused Rictor’s brows to furrow even deeper.

However, when he turned back to Owen, his expression softened into a smile. “Owen, after careful consideration by the academy, I can formally agree to your first condition.”

Although Owen had already suspected that Melodic Academy would eventually agree to his request, hearing Dean Rictor’s confirmation still brought him some relief.

“Good, good! I trust in the credibility of both you and your academy’s founding dean. Now, I have just one final small request,” Owen said, his expression growing more serious.

“Your academy should have some information regarding the unsealing of the Godslayer Staff. Don’t deny it. Your academy was involved in shattering it back then!”

Hearing this, Rictor’s heart shook. He had already learned from his earlier investigation that Owen wielded the Godslayer Staff, but the fact that Owen knew about the academy’s involvement in the staff’s sealing shocked him.

Where did he get this information?

Shaken, Dean Rictor repeatedly shook his head, denying the claim.

“Owen, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help you, but there’s no such information in our academy. That was ages ago. Your intel must be mistaken.”

Owen didn’t reply, simply staring at Rictor. Rictor held his ground, meeting Owen’s gaze without backing down.

The matter of the Godslayer Staff was too important. Middle Earth had expended untold resources and effort to disperse and seal it.

If the Godslayer Staff were fully unsealed, it would undoubtedly cause widespread chaos.

No matter what, he couldn’t agree to Owen’s demand.

“Are you really unwilling to give me the information?”

Owen’s brow furrowed, his tone taking on a more threatening edge as he questioned Rictor’s firm stance.

“There truly is no such information!” Rictor shook his head firmly.

“Is that so?” Owen, seeing Rictor’s unwavering attitude, snorted coldly before turning a lecherous gaze towards Rachel.

He licked his lips, saying, “Then I guess I’ll have to perform a live show right here!”

“As Melodic Academy’s top student, someone your academy has invested so much in, you must be quite… ripe.”

At these words, flames of rage ignited in Rictor’s eyes, and he was filled with the urge to tear Owen apart on the spot. “Owen! Don’t you dare!”

“Let’s see if I dare or not!” Owen didn’t waste any time, reaching out to tear open Rachel’s gown, revealing her snow-white neck and her graceful figure.

Seeing Owen’s sudden action, Rictor panicked and quickly softened his tone, saying, “Owen, Owen! Didn’t we already agree to help you keep Pyrothrone Kingdom at bay for a year? We can talk this over…”

Seeing Rictor’s reaction, Owen finally paused and gave a wicked smile, “I’ve already said, I have only two requests. If you agree to them, I won’t harm Rachel. When the time comes, I’ll return her to your academy unharmed. But if you continue with this false reluctance, there’s no guarantee she’ll remain a virgin.”

Hearing this, Rictor quickly suppressed his urge to argue and swiftly changed his stance, saying, “To be honest, I just checked our records. We do have some information related to the Godslayer Staff.”

Rachel, who had been in a state of panic, was furious when she saw the dean cave in to Owen’s threats, especially after Owen mentioned her virginity.

Just moments ago, the dean had been firm, but now he was backing down.

“Dean, my body is a small matter, but the Godslayer Staff is not! We cannot compromise with this villain!” Rachel, though deeply concerned about her virginity, couldn’t stand to see the dean being manipulated by Owen.

“Hahaha!” Owen couldn’t help but laugh aloud at Rachel’s words. “It seems you really don’t know anything!”