The SSS Ranked Villain's Return - Chapter 266

Chapter 266: Planting Seeds of Doubt
“This is a bit out of nowhere…?” Ariella muttered. “I already have a place to stay.”

“I see… so that’s a no, then?” Neraxis sighed and let out a light chuckle. “At least I tried.”

“I-It’s not a no.” Ariella waved her hands around. “I’ve actually been trying to make some friends. If I can do that in your house, then I’m up for it.”

“Hmm… yeah, that makes sense.” Neraxis nodded. “I’m surprised you’re acting so shy now, though. I’m more used to your cold, masochistic, and suicidal persona.”

Ariella rolled her eyes. “Cold, masochistic, and suicidal? Is that how you see me now?”

“Not anymore.” Neraxis shrugged and decided to tell her the plan.

“I have a little skill that can make a safe haven in a single area, so I’ll be doing that once we’re finished with the Wilds. Does that work for you?”

“Of course,” Ariella replied with a smile. “I have all the time in the world.”

Neraxis chuckled. “I guess that’s true…”

Nonetheless, he let go of Ariella’s waist and glanced toward the frozen Evangeline and the new vampire, Cade.

“Unfreeze time. I need to sort some stuff out with him,” Neraxis instructed, and Ariella did just that.

Soon, time resumed, and the fierce wind blew against his head, sending a shiver down his spine.

But Neraxis didn’t bother much with it as he walked toward Cade and picked him up by the collar.

Of course, since he was still knocked out, Neraxis would drag him across the ground until he woke up.

In the meantime, he turned to Evangeline.

“I’m sure you’ve already read my mind by now, so what do you think of my idea?” he asked.

“It’s perfect,” Evangeline replied with a cheeky smile. “Now I can put some of my plans into motion.”

“Plans…?”

She shook her head. “Yep, but you don’t need to worry about them. Not all of them revolve around you.”

“But some do?” Neraxis pointed out with a raised brow. “I trust you’re not hiding anything big from me.”

“Of course I’m not.” Evangeline giggled. “It’s just girly stuff, so you won’t understand anyways.”

“Right…” Neraxis replied suspiciously, and finally let go of Cade.

After all, they had arrived at the campsite. The students seemed to have already run back here.

Some had small injuries, but even those were healed by the triplets, so Neraxis wasn’t too worried.

As for Aella, Aurelia, Eris, and Celina—from what he could feel—they were still soundly sleeping.

How nonchalant. Neraxis chuckled as he stretched his hand and suddenly summoned a Frost barrier around them.

“Are you going to interrogate him?” Ariella asked as she brushed her fingers on the barrier. “I can mentally torture him if you’d like. Maybe 10 years of mental isolation?”

“No thanks, I don’t want to break him just yet,” Neraxis said and began manifesting his Arksteel.

Just this time, instead of a scythe or a sword, he summoned 50 small needles.

Neraxis hovered them in the air for a few moments, and then swiftly brought every single one of them down into Cade.

The needles outlined his vitals, and if Neraxis were to clench his fist, the needles would pierce Cade’s vital organs.

Nonetheless, that little bit of damage seemed to have been enough to wake him up as his eyes shot open.

He darted around, trying to make sense of the situation, and finally, his gaze landed on Neraxis.

However, just as he was about to retaliate, Neraxis merely sent a single needle straight into Cade’s liver, momentarily paralyzing him.

“W-What did you do to me!?” Cade yelled, panicked.

“Nothing much, I just wanted a subordinate. Is that too much to ask?” Neraxis replied innocently. “On another note, could you tell me everything you know about the Jade Emperor?”

“I would neve—!”

Of course, before Cade could refuse, Neraxis swiftly pierced both of his kidneys.

Cade flinched as a pained look appeared on his face.

He tried to stand up swiftly and attack Neraxis. However, his fist didn’t even connect, stopping a few centimeters from Neraxis’s face.

“As you can see, you’re fucked,” Neraxis stated and delivered a jab straight at Cade’s jaw, breaking it and sending him hurtling into the Frost barrier.

“Damn.” Evangeline whistled. “I guess we’re going to kill him then.”

Neraxis smiled as he glanced at Cade. “I wonder…? Are we?”

Due to the healing factor that Cade got from Neraxis, he was able to heal pretty fast, and his jaw and vital organs began functioning again.

However, he was obviously not as confident as before.

“Speak,” Neraxis insisted. “I’m not a very patient guy, and I have places to be. If you waste my time here, then you’re not needed.”

Cade frowned. “The Jade Emperor is a Transcendent being. He’s the strongest of us all, and he rules over the entirety of our world. That is all I’m going to tell you.”

“No, it’s not,” Neraxis said and made the needles pierce even more of his organs. “How many allies does he have? How many others like you are there?”

“There are 19 more people of similar strength to me… and then there’s the future Jade Empress…” Cade groaned, struggling to breathe. “She’s second to the Jade Emperor, and the moment they consolidate their marriage, she’s likely to surpass him.”

Evangeline sniffed the air as a smirk appeared on her face. “Is that a new girl I smell?”

“…?” Neraxis tilted his head. “You’re overthinking it.”

Nonetheless, he brought his gaze back to Cade. “Anything else you want to add? Just a reminder: if you really want to live, give me a reason to keep you alive.”

Cade flinched. “What a cruel fate… Just kill me already.”

“Are you really going to stay loyal until the end?” Neraxis raised a brow. “I’m sure you understand that the reason you were sent here was because the Jade Emperor was testing the waters, right?”

Before Cade could reply, Neraxis continued. “He sends a single swordsman… sure, you’re strong. But have you ever stopped to think why I have such a big bounty in the first place? Do you think I’m some sort of pushover?”

Cade stared at him for a moment with furrowed brows, then let out a sigh.

“I…”