Chapter 37: Talk no Villainess works

Ghost-Hand retracted her claws and aura before slowly walking towards Seraphina.

"You'll get into a thousand pieces if I catch you lying to me!" She shouted menacingly, but her eyes betrayed her looks with a hint of melancholy.

Seraphina chuckled at Claudia's attempt to intimidate her. While she couldn't fight Ghost-Hand full-frontal like she used to fight her enemies, she was confident to escape the situation.

But Seraphina decided to use this chance and change a bit of the storyline to her favor.

"I know who you are and what you want. Your sister, Sylvia Throne, is indeed alive."

Ghost-Hand's steps faltered. The air seemed to grow heavy with emotions as Seraphina's words lingered. The hint of melancholy in Ghost-Hand's eyes deepened, mingling with a flicker of hope that she tried to suppress.

"Sylvia ... alive?"

The words escaped Ghost-Hand's lips almost as a whisper, carrying a weight that transcended the physical threats that had filled the room just moments ago. Her clenched fists relaxed slightly, her guard momentarily lowered as she grappled with the possibility of her sister's survival.

"Alive," Seraphina affirmed, her tone steady. "My constitution is unique and allows me to divine parts of the future. Your sister has a necklace with engravings of your name, right? Does that prove my point?"

As the tension hung in the air, Seraphina decided to step forward, both metaphorically and literally. She closed the gap between them, her movements purposeful but nonthreatening.

"You know how the Covenant has treated you and how wrong these experiments you lead are."

Ghost-Hand remained still, her internal struggle visible in the tension of her posture and the emotions that flickered across her face.

"You claim to know about Sylvia's necklace," Ghost-Hand's voice trembled slightly, a fragile thread of hope woven through her words. "But how can I trust your words? How do I know this isn't just another trick, another attempt to manipulate me?"

Seraphina's expression softened, her empathy and determination shining through. She had expected Ghost-Hand's skepticism and was prepared to face it head-on.

"You have every reason to doubt, Claudia. The world we inhabit is filled with deceit and hidden agendas," Seraphina spoke calmly. "But I'm not here to play games with your emotions. I know the pain you carry, and I want to help you find the truth, no matter how difficult it may be."

The vulnerability in Ghost-Hand's eyes was undeniable now, a reflection of the inner turmoil she was grappling with. The walls she had built to shield herself from the world began to crack, revealing the raw emotions she had long suppressed.

'Jackpot, now for the last push.' Seraphina mused.

Continuing with her calculated approach, Seraphina seized the moment, understanding that this was the crucial juncture that could shift the course of their interaction.

"Think about it, Claudia. You've spent years seeking power in the hopes of finding your sister," Seraphina's voice was gentle yet compelling. "Now is the chance to find her. The Covenant is not your future. I can see a more prosperous path as one of my people."

"I've seen what you've accomplished, Claudia. The way you've wielded your strength and authority. But imagine channeling that energy towards something more," Seraphina's voice was a soothing murmur, her words carefully chosen. "Imagine discovering not only your sister's fate but also uncovering the truth behind the Covenant's machinations."

Ghost-Hand's shoulders slumped imperceptibly, a sign that Seraphina's words were making their mark.

"You've had your doubts about the path you've taken, about the price you've paid," Seraphina continued, her gaze never leaving Ghost-Hand's eyes. "I can offer you a chance at redemption, a way to heal the wounds that have festered within you for so long."

Tears shimmered in Ghost-Hand's eyes, her exterior unraveling in the face of Seraphina's unwavering empathy and understanding.

With a voice that trembled with uncertainty yet held a glimmer of hope, Ghost-Hand whispered, "Alright, help me find my sister, and I'll be your loyal servant."

'Damn, she's really dedicated to her sister.' Seraphina thought before replying calmly.

"Worry not, she will appear in due time. Just investigate the Celestial Phoenix Sect. Your sister is currently a holy child in training."

"Swear on your cultivation that the information is correct."

The room seemed to hold its breath again, the gravity of this new path settling upon them. Ghost-Hand's tears glistened as she processed the information.

Seraphina gave Claudia a calculating look. "Sure, we'll both swear on our cultivation."

She pulled out a talisman she drew on Divine Oaths and established a contract between her and Claudia. The contents were acceptable to both parties, and they added parts of their promises.

"Information for Loyalty"

'Truly a fool. But this works out in my favor. I'll make a good underling out of her.' Seraphina mused about Ghost-Hand's potential. She gained a powerful ally. This meant a lot for the current stage of the novel's development.

"Now, Claudia. I'll mark you with a communication seal not too dissimilar from the one of the Covenant. It will be a bidirectional communication tunnel instead." Seraphina's voice was steady, her gaze locked onto Claudia's.

"Alright." Claudia sized Seraphina's stretched-out arm before committing to the handshake. She grimaced at the pain from applying the seal and stayed quiet until the process finished.

"Now, you're officially one of mine. I'll make sure your wish is fulfilled." Seraphina exclaimed with a hint of excitement - still lingering from the turn of events.

"But, for now, we'll need to destroy this facility. The Duskin's should not exist in this world." Seraphina said.

"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of it and make the Fallar take the fall. They have been annoying during the whole time. Truthfully, I wouldn't even be here to oversee this disgusting project if it wasn't for Thousand Faces."

"So one of the generals is involved?" Seraphina asked in an unsurprising tone. Although this was never mentioned, a general being involved made sense to her.

"So you also know a lot about the Covenant. As expected of my new Master." Claudia said in a slightly proud tone.

'Oh, she's already developed a favorable impression of me. It's like our confrontation never happened. Cultivators are sometimes strange, but it works, so I'm not complaining.'