Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 837: Information About Western Cosmos

The battleship, cloaked in shadows, pierced through the shimmering veil of the Western Cosmos. Leaving behind the fiery hues of the Eastern realm, Wang Jian and his harem entered a galaxy painted in softer, cooler tones. Starfields glittered like scattered diamonds on velvet, and nebulae swirled in pastel shades of blue, silver, and lavender. It was a cosmos of ethereal beauty, a stark contrast to the raw, passionate energy of the East.

”So, this is the Western Cosmos,” Xinqiao murmured, gazing out at the breathtaking vista from the battleshipʼs panoramic window. ”Itʼs…gentler, isnʼt it?”

Yujia nodded, her eyes wide with wonder. ”It feels…calmer. Less…intense than home.”

Han Chenyu and Jingyi Zhumin, nestled closer to Wang Jian, simply leaned against him, their gazes fixed on the swirling nebulae, their thoughts unreadable. Wang Jian, however, was less interested in the cosmic scenery and more focused on his impending conquest.

”Gentle or not,” Wang Jian said, his voice a low purr, ”it is ripe for the taking. And the most exquisite treasures here… are the Starlordʼs women.” He ran a hand possessively through Yujiaʼs hair, then glanced at Xinqiao, Han Chenyu, and Jingyi Zhumin. ”And you, my beauties, will help me acquire them.”

A thrill, a mixture of excitement and anticipation, ran through his harem. They were his instruments, his willing accomplices in his grand schemes. Their purpose now was intertwined with his desires.

Wang Jian directed the battleship towards the heart of the Western Cosmos, towards the Celestial Nexus, Altan Starbrightʼs domain. He knew he couldnʼt just barge in and expect to charm Altanʼs wives. These women were legendary for their devotion to their Starlord. He needed information, a strategy.

”First,” Wang Jian announced, settling back into his luxurious command chair, ”we gather intelligence. We need to know our prey.”

He landed the battleship discreetly on the outskirts of a sprawling city, a metropolis built from shimmering crystal and starlight, radiating a soft, otherworldly glow. He chose a bustling tavern, ʼThe Astral Nectar,ʼ its sign flickering with neon constellations, as his initial point of information gathering.

Stepping into the tavern, Wang Jian was immediately enveloped by a lively, yet refined atmosphere. Celestial beings with shimmering wings, humanoids with eyes like distant stars, and various other exotic species mingled, their voices a melodic hum against the soft strumming of a lute played by a four-armed bartender. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and sweet, otherworldly liquors.

He led his harem to a secluded corner booth, ordering a round of the tavernʼs most potent drink – something called ʼStardust Whiskeyʼ – and then signaled for the tavern owner. A being with skin like polished obsidian and eyes that twinkled like distant galaxies approached, his four arms moving with practiced efficiency as he served their drinks.

”Welcome to the Astral Nectar,” the tavern owner said, his voice a smooth, resonant baritone. ”I am Zylos. What can I get for you, esteemed travelers?”

Wang Jian smiled, a charming, disarming smile that had worked wonders in the Eastern Cosmos. ”Zylos, my friend,” he began, his voice casual yet confident, ”we are new to the Western Cosmos, and quite… captivated by its beauty. Especially… the tales of Starlord Altan and his… exquisite entourage.”

Zylosʼs obsidian eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of caution in their starlight depths. ”Starlord Altan is… revered here. His name is spoken with respect.”

”Of course, of course,” Wang Jian chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. ”Respect is due. But admiration is also natural, wouldnʼt you agree? Especially when it comes to… beauty. I hear Starlord Altan is blessed with the most beautiful women in the cosmos. Star Goddesses, Astral Spirits… legends, really.”

Zylos remained impassive, his face like carved stone. ”Legends are often… exaggerated.”

Wang Jian leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ”But surely, thereʼs truth to the whispers, no? A man of your… connections, in a place like this… you must have heard tales. Seen glimpses, perhaps?” He slid a small pouch filled with shimmering demonic energy across the table. ”Information, my friend, is always… valuable.”

Zylosʼs obsidian eyes flickered down to the pouch, then back up to Wang Jian. A subtle shift occurred in his demeanor, the initial caution softening slightly, replaced by a flicker of tavern-keeperʼs curiosity and greed. He pocketed the pouch with a swift, almost imperceptible movement.

”Starlord Altanʼs… companions are indeed… noteworthy,” Zylos conceded, his voice still measured but now laced with a hint of tavern gossip. ”They are the talk of the Nexus, of course. Star Goddess Lyra, they say her beauty rivals the dawn itself. And Astral Spirit Seraphina, her voice can soothe the most savage beast.”

Yujia, Xinqiao, Han Chenyu, and Jingyi Zhumin listened intently, their eyes fixed on Zylos, absorbing every word. Wang Jian prompted him further.

”Lyra and Seraphina… are they… wives? Consorts? What is their… status?”

Zylos took a moment, swirling the Stardust Whiskey in his glass. ”Status is… fluid in the Celestial Nexus. Altan Starbright… he collects beauty, like a connoisseur collects rare artifacts. Lyra… she is a Star Goddess, yes. From the Nebula of a Thousand Wishes. Her faction, the Lumina Concord, is powerful, influential. She is… a wife, in the formal sense, perhaps the most prominent.”

”And Seraphina?” Wang Jian pressed, his interest piqued.

”Seraphina is an Astral Spirit, bound to Altan by ancient pacts. Her lineage is… ethereal, older than stars themselves, some say. She is… more of a favored companion, a muse, perhaps. But no less… desired.”

”Are there others?” Wang Jian inquired, his eyes scanning the tavern, as if searching for these legendary beauties amongst the patrons.

Zylos chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. ”Others? Starlord Altanʼs harem is… extensive. Thereʼs Elara, the warrior queen from the Comet Kingdom, known for her fiery spirit and unmatched combat skills. And then thereʼs… oh, so many. Each more beautiful, more talented than the last. He has Astral Dancers, Nebula Nymphs, even a Siren from the Whispering Seas.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping even lower. ”They say he has a collection of ʼrivalʼs daughtersʼ too. Women from factions he has… ʼconquered.ʼ Trophies, some whisper. But they adore him, all of them. Devotion is… part of the allure, isnʼt it?”

Wang Jianʼs eyes narrowed slightly. ʼDevotion… thatʼs the challenge,ʼ he thought. He couldnʼt simply overpower these women. They were already willingly bound to Altan, emotionally and perhaps even magically. He needed a different approach, a more subtle, insidious strategy.

”And which of these… ʼtreasuresʼ are considered the most… captivating?” Wang Jian asked, his voice carefully casual, as if merely indulging in idle curiosity.

Zylos considered for a moment, tapping a four-fingered hand against his obsidian chin. ”Beauty is subjective, of course. But… if you were to ask the common folk, they would likely name three. Lyra, for her radiant grace. Seraphina, for her ethereal charm. And Elara… for her fierce, untamed beauty. Those three… they are the jewels of Altanʼs crown, so to speak.”

Lyra, Seraphina, and Elara. The names resonated in Wang Jianʼs mind. Star Goddess, Astral Spirit, Warrior Queen. A diverse and potent collection. He needed to focus, to choose his target.

”Tell me more about Lyra,” Wang Jian said, his gaze fixed on Zylos, his mind already formulating a plan. ”This Star Goddess… what makes her so… radiant?”

Zylos smiled, a knowing, tavern-keeperʼs smile. ”Lyra… ah, Lyra. They say her skin shimmers with starlight, her hair flows like liquid moonlight, and her eyes… her eyes hold the wisdom of a thousand galaxies. She is… grace personified. And fiercely loyal to Altan Starbright. Unwavering, some say.”

ʼUnwavering loyalty… a challenge indeed,ʼ Wang Jian thought, a spark of excitement igniting within him. Challenges were what he thrived on. Conquering the unconquerable, seducing the unattainable – that was where the true pleasure lay.

”And Elara, the warrior queen?” Xinqiao interjected, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity. ”What of her?”

Zylos turned his attention to Xinqiao, his obsidian eyes widening slightly, momentarily distracted by her own dark, exotic beauty. ”Elara is… different. Less ethereal, more… grounded. But no less captivating. She is fire and steel, they say. A warrior through and through. She commands Altanʼs personal guard, the Star Legion. Fierce, independent… but utterly devoted to Altan. He saved her kingdom from a cosmic storm, or so the tales go. She owes him everything.”

ʼLoyalty born of debt… interesting,ʼ Wang Jian mused. Debts could be manipulated, loyalties could be twisted. Elara, the warrior queen, presented a different kind of challenge, a more… physical one, perhaps.

”And Seraphina, the Astral Spirit?” Jingyi Zhumin asked softly, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes wide and innocent.

Zylosʼs gaze softened slightly as he looked at Jingyi Zhumin, perhaps sensing her own delicate, ethereal beauty. ”Seraphina… she is the most enigmatic. An Astral Spirit, bound by ancient magic. She is said to be Altanʼs confidante, his muse. Her voice… it can soothe the soul, they say. She is rarely seen in public, mostly secluded in Altanʼs sanctum. A creature of pure light and shadow, utterly devoted to her Starlord.”

ʼSecluded, enigmatic, bound by magic… Seraphina sounds… intriguing,ʼ Wang Jian thought, a new avenue of strategy opening in his mind. Magic, pacts, ethereal beings… these were areas where his demonic powers might find an edge.

He thanked Zylos, rewarding him with another pouch of demonic energy, and led his harem back to the battleship. As they ascended into the crystalline skies of the Celestial Nexus, Wang Jian addressed his wives.

”Lyra, Elara, Seraphina,” he said, the names rolling off his tongue like a delicious mantra. ”These are our targets. The jewels of Altanʼs crown. And we shall claim them.”

Yujia and Xinqiao nodded eagerly, their eyes shining with anticipation. Han Chenyu and Jingyi Zhumin, now fully integrated into his will, also showed their silent agreement. Wang Jian smiled, a predatory, confident smile. He had his targets, he had a plan forming in his mind. The Western Cosmos, and its most beautiful treasures, were about to face the full force of Wang Jianʼs demonic ambition.