The Witch Hunter System

"It matters not to me whether you agree or disagree. If you are obedient, good for you; you get to keep your dog-lives. However, if you are disobedient, I will just kill you," Henrietta added indifferently.

"Do you think it is wise to offend all of us like this, Black Rose? If we all disagree, what can you do about it? Do you think you can defeat all of us if we join forces?" Scarlet Flame asked gloomily with a hint of threat.

However, such an insignificant threat was akin to the squeaks of a rat; it didn't affect Henrietta whatsoever.

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Henrietta coolly replied before smiling coldly, "However, do you dare to find out?"

Scarlet Flame immediately fell silent, unable to answer; she didn't dare to.

Although the Black Rose Transcendent Witch of the past was already strong, she wasn't this overbearing and unreasonable.

What changed? What gave her the confidence? What permitted her impertinence and disrespect?

"Why are you doing this to us, Black Rose? Although we haven't been quite friendly with each other, we have at least maintained a certain level of cordiality for the past three hundred years," White Serpentine reasoned, full of unwillingness to comply.

"Maintained a certain level of cordiality?" Henrietta scoffed with contempt when she heard those words. "My maintaining a certain level of cordiality, do you mean joining hands with other Transcendent Witches to pressure me for valuable resources you neither deserve nor have a stake in?"

"By maintaining a certain level of cordiality, do you mean secretly conspiring with each other to do harm to me and my kingdom? Where was this unity when the Holy Knight Empire invaded my kingdom? Where was help? If you can't even uphold the agreement of the seven witch kingdoms, your words are only fart to me."

"So do not speak to me about cordiality, White Serpertine, for my definition of cordiality seems very different from the 'cordiality' you speak of," Henrietta coldly rebuked.

White Serpertine was left speechless, unable to reply, and her face flushed with shame like she had been horribly slapped.

Her words tore into White Serpertine like a vicious knife and ripped out her guilty conscience, causing White Serpertine to become silent with a flushed face full of shame.

"I have tolerated you all long enough," Henrietta continued, "Not only are any of you grateful for my repeated concessions and benevolence towards your wilful selves, but you all even dare to stab me in the back."

"The fact that I am wasting my life speaking to you and not rushing over to take your dog-lives is already the greatest mercy I can bestow upon you! You only have this one final chance; it's your choice whether you want to squander it."

"You all have three days to think it over. If I don't receive an answer by the end of it, you can say goodbye to your lives."

With her final statement spoken, Henrietta decisively left the group chat.

"…"

Silence filled the group chat for a period of time as the five Transcendent Witches indignantly pondered over Henrietta's words.

Sometime later, Darkwater broke the silence, "What does everyone make of Black Rose's behavior today?"

"It has already been many days since the Black Rose Kingdom's crisis was resolved… If Black Rose had simply been furious at us for not sending help back then, she wouldn't have chosen to openly threaten us at this time," White Serpertine thought logically with a frown.

"Those were also my thoughts exactly," Raging Tempest admitted before adding, "Black Rose has always been the most powerful Transcendent Witch of us all, but since we are all at the same level, she wouldn't have the mana to defeat all of us if we band together."

"That was why we could repeatedly force her to make concessions – by abusing her soft heart and weakness. However, something has finally changed since then; she was cold, fearless, and overbearing today as if she no longer had such concerns."

"For her to openly challenge us like that… I just don't understand where this source of confidence comes from…" Raging Tempest frowned.

"Don't forget the Black Rose Kingdom today is not the same Black Rose Kingdom of yesterday; it has another existence that can suffocate us all – Vaan Raphna," Scarlet Flame mentioned before guessing, "Perhaps Black Rose is relying on his strength to dominate us?"

"That shouldn't be the case," Everwinter disagreed.

"Which of us Transcendent Witches haven't been a proud, lofty queen, lording over all witches and looking on men? I doubt Black Rose's pride would be so shallow that she would rely on a man's strength."

"Furthermore, if Vaan Raphna wanted something done, he would do it himself. Why would he give up the opportunity to increase his control and influence to someone else?" Everwinter questioned.

"True…" Scarlet Flame acknowledged before saying, "No man, after living under the oppression of witches for so long, would throw away such an opportunity. That said, he is no ordinary man – I've only heard praises of him. It's one thing for men to worship him, but even witches idolize him."

"That's not surprising at all, Scarlet Flame," Everwinter casually replied, "Witches who have received his blessings have all become High Witches, and those closest to him are even more powerful High Witches."

"I sometimes wonder if a new Transcendent Witch would arise soon due to him. Who wouldn't want to throw themselves at him in the face of such temptations?"

"Even I am tempted. Perhaps he can help me take the next step," Everwinter admitted.

"You? Tempted to serve a man? Am I hearing things right, Everwinter?" Scarlet Flame scoffed with doubt and derision. "An untouchable Ice Queen like you wouldn't even accept noble consorts to produce an heir in these past three hundred years."

"Don't tell me your frozen heart has finally been melted by that man's flames? I find that hard to believe," Scarlet Flame mocked.

"There's no need for a loose slut like you to act all lofty and noble in front of me, Scarlet Flame," Everwinter coldly bit back with her words, adding, "There's a rumor that Vaan Raphna possesses a Divine Body of Fire, something that may aid you greatly if your dual-practice with him."

"Even I know this, so there's no way you don't know this, Scarlet Flame. You can harp like a proud and pure swan in front of me all you want, but I know, deep down, you are just a bitch in heat!"

"Hah, and even if you are willing, it's not necessary that he will want to take you!"

Following Everwinter's sharp retort, Scarlet Flame's exasperated breath could be heard through the communication crystal pillar as her large mounds heaved up and down, trying to suppress her anger.

"You have a sharp tongue, Everwinter," Scarlet Flame said gloomily with a dark look, "But I wonder if you fight as well with your spells as you do with your mouth—"

"Enough!" Raging Tempest snapped impatiently, tired of listening to the two. "This conversation is getting nowhere, so I will be taking my leave! I don't care if you continue fighting after this."

"However, in these next three days, I will be investigating the source of Black Rose's confidence and sharing what I find; I expect you all to do the same," Raging Tempest solemnly stated.

"Sure," Darkwater acknowledged.

"I don't have a problem with that," White Serpertine added.

None of the five Transcendent Witches wanted to bow their heads to Henrietta and become her vassal if it could be helped.

As such, none of them would readily submit unless they truly saw no hope.