"It looks like massacring the Asta Family has gotten to your head, punk. But don't worry, once this training session is finished, I guarantee that you'll recover your senses."
Speaking with a kind smile, Maria made Felix who was pressed against the ground due to not being able to fight against the gravity shiver and regret that moment of weakness where his tongue slipped.
However, these thoughts didn't cause Felix to miss what Maria said about him massacring the Asta Family.
"I guess it did."
Speaking with a prideful look, Felix didn't show any intention of trying to claim that he wasn't the one who killed everyone from the Asta Family. Especially due to how confidently Maria had spoken.
"Well, aren't you an arrogant one. Aren't you scared I'll kill you and take those spatial rings filled with the treasures you plundered?"
Showing a greedy look, Maria looked towards the two spatial rings on Felix's fingers.
Smirking in response, Felix said, "I guess this just shows how confident I am in those who support me."
"And can those who support you protect you even when I'm this close to you?"
Even though Maria spoke those words as if asking an honest question, Felix couldn't help but tense a little because the next instant Maria suddenly made a move.
Blurring away from his sight, Maria appeared right in front of him.
Crouched down, she had god knows when summoned a pair of long blue swords whose tips were placed on the back of his neck and let him feel the cold metal.
Not showing any of his true emotions on his face, Felix maintained the same smile and said, "Why don't you try and find out?"
By saying those words Felix wasn't putting all of his hopes on Anastasia whom he could sense was looking at him from somewhere close by; instead, he was also sure that the moment he felt even the slightest trace of killing intent he'd summon the Sword Kronos and cut her down in an instant after catching her off guard.
Though relying on himself didn't give Felix a hundred percent confidence in succeeding, Felix wasn't at least a fish waiting on a chopping board due to which he didn't show any signs of despair in his eyes.
Making her swords disappear, Maria looked towards Felix with bright eyes and said, "Nerves of steel, nice. People like you need them if you want to become a true elite for humanity."
Not bothering to correct Maria despite him not intending to grow strong to make the human race grow stronger or serve it, Felix gritted his teeth and began trying to slowly stand.
Pushing his upper body off the floor first, Felix was already covered in sweat because the gravity inside this room was set to ten times right time.
"How did you find out?"
Speaking while panting, Felix asked Maria who was standing leisurely as if she wasn't affected by the increased gravity.
"I originally was firing an arrow in the dark, but who knew it would hit the bullseye."
"Ugh…."
Groaning from not just how hard it was to stand straight but because he had fallen for Maria's bluff as well, Felix once again asked, "What even made you doubt me?"
"You mean aside from the Phoenix Empress who is close to you?"
"Yes."
"It's your exhausted body."
"Huh?"
"Even though there are quite a few cases where a person's body is exhausted despite being at their best form, the most likely reason is that they've just finished healing and recovered from deadly injuries."
Explaining herself, Maria said, "Given how the wounds on the dead bodies obviously point towards a single killer and your untimely disappearance yesterday coupled with how exhausted your body is right now, I was almost 80% sure that it was you who killed them all."
"I see. And what do you plan on doing now with this information?"
"Hmmmm, let me see…. On the one hand, as someone employed by the Astral Government it is my duty to disclose this information to the local police, but on the other hand, I'd hate to see someone as talented as you to waste the best years of your life running away as well."
"Therefore, as long as you agree to follow my training to the letter for the next three months, I'll keep all of the information I have on you a secret. How about it? A fair deal right?"
Snorting coldly, Felix who could now stand straight without his knees trembling said, "There's nothing fair about it. The only reason you haven't reported me to the police or the Astral Government is because you don't want me to become enemies with them. So don't act as if you are looking out for me. Especially when you intend to make me join the army one way or the other."
"Tsk, this is why I hate smart people."
Clicking her tongue in annoyance because her plan didn't work out, Maria who despite hating some aspects of the army still had the best interest in her heart for it said, "Fine! Tell me what you want for accepting three months of my training. As for the army, let's talk about it in the future."
"Will you give me anything I want?"
"If you aren't afraid of losing your tongue when you ask me, feel free to name anything."
Sneering towards Felix and making the perverted grin on his face disappear, Maria caused him to feel disappointed that he couldn't even tease her a little.
"I don't want anything in exchange for accepting your training. It's fine as long as I don't need to go to the classes every day along with the training."
Who was he kidding? Even though everyone who went through Maria's training both hated and were scared of the way she trained them, all of them had nothing less than words of praise towards the demon instructor who whipped them all into elites.
And to Felix whose foundation was significantly lacking, if three months of training with Maria wasn't a godsend gift then he didn't know what else was.