A Reversal

"You can rest assured that none of the two of us—the fool and I—could hurt you here, but if you voluntarily give us the chance to do so, then we will be able to hurt you by then," the man in red continued. "So do not be fooled by him, my dear little baby."

The little girl pursed her lips and nodded again.

The man in red smiled and said softly, "Now that you know the truth, is the little baby still willing to stay under everyone's thumb with no power to retaliate? Does the little baby want to be at everyone's mercy?"

Venera pondered for a moment, then threw a question back at the man and asked, "Then, what should I do, according to you?"