Chapter 350

Using the persona that Losweiser had given him, and combining it with his own real-life experiences, Leon began to recount the story vividly.

"I still remember when I led the team on a mission. Although none of us were novices, it was my first time serving as the team leader."

"I make all the decisions for the team. To be honest, it's a heavy responsibility. I'm very worried that one wrong decision by me could lead to injuries or even...deaths for the team members."

"So in all the games, I was very careful and dared not reveal my hand. I had no confidence in the command skills I had learned."

"I thought this conservative tactic would hold until the mission was over, but unfortunately..."

Leon paused briefly at this point.

Noa's interest was piqued; she had always enjoyed listening to Leon talk about his past.

"What a pity?" Noa tilted her head slightly.

Leon gave a wry smile, rubbed the tip of his nose, and continued...

"Unfortunately, we were cornered by the enemy just as the mission was about to end."

"The reason for this outcome is that I was too cautious in my decision-making, and the other party took advantage of this habit, which led me to fall into their trap."

Noa's pupils trembled slightly as she said, "But Daddy, you survived in the end, didn't you?"

"Um."

How did you do that?

"There was a gunner in our team at the time—ah, a girl who was good at ranged magic—who slapped me across the face when I was feeling sorry for myself because of my wrong decision that led everyone into a trap."

At this point, Leon couldn't help but laugh again; he rarely recalled his dark past.

He wouldn't have said so much if it weren't to help his beloved daughter overcome her emotional hurdle.

"She told me, 'You became the captain not because of orders from above, but because everyone trusts you, respects you, and has absolute confidence in your abilities, which is why they dare to entrust their lives to you.'"

"'But you act like a conservative rural woman all day long, afraid to do this and afraid to do that. If you go to the park to play chess with Queen will think you are a coward.'"

"I asked her if she regretted making me the team leader."

"She said no, but if you don't stand up and continue to command us now, you'll only get a second slap from me."

"It was at that moment that I realized that when you become the leader of a team, you and your teammates are a whole. They are your right-hand men, and what you have to do is to give them orders as if you were using your own body."

"Since everyone has accepted you, it means they will also share the consequences of your decisions."

As he spoke, Leon slowly stood up and gently placed his hand on Noa's head.

"Just like your Mom, she didn't gain everyone's approval by becoming the Silver Dragon Queen, but rather she gained everyone's approval before finally sitting on the throne."

"Your Daddy Mom have both come this far step by step, Noa, so Daddy understands how you feel right now."

"Daddy doesn't expect you to overcome your inner difficulties immediately, but please remember one thing—"

He slowly stood up, and several more people walked out from behind him.

Noa looked around, "Mom... everyone..."

"We believe in your abilities, and whatever the outcome, you don't have to face it alone."

As soon as the words were spoken, the host's voice came from the stage.

"Next up is 'As Love Sinks,' directed by Noa K. Melkwy. Please give her a warm welcome!"

Although Noa herself may not know this, the name 'Noa' often represents the word 'invincible' in the entire Young Dragon Department, and her popularity among the people is at the level of being a household name.

The audience applauded even more enthusiastically upon hearing this name.

Losweiser led Mu En toward the stage.

Leon followed closely behind.

As he passed by his eldest daughter, he raised his hand and patted Noa on the shoulder.

"Did you hear that applause, Noa? It was all for you."

After the stage props were set up, Leon and the others took their places one after another.

The first scene is just like in the rehearsal: Losweiser distracts Mu En and talks alone with the "captured" Leon.

After the classic plays "Tail Choke" and "Handsome, Man, Scar" were performed, the school leaders and judges in the audience began to discuss them in hushed tones.

"The young actor's acting was quite good; he was very precise and convincing."

"The female lead's expressions and tone were also very good, especially the pauses when she read her lines. She really had the demeanor of a cold and proud Princess —or even Queen."

Do you think it's possible that she is the Queen?

"Why is no one discussing the male protagonist's acting skills? Didn't you all see his superb technique in portraying the indomitable yet helpless spirit of a defeated prisoner of war?"

"Yes, I saw it. The acting was superb."

"It doesn't seem like acting at all."

As the judges praised the exemplary families' performances, Vice Principal Wilson, sitting slightly to the left of the middle of the judges' panel, stroked his white beard with satisfaction.

He turned slightly to the side, leaned close to Principal Angelina Orlette's ear, and lowered his voice, "Well, Principal, I told you the Melkwy family would definitely impress us."

Principal Olet nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

The Leon couple's performance did indeed surprise Orlette.

I remember their first meeting was in her principal's office, where Veronica asked her to give the Primal Crystal to Losweiser as a wedding gift.

At that time, the couple left a very good impression on Orlette. They were humble and polite, knew how to talk and be tactful, and were sincere without being overly open, leaving themselves some room for maneuver.

"A shrewd couple," was the label Principal Olet gave them.

Now, watching their lifelike and incredibly convincing acting, Orlette has reason to believe that they are not only a shrewd couple, but also a loving and harmonious one.

Orlette had always heard Vice Principal Wilson talk about how loving and perfect they were, but she didn't quite believe it.

After today's live demonstration, she believed it.

"Have all the Imprint Stone been recorded?" Principal Olet asked.

"A complete record," Wilson said smugly.

The principal smiled faintly.

Very good. I'll give the images recorded by the Imprint Stone to Veronica later.

Let the old lady be happy too, and see what a harmonious couple her granddaughter and grandson-in-law are.

On the stage, the first act has ended.

In the second act, the little elf, played by Xiao Guang, appears and guides the captured male protagonist to escape from prison, finally returning to his hometown after many hardships.

However, just as he was about to enter his own country's territory, the male protagonist encountered the Princess who had been chasing him all along.

He had expected to be stopped by the Princess, but to his surprise, the Princess, who had already fallen in love with him, came to say goodbye.

The two spent a long time being affectionate, talking back and forth, but in the end, they still didn't admit their feelings for each other.

The pink-haired little spirit standing next to them was getting really anxious.

She got anxious during rehearsals;

Now that the performance is officially starting, why are you still in such a hurry?

But her older sister told her that this matter couldn't be rushed.

Otherwise, they could just take a bow after the second act, and then what would be the point of continuing the performance?

Okay, the director is the boss, so we'll listen to the director.

Finally, the two of them finished saying goodbye, all lovey-dovey.

Xiao Guang waved the magic wand in his hand.

"Well then, brave knight, I foresee the prophecy: you and the Princess will meet again someday. Now hurry back to your homeland, regroup, and prepare for even greater challenges!"

As Hikaru waved his magic wand, the second act came to an end.

The performance in the second act also won applause and cheers from the audience.

The judges continued to analyze the actors' performances.

"If the first act lays the foundation for the character's personality and gives everyone a clear impression of the character, then the second act breaks through that impression on the basis of a reasonable plot, making the character more complete."

"Yes, the plot's development is achieved through the characters' emotional changes, and it doesn't feel abrupt at all. I have to say, this team of screenwriters is really amazing."

"The screenwriter's skills are indeed excellent, but I think the director also deserves a lot of credit for making the two scenes flow so smoothly. After all, a play is ultimately performed, and that really tests the director's ability."

"Hmm... that makes sense. What was the name of the director of this play, as mentioned by the host?"

"Noa, Noa K. Melkwy, the youngest in the Young Dragon Department, but the one who has been at the top of the rankings for years."

"Oh? I usually work as an instructor at the Sky City Drama Troupe. I was invited to the academy to serve as a judge for this competition. I never expected that your academy would have such a gifted student."

"Teacher, please stop trying to poach Noa's talent. Directing is just one of her talents; she will become a top-tier Dragon Race warrior in the future."

"Hahaha~ Your thoughts were seen through right away~"

The judges gave high praise to both scenes.

This is followed by the most intense third act—

The scene between Leon and Claudia.

In this scene, Noa makes a cameo appearance as a maidservant to Claudia.

After the transitions, positioning, and setup, Noa watched as her Dad stood in front of Aunt Claudia.

I saw my Dad nod and bow respectfully, uttering that phrase,

"Mother."

Hearing this, Noa secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Good job, Dad! You finally managed to call out "Mother" that you didn't want to say!

The two recited a few more lines, and due to the length of the play, a conflict quickly erupted.

"You're saying you're going back to find that woman?! Impossible! I will absolutely not allow you to do such a thing!"

Claudia exuded dignity and her acting was so realistic, it was as if...

Leon really is her son, and she really won't allow him to fall in love with a Princess from an enemy country.

Noa will admire this performance from the bottom of her heart no matter how many times she watches it.

I thought my Mom were exceptionally talented actors, but I never imagined that Aunt Claudia was also a master.

Leon had previously shared the same idea as Noa.

Until last time, when Claudia told him and Losweiser that their Sea Dragon race did not actually approve of her sister and brother-in-law's marriage.

At that moment, General Leon suddenly realized:

It turns out that he and Losweiser weren't the only ones whose lives were like a play, all about memories.

"Sigh, every family has its own troubles," Leon thought to himself.

"Mother, please let me see her!"

"I said no. If you insist on seeing her, fine, take off your armor, remove your armband, and strip yourself of all your honors. Then you can go see her."

"... Good, good! Mother, this is what you said!"

Leon removed his armor and other props.

"Mother, are you satisfied now?"

"You... you abandoned all of this for that woman! Was it worth it!"

"It's worth it. For her, it's all worth it."

"Very well... very well... Guards! Banish him from this country until he understands what's going on!"

After several exchanges of lines with her opponent, Noa watched with great enjoyment.

Needless to say, his father's rebellious and reckless teenage temperament was practically tailor-made for him.

Aunt Claudia portrayed the emotional shifts in these few lines of dialogue very naturally.

The transition from surprise to anger, and finally to helplessness, was remarkably smooth.