Chapter 395

So instead of fighting these guys here, we should find a safe place to discuss things further.

Although Leon was also eager to test the strength of these three, the current situation did not allow him to act recklessly.

Leon sized up the trio, and finally his gaze fell on the one-armed Gimei.

Breaking out from the direction of Gimei should be the best option.

Having quickly finalized his breakout plan, Leon opened the Gate of Nine Hells, simultaneously conjuring Thousand Birds in his hand, and then headed straight for Gimei.

"Gimei, watch out!! This guy's ridiculously fast—"

Before Gini could finish speaking, Leon had already launched a surprise attack on the one-armed Gimei.

Gimei was slightly taken aback, surprised by Leon's speed, but he immediately reacted and prepared to counterattack.

He gathered his Primal Power, intending to attack Leon.

Leon, however, did not confront him head-on. Instead, he seized the opportunity in Leon's defense and passed through the right side where Leon's defense was most vulnerable.

When he turned around to launch a second attack on Leon, he found that the guy had already disappeared.

The whole process took only a moment; Leon, that living person, vanished from their sight.

The Knife Trio stared at the dark woods ahead, a chill gradually creeping up their spines.

After a short while, Gini finally spoke, saying in a low voice, "Let's retreat."

After shaking off the Knife Trio, Leon quickly located Losweiser.

After picking up Leon, the three flew to the mountain cave.

"Rebecca, have they discovered your and your master's whereabouts?" Leon asked.

"Well, judging from what they said, they probably figured out my and my dad's routines while Ailandi was in power. Now that Ailandi has been dismissed because of Constantine's outburst, Scott has taken his place, and they immediately started to arrest my dad and me."

Leon blinked. "Where's Master? Where did he go?"

Upon hearing this, Rebecca's eyes dimmed.

"My father... was seriously injured. I put him in a cave, thinking of luring away the Knife Trio and dragging him to you."

Leon nodded and patted Rebecca on the shoulder. "Thank you, Rebecca."

Upon hearing that Tiger was seriously injured, Losweiser accelerated again and headed straight for the mountain cave.

Half an hour later, the group arrived at the cave behind the waterfall.

"Dad! Dad, the captain and the others are here."

Rebecca rushed inside.

Leon and Losweiser followed closely behind.

"Cough cough—"

From the darkness of the cave came the sound of an old man coughing.

Leon's heart skipped a beat, and he quickened his pace.

But when he got closer, he was dumbfounded.

Tiger lay on a simple pile of weeds, blood gushing from his chest, soaking his clothes and staining the yellow grass beneath him.

"Master! Master, you..."

Leon rushed over to check on Tiger's condition.

"During the escape, Dad did his best to cut off Gimei's arm, which bought us a chance to escape, but he also suffered a serious heart injury as a result."

Rebecca's voice was low and somber. "I've temporarily stabilized Dad's condition with healing magic, but it won't last long. At most, he has six hours left. Captain... this level of injury—"

Leon had also witnessed the sacrifice of his comrades many times, and he knew what Rebecca was going to say.

This level of injury can only be temporarily prolonged with healing magic.

Once the magic effect wears off, the person will lose their life completely.

Click-click—

Leon clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, his teeth clenched, and despair and helplessness seeped into his very bones.

His master raised him from childhood and trained him to become the empire's strongest Dragon Slayer. It is no exaggeration to say that without his master, there would be no Leon today.

After learning that Leon had been smeared by the Empire, she did her best to clear her apprentice's name.

What Tiger did for Leon went far beyond the duties of an adoptive father.

But now it's come to this...?

For a moment, self-blame filled Leon's heart.

"Kid...kid..." Tiger said weakly.

"Master! I'm here, Master."

"Sea... sea..."

As he lay dying, the old man's vision became increasingly blurred, and even speaking became extremely difficult.

"What sea? Master, I'm listening."

"Sea Dragon race..."

Leon's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils trembling violently.

"Go... to the Sea Dragon race, kid, take me to the Sea Dragon race!"

103 My daughter's best friend's mother

At Losweiser's speed, if she flew at full speed, she could indeed reach the Sea Dragon race before the healing magic on Tiger wore off.

On the way, Rebecca told Leon the whole story.

"One day about two weeks ago, Martin's father took him to a royal banquet. This was a great opportunity to gather information on the tyranny of the empire's high-ranking officials. Martin didn't want to miss it, so he secretly brought the Imprint Stone to the banquet."

"King Cantor and Queen Elizabeth were both present at the banquet, which was mainly to celebrate Scott's promotion."

"Because of Constantine's out-of-control rampage, the former commander of the Empire's Dragon Slayer Army, Ailandi, was dismissed by King Cantor, and Scott eventually took over Ailandi's position."

"As the banquet was in progress, King Cantor, Queen Elizabeth, and Scott were talking in hushed tones."

"Seeing this opportunity, Martin secretly put the Imprint Stone into the pocket of Scott's personal attendant. After their conversation ended, Martin took the Imprint Stone back without anyone noticing."

As she spoke, Rebecca handed Martin's Imprint Stone to Leon.

Leon activated the Imprint Stone and listened quietly to the conversation that Martin had risked his life to record.

"Sharp Blade Plan is going very smoothly. Even without Leon, we can still cooperate with the Dragon Kings as before and easily control this war."

"The Queen is wise."

"All of this is thanks to you, Scott. I heard you were the one who assembled the Knife Trio. You've done the Empire a huge favor."

"Your Queen flatters me. I merely did what I was supposed to do."

"Very good. You have this awareness, which makes you a hundred times better than Casmod. That guy never understood his place, otherwise he wouldn't have ended up being hunted down by my empire."

"..."

The conversation, when summarized, was almost identical to the inside information Leon had gleaned from Constantine.

In order to exploit the manpower and financial resources of the empire's people, the empire, together with some dragon kings, manipulated this war, resulting in frequent conflicts and widespread suffering between humans and dragons for decades.

Leon gripped the Imprint Stone tightly in his hand.

This was the crucial evidence he wanted, the final piece of the puzzle to overthrow the dog emperor Kante.

"Thank you, Rebecca. This is very important; it's enough for us to expose the ugly face of the Empire."

"Thank Martin if you must."

Rebecca shook her head and smiled wryly, "After that kid did it, his legs were shaking so badly he couldn't stand up. He said that if it weren't for helping you, Captain, clear your name and turn things around, he would never have dared to do such a thing. If he were found out, he would be beheaded."

Martin... he really went all out for Leon.

Leon lowered his eyes, looking at the Imprint Stone in his hand. He would remember this sentiment in his heart.

"My father and I originally intended to give you the Imprint Stone during this meeting."

Rebecca continued, "Who knew we'd be ambushed by the Knife Trio on the way? Dad was seriously injured, so I had to hide him in the cave for now and then distract the pursuers. Just hold out until you arrive, Captain."

Not only Martin, Rebecca also had the same awareness of sacrifice.

Why are they so loyal to Leon?

The reason is simple: during his time serving in the Empire's Dragon Slayer Army, Leon, as the team leader, pulled them back from the brink of death countless times.

It's safe to say that without Leon, everyone would probably be playing mahjong in the afterlife by now.

They were once Leon's most loyal subordinates;

Even now, they are still willing to go through fire and water for Leon.

A leader's charisma is powerful and pervasive; he doesn't need inspirational quotes or impassioned speeches to perfect his "persona."

He only needs to do what he is supposed to do and what everyone hopes for, and countless people will naturally offer their loyalty to him.

Leon looked at his master, who had fallen into a coma, his eyes filled with complex and suppressed emotions.

The usually carefree and playful old man was now lying there quietly, his heart severely damaged, only able to be kept alive for a short time by healing magic.

Leon couldn't convince himself not to blame himself, because his master had indeed become like this in order to help him.

He didn't know how he would explain to his master's wife if something really happened to him.

Leon had always hated tragic scenes of life and death, but he never expected that one day such a cliché fate would befall him.

He held his master's wrinkled hand tightly, hoping that the old man could get through this ordeal safely.

"By the way, Captain, what are we going to the Sea Dragon race for? Is there anyone there who can save Dad's life?"

"N-I don't know..."

Rebecca:?

"You just went without knowing?! And if we just go like that, won't your human identity be exposed?"

Leon looked at his master with a solemn expression. "If Master says I have to go, then I will go. As for my identity being exposed... I can't worry about that now."

Rebecca nodded in understanding, then asked again:

Do you have any acquaintances in the Sea Dragon race?

"Hey, you've come to the right place. I do have acquaintances in the Sea Dragon race."

Who is it?

"My daughter's best friend's mother."

"... We've gone this far, can we still call each other acquaintances? Are we only three-tenths acquaintances or five-tenths acquaintances?"

Rebecca silently covered her face, sighed, and then her gaze fell on Tiger.

"So, why did Father choose to go to the Sea Dragon race at a time like this...?"

When his master suggested going to the Sea Dragon race, Leon was honestly not very surprised or doubtful.

There's even a feeling of "I knew it".

Because of the two magical manuals written by Claudia, "The Gate of Nine Hells" and "The Soul Judgment," Leon and Losweiser had a vague idea that their master must have some kind of connection with the Sea Dragon race.

Even when his life was in danger, the master still went to the Sea Dragon race, perhaps there really was someone or a way there who could save his life.

Could it be Claudia...?

Leon was unsure.

We'll only find out when the Sea Dragon race arrives.

After several hours of full-speed flight, the group arrived at a deserted island in the vast ocean.

The island is not large, but it is large enough to settle down on.

Losweiser transformed into human form, then raised her hand and pointed towards the front of the island.