Chapter 191: Never Left
(5,000 words!)
Before Leon could ask anything, Rebecca blurted out, “Why can’t the captain stay in the Empire, old man?”
“After Victor dies, the Empire will surely intensify the pursuit of Leon. Within three days, his wanted posters will wallpaper every corner of the Empire, and the search will be far more intense than when I was there myself,” Taige analyzed slowly.
“If we let him stay here, it’ll only increase his risk. But more importantly, since we need to uncover the conspiracy brewing between the Empire and the Dragon Race, we can’t just investigate within the Empire; someone needs to head into the Dragon’s territory to find the other half of the answers.”
“And that person must be someone trusted by the Dragon Race and well-versed in their ways.”
Trusted by the Dragon Race, well-versed in their ways…
Taige and Rebecca simultaneously turned their gazes to Leon.
Leon blinked, “Me? Do I look like someone the Dragon Race would trust…?”
“Dude, you’ve married a dragon and had kids! What more trust do you want?” Rebecca shot back.
Martin looked shocked. “Wait, wait, wait! The captain married a dragon and had kids? When did this happen? Why didn’t I know? And don’t humans and dragons have reproductive isolation?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you this afternoon! Not only did the captain have kids with a dragon, but he has three!” Rebecca raised three fingers.
“Three? That number gets fines from the Empire!”
Leon silently facepalmed.
He really wanted to escape, but escape wasn’t in the cards.
He thought that only when he was with Roswiser would he face this kind of social d*ath torture.
And now, even the long-distance relationship wasn’t leaving him be!
“Cough, cough… Since everyone believes in your popularity among the Dragon Race, the important mission of sneaking behind enemy lines to gather intel falls to my beloved disciple,” Taige said solemnly.
“Master, where do you see everyone believing in my popularity with the Dragon Race? We haven’t even discussed that step!”
“Fine, let’s vote. Anyone who agrees to let Leon go back to gather intel from the Dragon Race, breathe.”
Martin was still processing.
Meanwhile, Rebecca already stood in front of Leon, blowing air into his face.
“Okay, four to one, it’s unanimous.”
Four to one?
Oh~~
So Victor was counted in too?
Master always covered all bases, never letting any detail slip by.
“Master… what you said makes sense, but if I leave, can you really handle the Empire?”
“Of course! The Empire’s main target is you, and if they find out you’ve left, they won’t waste too much manpower and resources dealing with us. As long as you’re in the Dragon Race, their claws can’t reach you. They can only send someone like Constantine after you, but you’ve already taught them a vivid lesson showing them that the strongest Dragon Slayer isn’t just talk.”
Taige had always been confident in his disciple’s strength, after all, it’s been hundreds of years, and this super SSR was a rarity. What’s a little tough competition?
“In short, if you return to the Silver Dragons, whether its ensuring your own safety or gathering intel, it will be much more efficient than staying here in the Empire with us.”
“I agree with old man’s idea,” Rebecca chimed in.
“I also support Mr. Taige,” Martin followed suit.
Leon pursed his lips, momentarily unsure what to think.
Seeing his disciple’s reaction, Taige realized that his previous words hadn’t hit the mark, and hadn’t touched this stubborn kid’s heart.
Alright, since you’re this inflexible, don’t blame me for being ruthless.
“What’s more… you can reunite with your wife.”
Leon: ?
“Is that the point?! Am I that kind of person?! Rebecca, am I?!”
“If I had such a beautiful wife, I’d be thinking about getting home too. Captain, stop hiding it,” Rebecca teased.
“Hey you!… Martin, do I strike you as the kind of guy who’d abandon friends for a girlfriend?”
Martin pondered for a moment and replied, “Captain, you’ve reached that age where you’re thinking about your wife’s monthly fee, so… no worries, it’s not embarrassing.”
“Fallacy! Absurd! I, Leon Casmod, would never be the type to abandon teammates just to see my wife! Even if the Empire’s hunting me down, even with wanted posters plastered all over the place, I would never leave you guys!”
“Tonight, we’ll send you out of the city.”
“Okay, thanks, Master!”
…
They initially planned to avoid the limelight and send Leon out of the city later.
But considering that his wanted level might far exceed the highest red level, it seemed unlikely to avoid this drama anytime soon.
If that was the case, then they had to act quickly, taking advantage of the Empire not yet realizing Victor had been taken down, and send Leon out tonight.
Martin couldn’t reveal himself and returned discreetly to the city through side paths.
Leon, Taige, and Rebecca made their way to the Empire’s city gate.
By now, it was deep night, and the heavy rain meant no merchant carts were around for Leon to hide in.
Moreover, due to the earlier church battle, the Empire was already aware of Leon’s whereabouts and would definitely ramp up patrols at the gates. Even if he wanted to hide in a cart, he’d likely get discovered.
Similarly, the towering city walls were impossible to climb over. If they took a detour, it would take at least a day and a night.
“Building a wall this far must’ve cost a fortune,” Rebecca remarked with her usual odd focus.
The three of them crouched on the roof of a low building, observing the situation at the city gate.
Not only were there several patrols, but there were also cages on either side of the gate containing ferocious Dangerous Species.
“Long-tailed magic monkeys,” Rebecca immediately recognized the Dangerous Species in the cage. “They’re very intelligent monsters that coordinate better than ordinary Dangerous Species, with impressive stamina and endurance.”
“Kid, later Rebecca and I will cause a ruckus at the city gate; you use the chaos to sneak out,” Taige instructed. “But they will definitely send people after you. Are you confident you can escape?”
Leon’s expression grew serious. “It should be fine; even if I can’t escape, I can always circle back.”
Taige sighed. “Don’t be so relaxed, kid. If you can’t escape and circle back into the Empire, it’ll be nearly impossible to get out again. We only have this one chance tonight.”
Leon bit his lip, thought for a moment, and nodded, “Got it, Master.”
“By the way, we need to regularly exchange information and intelligence. Any ideas?” Taige asked.
Leon pondered and said, “How about every three months, I go to that cave where you used to hide, Master?”
“No problem.”
Unexpectedly, they had already gotten to this last step, and his long-distance wife was still useful.
After determining the information exchange time, Taige said, “Rebecca, fire a few shots to warm them up.”
“Got it, old man.”
The manic loli loaded her dual pistols, stood on the roof of the low building, and fired several shots into the stormy, cloud-covered sky.
The sound of gunfire and bursts of light immediately caught the guards’ attention.
“It’s the red wanted criminal Rebecca Clement! Capture her!”
Hearing the guards yelling, Rebecca scoffed, “Just a few days ago, I was your coworker, and now I’m a red wanted criminal. Hmph! I told you it’s most dangerous being a deadweight in the patrol team!”
Taige drew his sword, turned back, and said, “Kid, take care of yourself.”
“You too, Master. And Rebecca, be sure to keep yourself safe.”
“Got it, Captain. Just go find your wife!”
Leon smiled helplessly, not bothering to argue further.
After a round of gunfire, Taige and Rebecca jumped down from the low building and got tangled up with the patrol team.
Magic clashed, blades flashed, and bullets flew; the scene quickly turned chaotic.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Leon quietly circled around the low building, slowly making his way toward the city gate.
At this time, the massive gate was tightly shut, and it required four people working together to activate the mechanism and open it.
But there was a special passage prepared specifically for royal family members nearby.
With no way to open the main gate, Leon could only sneak out through the special passage.
Unfortunately, there were still two guards stationed at the entrance of that special passage.
Dealing with them wasn’t hard, but the challenge lay in the need to make a quick getaway afterward; he couldn’t afford to lose a second.
Leon prepared himself and stealthily approached the entrance of the special passage.
The two guards, wielding long swords and equipped with standard-issue firearms, were focused on the chaotic battlefield ahead, oblivious to the approaching Leon.
Leon bent low, moving silently, inching closer from the side.
Once he got close enough, Leon sprang into action, delivering a kn*fe-hand strike to one guard’s nape, knocking him out cold.
The other guard reacted quickly, swinging his sword at Leon.
Now, if you think you’re clever, try imagining an Empire security trying to solo the strongest Dragon Slayer, General Leon, with a short kn*fe.
Leon easily deflected the guard’s sword, but the guy wasn’t giving up; he drew his sidearm to aim, yet before he could lock in, Leon swept him down with a vicious kick.
Having swiftly dealt with the guards, Leon took one last look at the battlefield, filled with his master and Rebecca.
“Take care.”
With that, Leon quickly turned, unleashing a thousand-bird strike to blast down the security door of the special passage.
He stepped forward, charging out of the Empire’s walls.
Meanwhile, the guards entangled with Taige and Rebecca heard the commotion; by the time they turned around, Leon was already far gone.
“It’s Casmod! Quick, pursue! Release the long-tailed magic monkeys; we must catch him!”
With a command, the cages opened, and two magic monkeys excitedly howled, rushing after Leon.
With torrential rain pouring, the muddy ground severely slowed Leon’s speed.
However, the long-tailed magic monkeys, being beasts, had no such issue with running on four limbs.
The gap between them was closing in.
The monkeys’ howls grew more piercing, taunting their soon-to-be-captured prey.
As Leon charged, he glanced back at the two monkeys and raised his right hand, faint sparks of lightning flickering in his palm.
The storm clouds above began to stir.
With a rumble of thunder, in the next moment, a thick bolt of lightning crashed down, zapping the two magic monkeys into crispy critters.
After that strike, Leon paused his footsteps.
“Tch, my magic is still too slow to build up…”
He muttered, quickly adjusting his pace and running toward the mountain forest ahead.
Once he crossed the forest, leaped over a few mountains, and traversed a stretch of stony desert, he’d reach the boundary between the human and Dragon territories.
It sounded simple, but in reality, even for Leon, with constant effort, it would take at least half a month.
And that was just to leave human territory. To get back to the Silver Dragons, it would take at least another ten days.
Leon calculated the time he would need on the journey, running to a tree, leaning against the trunk, and wiping the rain from his face.
“I suddenly envy that Mother Dragon; those winged folks… just take off whenever.”
Known for their speed, the Silver Dragon Race could finish this long trek in just three hours.
After a tiny grumble, Leon was about to continue on his way.
However, at that moment, the distinct calls of magic monkeys blared from all directions.
Leon’s heart tightened, “Looks like the Empire was prepared…”
Leaves rustled, and tree branches creaked.
Leon stayed alert, scanning the surroundings to avoid a sneak attack from those cunning Dangerous Species.
The hollowing howls echoed through the rain.
Instead of rushing to attack, the monsters aimed to slowly wear down Leon’s will.
Leon tried to gather his magic, but the faint lightning flickered twice before fading.
“ROAR!!”
Seemingly sensing Leon couldn’t use magic anymore, one long-tailed magic monkey sprang like a ghost from the side, launching a surprise attack.
Leon reacted quickly; as the beast pounced, he bent his knees, dropping low to deliver a solid punch to the monkey’s gut.
The magic monkey yelped in pain, and just like that, Leon seized the chance to grab its tail and stomp down on its leg, snapping it clean in two.
Now clutching its shattered limb, the monkey howled in agony, calling forth even more magic monkeys.
Like raindrops, they descended one after another, surrounding Leon.
Assessing the situation, he counted at least forty.
“Ugh, I really stirred up a hornet’s nest of monkeys.”
Unlike other Dangerous Species, long-tailed magic monkeys excel at teamwork and tactics.
Leon knew this all too well, so he had no plans to waste time with them.
Besides, the Empire’s pursuers were bound to arrive soon; he couldn’t afford to engage in a battle of attrition here.
He had to escape quickly.
Observing the pack of monkeys, Leon’s eyes locked onto one of them, and with a powerful push from his right foot, he sprung into a mud and rain-specked sprint toward the monkey.
The monkeys didn’t react in time before Leon barreled right in.
“ROAR! GRAH!”
“WAH!!”
The cries of excitement, pain, triumph, threat, and intimidation blended together…
Leon, relying solely on his physical prowess, wreaked havoc among the wild beasts.
After carving out a path, Leon dashed through it.
The monkeys scattered, chasing at him from all sides as chaos ensued.
This wasn’t merely a simple chase; the magic monkeys were methodically draining Leon’s stamina.
“d*mn it… this is troublesome.”
Leon recognized their tactic but found no effective counters.
After breaking through three encirclements in quick succession, he finally managed to hide beneath a massive tree.
Leaning against the trunk, he slowly sat down, panting heavily.
Leon closed his eyes, focused on restoring his energy.
The downpour washed over his face; he was drenched, with parts of his body functioning just to maintain temperature, which sped up his fatigue.
Leon lifted his icy hand, brushing slick strands of damp hair from his forehead, leaning against the tree while staring up at the stormy sky.
At this moment, he was still on the outskirts of the Empire, but his energy was already fading fast.
And the howls from the magic monkeys echoed louder, getting closer and closer…
He looked toward the Empire’s walls in the distance. “Should I go back…?”
The road to the Dragon Race was too long and perilous.
And right now, if he turned back, he could be back with his master and Rebecca in no time.
Even if it meant slower progress in investigating the conspiracy within the Empire, it was only a matter of efficiency, right…?
Turning back… was easy.
But if he did, he might never see Noia, Moon, and his little daughter again.
He might also never see…
“ROAR!—”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Several magic monkeys landed around Leon.
They eyed this nearly exhausted prey, unable to resist issuing smug calls of confidence.
Grinding his teeth, Leon slowly stood up, propped against the tree.
But the muddy ground made him slip, and he fell back down again.
“ROAR ROAR! Wooo~~~” The magic monkeys thumped their chests and made strange sounds like they were mocking him.
The Dragon Slayer’s eyes lost the last glint of warmth.
He steadily rose again, stepping closer to the oblivious monkey.
…
Half an hour later, the corpses of long-tailed magic monkeys nearly filled the clearing.
Leon, drenched in bl**d, slumped against a tree, even breathing felt heavy.
In the distance, the sounds of the Empire’s soldiers were growing clearer.
Leon closed his eyes; in his twenty-three years of brief yet illustrious life, he had never retreated after making a decision.
But this time, the long journey and the imminent danger had paralyzed him with fear.
The rain continued to fall, seemingly ready to extinguish the feeble flame that had sustained Leon to this point.
His head leaned against the coarse tree trunk, letting the cold rain wash over his face.
Yet in the next moment, the rain suddenly stopped.
But the sound of the rain didn’t cease.
Leon froze and slowly opened his eyes.
The silver-haired beauty stood silently before him, her long dress soaked by rain as she shielded him from the storm with her dragon wing.
They locked eyes, high and low, just like many past moments together.
A spark of hope flickered again in Leon’s dim eyes, his dark pupils reflecting that radiant silver glow.
“You… didn’t you go back?”
“No, I have never left.”
“Roswiser…”
“Let’s go home, Leon.”
