Chapter 98: An Oath by the Donkey of Love
“That plan against Constantine that was passed at the Dragon King Secret Meeting two weeks ago is already in action.”
“Each tribe has sent some folks to camp out near the Red Flame Dragon territory, keeping an eye on Constantine non-stop.”
“I’m thinking of sending Sherry—what do you think?”
After dinner, Leon and Roswiser strolled shoulder to shoulder on the practice track in the backyard.
With the last rays of sunset underfoot and the joyous laughter of their daughters ringing in their ears, Leon had his hands shoved in his pockets, taking leisurely steps. Yet, the serious look on his face indicated he was deep in thought.
“Suits, Leon nodded, “That works, but I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“I want to tag along.”
Roswiser paused, slightly furrowing her brow. “You also want to go? For what?”
“There’s something… I’d like to ask Constantine in person.”
Roswiser could tell by Leon’s tone that he wasn’t joking around.
Of course, it was far from being a whim. He must have thought this through thoroughly.
“The dragons that team up with the Empire are likely pretty tight-lipped, won’t spill a word about anything related to the Empire,” Leon explained. “But Constantine is different; he used to work with the Empire but was treated brutally and managed to escape. He must really hate the Empire now, so I figure I might just coax a little info out of him.”
Getting intel from dragons was something Leon and his Master had agreed on from the start.
With time moving on, Leon had done all he could; his resources were all but dried up, and the plans had hit a snag, so any efforts to gather intel had sharply slowed.
But now that Constantine had turned against the Empire, Leon saw an entirely new possibility and direction.
Although the saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” doesn’t really apply to the peculiar trio of Leon, old Constantine, and the Empire;
Still, if the enemy’s enemy might not become a buddy, at least a few insider tips could be gained, right?
“But you have a grudge against Constantine too, don’t you? You two will just brawl the moment you meet.”
Roswiser chimed in with her analysis of the situation.
When she said this, Leon thought she’d definitely stop him from going to the Red Flame territory.
But to his surprise, what Roswiser said next really caught him off guard.
“I’ll go with you.”
Leon blinked.
The Mother Dragon was all seriousness when she said this.
He couldn’t help but realize that his “contract wife” was no ordinary woman.
Ordinary women wouldn’t let their husbands go do something so dangerous;
But she’s the Dragon Queen.
What’s danger when you can just charge into it with your hubby?
Leon shook his head with a smile, “No way, you can’t go.”
Roswiser blinked, her tone slightly annoyed, “Why not?”
Previously, whatever happened, it was always her and Leon facing it together, and she was already used to their smooth teamwork.
But this time, he suddenly declined her offer for help?
That made Roswiser a bit puzzled.
“You said various dragon tribes have sent people to monitor Constantine’s territory, which would already make him furious. If you, a Dragon Queen, show up, he’ll definitely let loose all that fury.”
Leon reasoned, “So it’s safer if I go alone.”
After listening to Leon’s explanation, Roswiser’s thoughts shifted.
She put her hands behind her back, her tail sweeping the ground, pouted and muttered softly, “You just don’t want me to go with you.”
Oh, what’s this? A vibe of a little wife sulking?
Leon chuckled and took Roswiser’s hand, gently tracing her cool hand with his fingers, speaking softly,
“I promise I won’t lay a finger on Constantine. If he insists on fighting, I’ll just run away.”
“You think I’ll believe you, you fool.”
Roswiser flailed her hand but couldn’t shake him off. She let him hold her but continued to grumble,
“When Constantine challenges you, you’ll definitely shout ‘For the honor of the Dragon Slayer! Let’s fight!’ and charge right in.”
“Oh, look at you, my wife of five years, really knows me well.”
“Fake wife, thank you very much.”
“If the fake wife knows me so well, gosh, I shudder to think how the real one would.”
Roswiser smirked, giving him an eye roll, “You’re hilarious, Casmod.”
Leon still held her hand, taking slow strides on the track,
“Don’t worry, even though we all see Constantine as a crazy dragon just itching for a fight, after that encounter at the ruins, I feel this guy can actually have a decent chat. He won’t just lunge at me.”
Still, Roswiser seemed a bit uneasy, “Then you swear to me, if things go south, you absolutely won’t try to be a hero.”
“Didn’t I just promise you?”
“Promises are nice, but a vow is a vow.”
Back in the day, his Master used to say that women are like wordsmiths and sound animals, and Leon didn’t quite get this saying then.
Now, he understood.
“Alright, alright, I vow.”
“How easy it is to swear! What are you going to use to swear?”
Leon thought for a moment, then stood still, raised three fingers towards the sky, and solemnly declared,
“I, Leon Casmod, swear by the name of the Donkey of Love that I will never lay hands on Constantine.”
The Queen was slightly taken aback.
Whoa, he’s swearing by the Donkey of Love?
This time it’s safe; he definitely won’t be brawling with old Constantine.
I mean, even someone as unacquainted with the Donkey as Roswiser has to agree, right?
That’s when she finally relaxed,
“Alright then, I’ll have Sherry take you over tomorrow.”
“Great, stay tuned for my good news.”
…
The next day, Leon accompanied Sherry and the team dispatched by the Silver Dragons to the territory of the Red Flame Dragons.
Sherry, being Roswiser’s trusted aide, didn’t ask any inappropriate questions the entire way.
Whatever His Royal Highness said was what went; if he said fly left, they flapped left, and if he said right, they flapped right. Silent but effective was the name of the game.
When they reached the observation point set up by the Silver Dragons, Leon leaped off Sherry’s dragon back.
“Thanks, Sherry. You guys can stay here; I’ll head in myself.”
Taking the Silver Dragon guards along would only escalate the tensions.
Old Constantine might have brains and principles, but if Leon marched in with an entourage, you’d better believe he’d get hostile.
Sherry folded her wings, shifting to her human form,
“Your Royal Highness, please be careful. If anything unusual happens, please signal us.”
Leon looked down, weighing the signal flare in his hand.
This was something Roswiser had given him before setting off.
Even with her agreeing to let him go solo to the Red Flame territory, he still had to be prepared.
“Got it, don’t worry.”
“We’ll wait for you here.”
Leon nodded, turned, and gazed at the boundary of the Red Flame Dragon territory.
As the wind and sand blew, he slightly squinted his eyes,
“Constantine, let’s have a chat.”
