Chapter 109: The Mystery Guest
By the look on Leon’s face, Roswiser pretty much guessed who this “highly suitable candidate” was.
But…
“Considering this person not only has a grudge against the Empire but also against you personally, are you really sure he’ll lend us a hand?”
Leon paused for a moment before replying, “When I visited him last time to inquire about some intel on the Empire, though he insisted we were no allies, I trust that if given the chance to strike back at the Empire, he won’t hesitate to seize it.”
Old Constantine may have a volatile temper, but he was still more reasonable than your average bloke.
Revenge on the Empire is obviously harder to achieve than getting revenge on Leon.
After all, Leon is easy to track—he’s at the Silver Dragon Temple, tethered by his family of three kids who he can’t leave, which means ‘fleeing the monk but not the temple’ as we say.
The Empire, on the other hand, is a whole different ballgame.
Not to mention it’s far in human territory, away from Dragon Race lands, and the shadowy powers at play in the Empire’s hierarchy have plenty of filthy tricks that Constantine doesn’t even know about.
A reckless move could mean no return journey.
Of course, Leon was well aware of the current situation, so that’s why he planned to seek Constantine’s help.
Logically, it was beneficial for Constantine to assist Leon;
Emotionally, Leon could leverage the fact Constantine was swayed at the last Dragon King Secret Meeting, where Leon had argued against a war against the Crimson Flame Dragon, to morally blackmail him further.
You see, Constantine refusing to help would make him seem ungrateful, tarnishing the reputation of a Dragon King.
So Leon’s decision was a rather slick move, giving him plenty of options.
“Good. If Constantine pitches in, our chances increase dramatically,” Roswiser stated.
“Hmm. For now, this plan works. The details we’ll finalize once my Master regains some strength. I’ll discuss it with him then.”
“Alright.”
Just as they agreed, there came a knock on the door.
In a show of propriety, the couple walked together to open it.
It was Claudia.
“Good morning, senior.” Leon greeted politely.
“How’d you sleep?” Claudia asked.
“Pretty well.”
“Alright, that’s great. Now, come along. I want to introduce you to a friend.”
Leon blinked, a bit bewildered, “What kind of friend?”
He glanced at Roswiser who likewise shrugged, clueless.
In the entire Sea Dragon Race, the only people they got along with were Claudia and their Mother-in-Law, Charlotte.
And Charlotte was still recuperating, not suitable for visitors.
So outside of that, who on earth could they have as a friend so deep in the ocean?
Seeing their puzzled faces, Claudia smirked cryptically,
“You’ll see. Now come. A human girl is already waiting for us outside.”
As soon as she said that, Rebecca, who had been lurking behind Claudia, started hopping up and down like an excited little frog,
“Captain, let’s go, let’s go! Aunt Claudia said we’d be super happy once we meet this friend of hers!”
Looks like you’re not even sure who this ‘friend’ is, yet you’re jumping up and down in excitement?
Leon inwardly sighed, amused, and said, “Alright, we’re coming.”
The couple, accompanied by Rebecca, followed Claudia out.
On the way, they deliberately avoided Sea Dragon guards and servants.
Truth be told, with Claudia’s standing, even if the tribe spotted Leon and Rebecca, no one would dare ask too many questions.
It wasn’t uncommon for a clan princess to hang out with her reclusive friends—heck, look at the Silver Dragon King next door, whose significant other doesn’t even show their face!
—Oh, there’s the Silver Dragon King. Never mind then.
The reason they were tiptoeing around so cautiously was entirely because Claudia didn’t feel like putting on a serious, “Everybody shut your mouths and don’t ask questions” show.
The Sea Dragons themselves are more laid-back, and having a rigid, formal hierarchy didn’t seem to fit.
Fortunately, no one noticed them along the way.
Claudia led them to an underwater courtyard.
There was a patch of artificial grass, and a bit away stood a wooden cabin.
Leon stood just outside the courtyard fence, peering inside.
He could make out a grayish-black figure wandering around lazily in the middle of the grass.
“Hmm—looks familiar.”
Claudia scoffed, then brought her index finger and thumb to her mouth, blowing a loud whistle.
The distant gray figure seemed to feel the call, dropping the fresh blade of grass it had been munching on. It lifted its head towards them.
Only now did Leon and Rebecca get a good look at the identity of this ‘friend’.
“Whoa…”
“Hey! It’s Donkey!!”
Memories flooded back in an unstoppable torrent.
The glossy coat, the lively tail, the robust frame, those gem-like bright eyes!
It’s him! It’s him! Definitely him!
“Here then, this is—Leon, be a bit careful! This fence is expensive!”
Claudia didn’t get a chance to finish her words before Leon vaulted over the barrier in one swift movement, landing and sprinting toward the familiar shadow.
And Donkey, sensing the presence of his old companion, galloped enthusiastically towards Leon with all four hooves raised.
It was like an epic reunion of lost lovers, separated by cruel fate for years, reuniting in this dreamlike underwater setting.
What a touching scene. Truly heart-wrenching. A moment worth writing into the history books of the Human, Dragon, and Donkey Races—
“Donkey~!”
“Whinny~!” (Donkey’s voice)
“Oh~Donkey~!”
“Whinnnnny~~!” (Donkey’s voice, double time)
“Haaaiiiya—Ah!”
In the next instant, instead of the tender embrace, an unforeseen event happened.
The donkey lifted its front hooves and unleashed a swift kick directly into Leon’s face.
There was a crisp sound, causing both Roswiser and Rebecca on the fence to wince in sympathy for Leon.
Rebecca was the first to respond.
“So THIS is the one creature that can inflict actual physical damage on Leon Casmod, the Empire’s greatest Dragon Slayer—”
“And the only existing one—”
“Leon’s donkey!”
Roswiser silently covered her face, “This is the last moment that needs a dramatic running commentary…”
Claudia probably didn’t anticipate the reunion to be so… unexpected.
She scratched her forehead, momentarily perplexed,
“To be honest, Charlotte always boasted to me about how good the relationship is between their donkey and Leon, so I thought their meeting might be… a bit more heartwarming. Who knew it would be… well…”
The Sea Dragon Princess, raised with top-notch education, couldn’t quite find an appropriate adjective for the scene.
The ever-street-smart Rebecca immediately found the perfect word,
“Abstract.”
“Captain Leon’s life—was a glorious life—and an abstract life.”
“And 70 percent of the absurd moments—have always been linked to HIS donkey.”
Roswiser sighed helplessly too,
“He often talks about his donkey. You’d think it was a household pet; anyone unaware might have assumed it was Leon’s first love.”
“Cousin Roswiser, in terms of relationships, you’re technically Leon’s first love. No need to feel jealous of a donkey—Ouch!”
Yesterday, the crazy girl got a skull flick from the captain;
Today, she got another one from the sister-in-law.
At the same time, back on the grass, Leon cradled Donkey’s neck while bleeding from the nose,
“Donkey, what’s wrong with you? You don’t remember me?”
Donkey: ╭(╯^╰)╮
“Are you mad, Donkey?”
Donkey: (￣^￣)
“Let me explain—these past few years I couldn’t find you because I had no idea you were here!”
Donkey: 乛 з乛
“Now I know, and once I clear up the trouble outside, I’ll come take you away, and we’ll be together like old times, Donkey!”
Donkey: (´◔ ‸◔`)
Roswiser couldn’t help but swallow hard,
“Does he actually… converse with the donkey?”
“At first I didn’t believe it either, until every time Leon talks to his donkey, he gets kicked—then I believed.”
“Every single time? That means he…”
“Argh—d*mn!”
Leon was sent flying into the air, leaving a perfect arc of bl**d in his wake.
Plomp—
He landed on the grass, dazed, muttering,
“Donkey, you’re still the same as ever—you kick first, ask questions later.”
