### Chapter 116: The Key Moment Arrives
**Empire Outskirts, Slum.**
A tattered, limping beggar leaned on a crutch, one hand clutching a worn-out ceramic bowl, hustling passersby for a few scraps.
“Hey, move aside, move aside!”
“Get lost, you stinky beggar.”
“Kid, promise me you’ll study hard and escape this dump. Otherwise, you’ll end up like him, begging on the street, understand?”
“......”
But the folks in the slums were barely scraping by, let alone tossing spare change to a beggar.
The beggar continued down the street until the midnight bell tolled.
With his ragged straw sandals, he followed the sound of the bells to—
That old clock tower.
He knocked on the nearly rotten wooden door at the clock tower entrance.
He knocked five times in total.
The first three knocks were quick, the last two slowed down.
Before long, footsteps approached from inside.
Creeeak—
The door creaked open, revealing a small head peeking out.
It was a girl with azure pigtails and alert, twinkling eyes surveying the area.
“Not being followed, right?” Rebecca asked.
“Nope,” said the beggar confidently.
“Good, you’ve worked hard.”
With the door ajar, Rebecca waved the beggar inside.
Then she cautiously peeked outside again, confirming no one was lurking, before shutting the door tight.
The clock tower looked as shabby as the surrounding old buildings in the slum.
But inside? A whole new world!
Through the porch, she opened a hidden door in the wall, revealing a spacious hall.
The hall was fully equipped—simple beds, a communal dining table, a kitchen, and an intelligence analysis station. It had it all!
And on the back wall of the hall hung a round emblem.
The badge depicted a beautifully carved lion.
The beggar, now inside, shed his disguise and washed his face.
Rebecca handed him a towel. “Any news from the captain, Nacho?”
Nacho Salaman took the towel and wiped his face. “Nada. Didn’t you all say a few days back that you were declaring war on the Empire? Where’s the cavalry?”
“The captain went off to find a helper; it might not be going smoothly,” Rebecca replied, “But I feel it’s coming soon. The captain always follows through—especially with something this important.”
Nacho tossed the towel aside, propped himself against the rustic washstand, and looked down at the pint-sized pigtail girl, “I believe in your captain, that guy really doesn’t let people down. I should know; I used to be on the other end of his sword.”
Every time he recalled leading dragons against Leon, the Empire’s orders echoed in his mind:
“Go fight Leon? Seriously?”
At that time, he had more than five dragons, including Star.
However, within six months, Nacho found himself a lone commander with nothing but his own shadow.
Trying to keep the market thriving? Please!
And just like that, through a few twists and turns, Nacho ended up joining this organization led by Leon's spirit, battling the rotting Empire.
Recently, he heard from Rebecca that Leon was returning to the Empire, ready to officially declare war on the current rulers.
But a few days went by, and Leon’s shadow was still nowhere to be seen.
Nacho trusted Leon. After all, he’d seen General Leon's skills and charisma firsthand.
But—
He glanced over at other members in the hall.
“Our fight is dragging on a bit, isn’t it?”
Nacho squinted slightly. “While everyone joining the Lionheart Association is keen to fight the Empire, and there are quite a few die-hard fans of your captain, you should know, Rebecca, some of these people... they’re itching for revenge on the Empire.”
Rebecca turned to look at the Lionheart members, her little face showing deep concern.
She fell silent, waiting for Nacho to continue.
“Everyone’s holding their breath, waiting for Leon to return and finally sound the call for counterattack.”
“But these days have passed, and Leon still hasn’t shown up.”
“I can wait, you can wait, and Martin and Walker can wait, but that group of impatient folks may not have the patience to wait any longer.”
“Do you know what emotion spreads among people more easily than fear?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Impatience.”
Nacho said, “It spreads like a plague from person to person, ultimately affecting everyone in the Lionheart Association.”
“Furthermore, impatience, like all negative emotions, impairs one’s judgment.”
Rebecca frowned. “Impaired judgment?”
“I learned this the hard way, so I know that feeling well. When someone’s judgment is clouded by impatience, they start questioning everything around them.”
Rebecca opened her mouth, just about to ask something more.
But at that moment, someone in the hall slammed his hand on the table, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“When can we topple that dog emperor? Always talking about waiting for the right moment—when the time finally comes, we’ll all be caught by the Empire!”
“Didn’t Miss Rebecca say Leon was coming back soon? I think it’s just around the corner!”
“Leon, Leon! You all joined the Lionheart Association because of Leon Casmod, but since you joined, how many of you have even seen him?”
“... No, none.”
“I’m not doubting the existence of the Lionheart Association, but I’m upset with Taige’s approach. If there’s no Leon Casmod, why are we still gathering under his name? Are we supposed to risk our lives for a guy who’s already gone?”
“Stop talking nonsense, man! I used to work alongside Captain Leon in the Dragon Slayer Army, and I’ve met Mr. Taige too. They aren’t the deceitful types you think!”
“Just because you’ve met them a few times, you think you know them?”
“...”
The arguments reached a boiling point.
Rebecca watched the scene and wanted to step in, but Nacho held her back.
“Going up now just shifts the attention to you. No matter what you say then, that hothead will have reasons to target you, stirring up discontent.”
“What should we do? Just watch them argue?” Rebecca asked anxiously.
“Not much to do—let the emotions simmer down a bit, then you can explain the situation to everyone.”
Nacho said, “But…”
“But what?”
“But I might be overthinking things.”
Rebecca felt puzzled. Just as she was pondering, the troublemaker pointed directly at her.
“Rebecca, you said we’re going to declare war on the Empire soon, yet so many days have passed—where’s Captain Leon? Aren’t we just cooped up in this slum, mindlessly waiting day after day?”
“I—”
Sans Taige, Rebecca alone couldn’t quiet these loudmouthed folks.
“Days ago, you and Taige went to meet Leon with intel, but only you returned. You say Taige was injured and is recovering, but you brought back a helper.”
“But now, I see neither your so-called helper, nor Leon, while Taige is nowhere to be found.”
“Kid, you’re not playing us, are you? Taige and Leon must’ve bolted on you, right? Left us here waiting to die! I—”
“Shut up, you fool!”
The guy was utterly overtaken by emotion, and the more he spoke, the more ridiculous it became.
Rebecca finally snapped, losing her patience.
The guy was taken aback.
But after a moment, he kept aiming his emotion at Rebecca.
“Don’t just tell me to shut up! A crowd is waiting for your Captain Leon—tell him to come find us!”
It only took a few words to spread personal anxiety to the entire group.
All eyes in the Lionheart Association were on Rebecca, all the pressure resting on those tiny shoulders.
Among them, some were like that impulsive man, feeling their faith in the Lionheart Association wavering, eager to see the legendary Leon Casmod;
While others, those more level-headed, had joined the association seeing Leon as their spiritual leader, and they also desired to meet him urgently.
In other words, everyone was waiting for Leon.
Observing Rebecca’s silence, the man sneered.
“Got nothing to say now, Miss Clement? Taige’s gone, your helper doesn’t exist at all, so... Leon Casmod—he’s just a lie, isn’t he?”
“No, it’s not... it’s not... the Captain is definitely—”
“Going to show up at the key moment.”
A voice came from the door of the hall.
Everyone turned toward the sound to find Walker.
And behind Walker were a man and a woman.
“Walker? Didn’t you go patrolling? Why did you bring two—”
Rebecca’s gaze darted past Walker to the people behind him.
Suddenly, hope and surprise flashed in her gloomy blue eyes.
“Captain... Captain!!”
Some members in the crowd recognized him too.
“Leon... Casmod...”
“Leon? It’s—it's Leon! It’s really him!”
“Leon Casmod! The strongest dragon slayer of the Empire!”
“......”
Cheers erupted like a wave, echoing through the Lionheart Association’s hall.
Leon walked slowly up to Rebecca.
Seeing the poor girl with teary eyes, he reached out and gently patted her head.
“Sorry, I’m late.”
#### END OF CHAPTER
Happy June 1st!
