"And they almost always transported the danger beasts in at night, deliberately avoiding the crowds."
"That's very suspicious, isn't it?"
Leon nodded in agreement, "Indeed, very suspicious. According to the Empire's usual style, whenever they win a battle or successfully subdue a danger beast, they always make a big publicity move to boost national support or something. But to discreetly handle so many danger beasts like this… Could they still not have let go of Constantine...?"
Master furrowed his brows slightly, "You're saying, even after losing the Heart-Protecting Dragon Scales, the Empire still plans to continue researching those fused monsters like Constantine?"
"Exactly. That's their style, isn't it?"
The kid made sense.
Others won't turn back until they hit a wall;
The Empire will hit the wall, then turn around and hit it again, just to see if the wall is made of concrete or bricks.
But Tiger had a faint premonition, if the Empire continued researching such fusion monsters... it might backfire on them.
After all, those guys always loved chasing after powers... they couldn't control.
"In any case, losing all of the Heart-Protecting Dragon Scales is undoubtedly a major blow to the Empire, but it also completely enraged them."
Tiger said in a deep voice, "Ever since the lab exploded, the wanted status for me and Rebecca has intensified. Even Martin got invited in for tea a few times."
Upon hearing this, Leon frowned slightly, "They made a move on Martin?"
Martin was the youngest among Leon's former comrades, and it was because he admired Leon that he joined the Empire's Dragon-Slaying Army.
After learning that the Empire and Victor planned to frame Leon, Martin unhesitatingly chose to stand on Leon's side.
Unlike Rebecca who was all alone, Martin, born into a noble minister's family, could have stayed far away from this mess and lived quietly as a noble gentleman.
It's hard to say if he'd soar high, but getting through the rest of his life peacefully would've definitely not been a problem.
But Martin still chose to act as an informant for Leon and the others within the royal family, doing his best to gather intel.
If something happened to that kid, Leon would never forgive himself.
"With his father as cover, the royal family didn't dare do anything to Martin, just asked him a few questions."
Master's words made Leon's anxious heart relax a bit.
"You know, ever since the Empire put us on the wanted list, the first thing they'd do is investigate old acquaintances, and Martin, being your teammate in the Dragon-Slaying Army, is naturally on that list. But the Empire has always been restrained because of his father's influence and hasn't taken direct action."
Tiger continued, "But blowing up the Heart-Protecting Dragon Scales, cutting off one of the Empire's arms, also made them so furious that they stopped caring about consequences. However, that little rascal Martin is very clever. Didn't leave a single clue behind, hid himself well, the Empire couldn't get anything from him."
"It's just that... from now on, getting intel might be a bit tricky."
Leon nodded, "It's fine, Master. Compared to intel, staying alive is more important. Tell Martin not to force himself, just do his best."
"Mm, I will."
Tiger let out a slow breath, gently tapping the scabbard of his katana with his index finger, and spoke slowly, "The Empire won't easily give up on the fusion monster project. We can confirm this just by looking at their frenzy in capturing danger beasts. From now on, I'll continue to monitor them, and make sure to stop them before they create the next monster."
Leon's eyes shifted slightly but didn't immediately agree to Tiger's proposal, "Master, not just Martin, you and Rebecca need to be extra careful too. Same as always, staying alive is more important than intel. If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain to Mistress? She'll scold me to death."
Tiger froze for a moment, raised his slightly graying eyebrows, then chuckled, "Your mistress is a thousand miles away from you, don't worry, she can't scold you."
"So... when can I meet Mistress?"
"Don't rush. Come on, kid—"
As he spoke, Tiger pulled out a simple camera, pointed it at Leon, and pressed the shutter, "Smile."
Click!
Leon froze, "This is...?"
Tiger looked down at the preview photo on the camera and nodded with satisfaction, "Your mistress told me not to just bring back pictures of her granddaughter this time, but yours too. Tsk, kid, you look like you've lost weight."
Living shamelessly every day in the Silver Dragon Sanctuary with the mother dragon in post-marriage bliss, of course he'd lose weight.
Cough! Cough!
But that was only part of the reason.
Ever since witnessing the terrifying power of Constantine, the super stitched zombie dragon, he had been uneasy.
The Empire could already create such horrifying creatures. Who knew if they'd come up with something even more unthinkable next?
Leon rarely feared anything to this extent, so he didn't know how to process these anxious thoughts. It was normal that his appetite had declined.
"Back to the serious stuff, Master, you and Rebecca must—"
"Yeah yeah yeah, I know, safety first."
Master carefully packed up the camera, "Well... there's another matter. About those three people you mentioned earlier."
Leon recalled for a moment and immediately knew which three he meant:
The Blade Trio.
Twenty years in the future, these three rampaged across dragon-slaying battlefields, practically the "Leon Casmodeous 2.0s."
But the power they wielded didn't come from themselves, nor from human magic.
Regardless, if the Empire successfully nurtured these three, it would be like adding three troublesome enemies for the future.
That's why during their last intel exchange, Leon asked Master to keep an eye on them.
"There's news about them?"
"Mm. The Empire is secretly conducting a project called 'Blade', aiming to cultivate the next generation of dragon-slaying weapons."
At this, Tiger paused slightly.
He pursed his lips, as if remembering something unpleasant.
Leon asked softly, concerned, "Master?"
"Ah... it's nothing."
Tiger took a deep breath and continued, "The Empire is raising them just like they once raised me, and you. Except... this time, the Empire has learned their lesson."
Tiger looked down at the katana on the table.
"The sharper the blade, the sturdier the sheath needs to be, so it doesn't hurt the wielder."
"The resources the Empire has poured into the Blade Trio far exceed what they gave you years ago. And they've taken plenty of precautionary measures to ensure these three blades don't turn around and stab them."
"In other words... the enemies we'll face in the future might not just be super fusion monsters like Constantine, but also the most loyal and vicious hunting dogs the Empire has ever bred."
Hearing Master's words, Leon fell into deep thought.
Master had just mentioned "the future," and Leon was the only one who had actually been to that future.
In that "world without Leon," twenty years later, the human Empire had control over nearly all the critical factors of war, with endless strategies.
Externally, they relied on the overwhelming power of the Sharp Blade Trio to sweep battlefields;
Internally, they constantly bolstered public faith through continual victories.
So instead of calling it "a future without Leon," it'd be better to call it "a future ruled by the Empire."
And clearly, that kind of future... sucked.
People lived in the lie called "comfort," paying taxes to corrupt rulers, even enjoying it, satisfied and pleased.
They waged wars not for humanity, but solely for... themselves.
Leon once promised the future's Noah that he'd rewrite the future and find a way out from this chaotic stream of time.
He made that promise, and he would not break it.
"Whether it's a super zombie or the Blade Trio. No matter what kind of monster the Empire creates, we only have one choice, Master."
The master and disciple looked each other in the eyes, speaking in unison, ""Fight to the death.""
———
The atmosphere in the cave suddenly became serious and heavy — even mixed with a slight hint of cringe—
Even after living with Leon for so long, Rossweise still couldn't quite understand human emotional shifts.
She crossed her arms, tilted slightly, and leaned toward Rebecca's ear, whispering,
"What are they doing? Why do they look like they're ready to die heroically?"
Rebecca snorted and patiently explained to her pretty sister-in-law, "Sis, where do you think the captain's King-like aura and hero complex come from? That's all thanks to his master's good teaching!"
"You mean, Leon's current personality is largely influenced by Tiger?"
"Of course, like father like son. Even if not blood-related, they've been together since he was little, so of course their personalities would be a bit similar."
Rossweise narrowed her eyes as she looked at her fake husband.
At the same time, her mind kept replaying the phrase "like father like son" that Rebecca mentioned.
She couldn't help but wonder. If Noah grew up and ended up with this same cringe-and-edgy vibe, what should she do...
It was understandable if she was a cool and cold little sister when young; but if she grew into a cringey ghost-fire teenage girl, Rossweise would lose her mind.
However...
She shook her head, banishing the chaotic thoughts, then quietly sighed and looked up at Leon's side profile.
Steady, handsome, and the scar made him look even more ruggedly cool.
A little smile tugged at the queen's lips.
"Cringe is cringe, hero complex is hero complex. But either way... it's kind of cute."
Rebecca didn't catch the first half but heard the word "cute."
She looked up with a grin at Rossweise, "Sis, were you saying I'm cute?"
Rossweise lowered her eyes, pinched her cheek with a smile, "Cute is a derogatory term among dragons, you know~"
"Tch~"
At the wooden table, the master and disciple continued their discussion.
The intel Master brought was, just as Leon had expected, a lot.
Fortunately, he had brought pen and paper beforehand to jot down these key details.
Even if most of the news wasn't good, it was still better than waiting until enemies knocked on their door before reacting.
"That's about it, Leon," said Tiger.
"Mm... got it."
Tiger studied his disciple's expression, "You seem... troubled?"
Leon smiled bitterly and shook his head, "As long as the Empire exists, I can't smile, Master."
"True."
Tiger sighed as well, "Our situation is becoming more and more urgent, so we must find the truth quickly and expose the conspiracy between the Empire and the dragons."
Leon's mind stirred slightly, "Mm... it's time to go on the offensive."
"Offensive? What are you planning to do?"
"Haven't figured it out yet. I didn't expect this many bad updates before I came here."
Leon said, "But after this, I'll immediately start drafting a counter-strategy."
"No problem. Rebecca, Martin, and I will do our best to gather more intel for you."
Leon smiled and raised his fist, "Thanks, Master."
Tiger raised his hand too, gently bumping fists with Leon, "You're my only disciple. Of course I'll do everything I can for you."
"Speaking of helping, Master. The books on primordial magic I asked you to find last time... any progress?"
Tiger smiled smugly, "Was just about to say, I really did find one book on primordial magic."
As he spoke, Tiger pulled an old tome from his backpack and handed it to Leon.
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