Book 3: Chapter 126 (1) |
“Leon, you and your Lionheart Society have fallen into a trap, thinking ‘to get intelligence, you have to go to great lengths.’”
Claudia patiently explained to Leon, “But in some special cases, the most critical information is often hidden in the most unassuming corners.”
Leon seriously considered Claudia’s words.
At the same time, he suddenly recalled the newsboy’s shouts from just before entering the library:
“Mid-District Morning Post, Mid-District Morning Post!”
“District border, arch bridge collapse—who’s to blame?”
“Massive warehouse finally unveils its mystery—what’s really inside?”
“With Thousand Lanterns approaching, crime rates remain high—hundreds of ** stolen, is this a twist of human nature or a fall of morality?”
And yet, back then, he’d dismissed it because the headlines were too *clickbaity*—
Wait a second!
They *were* clickbaity, okay?!
How was Leon supposed to buy a newspaper with a headline screaming “** stolen”?
*Yeah, so it’s all the pig’s fault—*
“Ouch!”
Mid-thought, a *thwack* hit his forehead.
It was Claudia, who’d rolled a newspaper into a tube and tapped Leon’s head with it.
Like an elder scolding a naive kid.
Roswitha was about to snicker when she got tapped too.
The couple rubbed their foreheads, their movements and expressions eerily synchronized.
“When you’re gazing up at the vast starry sky, don’t forget to watch for puddles under your feet.”
A very intriguing saying.
Leon wanted to clear his name, expose the Empire’s corruption, and free the common folk from hardship, but he didn’t have time to buy a newspaper.
When people chase distant goals, they often overlook trivial details.
And those trivial details might just be the key to turning the tide.
“Alright, I’m not trying to lecture you with grand truths. Think of it as sharing experience—it’ll help you in the future.”
The couple nodded, taking the lesson to heart.
“Mm, so… if this plan succeeds, don’t forget what you promised me.”
“Don’t worry, Senior, the Melkway family’s got this covered!”
…
After parting ways with Claudia for now, Leon and Roswitha planned to return to the Lionheart Society to discuss things with Rebecca and the others.
After all, while they could *freeload* the Empire’s paper lanterns, they still didn’t know the specifics of the warehouse.
For instance, the warehouse’s exact location, its surrounding environment, how many people were guarding it, and whether it was directly overseen by the Empire’s royal forces—key details like these.
If they rushed in blindly and something went wrong, the entire Thousand Lantern Festival plan would fall apart.
Walking through the Mid-District streets, Leon scratched his head, looking slightly frustrated.
Roswitha noticed the subtle shift in his mood and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Leon let out a soft sigh, “The day after tomorrow is the Thousand Lantern Festival. If we can’t finish the preparations tonight or tomorrow night, this plan’s going to *go down the drain*.”
As the leader of a team, he always bore greater pressure than others at critical moments.
Though Leon had once led the Dragon-Slaying Corps, commanding dragon-slaying warriors in battles across the land for years, the current situation was entirely different.
Back then, General Leon was a *born dragon-slaying saint*, and if he was tasked with slaying dragons, the ones feeling the pressure wouldn’t be him but the dragons facing his *first-class and special-class merits*.
But leading a group of oppressed revolutionaries who had no choice but to rise up? This was his first time.
On one hand, he feared failure. A valiant, battle-hardened general who could only be stopped by a traitor’s backstab, ending the human-dragon war within a decade, found it hard to accept even a single defeat.
On the other hand, he feared letting down the expectations of the Lionheart Society.
They had gathered here, waiting so long, hoping Leon would return to lead them in overthrowing the corrupt Empire.
But if all their efforts came to nothing, the consequences were more than Leon could bear.
He had to be responsible for those who believed in and relied on him. He couldn’t let his master and everyone down.
So, that pressure was like an invisible mountain, weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Roswitha quietly studied his profile.
She knew what Leon was worried about, what he feared.
And she also knew that in times like these, any words of comfort would ring hollow.
Leon didn’t need comfort, nor did he need an outlet to vent his stress.
What he truly needed, only Roswitha in this world understood.
The queen looked ahead, her tone light and cheerful,
“Back when you were about to do something, you rarely worried about ‘what if I fail.’”
Leon gave a bitter smile, shaking his head, “This time’s different, Roswitha.”
“What’s different?”
“This time, I’m leading everyone to accomplish this. If my decisions lead to the plan’s failure, then—”
“Then I’ll bear the consequences of failure with you.”
Roswitha’s tone remained calm, as if she were stating something ordinary,
“Whether it’s the disappointment and blame from the Lionheart Society or a counterattack from the Empire and dragon clans, whatever it is, I’ll face it with you.”
Simple words, a flat tone, yet brimming with unwavering resolve.
Leon’s steps faltered, and he almost instinctively murmured, “Why…”