Father and daughters carefully made their way to the alley's other exit.
Just as they were about to emerge, voices echoed from the street beyond.
"Did you hear? Lord Nacho has gone missing."
"Yeah, apparently taken by that Leon Cosmodeous."
"Leon…Cosmodeous? Wasn't he supposed to have died twenty years ago?"
"Who knows? All I know is the man is monstrously strong. Sending us after him is a suicide mission. So if we see him, we fire the signal flare and call for backup."
"Got it!"
A patrol squad. The moonlight cast their elongated shadows as they drew nearer to the alley's mouth.
Leon could not determine their number, making him unsure if he could dispatch them as swiftly as he had the four guards. If he failed to neutralize them instantly, that signal flare would soar, and the recently departed Blade Unit would return, escalating this into a full-scale battle.
Leon focused intently on the approaching figures, energy slowly coalescing in his palms. He was not afraid of facing the Blade Unit; he feared being delayed here, eventually worn down by the Empire's endless forces.
But given the circumstances… he had no choice but to gamble.
The footsteps grew clearer. The three sisters tensed, ready to launch an ambush.
But just as they were about to strike, a series of sharp cries erupted from the alley's entrance.
"Signal flare! Quick, fire the sig—"
Bang—!
A muffled gunshot, the sound suppressed by a silencer.
Leon started. Someone was taking out the patrol?
"I believe I just heard a familiar name," a mature female voice stated coolly from the alley's entrance.
The soft, deliberate click of high-heeled boots echoed on the stone pavement. The woman stepped over the fallen bodies and stood framed in the alley's exit.
She wore a tailored windbreaker. Though not particularly tall, her figure was perfectly proportioned. The silenced handgun in her grip gleamed under the cold moonlight. Her green ponytail swayed gently in the night breeze.
She looked at Leon, a subtle shift in her eyes. "Long time no see… Captain."
"Rebecca…" Leon breathed.
.
.
.
Twenty years had passed. Rebecca, a pureblood human who had not crossed the spatial rift, had naturally aged in this world where "Leon Cosmodeous" did not exist. The frantic, neurotic energy she once possessed was gone, replaced by a deep, resonant calm and restraint.
A simple "Long time no see" now carried the weight of decades.
Though her height was unchanged, her style had transformed utterly. Tailored trousers and a black trench coat accentuated her form. The signature twin ponytails of her youth were now a single, practical ponytail.
Leon had not expected to reunite with Rebecca under such circumstances. He swallowed his shock and excitement.
"I thought… after the Master left, you would not remain in the Empire."
Rebecca holstered her gun and walked over.
"My father had to cease his activities here due to his age. But I am still full of energy. There was no reason for me to leave. Besides…"
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze moving past Leon to the three young women behind him.
Leon followed her look, remembering that Rebecca had likely never met his daughters. She had only seen pictures of Noah and Muen as children.
He began the introduction."Oh, these are my—"
"Daughters." Rebecca interrupted, her tone flat. "I know."
"Huh? You… have met them?"
Before Rebecca could answer, Noah stepped forward, standing casually beside her with a slight smile. "Aunt Rebecca."
A flicker of displeasure and helplessness crossed Rebecca's green eyes. She sighed.
"How many times must I say it? Do not call me 'Aunt.' It makes me sound old."
"But you are of the same generation as Dad. 'Aunt' is the only appropriate term," Aurora explained slowly, her hands in her pockets.
"Mm, Big Sis and Little Light are right!" Muen chimed in.
Rebecca crossed her arms, looking up at Noah, who stood a head taller, and remarked coolly,
"It has been years, and you three seem to have invested all your effort into growing taller. What is going on in your heads?"
Her skill for sarcasm had, perhaps, dulled slightly.
Listening to the easy banter between his old teammate and his daughters, Leon began to understand.
"Noah," he said. "The 'very reliable informant' you mentioned… it is Rebecca, is it not?"
Noah nodded. "Twenty years ago, after you vanished into the rift, news spread quickly through the Empire. Grandpa Tiger and Aunt Rebecca found out, and at great risk, made contact with Mom. That is when we met."
"It was in that mountain cave," Rebecca continued. "Your father and I decided to stay in the Empire, hoping to find a way to reopen the spatial rift. If we could not… we would exact revenge for you."
"For twenty years, my father and I have been on the Empire's wanted list. Captured twice. Fortunately, Martin pulled strings within the royal family, helped us escape, and covered it up as an 'accident.'"
"Martin… How is he now?" Leon asked.
In his memory, during the years of his captivity, Martin had regressed to the weak boy he once was.
Leon had hoped that without him, Martin would learn strength and courage. Born into nobility, weakness was an invitation for predators.
"After the business with Victor twenty years ago, Martin changed a great deal," Rebecca said.
"Perhaps it was knowing his beloved captain was still alive, or for other reasons. But in any case, your little fanboy has done quite well since inheriting his father's position."
"He… inherited his father's position?"
"Yes. But do not worry. Martin has not been blinded by power. Thankfully, with his influence, I obtained the latest royal intelligence and passed it to Noah."
Rebecca's eyes dropped to the bag in Leon's hand. "So? Did you acquire the Heart Scale?"
Leon hefted the heavy black pouch.
Rebecca's eyebrow arched in surprise.
"You did not… take all of them, did you?"
"A thief never leaves empty-handed," Leon shrugged.
"That is a capital offense. Ten executions, minimum," Rebecca stated flatly.
"What is the difference between ten executions and one?" Leon shrugged again.
"After the first, I would be dead. The other nine are just for making mincemeat."
"I hate mincemeat," Rebecca said.
After the familiar, sharp-edged banter, the two old teammates simply looked at each other.
A moment later, they stepped forward and embraced.
Rebecca leaned against Leon's chest, solid and warm. She held back tears, muttering,
"Twenty years ago, when I wanted to hug you, you took a step back."
"Things are different now," Leon said.
Muen blinked. "How are they different?"
Leon: "… Do you really want to know, sweetie?"
He continued, "Because back then, your mother and I were still in the throes of young love. If I went outside and hugged another pretty girl, would that not tarnish my reputation as a devoted man?"
"But now, your mother and I are an old married couple. We know the depth of our bond. Hugging an old teammate will not cause any trouble."
"Second Sis, do not ask questions you are not supposed to," Aurora said, barely suppressing a laugh.
"Men, you know… this is how they are after being married a long time."
Rebecca pushed Leon away and fixed her gaze on the pink-haired troublemaker. "Little Pink Hair, have you considered calling me 'Godmother'?"
"You just said not to call you 'Aunt!' Now you want 'Godmother'?"
"'Aunt' is 'Aunt.' 'Godmother' is 'Godmother.' So, how about it? Call me 'Godmother.'"
Aurora stomped her foot in mock outrage, appealing to her ally. "Sis! Look, she is bullying me again!"
Noah waved a dismissive hand, signaling she wanted no part of it. She had no defense against Rebecca's verbal barbs.
Leon blinked, understanding dawning.
As the saying goes,
"One wicked tongue meets its match.
"Two masters of sarcasm together, now it was a contest of wit.
Rebecca had utterly flattened Little Light!
"Do you plan to leave the city before dawn?" Rebecca asked, returning to business.
"Yes. Time is tight, and the mission is urgent. We must continue refining the reversal magic after we return," Leon paused. "Ah, the reversal magic is—"
"I know. Noah gave me a brief explanation during our intelligence exchanges," Rebecca said.
"Though I do not fully grasp the theory, in any case… Captain, you are off to save the world again, are you not?"
"Ah, I do not want to, but my abilities are what they are. I cannot just stand by."
It felt deeply familiar. After twenty years, Leon was still the same, and Rebecca felt a missing piece of her life click back into place. Now, everything felt whole.
"But before saving the world, you must leave the Empire, correct?" Rebecca said.
"Yes. But a few hours ago, to get the Heart Scale's location, we kidnapped Nacho. The Empire is already alerted. So if we wish to leave…" Leon's expression grew grim. "The risks will be exceptionally high."
"My plan is to sneak to the city gates before dawn, then have Noah and the others transform and break through. The Silver Dragons possess a natural speed advantage. Outrunning any pursuers should not be overly difficult."
Rebecca's mind worked quickly. "But the Empire has been breeding numerous flying dangerous species these past twenty years. While their overall capabilities may not match a Dragon's, in terms of pure speed… they might rival the Silver Dragons. If the Empire deploys such creatures in pursuit, escape will be difficult."
"Is that so…"
Leon was momentarily at a loss. Getting in had been one thing; getting out was another matter entirely.
If they had to hide within the Empire for a time, Leon could not even guess how long "a time" might be. With less than three months remaining of the original six, time was a luxury they did not possess. They had to leave the city, and soon.
"Here is what we will do," Rebecca declared.
"I will have Martin arrange it. He will smuggle you out via the royal cargo carriages. The entire city is under martial law, but there is still a chance. We will gamble. If discovered, we force our way out."
Leon thought for a moment. With no better alternative, he agreed.
"How long will it take Martin to arrange this?"
Rebecca raised an eyebrow, a look of distinct satisfaction on her face. "How about now?"