With the mention of how the Empire had forcibly taken over Rachel's family restaurant, a floodgate opened. The other members of the Lionheart Society eagerly began sharing their own experiences of injustice and mistreatment.
Some stories were of minor grievances, while others detailed severe losses, but each one pointed to the deep-seated corruption and darkness festering within the Empire's rule.
Until now, Leon had assumed that only the lower class suffered under the Empire's oppression. Yet here, among those who had joined the Lionheart Society out of pure disillusionment, were not only working-class citizens but also members of the middle class and even a few from the upper class.
The pattern was clear: as long as one was willing to align with the Empire's dirty dealings, life could be comfortable. However, anyone who dared to uphold their own principles would be labeled an enemy of the state, whether they openly opposed the Empire or not.
Under such extreme rule, even without the Lionheart Society, someone else would have inevitably risen to organize the oppressed citizens against their tyrannical rulers.
Leon listened quietly to every account, mentally cataloging each story. He sat on the edge of the speaking platform, interacting with the members as if chatting with friends, without a trace of superiority.
In the back of the hall, Rossweise, Rebecca, and Nacho observed the scene in silence.
"I feel like... the Captain has changed a lot," Rebecca said, watching Leon blend seamlessly into the group, her expression full of emotion.
"Didn't you say you've been in touch with him these past few years?" Nacho asked. "Meeting every three months to exchange information? Why does he suddenly seem so different?"
Rebecca shook her head. "Whenever we met for intelligence briefings, he was still the same as always—calm, wise, able to formulate the perfect plan under any pressure. He'd predict every outcome and strategize every move. All we had to do was follow his lead."
"But..." she continued, her voice softening, "I've never seen this side of him before."
"In the past, he wasn't exactly an open person. The Dragon Slayer Corps followed him out of loyalty, but that loyalty was forged because he pulled us back from death time and time again. It was that shared experience and gratitude that made him our Captain."
She smiled, her expression warm and fond, like a proud family member watching a child come into their own. "Back then, most people found him reserved, a little stubborn, and difficult to talk to at first."
"But look at him now..." Rebecca said, her voice filled with awe. "Just a few hours in, and everyone here has already accepted him and opened up to him." She glanced up at Rossweise. "Sister-in-law, the Captain must have learned a lot from you, right?"
Nacho looked over curiously as well.
His entire understanding of the dragon race had been shaped by the Empire's propaganda, which painted them as brutal, violent, and war-hungry—bloodthirsty villains.
Yet standing here, observing the Silver Dragon Queen, Nacho couldn't sense any of those qualities. If he hadn't been told she was a dragon, he would have thought she was merely an elegant, silver-haired beauty, worlds apart from the monstrous depiction the Empire had propagated.
And Leon, having spent the past five years with her, had clearly grown into the leader he was today with her support.
Rossweise crossed her arms, her silver eyes fixed on her husband. After a moment, a soft smile touched her lips.
"Learning is a two-way street," she said diplomatically. "I've learned a lot from him, too."
True to her principle of showing respect to her husband in public, her reply was incredibly tactful. It implicitly confirmed Rebecca's statement while modestly suggesting she, too, had gained from Leon.
Yes, she'd gained quite a lot. More than just a lot, actually—a whole lot.
Nacho was still marveling at this new perspective on dragons when Rebecca suddenly elbowed him in the side.
"What's wrong with you, crazy girl?" Nacho grunted, clutching his stomach.
"See that?" Rebecca boasted, gesturing toward Rossweise. "My sister-in-law is the perfect woman—battle-ready, skilled in the kitchen, a devoted wife, and an exemplary mother."
Nacho's mouth twitched. "Sure, unlike some pint-sized wild woman I know."
Rebecca blinked, confused, then pointed at herself. "Wait, are you talking about me?"
"No, of course not," Nacho replied with a smirk.
.
.
.
"Captain Leon," one of the Lionheart Society members called out excitedly, "Rebecca said we'd have a mysterious ally joining us this time, but we haven't met them yet. Can we meet them now?"
Leon blinked in surprise before nodding. "Of course."
Standing up from the edge of the platform, Leon looked out at the gathered members, all eyes fixed on him.
"Before I introduce this ally, I want to ask you all a question," he began. "Most of you probably know that, five years ago, I was betrayed by my comrades and left for dead. You've heard of this, right?"
"Yes," one member answered. "Uncle Tiger told us about it, and Martin's memory stone even holds proof of the Empire's betrayal and the cover-up of your name."
"Good. Then, do you know how I survived?"
At this, Leon glanced toward Rossweise at the back of the room.
Their gazes met, and she discreetly lowered her hands, taking a subtle deep breath to steady herself.
"Uncle Tiger said a dragon king saved you."
"No, no, Uncle said Captain Leon fought fiercely with the dragons and then forced them to heal him."
"That's not it either! I heard that Captain Leon was saved because he took a female dragon as his godmother."
Leon and Rossweise could feel their hearts sink.
They had hoped for a straightforward introduction to help ease any lingering doubts about dragons. But why were there so many different versions of The Story of General Leon's Captivity?
Master, how many liberties did you take with my backstory?!
Leon clapped his hands, signaling for silence.
"At the time, I was gravely wounded and had to... negotiate with a dragon king to save my life. And thanks to her, I stand here today."
"Captain, is this dragon king the godmother you supposedly took in?"
"...Can we not talk about the 'godmother' part?"
"Fine, Captain, go on."
"Though she saved me, I remained in a coma for two years. When I finally woke up, I spent the next three years living with her."
Leon continued, his voice growing more earnest. "Through that time together, I gained a new perspective on the dragons."
"Of course, I can't guarantee that all dragons are like her, but I assure you that she is nothing like the creatures the Empire's books and records have made them out to be."
Some members looked surprised, though not overly so. Uncle Tiger had shared bits of information about the mysterious dragon king, and hearing Leon confirm it was both thrilling and intriguing.
"She wasn't one to start wars needlessly. She could provide for her people on her own."
"In those years together, I learned a great deal from her."
"Many of you probably still have biases against dragons. That's fine—I did, too."
"But please trust me. This dragon king, the one who saved my life, is trustworthy."
"She's also the ally I mentioned."
Leon's gaze shifted to the back of the room.
Following his line of sight, everyone turned to look, spotting the tall, elegant silver-haired beauty standing there, silent and still as a statue, her beauty almost ethereal.
"She... she's the dragon king?!"
"My god, I've been in the same room as a dragon king for two hours!"
"M-my knees are shaking... This is terrifying!"
.
.
.
This was precisely why Leon had taken such care to prepare the group. Though the members were less hostile to dragons than before, the idea of a dragon king still filled them with trepidation. In their minds, dragon kings were colossal monsters breathing fire and soaring through the skies.
"No way, this gorgeous woman can't possibly be a dragon king," a short-haired girl remarked.
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Rossweise unfurled her magnificent dragon wings and extended her sleek silver tail, revealing her true draconic nature.
The members instantly recoiled, some shuffling back ten meters, others fifteen, until they were practically pressed against the walls. The hall wasn't big enough for them to retreat any further.
"Don't worry, she doesn't bite," Leon assured them.
"Hey, you!" Rossweise glared at him, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes.
Fine, I'll let it slide, Leon thought, though he knew this would cost him later.
Rossweise retracted her wings and tail, resuming her poised, icy demeanor. As the members slowly regained their composure, one of them spoke up.
"Captain Leon, we've prepared ourselves mentally, but seeing a dragon king in person is still overwhelming. Please forgive us."
"It's alright. I understand."
After all, most common folk and even ordinary soldiers in the Dragon Slayer Corps feared dragon kings. Only Leon would treat a dragon king as a prize to be won.
"Back to the point. We don't know the extent of the Empire's hidden cards, so I brought with me the Silver Dragon Queen, Rossweise Melkvey."
Leon looked at her. "Would you like to introduce yourself?"
Rossweise opened her mouth, initially wanting to decline. She wasn't accustomed to speaking in front of so many humans.
But after a moment's thought, she realized it was necessary. For the Lionheart Society to trust both her and Leon, and for them to have any hope of bringing down the Empire, she had to do this.
So, Rossweise stepped forward. The crowd parted silently, creating a path for her.
She climbed onto the platform, turning to face the audience. Her expression was serene, her voice steady and clear.
"My name is Rossweise Melkvey, Queen of the Silver Dragons. I have come to the human territory at Leon's request to aid you in freeing yourselves from a corrupt and oppressive rule."
The hall fell into a deep silence.
It wasn't that anyone wanted to embarrass her; rather, from the moment she spoke, her innate dragon king aura had enveloped the room. Her regal presence was so overwhelming that even other dragons would find it difficult to endure, let alone the humans present.
Noticing their discomfort, Rossweise quickly reined in her aura, allowing the palpable tension to dissipate.
Clap, clap—
Rebecca was the first to applaud.
Nacho followed suit.
Then, applause thundered throughout the hall, growing in confidence and volume.
Rossweise scanned the crowd, a strange feeling settling in her chest. She might be the first dragon king in history to receive cheers from a room full of humans.
After her serious, succinct introduction, Rossweise decided to break the ice with a small joke.
"Oh, one thing I'd like to clarify," she said, her tone carrying a hint of mischief. The crowd focused on her intently, while Leon looked on, curious about what she would say next.
After a moment's pause, she flashed a playful smile.
"I'm not Leon's godmother, so please don't get that wrong."
Her joke had the desired effect, loosening the tension as everyone laughed heartily.
"So, dragons have a sense of humor too!"
"Who started the rumor about Captain taking a dragon godmother?"
"Don't look at me! I heard he took a goddaughter!"
.
.
.
"Um, Silver Dragon Queen," someone called out, cutting to the question on everyone's mind, "if you're not Captain's godmother, then what's your relationship with him?"
Rossweise froze momentarily, her mind racing. After some internal debate, she decided it might be better to keep things under wraps. They were in public, after all—no need to, well... flaunt their relationship here.
"Oh, we're just—" she began, intending to be vague.
"She's my wife."
Rossweise: ?
"And we have three children together."
Rossweise: ??
Lionheart Society members: ...!!!
A stunned silence swallowed the hall, every face a picture of utter shock as they processed Leon's blunt, world-altering revelation.