Leon emerged from the prison cell, his expression unreadable, and was immediately met by Rebecca and the others.
"How did it go? Did you get anything useful out of him?" Rebecca asked, her tone a mix of hope and impatience.
Leon's response was deceptively calm. "That old man's will is tougher than it looks. I tried several approaches, but he didn't break."
Rebecca then proceeded to summarize the critical intelligence Noel Last had divulged, laying out the evidence and new leads. The shocking revelation that the Empire's royal family had deliberately prolonged the dragon-human war for their own gain, and the confirmation that the former king was the shadowy mastermind pulling the strings, left Nacho and the others momentarily stunned into silence.
Leon, however, seemed to take it all in stride, his composure unshaken.
"Anyone who has truly witnessed the Empire's betrayals and conspiracies knows they operate without a shred of morality or limit. There is nothing they wouldn't do. Stealing Heart-Scales from dragons?" He let out a short, humorless laugh. "That's practically benign compared to their other crimes."
The fact that the Empire's elite had sacrificed countless dragon and human lives to fuel their own immortality through the Heart-Scale implants was monstrous, yet Leon found it almost predictable.
"Do we have any sensory mages in the Lionheart Society?" Leon asked, shifting gears.
"Yes, a few. Why?" Rebecca responded.
"I need them to refine their techniques for detecting the unique energy signature of dragon scales. It's likely that other former Imperial royals who didn't manage to escape are still hiding in the capital. If we can track them down, we might be able to extract more clues about Elizabeth's whereabouts and this 'Shadow' Lord's operations."
Because he carried a fragment of Rossweise's own Heart-Scale within his body, Leon possessed an innate, if limited, ability to sense draconic energy—specifically the resonance of other scales. His plan was to teach this subtle sensing technique to the trustworthy sensory mages within the Lionheart Society, effectively creating a dragnet.
As the saying goes, many hands make light work.
"However," Leon added, "I won't be leading every search party personally. Tasks that require widespread manpower and time are best delegated to capable people."
He outlined the plan to the group. Rebecca nodded in understanding. "Understood. I'll have the sensory mages assembled by tomorrow morning."
"Good. I appreciate it."
After securing this vital lead from the Imperial prison, Leon returned to his temporary apartment, where his luggage had already been delivered.
Unpacking his bag with a methodical calm, Leon carefully laid out a few cherished items:
A group photo of his daughters.
In the picture, Muen was squatting in the center like a little duck, clinging to Noah's arm on her left and resting her cheek against her elder sister's knee. Aurora stood on the right, arms crossed, wearing an exaggerated expression that seemed to say, "Being this one's sister is a trial."
A candid, playful "beast selfie" with Rossweise.
The photo captured Leon pretending to gnaw on Rossweise's silver tail, while Rossweise's hand was clamped firmly over his face, squishing his features into a comical, "deranged older brother" caricature.
A serene solo portrait of Rossweise.
Leon stared at the picture, a goofy, unreserved grin spreading across his face. "Hehehe... My wife is so devastatingly beautiful... Hehehe. New skill unlocked: Superlative Praise."
He placed the three photos neatly on his bedside table, ensuring they would be the first thing he saw each morning. The sight immediately filled him with a warm, potent surge of paternal and conjugal affection.
"Truly the mark of a dedicated family man," he mused to himself. "I've seen these a thousand times, and they still hit me right in the heart."
With his unpacking complete, Leon finally settled into bed, allowing his mind to quiet and his body to rest for the challenges of the next day.
—The Next Morning—
By first light, Nacho had gathered a group of about a dozen sensory mages in the courtyard.
"These are some of the Lionheart Society's earliest recruits," Nacho explained to Leon. "They're highly skilled and their loyalty is beyond question. You can teach them the detection techniques without any reservations."
Leon nodded, turning to address the mages seated before him in a semi-circle.
"Good morning. We're short on time and have a great deal to cover, so let's forgo lengthy introductions and begin.
"If anyone finds the training too demanding, please speak to me privately. No one will be forced to continue.
"Also, if you have questions, ask them at any time. If there are no issues, we'll begin."
Their training took place in the vast, now-abandoned indoor arena of the former Imperial Dragon-Slaying Academy. After the war, the academy had been dissolved, its members integrated into other military branches, leaving the facility silent and empty.
Rebecca sat cross-legged on the sidelines, with Martin standing vigil beside her. Both watched Leon instruct the mages with intense focus.
"To think we used to train here under someone else's command," Rebecca remarked, her tone laced with nostalgia. "And now the captain is the one teaching. Life is full of surprises. I never pictured him in a mentor's role."
"Honestly, I think the captain is a natural teacher," Martin replied.
Rebecca glanced up at him. "That wouldn't happen to be because he's your idol, would it? That's how idol worship works, you know."
"How so?" Martin asked.
Rebecca blinked her bright eyes, thinking for a moment before explaining. "No matter what your idol does, you see it as right. They're a beacon of light, shining brilliantly no matter the time or place."
Martin fell silent, absorbing her words.
Noticing his quiet, Rebecca tilted her head. "What's on your mind?"
Martin looked at her earnestly, meeting her gaze directly. "By your definition, Rebecca, you're my idol."
"Huh?!"
"Whatever you do, I believe it's right. I don't care what others say about you. To me, you're incredible, and... you're like a beacon of light—"
"Stop! Stop!" Rebecca interrupted, her cheeks flushing. "That's not how you confess to someone! You can't just parrot my words back at me!"
"Was that a confession?" Martin mumbled, almost to himself. "Was it?"
"It was," Rebecca muttered, hiding her face in her hands.
—Later That Day—
After several hours of intensive training, many of the sensory mages had shown significant progress. With a bit more practice, they would soon be ready to actively locate and track the other Heart-Scales hidden within the Empire.
"Today's session is over. Thank you for your hard work," Leon said, offering a respectful nod. The mages returned the gesture with equal respect.
Afterward, Leon, Rebecca, and Martin left the training grounds together. As they stepped out onto the academy's main field, Leon stopped short, staring at a group of elderly citizens performing slow, deliberate exercises in the distance.
"Where are we now? Did I accidentally wander into a seniors' park?" he muttered, confused.
"It's still the academy grounds," Rebecca clarified. "Since the war ended and the dragon-slaying units were reassigned, the place has been repurposed for public use."
"Well... that's one way to utilize the space, I suppose."
"There's more," Rebecca added, pointing toward a nearby administrative building.
Leon followed her gaze to see a long line of tourists filing into the building, led by a guide wearing a conspicuously bright yellow sunhat.
"What's going on over there?" he asked, a sense of dread building.
"Part of the academy has been converted into a tourist attraction," Martin explained flatly.
Rebecca chimed in, adopting a theatrical, tour-guide voice. "Welcome, one and all, to the humble beginnings of the Empire's savior, Leon Cosmodeous! Walk the halls where a legend was forged!"
Leon groaned, covering his face with his hand. "You have got to be kidding me."
"It's a real thing," Rebecca laughed. "Your old academy is now the 'Cosmodeous Heritage Site.' During peak season, the lines stretch around the block!"
Leon let out a long, deep sigh. "This is what they call 'making the most of local resources,' I suppose."
Rebecca grinned, nudging him. "So, captain, what's the next move?"
Leon straightened up, brushing off his mild embarrassment. "Speaking of my humble beginnings... I think I'll pay a visit to the old orphanage."