If it werenât for the fact that she spotted Leonâs wife standing beside him, Rebecca wouldâve rushed over to hug her Captainâalong with giving him a couple of well-deserved punches.
Seriously, showing up just when the pressure was at its peak against me?
If heâd arrived even a bit later, the main dish at his welcome feast wouldâve been âRebeccaâs Roasted Rage.â
After a quick greeting, Walker stepped forward to explain to the group, "Mel and I were patrolling the Empire's outer district when we ran into Captain Leon. We managed to sneak them in undetected."
Rebecca blinked her large, expressive eyes in astonishment.
"Thatâs⊠quite a coincidence, isnât it?"
Walker chuckled, "It really was. Captain practically jumped down from a tree, scaring both me and Mel half to death."
Rebecca stared at Leon, bewildered. "Why were you up in a tree?"
"Well⊠itâs a long story." *Should I tell her itâs because her sister-in-law wanted to relive one of our⊠more passionate memories in the exact spot we used to âbattleâ?*
Rebecca waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, let's get down to business."
She walked up beside Leon and scanned the members gathered in the hall, explaining what had just happened and detailing everyoneâs concerns.
Leon listened intently, nodding as he patted Rebeccaâs shoulder. "Youâve done well. Iâll take it from here."
Hearing those words, Rebecca immediately felt a wave of relief. Whether in the heat of past battles with the Dragon Slayer Corps or in recent crises, whenever Leon said, âLeave it to me,â he never failed to bring a sense of calm to those around him.
Leon turned his gaze toward the hall, his eyes sweeping slowly over every member until they locked onto the troublemaker who had stirred everyone up.
The man noticed Leonâs gaze and froze.
Just five minutes ago, he had arrogantly questioned Rebecca, challenging the very notion of Leonâs existence, dismissing him as a fabrication. But now, as he stood face-to-face with the man heâd doubted, he couldnât even muster the courage to meet Leonâs stare.
Under everyoneâs watchful eyes, Leon took slow, measured steps toward him.
As a super-soldier trained to slaughter dragons, Leon naturally exuded an aura that no ordinary person could bear.
From the back, Nacho frowned with concern, muttering, âHeâs not planning to use intimidation, is he? Thatâll only make things worse.â
Having worked for the royal family for years, Nacho knew well the intricacies of hierarchy and leadership. Although Leon was indeed the spiritual leader of the Lionheart Society, he was still a newcomer to these members. Most of them knew of him only from years-old stories and the accounts of Tiger and Rebecca.
If Leon now acted in a way completely contrary to their perception of himâlike using force to assert dominanceâit would undoubtedly harm the unity of the Lionheart Society.
A reassuring voice answered Nachoâs concerns. The silver-haired beauty who had come in with Leon spoke up. âRelax, he knows how to handle it.â
Nacho looked over, only to realize with a jolt, *Isnât she⊠the Silver Dragon Queen?!*
Just as he recognized her, his instinct was to exclaim, but he stopped himself. Rosvisser simply crossed her arms and watched Leon calmly, her expression unperturbed.
Leon stopped just in front of the troublemaker, the very one who had incessantly badgered Rebecca, fueling the groupâs discontent.
In a large organization, such types werenât rare. If this had been the Dragon Slayer Corps, Leon wouldâve taken care of him swiftly, using the fear of his fists rather than the power of his words.
But the Lionheart Society was different; this group had formed around him, built on the trust and hard work of his mentor and Rebecca. He couldnât betray their efforts or the faith of those who believed in him.
Leon locked eyes with the man in silence, his gaze unwavering. Standing much taller, Leonâs mere presence emanated a powerful, intimidating pressure.
The surrounding members were too stunned to say a word.
"Is this⊠going to turn into a fight?" someone murmured.
"If it does, what chance do you think Rachel, a cook, stands against the strongest dragon slayer in the Empire?"
â...Good point.â
The murmurs rose around them, with most members convinced Leon would handle the matter with his usual force, delivering a severe lesson.
Just as they expected a confrontation, Leon finally broke the silence.
"Whatâs your name?"
His voice was steady, firm, devoid of accusation, but not entirely without weight.
âR-RachelâŠâ the man stammered.
Leon paused, thinking for a moment before asking, "You once supplied the Empireâs Dragon Slayer Corps with ready-made meals, didnât you?"
Rachelâs eyes widened. âHow⊠how did you know?â
*How do I know?*
*You were the only supplier in the entire Empire who left out eggplants and carrots in your rations.*
Leonâs memory of Rachel wasnât solely about vegetables; he made a habit of remembering names. If heâd ever crossed paths with someone, heâd recall their name, just like Walker, who had snuck him in tonight. Five years ago, it was Walkerâs squad they encountered while Leon and Rosvisser fought in the Empireâs forests.
Although he hadnât always considered his good memory an asset, Rosvisser had taught him that a leader remembering his subordinates' names could mean a lot to them.
True enough, when Rachel realized Leon remembered him as a mere cook, his expression softened, and he sighed heavily, a mixture of shame and remorse.
With his impatience subdued, Rachelâs judgment and clarity returned.
âYou know, your familyâs meals were always a highlight in the Dragon Slayer Corps. I was a big fan,â Leon remarked.
Rachel lowered his head. âWhat good did that do, Captain LeonâŠâ
âHow so?â
Wiping his face with his hand, Rachel sighed again, his voice thick with bitterness.
âThree years ago, the Empire wanted to buy my familyâs restaurant. I refused, so they sent thugs to intimidate us daily. Customers were too afraid to come, and business suffered.
"In the end, I had no choice but to sell my fatherâs restaurant to the Empire. I thought theyâd at least run it honestly, but they only wanted the location. Out front, itâs still a restaurant, but in secret, theyâre running all kinds of illegal operations there."
"The Empire ruined our familyâs reputation. My brother tried to confront them, asking that we be allowed to work as cooks if nothing else, to keep our familyâs honor intact."
"But he was thrown in jail and hasnât been heard from since."
Captain Leon... I lost my temper earlier, and I said things I regret. Iâm sorry.â
He bowed his head deeply, offering a formal apology.
Leon gave a nearly imperceptible nod. Heâd made the right call.
"The Lionheart Society is growing," Leon began, placing his hand on Rachelâs shoulder. "With so many people, different views are bound to arise, leading to some conflict. Itâs normal."
"I understand your feelings," he continued, meeting Rachelâs eyes. "Donât worry. Now that Iâm here, Iâll help you find your brother."
Then, raising his voice to address the room, Leonâs gaze swept over the crowd.
"And Iâll help each one of you. Every injustice youâve endured, every humiliation youâve sufferedâIâll make sure the Empire pays for them all!"
As he finished, the room fell silent, and then applause thundered through the hall.
They cheered his name, voicing their support for their leader.
Nacho watched, both surprised and delighted. "He was my colleague back in the Dragon Slayer Corps, but we barely interacted. All I knew of him was that he was a brute, skilled in battle but lacking much else. The royals never thought highly of him."
Now, watching Leon among the Lionheart Society members, Nacho saw someone with the presence of a true leader.
"In just a few years, heâs grown this shrewd. To call him a qualified leader⊠isnât an exaggeration."
Rebecca, proud, straightened up, puffing out her chest and nudging Rosvisser. "Of course! Look who his wife is!"
Nacho snorted, "You look like youâre talking about your own wife with all that pride."
Rosvisser chuckled, covering her mouth. "I didnât teach him much. Most of what he knows, he learned on his own. Heâs a fast learner."
That was partly true.
Leon was indeed quick to learn, but Rosvisser had taught him more than she let on. She said this only because she felt it was her duty to make sure her husband looked good in front of his followers.
After all, her man was here to be the boss, and sheâd help make sure he looked the part.
Of course, she wasnât doing this for free. Once everything was settledâŠ
She fully intended to collect a⊠*reward* from Leon.