Leon quietly watched him, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
"My beloved citizens, once again the annual Thousand Lanterns Festival has arrived. On behalf of the Imperial Royal Family, I thank you all for your outstanding contributions to the Empire over the past year!"
Outstanding contributions, meaning: Paying taxes you shouldn't pay, joining the army you shouldn't join, doing work you shouldn't do.
Even if not a member of the Lionheart Society, many ordinary people were well aware of the Empire's darkness.
But who dared to tear off that layer of hypocritical facade?
When the high and mighty king spoke those insincere words, regardless of whether they had already seen through the true face of the Empire, the only response everyone could give was agreement and applause.
After a few brief words of thanks, King Kant immersed himself in the cheers of the people.
Once the applause gradually faded, he finally spoke again,
"Alright, don't let Elizabeth and my arrival interfere with the traditions of the Thousand Lanterns Festival. Everyone may now continue releasing your paper lanterns!"
Whoosh—
Finally.
Everyone on the streets secretly let out a sigh of relief.
And this was exactly the moment Leon and the Lionheart Society had been waiting for.
At midnight, all five districts of the Empire released paper lanterns together. Simultaneously, the members of the Lionheart Society seized this moment to activate the image-recording stones hidden within the lanterns.
Just as Master once told Leon, this world is a vast and intricate machine, and all you need to do is be a well-fitted screw.
But tonight, Leon was no longer willing to be a screw controlled by others.
He wanted to control this machine himself, make it operate in the way he desired.
While the citizens and King Kant were admiring the paper lanterns, countless lights began flickering within them.
That light, like sparks of fire, stretched from the farthest slums to the upper district, even to the royal city.
Even those who weren't magic practitioners could tell that the light wasn't from the lanterns themselves, but some sort of magical glow.
This strange and magnificent sight immediately caught everyone's attention.
"What is that..."
"Mama~ Mama~ So pretty! Look, there are more lights farther away too!"
"Is... is that the glow of image-recording stones? But who would put that many stones into lanterns?"
"No... rather than asking 'who would,' we should ask 'who could.' The papers said these lanterns were specially made by the Royal Family. If this isn't a new event designed by them, then whoever did this... sure has guts."
King Kant looked up at the glowing lanterns in the sky, his brows furrowed tightly, and asked in a low voice, "Who arranged that? Why wasn't I informed beforehand?"
A guard beside him quickly lowered his head, "Your Majesty, th-this was not part of our arranged program..."
Kant was slightly stunned, "Is that light from image-recording stones?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
If it wasn't arranged by the Royal Family, then clearly someone was causing trouble.
And with so many image-recording stones... if the purpose was to deliver a message or display an image, then the entire nation would see it.
As the sovereign of the Empire, Kant naturally could not allow something that might undermine his authority to happen. He immediately ordered, "Send the order, shoot down all the lanterns in the sky!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
But before the guards could relay the order, Kant saw a black figure slowly walk to the front of the land cruiser.
The royal guards raised their spears and muskets, aiming at the figure.
Kant stared at the figure, squinting his eyes, "And who is that..."
"Stop right there!"
The royal guard captain held his longsword, its tip pointing straight at the hooded man.
"One more step, and we'll kill you on the spot!"
The man in the black hooded cloak really did stop in place.
But not because of the captain's threat.
He calmly pulled out a paper lantern from under his cloak, and under the slightly shocked gaze of the guards, slowly unfolded it.
A gentle breeze passed through, blowing down his hood.
Black hair danced in the wind, and a face with a few scars appeared before everyone.
Someone immediately recognized him.
"Le-Leon Casmodeous! It's Leon!"
"All units, prepare for combat!"
Their tension was understandabl. After all, in some ways, the danger Leon posed to them was no less than that of any Dragon King.
Yet facing dozens of muskets and over a hundred blades, Leon remained calm and composed.
He held the paper lantern that carried the hopes of Teacher Caroline and the entire Casmodeous Welfare Institute in his hand, and snapped his fingers at the fuel opening.
A faint spark of electricity flashed, igniting the alcohol block inside the fuel chamber. The lantern slowly rose into the sky.
"Before you act."
This man who had returned without warning finally spoke.
And with just those few short words, the frontmost guards all felt an immense pressure.
They tightened their grips on their weapons. Though the man before them was the Empire's top wanted criminal, currently standing unarmed before them, none of them dared to be the first to attack.
Because that was... Leon.
"I hope you can take a good look at what's coming. After that, decide whether you still want to stand in my way."
His voice was not low, so even King Kant and Queen Elizabeth aboard the land cruiser could hear it.
The two exchanged a glance. Never mind how Leon returned to the Empire, what exactly was inside those image-recording stones?
Queen Elizabeth gritted her silver teeth and, stunned for a moment, immediately shouted, "SEIZE HIM! CAPTURE THIS TRAITOR LEON!"
Yet even with the queen's order, the royal guards below showed no sign of action.
Leon's strength, they knew it better than anyone. After all, they were once his comrades.
"You all!"
Buzz!
The resonance sound of the image-recording stones interrupted Elizabeth's voice.
Above the Empire, tens of thousands of lanterns glowed with a ghostly green light, linking and drawing upon each other.
But no images or sound had yet emerged.
Elizabeth frowned slightly, "Just some parlor tricks... Hmph, hurry up and capture him. Don't forget who you're fighting for!"
However, just as the lantern Leon had released fully ascended into the sky, like the final piece of a puzzle being placed, the entire image-recording resonance array began to activate.
In the next moment, a massive image appeared in the sky over the Empire.
In the image, it was none other than the king and queen currently standing on the land cruiser.
"This guy... what is he planning...", Kant gnashed his teeth.
Soon, voices came from the projection:
["The Blade Plan is going very smoothly. Even without Leon, we can still cooperate with the Dragon Kings as before and easily manipulate this war."]
["Your Majesty is wise."]
["All of this is thanks to you, Scott. I heard you personally assembled the Blade Trio. You've done a great service for the Empire."]
["Your praise is too much, Your Majesty. I only did what I should have."]
["Good, your sense of duty makes you a hundred times better than Casmodeous. That guy never knew his place, otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up being hunted by our Empire."]
["Also, regarding the newly issued tax system, many commoners are protesting. Should we adjust—"]
["No need. If they want a bite to eat in this Empire, they must obediently obey. Let those people be."]
["Kant is right. We just need to occasionally leak some fake blackmail material about bureaucrats going to jail, and those idiots will believe we're on their side. But in reality, hehe…"]
"..."
They vividly portrayed the hideous faces of those in power, hidden from public eyes.
If Martin hadn't risked his life to record this,
If Leon hadn't made this conspiracy public,
If the Lionheart Society hadn't worked tirelessly to prepare,
These dark, decaying truths would have continued spreading with the war, corrupting the nation until it withered like rotten wood.
After all the footage finished, Leon stood silently.
If things went as he expected, then next—
"Kant! You corrupt, shameless dog of an emperor!"
"My son joined the Dragon Slaying Army thinking he could protect our country. He died on the battlefield, and now we learn this war was just a game you planned? Kant, give me back my son's life!"
"So in your eyes, we commoners are just a bunch of idiots who pay taxes and send people to the army, huh?"
"This country doesn't belong to you alone, Kant! We won't let you trample this land anymore!"
"..."
All the long-repressed anger and resentment erupted at this moment;
Those cries and shouts surged like a tidal wave over Kant;
Those he once despised, hated, and looked down upon, now rose against him.
The crowd surged toward the luxurious land cruiser.
And the royal guards wavered. Holding their weapons, they didn't know whether to strike their own people or abandon the already riddled ruler.
Everything happened too fast, too suddenly. Kant was already stunned, mouth open, unsure of what to say or do.
"Damn it, stirring the hearts of the people, Leon Casmodeous, you damn traitor! How dare you spout lies during the Thousand Lanterns Festival! Men, seize him!"
As the words fell, three figures shua shua shua landed in front of Leon.
The aura of the three was solid, but one of them had a severed arm.
"We meet again, Casmodeous."
The Blade Trio's captain, Blade One, said coldly, "Didn't expect it to be under these circumstances."
Leon looked at him indifferently, "So even after learning of Kant's conspiracy, you still choose to serve him?"
"Who we serve doesn't matter to us three brothers. We just want to kill more Dragon Kings and make the whole world remember our names."
Blade One said, "And the Empire just happens to give us that chance. We don't care if it's a rigged game, as long as it lets us see blood, we'll do anything."
Leon let out a cold snort, "Perfect. If you'd turned back now, I wouldn't be able to avenge my master with a clear conscience."
"What, that old man really died?", Blade One sneered.
"My master is just fine. But the three of you… are about to die."
As Leon said those words, an overwhelming killing intent erupted from within him.
Even the Blade Trio, who had slain multiple Dragon Kings, couldn't help but feel fear.
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