Chapter 119: Leon’s Unanimous Decision
“Liliana, my request is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the composition of your Demon army…”
Upon hearing Leon’s request, Liliana was naturally surprised and gave him a puzzled look.
“Are you curious about the composition of my demon army?” Liliana inquired tentatively.
“Yes! Can you share the details?” Leon replied with a firm nod and a hint of eagerness.
Liliana fell silent for a few moments, her beautiful face still reflecting confusion.
Her initial assumption was that Leon sought her assistance in concocting an antidote for the devouring poison, but his request exceeded her expectations.
With a slight sigh, Liliana cast an indifferent yet gentle gaze upon Leon, offering a small nod.
“If that is your wish, I shall divulge the composition of my army,” Liliana replied firmly, her response devoid of hesitation, leaving Leon across from her visibly taken aback.
“Wait a minute, Liliana! Aren’t you curious why I’m interested in the composition of your demon army?” Leon questioned, his palm raised in a gesture of inquiry, a puzzled expression directed at her.
Upon hearing his words, Liliana leaned back in her chair, offering him a faint smile.
“Of course, I’m curious, but I refrained from asking because ultimately, you’ll explain, won’t you?” Liliana smiled charmingly, raising both eyebrows as if to say, ‘Am I right?’
Leon chuckled softly at her words, meeting her gaze with a gentle expression.
“Yes, you’re right,” Leon replied with a nod before continuing, “In fact, the reason I seek information about your demon army’s composition is because I wish to assist you in this war.”
As Liliana absorbed his words, disbelief etched across her features, her expression shifting noticeably.
“You… What did you just say? You want to help me in this war?” Liliana’s urgency prompted her to sit up straight, her words tumbling out hastily.
“Yes, I’m committed to assisting you,” Leon responded earnestly, his tranquil golden eyes devoid of deceit, causing Liliana to pause momentarily as she registered his sincerity.
Liliana’s mouth opened and closed, as if she struggled to find the words to voice her thoughts.
She pondered why Leon had chosen to offer his aid in the impending war, especially considering its significance—it was the war of era, an authorized conflict between the three heroes and the Demon Emperor.
Despite the betrayal he had endured from the Imperial Palace, Leon remained a hero of mankind, bound by duty to protect humanity.
His offer to assist her in the war felt like a betrayal of humanity and his hero status.
However, she refrained from voicing her thoughts and suppressed her intense curiosity.
With a complex expression directed at him, Liliana calmly inquired, though a trace of nervousness tinged her tone, “Are you certain about this? You’re aware of the potential consequences, aren’t you?”
Leon grasped the implication behind Liliana’s question.
Assisting the Demon Emperor in the war of the era, especially as a recognized hero of mankind, would undoubtedly brand him as a notorious villain in the annals of history.
Yet he found himself utterly unequipped to confront the imminent conflict.
Firstly, his strength had not yet fully recovered. Furthermore, despite his ongoing efforts to concoct an antidote for the devouring poison, the chances of success remained abysmally slim, lingering at less than one percent—a truly discouraging statistic.
Secondly, even if he were to regain his strength, he would still be powerless to halt the war.
The impending war, initially perceived as a significant conflict, had unexpectedly transformed into the era-defining clash between mankind and the Demon race, a battle he knew he could neither halt nor prevent.
Any attempt to thwart it, even by exposing Velix and his subordinates’ plot against him, would prove futile and might even backfire fatally on him.
Thirdly, it wasn’t that he had never considered sending a letter seeking help and revealing his survival to Arshley at Holy Orthodox; rather, he simply couldn’t muster the courage to take such a risk, primarily due to one individual—Jim Terra, the Prime Minister and war strategist of the Imperial Palace, whose formidable reputation struck fear even into his own heart.
His apprehension stemmed not from Jim’s physical prowess but from his razor-sharp intellect, his ability to anticipate others’ thoughts with uncanny precision, his flawless war strategy, and his terrifying intuition.
Don’t assume that his past victories in wars against the demons were solely because of his sheer strength; in truth, they were largely attributed to Jim’s impeccable strategy.
He was completely confident that the entire border town and even the Holy Orthodox Capital were under Jim’s vigilant surveillance from every angle.
This wasn’t mere speculation; it was a conviction rooted in his deep understanding of Jim’s nature.
Even Leon himself was certain that among all those who had presumed him dead, only a select few harbored doubts, and Jim was likely one of them.
With these factors in mind, Leon ultimately made the decision to aid Liliana, acknowledging it might be her only chance to withstand the Empire’s great assault and prevent the defeat of the demon race.
Though he risked being branded a traitor if discovered, he no longer cared about the consequences.
Snapping out of his reverie, Leon gazed deeply at Liliana and nodded firmly.
“I understand the consequences, but I’m certain of this,” Leon replied with unwavering determination, his resolve evident.
His response left Liliana momentarily speechless, prompting her to release a small sigh.
“If that’s your decision, then I won’t press further,” Liliana said, her words tinged with complex emotions directed towards Leon.
Leon smiled gently and remained silent for a moment before speaking.
“By the way, Liliana, there are actually two things I’d like to ask you. May I?” he inquired.
Upon hearing this, Liliana blinked curiously and replied, “Of course, please go ahead and ask.”
Leon took a small breath and posed his question: “Could you assist me in sending a letter to the Holy Orthodox Hall?”
Even though he was aware of the immense difficulty, if not impossibility, he felt compelled to make the attempt.
Meeting Leon’s hopeful gaze, Liliana’s expression softened with regret as she shook her head.
“Unfortunately, it’s impossible at the moment, Leon,” Liliana replied, her tone tinged with regret. She continued, “All of humanity’s border towns are heavily guarded, making penetration virtually impossible.”
“Furthermore, powerful magical barriers suppress us, the Demons, in the border towns of both the Empire and the Holy Orthodox, further complicating matters,” Liliana explained, providing detailed insight.
As Leon absorbed her explanation, his expression remained unchanged, devoid of disappointment or sadness, as he was already aware of the improbability given the current tense situation.
“Alright, that’s fine,” Leon said calmly and casually.
Then he adjusted his sitting position and assumed a serious expression. “Now, onto the second question, and I hope for an honest answer from you.”
Observing the shift in Leon’s demeanor, Liliana felt a hint of discomfort but remained silent, nodding in acknowledgment.
Leon closed his eyes briefly, gathering his thoughts before speaking candidly.
“Liliana, were you aware all along that the poison within my body was the devouring poison?”
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