Chapter 271: Meet the Mysterious Middle-aged Man Again
“You are…”
Shock flooded him as he realized the voice came from a middle-aged man in white robes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The man had an extraordinarily handsome face, with pale white skin so flawless it seemed untouched by time.
His short, snow-white hair perfectly complemented the pristine robes he wore.
The most striking feature was the white blindfold covering his eyes, giving the impression that he was blind.
Seeing the middle-aged man suddenly appear, Leon’s initial surprise swiftly turned into heightened alertness. However, he refrained from acting, observing the man with a cautious, narrowed gaze.
“Are you the same middle-aged man from the altar? Why are you here now?” Leon asked, his tone laced with caution.
He hadn’t forgotten this mysterious man—the one who had stopped him from pulling the Great Sword of Chaos from the altar.
This same man had also appeared to Liliana when he lost control of his holy power during the transcendent night.
Later, he had visited his three daughters and Stella at the tavern, giving each of them a mysterious necklace with intricate engravings.
Given all these events, it was impossible for him to forget the man.
Noticing Leon’s wary demeanor and cautious questions, the middle-aged man chuckled softly and shook his head.
“Why are you so wary of me? Didn’t I assure you back then that I meant no harm? Given your stubbornness, though, I’m not really surprised,” he said with a playful tone, slowly approaching Leon with his arms crossed behind him.
Leon frowned slightly at the familiarity of his words, as if the man knew him well. Still, he brushed the thought aside and took a deep breath, calming the tension in his body.
“So, what are your intentions in coming here? Do you have business with me?” Leon asked, his tone softening slightly.
Considering how the man had behaved during their previous encounter at the altar, Leon believed that he harbored no malicious intentions, as he had claimed.
His earlier caution stemmed from the man’s enigmatic nature, with his origins and purpose remaining mysteries.
The middle-aged man stopped beside Leon and looked at him with a faint, lingering smile on his lips.
“If I told you I just happened to be here, would you believe me?” He asked in a casual tone.
Leon, noticing that the middle-aged man was slightly taller than him, smiled and shook his head. “Do you think I’m foolish enough to believe that?”
Given the man’s enigmatic nature, he couldn’t accept that his appearance was merely coincidental.
After all, this man was the most peculiar and mysterious person he had ever encountered. Even Miranda, the sword spirit who had lived for 7,000 years, had been unable to uncover his identity or origins, which only deepened the mystery surrounding him.
He just didn’t have a clear understanding of the middle-aged man’s purpose.
In response to Leon’s words, the middle-aged man offered a mocking smile and said, “Isn’t that how it seems?”
Leon: “…”
Was the middle-aged man intending to provoke him into a fight?
Seeing Leon’s gloomy expression, the middle-aged man couldn’t help but laugh. He waved his hand and said, “I was just joking. I actually came to see you, but I didn’t expect to find you so frustrated. It took me by surprise.”
After a moment’s pause, he glanced at the moons of Miranda and Sylvia and said, “Is something troubling you? If so, feel free to share it with me. Perhaps I can help.”
Leon was taken aback and looked at the middle-aged man with a puzzled expression.
“Come to see me? What does that even mean?” Leon wondered inwardly, intrigued.
He didn’t know the middle-aged man at all, so his words were understandably baffling and confusing to him.
However, he was too weary to ponder it further and let out a small sigh, his helpless expression returning.
“Actually, I’m facing a major problem that I can’t seem to resolve,” Leon replied, his gaze turning skyward. “Today, I made a significant, unforgivable mistake with my partner. Even though it wasn’t entirely my fault, I still feel responsible for it.”
Pausing briefly, Leon lowered his gaze and continued, “I’m at a loss about how to make amends. I’m also torn about whether to be honest with my partner. If I tell the truth, I’m afraid she might hate me and leave. But if I lie, it feels like I’m deceiving myself.”
Although he was usually confident in handling any problem, this situation had left him completely stuck with no way out.
His actions amounted to betrayal of Liliana, his three daughters, and himself, filling him with profound guilt.
“I’m such a hypocrite,” Leon muttered softly.
Recalling how he had always condemned Velix and his subordinates for their betrayals, he was deeply humiliated by his own despicable actions towards those he loved.
Yet, after sharing his deepest concerns with the middle-aged man, he felt an unexpected sense of relief.
This newfound relief allowed him to feel calmer and think more clearly than before.
Listening to Leon’s words, the middle-aged man’s expression remained unchanged, but a faint, knowing smile played at the corners of his lips, unnoticed by Leon as he turned his gaze away.
“I thought you were dealing with a major issue, but I didn’t expect you to be so troubled and distressed over something as trivial as this. You’re not as dependable as you usually are, Leon Kruger,” the middle-aged man taunted with a soft laugh.
Leon’s mouth twitched slightly in response to the mockery. He had hoped the man would offer some advice, but instead, he was met with ridicule, which only heightened his irritation.
“If you’re not going to help me with this, you’d better leave,” Leon said, his annoyance clearly evident on his handsome face.
The middle-aged man simply smiled, turning his gaze to the two moons in the sky. “Actually, the solution to your problem is quite simple, and you should have discovered it yourself.”
Leon’s eyes widened slightly at the man’s words, and he looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“I should have discovered it myself? What do you mean by that?” Leon inquired, his tone filled with doubt.
If he had already known the solution, why would he be standing on the edge of a cliff, struggling to find a resolution to his problem?
The smile on the middle-aged man’s lips widened slightly as he said, “Before I explain further, Leon Kruger, I have a question for you.”
Leon was briefly caught off guard by the unexpected remark but remained silent and nodded slightly.
“What is it?” Leon asked.
The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Leon with a calm expression.
“What do you believe is the most important thing in a relationship?”
—————-
A/N: If there are no obstacles, there will be one more chapter update later tonight. Thank you!
pronovels.com
