Chapter 289: Leon Displays His Confidence and the Arrival of Two Unexpected Guests
“Liliana, it’s me. May I come in?”
Liliana was slightly startled by Leon’s voice, but the surprise quickly faded, replaced by a soft smile.
Facing the door, Liliana gave a small nod and replied gently, “Come in, Leon. It’s unlocked.”
*Clack!*
The door to her workspace opened, and Leon stepped in, his tall figure framed by a white, elegant robe.
Lyra, who had been standing in front of Liliana’s desk, immediately bowed her head in respect upon seeing him.
“Good morning, Your Majesty Leon,” she greeted, her tone formal yet calm.
Leon, noticing Lyra’s presence, was momentarily surprised but quickly set it aside. With a gentle smile he approached Liliana.
“Good morning to you too, Lyra,” Leon replied casually, then added with a playful tone, “It’s unusual to see you in Liliana’s workspace at this hour. Were you two discussing something?”
After asking, he turned his curious gaze toward Liliana, who sat calmly in her work chair.
Liliana responded with a soft smile and a small nod.
“Yes, we were discussing your upcoming departure to the battlefield, Leon,” she said in a gentle tone, lifting her coffee cup and taking a sip.
Leon nodded thoughtfully and asked, “Then, has the issue of the Demon troops I’m taking to the battlefield been resolved, Liliana?”
For his impending departure to the battlefield, he would be accompanied by a Demon army of approximately 10,000 to 18,000 troops.
The purpose of bringing the troops wasn’t to show off or play games; it was to serve as a formal representation of his authority.
If he arrived alone, the Demon forces in the Desert of Chaos, or even the Demon generals leading the war, would likely question his identity and treat him with suspicion.
Of course, he could have asked Liliana for a token or symbol to prove his legitimacy and gain their trust.
However, the troops were not only meant to validate his identity but also to strengthen the army by replacing fallen soldiers with fresh ones.
By doing this, the morale and confidence of the Demon troops would undoubtedly rise, positively influencing the course of the war.
Liliana paused for a moment in response to Leon’s question, then let out a small sigh.
“The Demon troops I requested were supposed to be ready, but there was a minor issue that caused a delay,” she explained, her expression turning cold with frustration.
Leon raised an eyebrow at her words, watching Liliana’s icy demeanor with curiosity.
“What happened exactly? And how long will it take for the entire army to be ready?” he asked lightly, folding his arms across his chest.
Rather than answering, Liliana cast an indifferent glance at Lyra, silently prompting her to explain.
Understanding the cue, Lyra looked at Leon with her usual emotionless expression and began, “Your Majesty Leon, the situation is…”
Lyra then detailed the issues that caused the delay, including how Aragon had defied Liliana’s orders.
Leon stayed silent, listening intently, but the shift in his expression was impossible to miss.
When Lyra finally finished, Leon took a deep breath and turned to Liliana, his gaze calm but sharp.
“So, Aragon is the cause of this delay?” Leon asked casually, though the barely concealed murderous intent in his voice was unmistakable.
Liliana sensed the lethal edge in his words but chose to remain silent, nodding slightly as her cold expression settled on her strikingly beautiful face.
“Yes, the delay in the troops was indeed caused by Aragon,” Liliana replied with a nonchalant tone, her eyes narrowing slightly. “But what truly infuriates me is not just the delay; it’s his audacity to challenge my orders, which is tantamount to rebellion against me.”
In the hierarchy of the Demon race, the Demon Emperor held the highest and most esteemed position, requiring all Demons to honor and obey every command.
Even powerful figures like the Arch-Demons were required to submit, highlighting the strictness of the hierarchy.
Thus, Aragon’s refusal to follow her orders was not only a blatant disrespect but also a direct act of rebellion, fueling her anger even further.
Leon’s expression remained unchanged as he absorbed her words, fully aware of the strict hierarchy within the Demon race.
It was clear that Aragon’s actions were a clear sign of rebellion, and Liliana’s anger was entirely justified.
Rubbing his chin, Leon took a slow breath and regarded Liliana with a look that was both gentle and stern.
“What do you plan to do about Aragon? Do you want him dead, or would you prefer to remove him? If that’s the case, you don’t need to take action; allow me to handle it. With my power, I can eliminate him or any other arch-demon with a mere flick of my finger,” Leon declared in a dominating tone, lifting his index finger slightly.
No matter how formidable the Arch-Demons were, they were nothing compared to him—the most powerful sword hero in history.
This confidence wasn’t mere arrogance; it stemmed from his undeniable strength.
Moreover, his current power was vastly greater than before, bolstered by the transcendent night’s baptism and the presence of the Great Sword of Chaos within him, elevating his confidence to its peak.
As long as he wasn’t facing an ancient being, such as a dragon ancestor or a primordial entity from the hidden races that had existed for thousands of years, he was confident in his ability to fight anyone.
Standing nearby, Lyra was taken aback by his audacious words, her eyes reflecting her astonishment as she gazed at Leon.
“Although His Majesty Leon is very confident, isn’t this a bit unreasonable?” Lyra murmured, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
While she recognized Leon’s immense abilities, she felt he was underestimating the Arch-Demons too much, as they were renowned for their power, second only to that of the Demon Emperor.
Furthermore, as an archdemon, she was acutely aware of both her own strength and that of her fellow demons.
Meanwhile, Liliana, who had overheard Leon’s words, was surprised for only a moment before a small smile appeared on her lips.
“Thank you for your offer, Leon, but for now, I have no intention of killing Aragon,” she replied lightly, her tone remaining indifferent. “While Aragon does anger me, it’s not to the point where I feel I must eliminate him. Of course, if I wanted to, I could do that.”
“However, doing so would likely leave the other Arch-Demons disgruntled and could potentially create divisions among the Demon leaders in the outer palace. Therefore, this is not the right time to take such action.”
Listening intently to her words, Leon fell silent for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
Liliana’s concerns were valid, and he understood them well.
Given Aragon’s high status as one of the arch-demons, the consequences of killing him would undoubtedly burden Liliana with numerous problems in the future.
Even as the Demon Emperor, she needed to exercise caution and think carefully about her actions.
Nodding slightly, Leon chuckled and replied, “Alright, that’s fair. But if you ever need my help, make sure to let me know right away, okay?”
Liliana felt deeply touched by his thoughtful words and gave a small nod, accompanied by a faint smile.
“Um, I understand. Thank you, Leon,” she replied softly.
As they exchanged smiles, a warm atmosphere enveloped them.
Witnessing this, Lyra let out a small sigh, feeling somewhat neglected, which inevitably sparked a hint of annoyance within her.
“For some reason, I feel like a third wheel,” she muttered softly, her dissatisfaction clear.
With that, Leon, Liliana, and Lyra resumed their discussion about the troop situation and Leon’s upcoming departure to the battlefield.
Since Aragon refused to send his Demon troops, Liliana chose not to dwell on her anger. Instead, she quickly ordered Lyra to take 3,000 of her own Demon troops from the outer palace to replace those Aragon had withheld.
Additionally, she instructed Lyra to gather plenty of provisions, sufficient not only for the troops Leon had brought but also for those stationed in the Desert of Chaos.
In this discussion, Liliana truly demonstrated her ability and authority as the Demon Emperor, leaving Leon speechless, his admiration and amazement evident in his gaze.
“By the way, Leon, have you informed our children about your departure?” Liliana inquired curiously, propping her chin on her right palm.
Leon chuckled softly and nodded.
“I’ve already told them,” he replied casually.
“And how did they react? Did they cry?” Liliana asked again.
“Of course, they initially refused and cried, worried that I might be injured or killed on the battlefield. However, I managed to persuade them, and eventually, they agreed and stopped crying.” Leon smiled at the memory of his four little girls’ adorable expressions.
Liliana was intrigued by the mention of “persuasion” and was about to ask for details when a knock sounded at the door, followed by the voice of a young woman.
*Knock!*
“Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, I apologize for interrupting, but I have something important to discuss. May I come in?”
Liliana was taken aback by the sudden interruption but quickly regained her composure. “Come in,” she replied.
*Clack!*
Moments later, the door to the workspace swung open, revealing a beautiful, petite young maid.
Upon seeing not just Liliana but also Leon and Lyra, the maid was taken by surprise and quickly bowed her head in their direction.
“Good morning, Lady Lyra, Your Majesty Leon,” the young maid greeted.
Lyra offered a simple nod in response, while Leon smiled and nodded slightly as well.
“What important matter do you wish to discuss?” Liliana asked calmly, her tone laced with a coldness that made the young maid feel uneasy.
Bowing her head respectfully, the young maid, slightly nervous, replied, “Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, two guests from the outer palace have come to see you.”
At the mention of “guests,” Liliana’s eyebrows arched slightly, and a curious expression crossed her beautiful face.
“Two guests? Who are they?” She asked indifferently, tapping her index finger on the desk.
The young maid hesitantly raised her head, meeting Liliana’s gaze with a mixture of fear and respect.
“They are Demon General Merlin and Demon General Reyna.”
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