Leon had finally eliminated the traitor who framed him three years ago, but he didn’t feel the satisfaction of revenge.

His emotions were complicated.

Instead of relief, he was filled with confusion.

Would someone really abandon their principles and beliefs just because of something like always being second-best?

Perhaps there were other reasons Victor became the Empire’s lapdog.

But Leon would never know. After all, corpses don’t talk.

Just like the Empire had once pinned the blame for the war's failure and the traitor on him, a “dead man.”

Still, Leon didn’t regret killing Victor.

A traitor could never be left alive.

Letting him live wouldn’t only pose a threat to Leon, but also to his master, Rebecca, and Martin.

Leon adjusted his state of mind slightly and handed the two pistols back to Rebecca.

One of them had been used to execute Victor, while the other was the blank-firing pistol he had assembled at Rebecca's place on his first day back in the Empire.

“So that’s where my gun went. I thought I’d misplaced it,” Rebecca remarked.

Leon shifted his gaze from Victor’s body and turned to face her with a tired smile. “You weren't worried about losing your gun?”

“I figured I must’ve left it in some corner again.”

Rebecca carefully stored the gun away. “You know how it is—people like Martin and me, we’re total homebodies. Our places are always a mess, so it’s not surprising if something goes missing.”

Beside her, Martin clutched his aching chest and attempted to defend himself. “Rebecca, my room is clean, and I’m not a shut-in. I just don’t like going out.”

“Not going out is the definition of a shut-in, right? What else could it be?” Rebecca retorted confidently.

Martin had no way to argue back, so he quietly shut his mouth.

Holding his chest, he leaned on the dining table and made his way over to Victor’s body.

The former vice-captain lay in a pool of blood, lifeless.

After a moment of silence, Martin sighed. “Why did Victor help the Empire frame the captain…?”

Leon slowly shook his head. “There’s no point in dwelling on a pawn’s motivations. It’s better to simplify the question: Why was the Empire so eager to kill me?”

Coming from a noble family, Martin quickly came up with a reason. “Maybe they felt threatened by your rising power?”

After graduating from the Dragon-slaying Academy, Leon had quickly risen from an ordinary soldier to being widely regarded as the “strongest dragon-slayer.”

In terms of both strength and personal charm, Leon fully deserved the title.

Leon’s prestige had steadily grown among the common people, and within the Dragon-slaying Army, he had garnered the admiration and support of countless individuals.

Someone like him was undoubtedly a potential threat to the Empire’s power center.

Leon had considered this before: perhaps his existence had become a thorn in the Empire’s side, and they felt the need to eliminate him to maintain centralized power.

But that explanation didn’t account for the Empire’s collaboration with the dragons.

Maybe these were two entirely separate issues…

“I think the reason the Empire targeted you isn’t just because of your growing influence,” a voice came from behind.

Leon, Rebecca, and Martin turned to see Tiger leaning against the doorway, his sword in hand.

“I experienced some things when I was younger that made me truly understand the Empire's strength and darkness. That’s why I always told Leon to focus on fighting and not to get involved in politics. Back then, Leon didn’t know enough about power for the Empire to see him as an immediate threat, so there must be other reasons,” Tiger said.

He paused before adding, “Maybe it really has to do with the dragons. This war has lasted for hundreds of years, and there are so many hidden secrets and conspiracies we don’t know about. Killing Victor, just a pawn, won’t stop the Empire from hunting Leon. We still have a long road ahead.”

His master’s words weighed heavily on the room.

Indeed, taking down one traitor didn’t mean much.

Victor was just a puppet being controlled. The true mastermind had yet to reveal themselves.

The Empire had even sent someone as powerful as Dragon King Constantine to kill Leon.

What would their next move be?

A stronger dragon king? Or something else?

Leon didn’t know.

The human Empire, which had stood for millennia, hid secrets far deeper than Leon could fathom.

He needed more time and deeper exploration to uncover the layers of mystery before him.

But before that…

Leon looked at Rebecca and Martin.

“The Empire will soon discover we’ve killed Victor, and they’ll escalate their pursuit of me from ‘traitor backstabbing’ to a full-blown wanted man. Martin should be safe for now—no one knows you acted with us tonight, and your father can protect you.”

Leon continued, “But... Rebecca... I’m sorry for dragging you into this. Once things settle down, Master and I will send you somewhere safe, away from the Empire. Master, could we send Rebecca to stay with the mistress?”

Tiger raised an eyebrow and scratched his forehead. “It’s... possible, but how should I put it? The mistress has gone back to her family, and I’m not really on good terms with them…”

“Master, you’ve been married to her for thirty years, and you’re still not close to her family?” Leon asked, surprised.

Tiger blushed. “What’s thirty years? Just because it’s been thirty years doesn’t mean we’re close… We don’t visit often. Stop asking silly questions, kid.”

Leon hesitated. “Is that so… Then that’s a bit tricky. Maybe Rebecca could stay with Martin for now. At least she’d be safe for a while. The Empire wouldn’t dare storm a nobleman’s house without a good reason.”

Tiger nodded. “That sounds like a good plan. Martin, what do you think?”

“I don’t mind. Rebecca can stay at my place for as long as she wants. I’ll prove I’m not a shut-in.”

“Alright, then—”

“I object!”

The twin-tailed girl raised her hand high. “I appreciate you all discussing my whereabouts, but shouldn’t you consider my opinion in all of this?”

The three men turned to look at Rebecca.

Leon had anticipated this. “You’re not thinking of becoming a wanted criminal with me and Master, are you…?”

“Of course! Don’t forget, we’re the old, weak, sick crew! Without me, you’d just be left with old and sick, and that doesn’t sound good at all.”

Rebecca then added with a straight face, “Plus, isn’t having a cute girl on the team a standard?”

Leon raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “You... consider yourself a cute girl?”

“Cute. Girl. How am I not a cute girl?”

To be fair, Rebecca did fit the popular image of a cute girl.

With her sharp personality, well-proportioned legs, and signature twin-tails, she certainly checked off a lot of people’s boxes.

Unfortunately, her captain wasn’t one of them.

And she knew full well that the dense straight-laced Leon wasn’t into her type.

He liked the silver-haired, elegant, older sister type.

But that didn’t mean he could deny she was a cute girl!

Personal preferences were subjective, but being a cute girl was objective!

Leon decided not to step on that landmine any further and instead got serious.

“But it’ll be dangerous if you stay with us. Are you sure you’ve thought this through?”

“I’ve told you before, Captain: fighting the Empire isn’t the most dangerous thing. The most dangerous thing is wasting away in the patrol squad.”

Rebecca said firmly, “It’s settled then. You’re not getting rid of me.”

Leon had expected her to stay but not with such determination.

Oh well, once this crazy girl made up her mind, not even Leon could change it.

“Um… Captain.” Martin spoke softly from the side.

Leon turned immediately and blurted, “You stay home and don’t get involved.”

It wasn’t that Leon doubted Martin’s abilities; he just didn’t want to drag another talented comrade into danger.

Unlike Rebecca, who had no family, Martin came from a noble household. His future, while not necessarily brilliant, was at least secure and comfortable.

Leon didn’t want to ruin Martin’s life because of his own troubles.

“No, no, I won’t cause any trouble, Captain.”

Martin quickly clarified, “I was just thinking, if I stay home, I can help you gather intel on the Empire. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful and know how to find information.”

Leon crossed his arms and frowned in thought.

Seeing no response, Martin added, “Captain, let me do my part too.”

Rebecca chimed in, “Yeah, Captain. Little Martin has been down ever since you disappeared, but now that you’re back, he finally has something to look forward to. You can’t just douse his spirit with cold water.”

After thinking it through, Leon realized there was no choice but to let Martin help.

Leon sighed. “Alright, but make sure to stay safe while gathering information. Got it?”

Martin’s eyes lit up. “Yes, Captain!”

*Clap—*

Rebecca clapped her hands. “Great! Now our group can be called the ‘old, weak, sick, and shut-in’!”

“For the last time, I am not a nerd!” Martin protested in vain.

Rebecca made a face at him. “Nerds are in a hurry! Nerds are in a hurry!”

At that moment, Tiger, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

“Leon, you can’t stay in the Empire.”