NOVEL ONLINE FREE vol. 4 chapter 56 - General Cosmod's Former Residence
Leon emerged from the prison cell, greeted immediately by Rebecca and the others.
“How did it go? Did you get anything out of him?” Rebecca asked.
Leon’s response was calm but cutting. “That old man has a stubborn mouth. We tried quite a few methods, but he didn’t crack.”
Rebecca nodded and recapped the key points that Fuehr Last had revealed, outlining the evidence and leads they had gained. Whether it was the shocking revelation that the Empire’s royal family had deliberately prolonged the war between dragons and humans, or the fact that the former king had controlled the nation from the shadows, the news left Naf and the others utterly speechless.
Leon, however, seemed much more composed.
“Anyone who has truly experienced the Empire’s betrayals and conspiracies would already know that this group operates without limits or boundaries. There’s nothing they wouldn’t do. Stealing Heart-Scales from dragons? That’s hardly the worst of it.”
Knowing the Empire’s elite had sacrificed countless lives to extend their own through Heart-Scale implants, Leon was almost willing to credit them with having a sliver of humanity left.
“Do we have any sensory mages in the Lionheart Society?” Leon asked.
“Yes, we do. Why?” Rebecca responded.
“I need them to refine their techniques for detecting the power of dragon scales. There are likely other former Imperial royals who didn’t have time to escape. If we can track them down, we might be able to piece together more clues. This could help us in investigating Queen Elizabeth and the Shadow Lord.”
Because Leon himself possessed a fragment of Rosvisser’s Heart-Scale within his body, he could sense dragon energy—specifically dragon scales—to some extent. His plan was to teach this technique to the trustworthy sensory mages within the Lionheart Society so they could assist in the search.
As the saying goes, many hands make light work.
“But of course,” Leon added, “I won’t be handling all of this personally. Tasks requiring large manpower and time should be delegated to capable people.”
He explained the plan to the group, and Rebecca nodded. “Understood. I’ll gather the sensory mages tomorrow morning.”
“Good. Thanks for the help.”
After leaving the Imperial prison with key information, Leon returned to his temporary apartment, where his luggage had already been delivered.
Opening his bag, Leon carefully unpacked his belongings. Among them:
1. **A group photo of his daughters.**
In the picture, Moon sat in the center in a duck-like squat, hugging Noa’s arm on her left and resting her cheek against her elder sister’s knee. Aurora stood to the right, arms crossed, wearing an exaggerated expression that said, *“Being a sister's fan is terrifying.”*
2. **A candid “beast selfie” with Rosvisser.**
In the photo, Leon pretended to bite Rosvisser’s tail, but Rosvisser’s hand was clamped firmly on his face. His usually handsome features were twisted into something more akin to a “deranged older brother” caricature.
3. **A solo photo of Rosvisser.**
Leon stared at the picture, grinning foolishly. “Hehehe… My wife is so beautiful… Hehehe. New skill unlocked: *Super Praise.*”
Leon placed the three photos on the bedside table, ensuring he could see his daughters every morning when he woke up. The sight filled him with a surge of paternal affection.
“Truly, the mark of a dedicated dad,” he mused to himself. “Though I’ve seen these photos a hundred times already, they still warm my heart.”
Once his unpacking was done, Leon climbed into bed to rest and prepare for the next day.
---
### The Next Morning
By dawn, Naf had gathered around a dozen sensory mages.
“These are some of the earliest recruits to the Lionheart Society,” Naf explained. “They’re highly skilled and trustworthy. You can teach them the dragon-scale detection techniques without worry.”
Leon nodded, addressing the group seated before him in a semi-circle.
“Good morning, everyone. We’re short on time and have a lot to do, so let’s skip the small talk and dive straight in.
“If anyone finds this training too challenging, feel free to speak to me privately. I won’t force anyone to continue.
“Also, if you have questions, ask them at any time. If there are no issues, let’s begin.”
Their training took place in the now-abandoned indoor arena of the former Imperial Dragon-Slaying Academy. After the war, the academy had been repurposed, and its members reassigned to other military units. The facility now stood empty.
Rebecca sat cross-legged on the sidelines, with Martin standing beside her. Both watched Leon teach with great focus.
“We used to train here under someone else’s guidance, and now it’s the captain teaching others,” Rebecca remarked, her tone tinged with nostalgia. “Life is full of surprises. I never imagined he’d take on a teacher’s role.”
“Honestly, I think the captain suits being a teacher,” Martin replied.
Rebecca glanced up at him. “That wouldn’t happen to be because he’s your idol, would it? Idol worship works like that, you know.”
“How so?” Martin asked.
Rebecca blinked her bright eyes, thinking for a moment before responding.
“No matter what your idol does, they can do no wrong in your eyes. They’re a beacon of light, always shining brightly, no matter where or when.”
Martin fell silent, lost in thought.
Noticing the sudden quiet, Rebecca tilted her head. “What’s on your mind?”
Martin looked at her earnestly, meeting her gaze with his own. “By your definition, Rebecca, you’re my idol.”
“Huh?!”
“Whatever you do, I think it’s right. I don’t care what others say about you. To me, you’re incredible, and… you’re like a beacon of light—”
“Stop! Stop!” Rebecca interrupted, flustered. “That’s not how you confess to someone! You can’t just turn my words back on me like that!”
“Was that a confession?” Martin mumbled under his breath. “Was it?”
“It was,” Rebecca muttered, covering her face.
---
### Later That Day
After hours of training, many of the sensory mages had made significant progress. With a bit more refinement, they would soon be ready to locate and retrieve other Heart-Scales hidden within the Empire.
“Today’s session is over. Thank you for your hard work,” Leon said, nodding politely. The mages returned his gesture with equal respect.
Afterward, Leon, Rebecca, and Martin left the training grounds together. As they stepped onto the academy’s outdoor field, Leon paused, staring at a group of elderly citizens exercising in the distance.
“Where are we now? Did I stumble into a seniors’ park?” he muttered.
“It’s still the academy grounds,” Rebecca replied. “Since the war ended, the dragon-slaying units have been reassigned, and the academy’s become a space for public use.”
“Well… that’s efficient, I guess.”
“There’s more,” Rebecca added, pointing toward a nearby building.
Leon followed her gaze to see a long line of tourists entering the academy’s teaching building, led by a guide wearing a bright yellow sunhat.
“What’s going on over there?” he asked.
“Part of the academy has been turned into a tourist attraction,” Martin explained.
Rebecca chimed in with a dramatic, announcer-like voice. “Welcome to the birthplace of the Empire’s savior, Leon Cosmod!”
Leon groaned, covering his face. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“It’s a thing,” Rebecca laughed. “Your childhood home is now the ‘Cosmod Residence.’ During tourist season, it’s packed!”
Leon sighed deeply. “This is what they call ‘making the most of things,’ huh?”
Rebecca grinned. “So, captain, what’s {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} next?”
Leon straightened up, brushing off his frustration. “Speaking of my birthplace… I think I’ll pay a visit to the orphanage.”