Dragon Queen and Dragon Slayer

"This reminds me of a song, ahem—"

"When I grow up, I'll become you~"

Leon was amused by her sudden nonsensical joke.

Seeing Leon smile, Rossweise also put away her playful attitude.

'Hmph, stupid mutt, you better be grateful. This queen personally lowered her status to cheer you up. Normal people don't get this kind of treatment.'

"You smiled! Since you smiled, you're not allowed to keep a gloomy face anymore."

As if afraid Leon would fall into depression again the next second, Rossweise hurriedly said.

Leon nodded, "Okay."

Actually, Rossweise rarely acted like this, but what could she do? She only had this one husband.

If she didn't comfort him, who would?

Fortunately, Leon was also good at going along with the flow, not the type to mope endlessly. If he kept frowning, it'd come off as a bit melodramatic.

"Speaking of which, was the reason I couldn't gather magic power before also related to your heart-protecting dragon scale?", Leon asked.

Rossweise nodded.

"After the dragon scale was transplanted into your body, it required a massive amount of magic power to function properly."

"Actually, with your physical condition back then, you wouldn't have fallen into a coma for two whole years just from the side effects of the Blood Charm."

"It was because after I transplanted the dragon scale into you, all your magic power was absorbed by the scale, leaving your body extremely weakened. Coupled with the effects of the Blood Charm on your body, that's what caused you to be unconscious for such a long time."

After hearing Rossweise's explanation, Leon nodded thoughtfully.

"Then after all these years, I still can't store magic power on my own?"

"I'm afraid not."

Rossweise said, "For us dragons, forming a single heart-protecting dragon scale takes at least two hundred years. During those two hundred years, we have to constantly nourish the scale with magic power. You've only had five years, theoretically speaking... you're still short about a hundred and fifty years."

Hearing this, Leon swallowed, "O-one hundred and fifty years... by then I'd be ashes already, what good would the dragon scale do..."

"Hmph! Then I'll just take my dragon scale back from your ashes, wash it clean, and reinsert it into myself," Rossweise said seriously.

"You think it's like colored contact lenses? Something you can just pop in and out?"

"Anyway, with the current situation, you can only rely on the magic power stored in the dragon patterns for combat."

Rossweise paused, then added, "Of course, the dragon scale will also perform its original function when necessary."

"Its original... function?"

"Mm, in your words, a safety device, to ensure you won't be harmed by backlash from your own magic power."

"Okay, got it."

After a brief chat about the dragon scale, Rossweise brought up something more pressing.

"Then, what do you plan to do next?"

Leon knew what Rossweise meant.

He took out the image-storing stone Rebecca had given him yesterday from his pocket. It contained key evidence of the Empire colluding with the dragons, using war to continuously exploit its citizens.

As long as this evidence could be made public, not only would the Empire's ugly face be exposed and the people saved from misery, but Leon's treason charges could also be cleared.

"Now that we have enough evidence to overthrow the Empire, I think it's time to take the initiative."

Leon tightened his grip on the image-storing stone, his tone heavy and serious.

"And if we drag it out any longer, more people will be sacrificed."

His master's brush with death this time also made Leon deeply realize the truth behind the phrase, "Revolution must come with sacrifice."

Of course, he understood that truth. But when that truth actually applied to him, whether he could accept it was another matter.

So to avoid more unnecessary bloodshed, Leon had to end this farce as soon as possible.

"A formal declaration of war..."

Rossweise carefully considered it and helped Leon analyze.

"Since the Empire was able to create a fusion monster like Constantine, they probably still have more extreme methods and stronger trump cards."

"And also the sharp-blade trio who've been very active lately. Even though your master cut off one of their arms, their strength is still not to be underestimated."

"So if you're determined to go head-to-head with the Empire to expose their conspiracy to everyone, you'll need help."

Leon thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"Inside the Empire, there's the Lionheart Society my master and others formed acting as an inside force, but relying on that kind of soft power alone isn't enough. We need some... hard power too."

"I can go with you," Rossweise said.

"No—"

"No what? You think I'd be at ease?"

The queen rolled her eyes at him, turned her head away, and muttered under her breath, "Just uneasy about my heart-protecting dragon scale."

Leon was stunned, then gave a knowing smile, "Alright, then this time we'll fight as husband and wife, and together we'll cut through metal."

"So cheesy, change it."

"Uh... Silver Dragon sets out, no grass grows!"

"So edgy, I don't like it."

After that line, the couple paused.

They looked at each other, held each other's gaze for a moment, then broke into laughter.

"Alright, but even with my help, it might still not be enough. We have to consider that even if the Empire's dragon-slaying army learns the truth, some might still side with the Empire. So..."

"Let's see if we can get Claudia to lend a hand," Leon said.

"Mm, after all, her Sea Dragon tribe does have some grudges with the Empire."

Rossweise said, "So would that be enough? Should we find another dragon king-level ally?"

Leon thought for a moment, "If we're talking about people with grudges against the Empire..."

"I do have someone very suitable in mind."

From Leon's expression, Rossweise could basically guess who this "very suitable candidate" was.

Only...

"He doesn't just have a grudge against the Empire, he also holds quite a grudge against you. Are you sure he'd help?"

Leon thought for a moment and replied, "Last time I went to him for intel about the Empire, even though he said we weren't allies, I believe that as long as he's given a chance to get revenge on the Empire, he'll take it."

Old Con may be short-tempered, but he's still more reasonable than most.

Between getting revenge on the Empire and on Leon, the former is clearly the harder task.

After all, Leon's easy to find. He's in the Silver Dragon Sanctuary, with three kids who can't live without him. Like the saying goes, the monk can run, but the temple can't.

But the Empire's a different story.

Not only is it far from dragon territory, but the shady rulers still have all kinds of dirty tricks Constantine doesn't even know about.

Charging in blindly would probably be a one-way trip.

Leon naturally understood the current situation, which is why he planned to ask Constantine for help.

Logically speaking, helping Leon was a net benefit for Constantine.

Emotionally, Leon could also use the fact that he had voted against waging war on the Crimson Flame Dragon at the last Dragon King summit to morally "guilt-trip" Constantine.

If Old Con didn't help, then he'd be a petty ingrate unworthy of his dragon king title.

So this choice gave Leon maximum flexibility.

"Alright. If we can get Constantine to help, we'll have much better odds," Rossweise said.

"Yeah. Let's leave it at that for now. Once my master's condition improves, I'll talk with him about the details."

"Okay."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

As soon as they finished talking, there was a knock at the door.

Out of courtesy, the couple went to open the door together.

It was Claudia.

"Morning, senior," Leon greeted politely.

"How'd you sleep last night?", Claudia asked.

"Pretty well."

"Mm, good. Come on, I'm taking you to meet a friend."

Leon blinked, "What friend?"

He looked at Rossweise, who also shook her head blankly.

The only people they knew among the Sea Dragons were Claudia and Charlotte.

And Charlotte was still recovering and not taking visitors.

So aside from that, who else could they possibly know in the deep sea?

Seeing the couple's confusion, Claudia smiled mysteriously,

"You'll find out when we get there. Let's go, the human girl's already waiting outside for you."

As soon as she said that, Rebecca jumped up behind Claudia like an excited little frog.

"Captain, let's go let's go! Aunt Claudia said we'd be really happy once we meet that friend!"

So even you don't know who the 'friend' is, and you're this excited?

Leon smiled helplessly inside and responded, "Coming."

The couple and Rebecca followed Claudia out of the residence.

Along the way, they deliberately avoided the Sea Dragon guards and maids.

Actually, with Claudia's status, even if the tribespeople saw Leon and Rebecca, no one would dare question it.

What's wrong with the tribe's princess bringing back two friends who don't want to show their tails?

Look at the neighboring Silver Dragon Queen, forget friends, even her husband won't show his tail!—

Oh, the Silver Dragon Queen's right there in the crowd. Never mind then.

So the reason they were being sneaky was purely because Claudia couldn't be bothered to put on the whole "Shut your mouths, don't ask questions" stern act.

The Sea Dragon tribe was laid-back by nature. Making the hierarchy too rigid wasn't a good thing either.

Fortunately, no one noticed them on the way.

Claudia led everyone to an underwater courtyard.

There was a patch of artificial grass here, and a wooden cabin not far off.

Leon stood outside the courtyard railing, looking in.

He saw a gray-black figure leisurely wandering around in the grass.

"Hiss—looks kinda familiar."

Claudia chuckled and then brought her index finger and thumb to her lips and gave a loud whistle.

That gray figure in the distance seemed to respond to the call, immediately dropping the fresh grass in its mouth and lifting its head to look over.

Leon and Rebecca finally saw clearly the appearance of this "friend."

"Holy crap..."

"Donkey!!"

═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator

🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.

https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y