Chapter 10: Leon’s Plan

“Master, today I used wind magic to help Uncle Lawrence next door move some things, and I even saved a group of people who were robbed by horse bandits…”

“Hmph, now everyone in Ashen City knows the great name of Lady Elvi, the knight!”

The blonde girl was perched on the edge of the bed, chattering nonstop as she recounted the trivial events of the day.

Leon lay on the bed, a gentle smile on his face as he listened quietly.

Time flew by.

Elvi was almost of age now.

Who would have thought that the little beggar girl from before had become the famed Lady Knight of Ashen City?

Perhaps out of guilt toward Elvi, the residents of Ashen City spared no praise for her.

Tales of her deeds even circulated in the taverns.

Elvi had truly become a righteous knight.

“Ahem… cough, cough cough!”

Leon suddenly began coughing violently, his face pale.

“Master!”

Elvi was startled, hurriedly stepping forward to gently pat Leon’s back.

Only when the coughing subsided did she anxiously ask, “Are you okay?”

For some reason, Master’s health had been deteriorating lately.

He was often sick without warning.

She had wanted to seek out a priest but was stopped by him.

“I’m fine.”

Leon waved his hand casually.

Seeing this, Elvi bit her lip lightly, then noticed faint bloodstains on the palm of Leon’s hand.

She immediately shouted, “You say you’re fine! You’re coughing up blood!”

The girl’s eyes filled with concern.

She didn’t understand why her once-all-powerful master had suddenly become like this.

“I’m going to find a priest!”

She firmly pressed Leon back onto the bed and said without allowing any objection, “You lie down properly and don’t move around!”

Then she hurried out of the room.

Leon sighed helplessly, sitting up and mumbling toward the door, “The time should be near.”

No sooner had he spoken than there was a knock at the courtyard gate nearby.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a man with a sword hanging at his waist stepped inside.

He looked at Leon cautiously and asked, “Why did you call me here?”

Leon smiled at the man before him.

“Chris, you should already know my identity, right?”

Chris’s expression shifted slightly.

He rested his hand lightly on the hilt of his sword and murmured, “I have no intention of getting involved in your affairs.”

That was right.

After that incident, he had tried to find out information about Leon, only to be warned fiercely by a bishop from the church—he had nearly been silenced forever!

Still, from the bishop’s few words, Chris had learned some terrifying truths.

“That’s right. The thing you’re looking for is in my hands.”

Leon pulled a book from beneath his pillow and shook it in front of Chris.

“Are you crazy?!”

Chris’s face darkened. He spun around to close the door and cursed, “You’ve got the church’s protection. I don’t!”

Leon ignored him and continued, “How about a trade? You help me with one thing, and this will be yours.”

“No.”

Chris’s expression turned black as night.

No matter how valuable a cult relic was, holding it was like holding a death sentence—if you survived to use it at all.

“I’m not asking for your opinion.”

Leon tapped the bedframe.

“What do you mean?”

Chris’s gaze turned cold, then he sneered, “Are you threatening me?”

“If I’m not mistaken, that little girl’s father was killed by you, right? And he wasn’t the so-called cult leader—just a pitiful victim of political struggles.”

“What do you think will happen if I tell your precious apprentice this?”

Chris stroked the sword hilt, his eyes like a venomous snake ready to strike.

He was letting Leon know he wasn’t to be trifled with, not so easily manipulated.

But he overlooked one thing: Leon’s goal had always been singular and clear.

When Chris finished speaking, he noticed Leon’s face light up with a pleased smile and the man earnestly said, “Then go tell her.”

“Though knowing her character, she probably won’t believe you. She won’t kill me over something like this, so we’ll have to refine the plan.”

Chris listened, completely baffled.

He couldn’t understand what Leon was talking about.

Wasn’t he so concerned about that little Elvi?

“What… exactly do you want to do?”

Chris suddenly felt a chilling sensation.

He could tell everything Leon said was true.

Had he lost his mind?

“I know you’re ambitious and don’t want to stay in this remote place forever. If you help me with this, I promise you’ll be promoted to the capital.”

Leon held up the forbidden book.

“A book that drives cultists mad, plus the credit of judging a heinous criminal—how about that?”

Chris narrowed his eyes, feeling tempted.

Ashen City’s location was isolated and advancement was rare.

Catching a few minor cultists wasn’t a big deal, but this forbidden book seemed extremely important.

Even the big shots in the capital were searching for it.

If he could get his hands on it…

Without changing expression, he asked, “I’ve seen the book, but… what about the criminal?”

Then he saw Leon point to himself.

“You?”

Chris frowned.

“I could be. But I have one request.”

Leon spoke slowly, “I want Elvi to be the one who delivers the final judgment.”

“Your apprentice?”

Chris furrowed his brows, trying to figure out Leon’s reasoning.

Then his eyes suddenly widened.

“You’re crazy! You want to pave her way with your own life?”

He hadn’t expected anyone to be truly fearless.

Leon raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“So, do we have a deal? If it succeeds, you’ll be the future captain of the capital’s Royal Guard.”

That was a tempting offer.

Chris lowered his head and thought for a long time.

This plan seemed to hold no harm for him—after all, he wasn’t the one dying.

He had no reason not to take the risk.

He nodded in agreement.

“Fine. Tell me your plan. A ruthless criminal doesn’t just appear out of nowhere; there must be some evidence.”

When mentioning evidence, he glanced meaningfully at Leon—after all, it was a word he had recently used himself.

Leon ignored the look, nodded, and briefly outlined his plan.

The more Chris listened, the more horrified he became.

In the end, he stared at Leon in disbelief and blurted out,

“You’re insane!”

He couldn’t believe Leon would go this far for a woman!

The entire plan was basically tailored for that blonde girl.

His own credit was just incidental.

Leon’s real purpose was to clear that girl’s father’s name and then grant her an astonishing accomplishment.

If the plan succeeded, Elvi’s future path would be smooth and unimpeded.

Chris looked at the calm Leon with complicated eyes and said, “If you do this, your little apprentice will hate you.”

“She doesn’t hate me. How could she bring herself to strike?”

The man on the bed replied evenly.