As the clock approached midnight, the grand gates of the imperial city slowly creaked open. Emerging first were the royal guards of the Empire.

Following closely behind was a massive parade vehicle.

In terms of its appearance and design concept, calling it a "landship" would be more accurate.

This landship moved on a series of wheels underneath its hull. Surrounding it, apart from the royal guards leading the way, was an entourage of soldiers encircling the vessel on all sides.

The reason for such a tight security detail was none other than this:

Standing on the deck of the landship was the current ruler of the Empire—King Kant.

Beside him stood his wife, Queen Elizabeth.

Draped in majestic robes, the sovereign carried all the airs of royalty. One arm linked gracefully with his enchanting queen, while the other extended outward in a gentle wave toward his people, showcasing his approachable and benevolent image.

According to the tradition of the Lantern Festival, everyone would release paper lanterns into the sky together at the stroke of midnight.

This was also the time each year when King Kant and Queen Elizabeth would personally make their appearance in the ceremonial parade.

During Leon’s years serving in the Dragon Slayer Army, the king and queen’s entrances at the festival had varied greatly each year.

One time, they descended from the sky via hot air balloon. Another year, illusions created through magic added an air of mystery and awe. On some occasions, they even hid among the crowds beforehand, only to dramatically reveal themselves at the opportune moment.

So this year’s debut of the "landship" didn’t particularly surprise Leon.

Based on intelligence provided by Martin, the landship’s travel speed had been precisely calculated to arrive at the border between the Imperial City and the Upper District exactly at midnight.

At the same time, thousands of paper lanterns, each carrying a Recording Stone, would be launched into the sky.

Leon took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on King Kant and his entourage as they approached.

Once, he had been just like those royal guards, taking pride in defending the nation and safeguarding the monarch—even prepared to lay down his life for them.

But in return, he received nothing but betrayal and defamation from the Empire.

To the Empire, everyone and everything were mere tools for the ruling elite to exploit for personal gain. Even this war was nothing more than a meticulously orchestrated game.

But when a single chess piece broke free from their control, they would stop at nothing to hunt it down, chasing it to the ends of the earth.

Tonight, however, that rebellious chess piece had returned.

Old grudges and new enmities alike would be settled with that treacherous emperor this very evening!

“Dong—Dong—Dong—”

The heavy chime of the clock striking midnight reverberated through the air.

Accompanying the ancient and profound sound of the bell, countless paper lanterns began ascending steadily into the night sky. The sheer number of lanterns lit up the heavens, making the night as luminous as day.

At that moment, the massive landship gradually came to a halt at the border between the Imperial City and the Upper District.

King Kant strolled slowly toward the bow of the landship, overlooking the multitude of people below.

He carried himself with the pride of a king, but lacked the true authority and gravitas of one.

Leon watched him silently, waiting for the right moment.

“My beloved citizens, another Lantern Festival is upon us! On behalf of the royal family of the Empire, I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your outstanding contributions to the Empire over the past year!” King Kant announced.

"Outstanding contributions," referring to:

Taxes that never should have been paid, conscriptions that never should have been made, and labor that never should have been performed...

Even among those who were not members of the Lionheart Association, many ordinary people knew full well of the Empire’s corruption.

But who would dare to tear apart that facade of hypocrisy?

When the exalted monarch uttered his insincere praises, regardless of whether the crowd had seen through the Empire’s true nature, their only response could be polite cheers and applause.

King Kant basked in the people’s adulation for a few moments, reveling in the sound of their applause. When it finally began to subside, he spoke again.

"Now then, let us not allow my or Queen Elizabeth’s presence to delay the tradition of the Lantern Festival any further. Please proceed with releasing your paper lanterns!"

A collective, nearly imperceptible sigh of relief swept through the streets.

This was the moment Leon and the Lionheart Association had been waiting for.

At the stroke of midnight, as paper lanterns carrying Recording Stones were released across each of the Empire's five districts, members of the Lionheart Association sprang into action, activating the hidden Recording Stones within the lanterns.

As Leon’s mentor had once told him, the world is a vast and intricate machine, and all one needs to do is function as a single, faithful cog.

But tonight, Leon no longer wanted to be that obedient cog.

He would take control of the machine himself and make it operate in the way he desired.

As citizens and King Kant admired the floating lanterns, countless glimmers of light began to flicker within the lanterns themselves.

Those lights looked like sparks, spreading from the most distant corners of the Slums all the way to the Upper District and even the Imperial City.

Even ordinary bystanders, untrained in the ways of magic, could see that these lights did not originate from the lanterns themselves but from some arcane glow within.

The peculiar and spectacular display immediately caught the crowd’s attention.

"What is that...?"

"Mommy, Mommy, it’s so pretty! Look, there are even more lights in the distance!"

"Is that... the glow of Recording Stones? But who would place so many Recording Stones inside the lanterns?"

"Rather than asking 'who would,' wouldn’t it be more precise to ask, 'who could'? The newspapers said these lanterns were specially crafted by the royal family. If this isn’t some new activity orchestrated by the royals, then whoever did this... has some serious nerve."

...

King Kant gazed upward at the glowing lanterns, his brows furrowed. He muttered under his breath, "Who approved this? Why wasn’t I informed in advance?"

A nearby guard quickly lowered his head and replied, "Your Majesty, this... this isn’t part of the planned program."

Kant froze momentarily. "Are those Recording Stones inside the lanterns?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

If this wasn’t arranged by the royal family itself, then it had to be the work of someone deliberately sabotaging their event.

And with so many Recording Stones... if their purpose was to convey a message or display some kind of footage, the entire nation could witness it.

As the sovereign of the Empire, Kant would not permit anything that could undermine his authority. Without hesitation, he issued a command.

"Pass down the order: shoot down every single one of those paper lanterns!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

But before the guards could relay the order, a lone figure in black robes stepped forward to the landship’s bow.

The royal guards immediately raised their spears and muskets, aiming them at the intruder.

Kant squinted at the shadowy figure. "And who might that be...?"

"Stop right there!"

The captain of the royal guard unsheathed his sword, pointing its gleaming edge directly at the robed figure.

"One more step, and you’ll be killed on sight!"

The cloaked figure froze in place, seemingly abiding by the captain’s threat.

But his compliance had nothing to do with the warning.

The figure calmly reached into his cloak and pulled out a single paper lantern. To the astonishment of the royal guards, he deliberately began unfurling it slowly.

A gentle breeze swept through, dislodging the hood of his cloak.

His black hair billowed in the wind, and a face marked with battle scars came into view.

Someone among the guards instantly recognized him.

"Leon... Leon Casmode!! It’s Leon!!"

"Prepare for combat, all units!"

Their tension was understandable. In many ways, Leon posed no less a threat than any Dragon King.

Yet despite facing dozens of muskets and a hundred drawn blades, Leon remained utterly composed.

Holding the lantern entrusted to him by Carolyn and the children of the Casmode Orphanage, Leon pinched its base to steady it before snapping his fingers at the fuel source.

A faint spark of electricity flickered, igniting the alcohol block inside the lantern. Slowly, the lantern began to rise.

"Before you act," the man who had returned without warning finally broke his silence.

And with those few simple words, an overwhelming presence swept over the royal guards at the forefront.

Though Leon was the top wanted criminal of the Empire, he was unarmed now. Standing before him, the guards gripped their weapons tighter, cautious of making the first move.

After all, this was Leon they were dealing with.

"I want you to look carefully at what’s coming next," Leon continued. "After you’ve seen it, then decide if you still want to block my path."

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried, reaching even King Kant and Queen Elizabeth on the landship’s deck.

The royal couple exchanged glances. Questions filled their minds—not just about how Leon had returned to the Empire undetected, but also about the content of those Recording Stones.

Queen Elizabeth set her teeth. After momentarily gathering herself, she barked an order.

"Take action now! Arrest that traitor Leon!"

Even with the queen’s commands, however, the guards showed no signs of advancing.

They knew Leon’s strength well—after all, they had once fought alongside him as comrades.

"You cowards! " Elizabeth shouted.

**Buzz—**

The humming resonance of the Recording Stones drowned out the queen’s words.

In the sky above the Empire, tens of thousands of paper lanterns shimmered with an eerie green glow. They began to interconnect, forming a web.

But no images or sound had emerged from them yet.

Elizabeth glared at the phenomena. "A mere distraction? Hmph. Take him down immediately! Don’t forget who you serve!"

However, just as the lantern Leon had released ascended high enough to align with the others, like the final piece of a puzzle slotting into place, the entire array of Recording Stones activated.

In the next instant, a colossal image materialized in the sky over the Empire.

The figures displayed in the image were none other than King Kant and Queen Elizabeth themselves.

"This man... What is he trying to do?" Kant gritted his teeth and cursed.

Moments later, sound accompanied the image:

"The Dagger Project is proceeding smoothly. Even without Leon, we can continue as before, taking advantage of our Dragon King allies to control this war with ease."

"Her Majesty is exceptionally wise."

"All credit goes to you, Scott. I heard you personally assembled the Dagger Team. You’ve done the Empire a tremendous service.”

"I'm flattered. I've just done what I'm supposed to do."

"Very well. The fact that you have this awareness already puts you miles ahead of Casmode, who never truly understood his position. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up being hunted down by the Empire."

"By the way, regarding the newly implemented tax policies, many citizens have expressed their discontent. Should we make some adjustments—"

"Unnecessary. If they want to earn a living in the Empire, they must obediently follow its orders. Leave them be."

"Kant is absolutely right. All we need to do is occasionally stage some fake scandals about officials being imprisoned, and those fools will eat it up, believing we're on their side. When in reality—heh..."

"......"

In places where no one could detect, they vividly enacted the ugly faces of those in power.

If Martin hadn't risked everything to record it,

If Leon hadn't made the conspiracy public,

If the Lionheart Association hadn't worked tirelessly to prepare,

These dark and decadent truths would continue to permeate with the prolonging war, eventually corrupting the nation entirely, leaving it as hollow and lifeless as decayed wood.

As the final frame of footage ended, Leon stood silently in place.

If his predictions were correct, what would come next would be—

"Kant! You filthy, depraved emperor!"

"My son joined the Dragon Slayer Army, thinking he could protect his homeland. He even sacrificed his life on the battlefield! And now you're telling me this war was nothing but a game you orchestrated? Kant, give me back my son's life!"

"So, in your eyes, we commoners are nothing more than a bunch of fools who pay taxes and provide soldiers for your wars, huh?"

"This country doesn't belong to you, Kant! We won't let you trample on this land like this!"

"......"

All the anger and discontent that had been suppressed for so long erupted at this moment.

The cries and shouts swept over Kant like a tidal wave, drowning him in the voices of defiance.

Those he once despised, loathed, and looked down on were now, at this moment, rebelling against him.

The crowd advanced, pressing ever closer towards the luxurious landship.

Even the imperial guards began to falter.

Clutching their weapons, they hesitated, unsure whether to strike their fellow countrymen or abandon the ruler who was already riddled with flaws.

Everything was happening too quickly, too suddenly. Kant was utterly stunned, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to decide what to say or do.

"Damn it, disrupting the people's minds and sowing chaos—Leon Casmode, you treacherous rebel! How dare you spew such nonsense during the Lantern Festival? Men, seize him immediately!"

The moment those words fell, three figures swiftly landed in front of Leon with a 'swish.'

Their auras were formidable, though one of them was missing an arm.

"We meet again, Casmode," the leader of the Blade Trio, Ginny, said coldly. "Didn’t think it would be under these circumstances."

Leon looked at him indifferently. "So, even after uncovering Kant’s conspiracy, you still choose to pledge allegiance to him?"

"Who we serve is irrelevant to us," Ginny replied. "We just want to kill more Dragon Kings so the world will remember our names. And the Empire provides us with that opportunity. We don’t care if it’s all a carefully planned game. As long as we can draw blood, we’ll do anything."

Leon sneered, leaving out a contemptuous sound.

"Good. If you chose to turn back now, I wouldn’t have been able to exact my revenge for my master and feel at peace."

"What? So that old man had died?" Ginny asked with disdain.

"My master is fine. But the three of you... won’t be living much longer."

As Leon spoke, an overwhelming wave of killing intent erupted from him.

Even the Blade Trio, experienced in slaying multiple Dragon Kings, couldn’t help but feel an unsettling fear.

Leon rarely exuded such an intense murderous aura. But these fools had gravely injured his master. If not for his master’s wife, the old man would’ve long since perished.

This debt of blood—Leon would ensure it was repaid.

At that moment, Elizabeth, who stood atop the land cruiser, called out once more,

"It’s not enough! Scott! Release your fusion beasts and Dangerous Beasts! Wipe out Leon completely!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

As soon as the words fell, the ground beneath the street began to shake violently.

Panic ensued as the crowd scattered, searching for safety.

Moments after they vacated the street, the earth fractured with a deafening crack.

From the fissures emerged countless monstrous creatures.

They roared and wailed, like tortured souls escaping from hell.

In an instant, Leon found himself surrounded by the Blade Trio, dozens of fusion beasts, and Dangerous Beasts.

"Well now, Casmode," Elizabeth taunted, confidence glimmering in her voice. "Even with all your skills, you can’t fight so many enemies at once. Let’s see how you escape this time."

"Escape?"

Leon let out a low chuckle. "Did you think I came here intending to flee?"

"Then what do you plan to do? Surely you see the gravity of the situation. Those fusion beasts alone can crush you with sheer numbers!"

"Numbers mean nothing to me. They’re merely ants."

"Stop bluffing, you—!"

"Besides..."

Leon slowly raised a hand, interrupting Elizabeth mid-sentence. "Do you really think you’re the only one with reinforcements?"

"What?"

As soon as her voice trailed off, Leon snapped his fingers.

In the next moment, a dragon’s roar echoed through the night sky.

All of the Upper District looked up.

Above them, a majestic blue dragon spiraled gracefully through the air. Then, in one swift descent, it landed beside Leon and transformed into a stunning woman with blue hair.

"The Sea Dragon Princess, Claudia."

"It’s... it’s the Dragon Clan..." Elizabeth’s eyes widened in shock, her pupils trembling uncontrollably.

Before Elizabeth or anyone else could recover from the sight of the blue dragon, a gust of wind swept over their heads.

A massive silver silhouette descended slowly, flapping its wings. It too landed beside Leon before assuming human form— a tall, silver-haired figure radiating an icy elegance and pride.

"The Silver Dragon Queen, Roswitha."

Leon crossed his arms, a faint smile on his face as he regarded Elizabeth, continuing,

"If you thought that was the end, then—"

Boom!

A red figure crashed into view, landing with the dramatic posture of a true superhero.

Leon gestured towards his third, and final, reinforcement for the night:

"The Crimson Flame Dragon King, Constantine."