"Ouch!" Leon hit the ground with a thud, crying out in pain.
He hadn't anticipated that this woman would exert such strength to bring him down!
Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to exert a bit of force?
Or is it simply because he is as weak as a chicken that she can wield her power over him so easily!?
Leon harbored a strong desire to punish this woman, yet confronted with his current state of powerlessness and the realization that he was no match for Liliana, he could only bury his frustration deep within himself.
With restrained dissatisfaction in his expression, Leon shifted his gaze towards Liliana beside him and asked, "Is there anything else you wish to discuss?"
He had assumed that the withdrawal of troops from Holy Orthodoxy was the primary topic Liliana wished to discuss, but it appeared that wasn't the case.
Was there anything else weighing on Liliana, the Demon Emperor, more heavily than the issue concerning the Holy Orthodox?
As Leon pondered deeply, his mind gradually settled, and he patiently awaited Liliana's words.
On the other side, Liliana did not immediately respond to Leon's question, her typically cold expression now tinged with a subtle hint of distress, a rarity for her.
"Leon Kruger, I want to ask you something. Are you acquainted with the dragon race?" Liliana's sudden question caught Leon a little off guard.
He hadn't anticipated Liliana would broach this topic, exceeding his expectations.
"Of course, I'm acquainted with the dragon race," Leon answered with casual nonchalance, giving a slight nod of his head.
In this vast world, numerous races coexist alongside humans and demons.
Among them, renowned for their immense power, is the dragon race, considered one of the preeminent races in this world.
With its magical prowess, physical strength, mastery of seal magic, and various other advantages, it could be argued that the dragon race was superior, far surpassing both the human and demon races.
Hence, he was well-acquainted with the dragon race, having even visited the dragon empire three years ago as a diplomat representing the Holy Empire of Elysium.
Naturally, he was selected for his exceptional strength and suitability for the task.
Recalling his visit to the Dragon Empire Palace three years ago, an extraordinarily beautiful and charming figure resurfaced in his mind, instantly sending chills down his spine.
'Damn! Meeting that woman felt like stepping into a nightmare! I hope I never cross paths with her again...' Leon cursed silently, dismissing his unsettling thoughts.
Quickly, he snapped back to reality, feeling uneasy as Liliana inexplicably broached the topic of the dragon race.
"Liliana Crimson, why are you suddenly inquiring about the dragon race? Is there a conflict with them?" Leon asked hesitantly, a slight frown adorning his handsome face.
If the Demon race were to enter into conflict with the Dragon race, it could potentially deal a devastating blow, leading to fatal damage for the Demon race.
After all, in the conflict between the two, wouldn't it be the human race, led by the Holy Empire of Elysium, that ultimately reaps the benefits, like the fishermen casting their nets?
Furthermore, the existence he was desperately concealing while gradually regaining strength might soon be exposed to Velix and his accomplices!
Additionally, with three little daughters to protect, he couldn't afford to let any harm befall them at the hands of his adversaries!
As Leon conjured up various alarming scenarios in his mind, Liliana beside him rolled her crimson eyes lazily at his question.
"Do you think I'm foolish enough to provoke the dragon race?" Her words immediately elicited a sigh of relief from Leon.
"Then why the sudden inquiry about the dragon race?" Leon asked, his curiosity piqued.
Liliana took a deep breath before finally beginning her explanation.
"Just this morning, I received an official letter from the Dragon Empire stating that their Empress, Athena Hellness, will be visiting me in one month."
*Boom!*
Leon's eyes widened in horror, feeling as though an atomic bomb had just been dropped on his head.
"W-What are you saying? Who's coming?" Leon stammered, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.
Observing Leon's abrupt shift in expression, Liliana felt a sense of unease, unable to comprehend the reason for his change.
"The Empress of the Dragon Empire, Athena Hellness," Liliana stated, her voice carrying a slight elevation in tone.
Leon's complexion paled instantly upon hearing this, and he felt as though he might faint then and there.
'Curse it all! What terrible luck! Is my fortune truly as wretched as a dog's?' Leon wanted to cry out but found himself unable to.
If there was one figure that struck fear into his heart, it was undoubtedly Athena Hellness, the Empress of the Dragon Empire!
Three years ago, when he still held the title of hero, he acted as the representative of the Holy Empire of Elysium and the Human Race during his visit to the Dragon Empire.
His mission was to convey Velix's message to the dragon empress, urging her not to interfere in the conflict between the human race and the demon race.
Naturally, he eagerly accepted the mission and felt quite excited about it.
After all, as a transmigrant from the modern world, the opportunity to see a dragon was something he had long dreamed of!
Unfortunately, it marked the onset of his nightmare, as he found himself almost raped by the Dragon Empress of the Dragon Empire, Athena Hellness, in the Imperial Palace of the Dragon Race!
Athena cited love at first sight as her reason for the abrupt attack, expressing her desire to marry him and keep him bound to her bed forever!
'Damn, that woman! Thinks she can do as she pleases just because she's powerful?' Leon's skin crawled as he remembered the incident.
Thankfully, having already attained the status of a hero and undergone the sacred baptism of Zenith's holy sword, he could partially contend with the formidable might of the unpredictable dragon empress.
Yet, even with the formidable power bestowed upon him by the Holy Sword of Zenith, he couldn't hope to rival the immense strength of Athena, the mightiest dragon in the world, which ultimately led him to choose escape.
This incident was also what led him to ultimately decide to wear a half-face mask from then on!
Meanwhile, observing Leon's troubled silence and his visibly uneasy expression, Liliana couldn't help but feel somewhat concerned.
"Leon Kruger, why is your face so pale? Are you alright?" Liliana asked with apparent nonchalance, though her concern was evident beneath the surface.
Her concern stemmed from the possibility of the poison reactivating in Leon's body.
If this were to happen, she would once again have to suppress it, just as she had done before.
The thought of that scene caused Liliana, who typically maintained an indifferent and cold demeanor, to blush with embarrassment involuntarily.
At the sound of Liliana's voice, Leon quickly regained his composure, pushing aside his fear and anxiety.
"Ah! I'm fine; don't worry about me," Leon feigned his usual relaxed demeanor.
He hesitated to disclose his shameful past to Liliana, unsure of the repercussions it could bring.
"So, what prompted you to share this with me?" Leon inquired, curious about Liliana's motivation.
To be honest, the news of Athena's impending visit had little relevance to him.
Nevertheless, he felt grateful that Liliana had confided in him about it.
In case his strength hadn't fully returned by the time Athena arrived, he could devise 100 escape plans in advance!
He dreaded the thought of encountering that crazy woman in his weakened state, fearing he might be devoured without a trace left behind!
Liliana experienced a subtle sense of relief upon learning that his condition seemed to be fine.
With a subtly softened expression, she glanced at Leon beside her.
"The truth is, I wanted you to accompany me when Athena Hellness arrives," she admitted.
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A/N: Please give me the support! Thank You, and Stay Tuned! (￣ c￣)y▂ξ