Chapter 265: Blade Trio and Suspicious Powers

Anyway, now that he's already married to a first-class merit, a true man doesn't bring up past glories.

Luna asked again, "Then did Daddy get any rewards when he was awarded the medal?"

Leon nodded, "Yes, money, food, clothes, all kinds of stuff. Our squad members say that every time I come out of the royal city, it's like I'm here on a shopping trip."

Luna covered her mouth and giggled, "Daddy must have been a very charming and elegant man when he was young."

"You're saying that. Your dad isn't young now?"

"Already a 23-year-old uncle~"

Leon pinched his daughter's cheek, "I'm a 23-year-old uncle, then what are you at 22? Hm?"

"The daughter of an uncle."

As the father and daughter joked around, there was a new commotion at the gate of the royal city.

The two of them stopped and looked down.

It was a relatively simple carriage, and after it stopped steadily, three people stepped down from it.

Leon scanned the clothing and attire of the three people, then observed their posture and pace, guessing that these three were probably soldiers who had just returned from the frontlines of the war.

As for whether they belonged to the Dragon-Slaying Army, he couldn't tell.

But Luna recognized these three guys at a glance.

"It's the 'Three Blade Special Forces'." Luna said seriously, naming this not-so-serious team name.

Luna explained seriously, "In the five years after Daddy disappeared, the Empire gradually gained the upper hand in the human-dragon war, all thanks to these three people."

Leon raised his eyebrows, "They… are strong?"

"Mm, according to the survivors of the defeated tribes, these three guys are absurdly strong, giving off a feeling like 'returning to the era ruled by black armor.'"

'Ah~'

'Daddy also misses the era ruled by black armor.'

After silently sighing, Leon asked again, "Is there any specific information on these three?"

"Mm… I only know their names."

Luna recalled and said,

"Blade One, Blade Two, Blade Three."

"…Such familiar names, reminds me of an old acquaintance."

"The 'Three Blade Special Forces' is just a nickname made up from those three guys' names."

———

Three days later, the four family members regrouped.

Noah explained the detailed information about those three to Leon, "Their actual operation code name is 'Blade', just like the name, the three of them are soldiers cultivated by the Empire fifteen years ago, which was five years after your disappearance. Each of them possesses extremely strong individual combat abilities."

She paused, then Noah added, "Some say… they've even surpassed the black armor of those days."

"Mm… hmm?"

General Leon immediately perked up,

"Who said that? Who said that?"

Noah had anticipated this reaction, so she simply shrugged lightly, "The defeated dragon race all said so."

"But although these guys are strong, the power they use… doesn't seem very stable."

Aurora pushed her glasses and said, "A few years ago, I happened to see their battle. The cooperation of the three was flawless, but midway, the team leader Blade One's power seemed to lose control, resulting in the battle ending hastily. Also, big sis, you had that feeling too, right? The power they use—"

Noah picked up her sister's words and added, "Doesn't belong to them."

"Doesn't belong to them? What do you mean?"

"Just a feeling. Their magic is all very strange, but I can't say exactly what's strange about it," Aurora said, "Well, that's not the main point. The main point is, since the Blade Special Forces have come to the royal city, they're probably here for a merit award ceremony, right?"

Just like Leon told Luna a few days ago, frontline soldiers, no matter how high their rank, cannot freely enter or exit the royal city aside from receiving medals.

"You want to sneak in during the award ceremony?"

Leon said, "That might not be realistic. The award ceremony is held inside the royal city. During the period, no one can carry weapons in or out, and there'll be body searches."

Noah shook her head, "Entering the royal city is no longer possible. That barrier is far too complex. Even Little Light can't break it. So we can only go with the second plan from before. Capture someone and interrogate them."

"Capture those three guys?"

"No, the three of the Blade Special Forces don't know the location of the Heart-Protecting Dragon Scale."

Noah said, "But their superior probably does."

"Superior?"

"A man named Nacho Salaman," Noah said, "He's now responsible for liaison between the Dragon-Slaying Army and the royal city. In theory, the entire Dragon-Slaying Army is under his command. Nacho, hmm? What's that look on your face? You look like you know this Nacho?"

Leon touched his chin, frowned slightly, and nodded, "Mm, twenty years ago, he was just an administrative clerk in the Dragon-Slaying Army. Didn't expect he's now climbed to the top of the army's administration."

'Boss' or 'number one' is just an easy-to-understand term.

In reality, to manage hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Dragon-Slaying Army, one person alone is far from enough.

Leon's exact position back then was "Battlefield Commander-in-Chief," which can be simply understood as "Once the guns go off, even if the division commander shows up, he's gotta listen to me, damn it."

As for outside the battlefield, there were loads of big and small officials.

The position Noah just mentioned, "liaison between the Dragon-Slaying Army and the royal family", can also be understood as a kind of "number one."

So this Nacho… rose from a low-ranking staff member to one of the bosses. He's clearly someone focused on his political career.

"The higher his position, the more likely he knows the location of the Heart-Protecting Dragon Scale," Aurora said.

"Mm. If you want to capture Nacho for interrogation, do you have his movement route?", Leon asked.

"My informant brought new intel yesterday. After the Blade trio finish their award ceremony, Nacho will treat them to a banquet at 'Hithna Manor' outside the royal city. He does this every time."

Leon suddenly understood and made an "oh" sound, "That is indeed the Dragon-Slaying Army's custom. We did the same back then. So at the banquet Nacho throws to welcome them back, that'll be our chance?"

"Exactly. But even with a clear target, we still need to come up with a more comprehensive and detailed plan, because Nacho will book the entire manor, and guards will cover every exit."

"Mm, leave that part to me. I can approach Nacho without being detected," Leon said.

"Good. Nacho will arrive early at Hithna Manor. That should be your best opportunity to get close to him," Noah said.

Leon paused, "That's also intel from your informant?"

"Mm, for so many years, Nacho always goes early. Not out of courtesy, just to control the banquet."

Noah shrugged, "This guy seems to want to control everyone and everything wherever he goes."

"To have such detailed intel on the top official of the Dragon-Slaying Army… I'm getting more and more curious about your informant."

Leon asked leisurely, "So, when can I meet this mysterious big shot?"

"No rush. After we catch Nacho and she finishes her cleanup work, we'll probably get to meet her."

Noah said, "Before that, you can let your anticipation build."

Leon thought, 'If my eldest daughter has been born in a peaceful era, she'll probably be an excellent serialized novel author. She really knows how to speak in riddles.'

Then Noah provided Nacho's itinerary and schedule, so Leon could create a more detailed plan.

After confirming each person's role in the operation, the family turned back to talk about the Blade Special Forces.

"Though they're nominally part of the Dragon-Slaying Army, they're not under its command. They report directly to the royal family."

Noah said, "Fifteen years ago, the Blade trio emerged out of nowhere, using power that could rival ancient Dragon Kings, and won victory after victory on the human-dragon battlefield."

Aurora added, "Aunt Isa also relocated her people to the Dragon territory's core a few years ago due to the pressure from these three. It's safer there, but just a temporary plan. If things keep going like now, in less than ten years, the Empire will invade deeper into Dragon lands."

"By then, there'll be nowhere left to hide."

Leon began thinking.

The Blade trio only appeared on the battlefield five years after his disappearance.

And he had never heard of their names during his service.

Could they be secret elites trained by the Empire?

Not likely.

If they were secret weapons, then back when General Leon raised hell in the Empire, cleared out traitors, or fought against Star, why didn't they step in to help?

So most likely, these three only grew strong in the five years after he vanished. Or, rather, gained this power through some method.

"You all just said, the Blade trio's power doesn't feel like it's theirs?", Leon asked.

"Mm. When we normally use magic, the process can be simply understood as 'gather power, then release power.'"

Noah said, "But they feel more like 'borrowing power from somewhere, then releasing it.' And they show signs of power instability. That's abnormal."

"Your informant didn't find out anything about their past?"

Noah shook her head, "No. The Blade trio really appeared out of nowhere, not giving anyone time to react."

Aurora looked serious, "They're very strong. Like the other dragon survivors said, strong enough to rival ancient Dragon Kings."

Luna sat on the side, legs curled up, hugging her knees. Facing this serious discussion, she didn't dare to speak randomly and just listened quietly.

But she also knew how powerful the Blade Special Forces were.

If they had to fight them in the end, who knew if they could win.

"Dad," Aurora broke the slightly tense silence.

"Mm?"

"I just saw you spacing out. What were you thinking about?"

"Ah… just thought of something from the past. Pretty funny," Leon sat cross-legged on the ground, head lowered, and even chuckled as he spoke.

Noah blinked, "What made you laugh so happily?"

"You."

"Me?"

Leon looked up at his eldest daughter, "The Blade Special Forces are three people, right? That reminded me of the time young Noah took on three at once at St. Heath Academy."

Upon hearing this, the pink-haired fun-lover instantly lit up, "What one-vs-three? Big sis fought three people at once? Why haven't I heard about this? Tell me, tell me!"

Leon animatedly told his younger daughter about Noah's glorious battle from back then.

After hearing it, Aurora patted her big sister's shoulder repeatedly, "As expected of you, the Melkvei family's eldest!"

Noah blushed a bit at the praise, turned her head away. That tsundere look was exactly like her mother's, "Don't say that. It was just anti-bullying."

"That's why I think the Blade Special Forces aren't that scary. If needed, Daddy can show you what our family's inherited one-vs-three looks like."

Noah froze, 'Yo, this old man's getting real cocky?'

'Oh~'

'Got it.'

'This is what Mom meant when she said, once he's charged up, he becomes absolutely insufferable.'

Still, his arrogance came from real strength.

As his daughter, Noah never doubted his power.

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