Chapter 507: Chapter 304: I Really Love It Here

“Come, sit here.”

Leopold stared in disbelief. David, whose identity Leopold had effortlessly discerned, showed no signs of nervousness. Instead, David smiled with the familiarity of a long-time friend and patted the parapet a hand’s span away, gesturing for Leopold to sit beside him.

Nearby, the pale-faced Sword Dancer Yevgeny moved like a puppet on strings. Amidst the admiring and envious glances from the nobles behind them, who were oblivious to the truth, Yevgeny poured them both a glass of crimson wine.

When Leopold remained standing, David paid it no mind. He casually picked up his own cup, tasted the wine, and set it down.

He pursed his lips, gazing at the lavishly decorated stage. The elven attendees watched with faces full of anticipation, as if about to witness a grand historical event. David clapped his hands with childlike delight, then turned with an admiring sigh and asked, “Leopold, take a look. Haven’t I chosen a great spot? Although this isn’t the center of the exhibition, from here we can see everything—a bird’s-eye view of most of the Dewensen district. Under the night sky, the scenery is stunning and the breeze is gentle. Behind me are Dewensen’s noble lords, all eloquent and understanding. I really love it here.”

Arrogance

Yet, the more enthusiastically David rambled on, the uglier Leopold’s expression became.

He swallowed hard, lowered his voice, and spoke with difficulty, attempting to negotiate, “What exactly do you want to do…?”

“That depends on what our Queen intends to do. Perhaps she’ll do the same as you all did back then.”

The smile on David’s face grew even more amiable.

As he had anticipated. After recognizing him, Leopold did not choose to expose his identity and lead an attack at the first opportunity. Nor did he choose to hastily call upon his deity. Leopold was undoubtedly an excellent Godchosen, yet he was not a selfless saint with no strings attached. Although Leopold was the first to be ’sent to drink from the Styx River’ by David in the battle of the Montero Coast two years ago, the subsequent report of his side’s total annihilation was enough for him to clearly understand what it would mean if he chose to confront David now.

There was only one answer: their battle would inevitably escalate into a divine war in seconds! Then, the aftermath of the gods’ war would flatten Dewensen, just as it had Montero Ore Town and the neighboring Tokamak Fortress. The entire city would be obliterated. Especially under the dreadful fission divine strike from the Goddess of Strength, Pafila, many Elves might meet a fate as tragic as that of the God-favored Vileili and the others, their souls unable to return to the Divine Realm of Afando.

Over the past two years, David had investigated almost all key high-ranking members of the Elven Kingdom, including Leopold. Although Leopold always presented an image of being cold, taciturn, and a loner, he had a family. David had seen their magical projection photographs—a very happy and contented family. Moreover, Elf Queen Arasya, to better command these legendary experts, had, according to their preferences, placed certain ’leashes’ on them. For instance, in the name of providing better care and protection, Queen Arasya had moved Leopold’s entire family from Eternal Gathering Island to Dewensen. But now, this ’care’ had become Leopold’s greatest vulnerability.

The destruction and threat David, this Crimson Calamity, could bring at this moment were unprecedented for all Elves since the end of the Age of Dragons.

Leopold certainly understood what Elf Queen Arasya was preparing to do. And he could imagine the terrible actions David might take as a result. He couldn’t bear to imagine those dreadful consequences. In this moment, Leopold felt a chill seep into his bones… As if standing on the brink of the Abyss. As he stared into the Abyss, the Abyss stared back at him.

Finally, under this torment, he nearly broke down and pleaded, “You can state any demands! We can sit down and talk. As long as you’re willing, I will do my utmost to petition Her Majesty the Queen on your behalf…”

But David interrupted him, his face expressionless, “Leopold, we both know that’s impossible, don’t we? When it comes to a conflict between races, caught in the tide of the era, we are nothing but pitiful wretches swept helplessly forward by the torrent of fate.”

It was unclear if it was because he had killed Leopold once in the coastal battle, or because, after his own advancement to legendary status, he had lived for two years within this Elven Kingdom as a High Elf. Regardless, David found that he no longer seemed to detest Leopold as he once had. They were merely pawns on a chessboard, positioned by their respective gods—either for the interests of their races or for their own millennia-old obsessions. Even though Tiamat, one of the players, had left the game prematurely, those already on the board had no choice but to continue, lest their ’great dragon’ be ’captured’ by the opponent. They had long since passed the point of no return.

Hearing David’s rare, candid words, Leopold was momentarily speechless. He could only close his eyes in pain, clenching his fists tightly.

At that moment, Aria, standing not far behind, seemed to sense the unusual tension between the two. Her face anxious, she stepped forward and asked, “Leopold… Saphiros… do you two know each other?”

Only upon hearing her voice did Leopold jolt with realization. The Elven Kingdom’s other Godchosen was here too! Could this also be part of David’s plan? What a cruel heart, what a venomous scheme!

“Aria…” David’s gaze finally fell upon her, his expression complicated.

Aria’s appearance was certainly not part of his plan. Her personality had been tainted by his ’Chalice of Corruption.’ Therefore, if she were to suffer a fatal blow, it would trigger a divine descent. The Moon Goddess would then discover that the perfect vessel she had painstakingly protected had become less ’useful’ than an ordinary God-favored individual—no, even worse. Thus, towards Aria, even if David forced himself to remain indifferent and invest no emotion, their two years of intimate companionship, that rare period of leisure and contentment, had ultimately softened his heart. He wasn’t prepared to deliberately ’torture’ her again, so he hadn’t asked her to come. Yet, by a curious twist of fate, she had found her way here on her own.

Seeing David’s expression seem to soften, Aria managed a smile. The timing was somewhat inappropriate, but thinking about how, after tonight, her sister, the Queen, would arrange for her to return to Eternal Gathering Island to undergo the Godchosen trial—a trial with no room for maneuver…

She immediately mustered her courage, clenched her fists before her chest, took a step forward, and said, “Saphiros, can we talk later? There’s something very important I want to… ask your opinion on.”

She felt a strong impulse. She wanted to rebel, just once. To live for herself, just once. If only Saphiros would nod, just this once. If he still harbored even a shred of affection for her… She too wanted to elope with him. Even if, this time, it meant defying her own goddess… She could feel it clearly. He still cared about her… Absolutely!

Yet upon hearing this, the look David gave her was filled with even greater complexity, and pity.

David opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a brief yet grand fanfare erupted from the Golden Oak Square ahead.

Thus, the words from David’s mouth became, “Look, the speech is starting.”

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