Chapter 495 - Tenfold (1/2)

Leonel's gaze locked onto Nile who had begun to approach him with their group.

Nile's jaw clenched, his body tensing. It felt like a python was slowly constricting around his body. This sort of aura, he had only ever sensed it from Prince Noah. He didn't understand how such presence could also come from a young man who seemed to be at least a few years his junior.

However, Nile remained standing. Other than his slightly abnormal breathing, one would never think that anything was wrong with him.

”This is the official business of The Empire and His Highness, Prince Fawkes. This isn't something you should meddle in.”

Leonel slowly turned to face Nile. ”Is that the question I asked?”

Indifference. Disregard.

One could easily see by Leonel's wrist that much like Aina, he too was a citizen of The Empire. But, unlike Aina who had chosen to acquiesce to their demands for the sake of not splintering relations, Leonel simply did not care.

”I asked you a very simple question.”

Leonel took a step forward.

”Who is responsible.”

Nile stood, his spine shivering. He gripped his spear as tightly as he could, trying to calm himself. But, despite the endless battles he had experienced, he couldn't seem to find any sense of peace beneath Leonel's glare.

It was fine for someone of Camelot to not understand the strength of The Empire, but Leonel, as a person who had grown up within its walls and been indoctrinated since birth shouldn't be so ignorant. It should be almost impossible for anyone indoctrinated to such an extent to defect, especially not if they were so talented.

Anyone with Leonel's level of talent was most definitely a Five Star Professional. Such existences received the best schooling and had the deepest understanding of The Empire. Their deification of the Fawkes Royal Family should practically be ingrained into their bones.

Yet, Leonel didn't even blink an eye when The Empire was mentioned. His breathing didn't hitch, his heart didn't skip a beat, his eyes didn't even blink.

At that moment, Nile didn't deny it any longer. If he opened his mouth and told Leonel that The Emperor himself was responsible, there was no doubt that Leonel would brandish his spear toward the Capital.

”It was me. I gave the order for her capture.”

At that moment, a calm voice sounded.

Such a voice should have soothed the atmosphere, but the brunt of it held an aura that soared, colliding with Leonel's.

For a moment, the muffled sounds of two clashing titans reverberated through the air.

However, it was for just a moment. Because upon hearing such words, Leonel didn't breathe a word.

As though a beast released from its chain, violent winds surged around Leonel's foot as he planted on the ground hard, shooting toward Noah, a red-violet color flickering in his gaze.

”Prince!”

Nile's eyes widened. He forced his body to move, trying to intercept Leonel's path.

Leonel almost seemed to look through Nile. It was as though the latter hadn't blocked his path in the slightest, he might as well have been no different from a gust of wind.

”The Prince isn't someone you can casually cross!” Nile roared, but from an objective party's vantage point, he seemed to be trying to shout his fear away.