77 Chapter 76 (1/2)

”... Do you really think that you can trust him?” Amanda asked with a serious expression.

”I'm here thanks to him; I used his method for transporting spies,” Leon answered.

”How did you convince him that he could trust you?” Amanda asked.

”I cleared the dungeons his soldiers didn't manage to clear, and I gave him a few pointers in how to do the same,” Leon said. ”Putting that aside... why William would give Hector such armor?”

”I don't know, Hector doesn't know either,” Amanda said. ”Hector never talked with him directly, but one day William just gave him the armor, and he said that he wanted to negotiate with him in the near future. I trust Hector, Leon. In the last four years, everything he did was to keep the survivors here safe.”

”I will trust your judgment... well, let's forget about this conversation for the time being,” Leon said.

”Why? I also want to help you and make our nations become allies.” Amanda declared.

”Just leave it to me, all right,” Leon said. ”If something happens or if I fail, I don't want you end up suffering the consequence of my actions.”

In the end, Amanda understood why Leon wanted to do that alone. She had a life now, a family, and he didn't want to see her losing that again. After that, they had lunch together, and eventually, Hector joined them, but he didn't come alone. A blue-eyed, blondie woman was with him, her hair was relatively short, and she wore glasses. For some reason, she also looked kind of familiar. Leon didn't know why, but Hector was grinning from ear to ear, and that alone was enough to make Leon feel the urge to punch him.

”Hey, Leon. Did you remember Sasha?” Hector asked. ”She is one of the survivors who escaped with us.”

”Sasha... Sasha... Ah, your neighbor Sasha.” Leon recalled the memories of the times he went to Hector's house. ”We went to the same middle school and high school, right? I can't believe someone who knows the old you decided to work with you... anyway, stop grinning you are creeping me out.”

”... Hello, it has been a long time.” Sasha offered a handshake while smiling wrily. ”I'm thankful for your remembering about me.”

”Mmm? Yeah, sure.” Leon accepted the handshake and tilted his head in confusion.

Leon had few memories of Sasha, even though they went to the same schools for years, she was a shy girl so that he couldn't recall himself ever talking with her.

”Leon... did you know? Back in the day, Sasha had a crush on you.” Hector grinned even more.

”Captain...” Sasha lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.

”Is that so? She certainly has discerning eyes.” Leon smiled. ”Anyway, stop grinning, or I will give you another marriage present.”

”... What did you give to him?” Amanda asked while frowning.

”A punch, what else would I give him?” Leon asked. ”By the way, do you want something in particular?”