Leon walked toward the royal castle with steady steps, keeping his gaze forward while his mind lingered on memories of the war. The sound of his armor matched the constant rhythm of his stride, but his attention was focused on the past, revisiting moments that were now becoming relevant.
Among those memories, some stood out more than others, especially the meetings he had with certain councilors inside that very castle. Discreet conversations, filled with hidden intentions, where words were carefully chosen, yet still revealed the true nature of those men to anyone who knew how to observe.
[Having memories of this is a blessing]
'I agree, this was never revealed in the story. Leon is intelligent, it's just his obsession that ruins everything'
During those meetings, Leon had taken a precaution he never shared with anyone. Using a magical stone, he recorded every conversation, storing not only the words but also details that could be used at the right moment. At the time, it was just a safeguard, a way to protect himself in case he needed to act against them in the future.
Now, those recordings were no longer just a precaution—they had become the foundation of a decision that could no longer be delayed. He remembered how some councilors spoke casually about manipulating the kingdom's decisions, treating the prince as someone who could be easily guided, and how they showed excessive confidence in their own positions.
'Too arrogant for weaklings'
[Minus three]
'Yes, minus three…'
Leon never revealed the existence of this evidence because he did not trust anyone enough to share that kind of information. Even among allies, there was always the possibility of leaks or betrayal, and he had no intention of taking that risk. Returning to the present, he lifted his gaze and looked at the castle ahead, imposing and silent, as if nothing had changed, despite the decisions that were about to be made inside.
[Do you think he'll believe you?]
'Without a doubt, he will'
At the main entrance, the crown prince Alistair was already waiting for him. His posture was firm, and his expression carried the usual coldness of someone who did not easily show emotions. Even so, there was a clear level of trust directed toward Leon, built over the years. When Leon approached, the two exchanged a brief look before starting the conversation, without the need for excessive formalities.
"You came straight to me, so I assume it's something important"
Leon wasted no time and revealed what he had kept hidden for so long, explaining about the recordings and the evidence he had gathered against the seven councilors. He spoke directly, without exaggeration, simply presenting the facts as they were. As he listened, the prince narrowed his eyes slightly, analyzing every detail of the explanation. It wasn't the kind of information that could be accepted without question.
"And why hide this until now?"
"Because I didn't trust them. And I needed to be sure before acting."
Leon maintained a calm posture, without any trace of hesitation—it was a perfect performance. The prince remained silent for a moment, absorbing the answer, but there was still something that made him slightly suspicious of his friend.
"And now you decide to reveal everything at once… what was the reason?"
"Because I'm certain those seven are not useful to you"
Leon replied without hesitation, keeping his tone steady. Enrico was honestly surprised with himself—he knew he could lie easily if he wanted to, but he couldn't help being impressed by how naturally Leon's body lied so well. Alistair slightly looked away, as if organizing his thoughts, before looking at him again.
"Not useful? Based on what?"
"Because I realized their loyalty is not to the kingdom, nor to you. It's to power. So I decided to test that. I created situations where they would need to show which side they were on, and those seven were the ones who failed"
"And the others?"
"They weren't necessary to investigate much. You already know the answer yourself, my lord"
The explanation was simple, without trying to sound more elaborate than necessary. Even so, it made sense. Alistair remained silent for a few moments, reflecting on it and connecting it with everything he already knew about Leon. It wasn't difficult to believe he would do something like that, considering how he had acted over the years.
"That… is something you would really do… your loyalty surprises me sometimes"
The trust didn't come only from the words, but from the history Leon had built with him. To Alistair, he had always been someone who consistently demonstrated loyalty, which made that explanation more than plausible.
"I'll call my father, and if this evidence is confirmed, we'll resolve this today"
Leon simply nodded, but before the conversation ended, he added one more thing—something that had to be done by him personally.
"I have a request"
"What is it?"
"I want to take part in the elimination, my lord. I don't intend to let any of them escape"
The prince observed Leon for a few seconds. It didn't seem like an impulsive request, but a decision already made—perhaps driven by his absolute loyalty. A small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth before returning to normal.
"That won't be necessary"
"Even so, I will"
The reply came without a change in tone, but firm enough to make it clear it wasn't negotiable. Alistair's eyes widened slightly at his soldier's response before he sighed.
"This is the first time you've spoken like that… fine, you'll participate"
"Thank you, my lord, and I apologize for my previous words"
There was a reason behind this that Leon didn't mention. Among the seven councilors, two possessed knowledge about past actions he had taken—information that could not be exposed. Allowing any of them to survive would be a risk he was not willing to take. Even if the prince or the king chose to capture some for interrogation, Leon needed to ensure that wouldn't happen with those two.
"Actually, I find that somewhat interesting"
The decision was made simply, without prolonged resistance. For the prince, Leon's presence could even make the operation easier, considering his direct involvement in the case.
"Prepare yourself—we act today"
Leon simply agreed with a slight nod. From that moment on, everything was already decided. As he stood there before the castle, he was already mentally organizing every step he needed to execute, ensuring that no mistakes would happen. This would not be just the elimination of traitors within the court, but also the removal of any threat that could lead to his downfall.
[I hate to admit it, but that was perfect]