novelraw Chapter 364: Defender
Chapter 364: Defender
At the end, Leon, or rather Badur, picked the spell Tempest Legend. Out of the three choices before him, it was by far the most versatile. More importantly, it possessed the exact quality Leon valued above all else: scalability.
A weak spell with a lot of room to grow was far more valuable than a powerful spell with a fixed ceiling. Leon understood this deeply. Strength in the early stages meant little if it could not evolve alongside him. Tempest Legend was different. It could adapt, expand, and become stronger as his mastery improved.
That was enough reason for him to choose it.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the city, Leon’s main body finally arrived at the City Lord’s manor.
A large carriage rolled through the gates, its wheels creaking beneath the sheer weight of treasures stacked inside. Gold ornaments, enchanted artifacts, monster materials, and chests filled the carriage to the brim. Guards standing by the entrance could not help but stare as the vehicle passed through the courtyard.
Beside Leon walked Ember and Arian, each carrying the few belongings they truly considered important.
The atmosphere around them was vastly different from before.
After the previous incident, the City Lord had personally guaranteed that nothing similar would ever happen again. Because of this, he had specially prepared an entire courtyard within the manor grounds for the trio to reside in temporarily.
The arrangement itself was already proof of Leon’s new standing within the city.
Ordinary people would never be granted residence within the manor walls. Even wealthy merchants had to request permission months in advance just to stay a single night. Yet Leon and his companions had been given an entire courtyard without resistance.
As for Leon himself, the City Lord had also extended another offer.
He wanted Leon to become the ninth defender of the City of Dogs.
The title sounded grand on the surface, but the reality was much simpler. The defenders were essentially powerful muscle under the City Lord’s command. They protected the city, handled dangerous threats, and acted as deterrents against rival factions.
It was not particularly lucrative either.
Still, Leon accepted.
There was no real reason not to.
Being connected to the City Lord was the equivalent of gaining a Magic King level backer. Influence alone made the position worthwhile. In truth, Leon’s accidental involvement in Ember’s pretend kidnapping had unknowingly created the perfect opportunity for him.
Two gains for the price of one.
Not only had he gotten closer to Ember’s fate and the Firestone Manor, but he had also gained political protection within the city itself.
That kind of opportunity was difficult to come by.
A week before the City Lord’s grand banquet, Leon decided to properly introduce himself to the other defenders stationed within the City of Dogs.
"It’s so nice to have you here, Defender Leon."
Inside a small shack located near the edge of the manor grounds, a pot-bellied man in his forties raised his cup toward Leon with a grin.
The shack itself looked simple from the outside, almost laughably plain compared to the grandeur of the manor behind it. Yet Leon could faintly feel layers of formations hidden beneath the wood and stone.
This place was far from ordinary.
Sitting before him was Defender Talos.
Among all the transcendents within the City of Dogs, Talos was recognized as the strongest. He had already reached the peak stages of transcendence decades ago and was rumored to be only a single step away from entering a completely different realm.
At the same time, he was also infamous for being an eccentric old man who disliked crowds and preferred isolation.
"Haha! Old man Talos is too kind. We are but juniors before you."
Another defender sitting beside Leon burst into laughter while lifting a gigantic mug of ale nearly the size of Leon’s head.
The man was enormous. Thick muscles bulged beneath his sleeveless leather vest, and his beard alone looked capable of frightening children.
His name was Gafon.
A mid-stage transcendent being.
Unlike Talos, Gafon radiated straightforward brutality. Every movement from him carried immense physical pressure, as if his body alone could shatter walls.
"You’re all too kind." Leon smiled calmly as he lifted his cup of wine.
Out of all the transcendents he had met so far, these two were by far the easiest to speak with. Neither seemed overly concerned with status or schemes. They valued strength, character, and directness above political games.
The remaining defenders were far more troublesome.
Some were obsessed with cultivation and cared for nothing else. Others were deeply entangled within the city’s politics, constantly maneuvering for influence and benefits. Speaking with them felt more exhausting than fighting monsters.
"Yes, yes." Talos leaned back lazily in his chair while his sharp eyes scanned the room. "The problem is not that serious anymore. Since you are already staying within the manor grounds, the City Lord will never allow that old woman from Firestone Manor to touch you or your companions carelessly."
Talos spoke casually before gulping down another mouthful of wine.
Leon had specifically come to seek additional support regarding the Firestone Manor.
He was not truly afraid they could take Ember away by force.
What worried him was the possibility of them taking her under unfavorable conditions. Leon was almost certain Ember’s destiny was tied to the manor in some significant way. Her bloodline, her talent, and even the strange reactions surrounding her all pointed toward something much larger.
But Leon refused to let her become a pawn without protection.
If the Firestone Manor truly wanted her back, then they would need to negotiate properly and provide guarantees.
Without leverage, Ember would simply become another disposable tool in the hands of the manor matriarch.
That was unacceptable.
The City Lord had already assured Leon of his support, but additional backing from the defenders themselves only strengthened Leon’s position further.
"And if she dares to make a move..." Talos suddenly slammed a crystal onto the wooden table with a loud thud.
The object radiated cold mist the instant it appeared. Frost rapidly spread across the table surface while the surrounding air dropped several degrees.
"I still have this Icewater Crystal," Talos declared proudly. "I’ll personally quench the flames of that arrogant manor if necessary!"
The old man burst into roaring laughter that echoed throughout the compound.
Even Gafon nearly choked on his ale while laughing alongside him.
Leon could only smile faintly while observing the strange pair before him.
For the first time since arriving in the City of Dogs, things finally felt stable.
But deep down, Leon knew stability rarely lasted long around him.