Ah Xian held it in for a long time but finally couldn't resist posting.
"Got it. After eating the delicious food Leon gave, it's my turn to be the delicious one for him to eat..."
"It's okay, brain hubby~~ When eating me, please don't chew slowly. Three days and three nights is another story~~"
[So you don't want to suffer at all, just pure enjoyment?]
[Shrimp-head girl, rein in your flavor.]
[It's actually grilled chicken wings. Could it be the batch Leon grilled at the Alchemy Commission?]
[Probably. He really... I'm crying to death.]
[I only see an old father whose heart is broken for his child.]
Stelle was stunned for a moment and subconsciously asked, "When did you buy the grilled chicken wings?"
Leon: "Grilled them in my free time. They're still in the state of just coming out of the oven, perfect to eat while hot."
Stelle: "Good bro! Then I won't hold back."
[Why is the dude so casual? Won't even call him Father.]
[Sigh, the dude was just born not long ago. He's not quite grasping social etiquette yet. Understandable.]
"What about you guys? Want something to eat?"
Leon waved his hand and took out different delicacies.
"Eat and drink well, then we'll have the energy to deal with Phantylia."
"I want—"
March 7th's eyes lit up as she took a sandwich and juice.
Welt and Dan Heng both shook their heads slightly, indicating they weren't in the mood for now.
Jing Yuan, however, took interest and picked up a steamer of small steamed buns.
"So Brother Leon is not only the doctor in the Express Crew but also a chef. These small steamed buns taste great."
"Not really a chef. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have pretty good food. When undercover, grabbing some grub along the way isn't a big deal."
March 7th nearly choked. "D-Disciples of Sanctus Medicus... these are from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus...?"
Leon nodded. "Yep. Early this morning, several tables of freshly made breakfast were sitting in the back kitchen. Waited five minutes, not a single person showed up."
"I figured no one wanted it, so following the principle of not wasting food, I kindly took it all."
"Anyway, the ticket space on our train has a freshness preservation function. Enough to last a few weeks."
Stelle: "(chew chew chew)... What time (chew chew chew)... did you get to the back kitchen?"
"System time 6:25. Why?"
So early?!
March 7th thought of a possibility and asked weakly.
"So the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus guys... did they collectively go hungry all morning?"
"No such thing. I didn't borrow all the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus breakfast to make them starve. March, don't misunderstand." Leon flatly denied.
"..."
Little March showed an awkward but polite smile.
Suddenly feeling a bit sorry for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus guys...
Well, just a bit, but not pitying them.
Rather, running into a scheming doctor and getting secretly pranked and tormented by him—they deserved it.
Good thing it was just hunger, not swapped for some horrific dish with hidden horrors.
Like, say, something similar to Himeko's special brew coffee...
She remembered during a certain Trailblaze mission, Leon used Himeko's coffee to toy with an arrogant troublemaker, nearly pitting the guy to death.
That was Himeko's special brew coffee!
Seeing March 7th's expression, many players were about to die laughing.
Some people were holding it in for now.
But when Jing Yuan let out a hearty laugh, those holding it in gradually lost it too.
March 7th: "...General, you're gloating, aren't you?"
Jing Yuan: "No such thing. Miss March, don't misunderstand. I just suddenly remembered some happy past events."
March 7th: "...Suddenly understand why you two hit it off at first sight..."
Stelle: "Why?"
March 7th: "Kids shouldn't ask. Go eat your grilled chicken wings!"
Stelle: "Oh, Big Sis March~~ Don't bully me for not being a full month old, okay?"
"Eek! Don't use that tone to act weak!"
Dan Heng and Welt exchanged a glance, seeing a hint of helplessness on each other's faces.
Aside from that Trailblaze mission on Jarilo-VI, Leon's usual style was still that familiar.
Treating enemies like that to mess with was practically daily routine.
There was a decent chance he'd step onto the Path of Elation.
But this was good too. Leon being playful meant the situation hadn't exceeded control yet.
The Express Crew had long reached a consensus: rather see Leon having fun than pulling a serious face.
When Leon put on a serious face, things were truly bad.
Unknowingly, Dan Heng led the group to the first seal location.
"We're here. This is it."
Looking at the chaotic floor patterns on the ground, faint blurry memories flashed through his mind.
Jing Yuan: "I'll trouble you."
"I'll... try."
The others wanted to help, but Dan Heng said it wasn't needed, so they could only stand by and watch.
After manipulating for a few minutes, certain patterns on the floor lit up.
Dan Heng looked toward the profound root area in the form of an azure dragon deeper in, sensing the seal had weakened a portion.
"It's done."
Jing Yuan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and nodded lightly at him.
March 7th thought for a moment and decided to ask about something.
"General, about Miss Tingyun... you should know by now, right?"
"I received a report from Fu Xuan."
Jing Yuan sighed.
"Phantylia's infiltration runs deep, scheming meticulously. Truly impossible to guard against."
"The Cloud Knights will conduct an investigation afterward. The urgent priority is to first dismantle Phantylia's plot."
Stelle: "General Jing Yuan, I remember when Tingyun was at the Divination Commission, you were there too."
"Even you, an Emanator of the Hunt, couldn't see through her disguise at that time?"
"Or was it that Tingyun hadn't fallen to Phantylia's hands yet... no—"
Recalling the cutscenes from this Trailblaze mission, Stelle finally had explanations for some strange points before.
"Speaking of which, when the Ambrosial Arbor just revived, while we were still at the Divination Commission and passing through the Artisanship Commission, Tingyun's state was already a bit off."
"Oh? How off?" Jing Yuan followed up.
Stelle frowned in thought.
"Back then, she asked me about my... views on Abundance, and some things related to longevity."
"I thought she was testing if I desired longevity. Now it seems that guy couldn't hide her fox tail."
"Or perhaps seeing we were outsiders easy to fool, she wanted to start with me to carry out a defection plan and turn against Luofu?"
Jing Yuan didn't deny Stelle's guess: "Given Phantylia's style, it's not impossible."
Stelle: "Then the time when Miss Tingyun was swapped becomes a mystery..."
Jing Yuan: "Currently no solid leads. It requires investigation. For now, let's head to the next seal location first."
Stelle: "Since it's 'knock and pay respects to the three claws'... that means there are two more left?"
Dan Heng: "Deep in the Ancient Sea Palace Ruins, one left and one right. We'll go left first."
Jing Yuan's mouth suddenly curved up.
"Miss the days of riding the rapids. Dan Heng, can you still cast Cloudhymn magic now?"
"...Cloudhymn magic isn't used like that... fine."
Changing his tune mid-sentence, Dan Heng sighed helplessly.
He formed a sword finger gesture, creating a water current on the ground to lift everyone.
"I'll handle the seal on the right. You just take care of the left."
Hearing the familiar voice, everyone looked toward Leon.
Especially Dan Heng.
"You can break the seals set here?"
"A little. Just treat it as you teaching me when you unlocked the seal earlier." Leon smiled.
In reality, he had related memories of similar seal arrays.
A very, very long time ago, the High Elder of Fanghu personally demonstrated it to him.
Though slightly different from the seals here, it was still the same principle with variations. Breaking it wasn't hard.
"Alright, thanks. Coordinates sent."
Dan Heng trusted Leon, knowing his personality—he wouldn't speak without confidence—and agreed.
Welt: "I'll go with Leon. We'll look out for each other. Dan Heng, please take care of them with General Jing Yuan."
He hadn't forgotten Leon was injured and couldn't let him act alone.
Dan Heng nodded solemnly.
Leon snapped his fingers, creating wind without waves, taking Welt and flying to the right.
Seeing the plot here, Ah Xian couldn't help muttering.
"Suddenly splitting into two paths... nothing will happen, right?"
...
Starting tomorrow, we'll fight Phantylia, Hakimi readers. V Hakimi a bit of free gifts to see the strength~
Won't steal the spotlight from the original characters.