“That was fast,” Leon said.

“Way too fast... I heard that some people could contact the Emperor directly without even cellphones.” Ren massaged his eyebrows after sighing. “It isn’t something that can be used frequently... but I should have expected this would happen. We just cleared a difficult dungeon in half a day, after all.”

“Shall I escape?” Leon asked. “What are the chances of him going to execute me?

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Ren said. “Although it is not much, basically, you alone secured a source of a powerful and magic hide to our country. The Frozen Dire Wolves hide can absorb the impact of bullets aside from those bonuses I spoke of earlier. If you feel insecure, you should escape, but…”

“You and your men will be penalized for it,” Leon said.

“… Yeah,” Ren hesitated.

Leon couldn’t help but sigh. Maybe he and Ren were just overreacting, but in the end, they could be walking toward their deaths if they choose the wrong option. Japan had no allies, so Ren couldn’t escape to anywhere, and he also didn’t have the power to cross the ocean.

“What to do?”

In practical terms, Ren owed more to Leon that the inverse. So, Leon could leave Japan with a clear conscience that he didn’t owe him anything, but he would feel a bad taste in his mouth since his actions would end up causing Ren’s execution. However, he could avoid that if he plays his hand correctly. It would be troublesome, but it was better than act rashly and end up causing meaningless deaths.

“Well, let’s go to Tokyo then.” Leon declared.

“Are you sure?” Ren asked.

“Yeah, in the end, I have to see with my own eyes if our countries can or can’t become allies,” Leon explained. “If things go south, I will make sure you won’t suffer any repercussions.”

“… You have my thanks.” Ren bowed his head deeply.

Leon would make sure to just escape without causing deaths because there was a chance that once he returns home, the people in power there might send him back to Japan to be executed to save their faces. Being a fugitive was better than be a fugitive and a murderer.

“Anyway, we don’t need to go today, right?” Leon asked. “Let’s rest for the day and spend the night practicing your magic.”

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“You will teach us?” Ren asked, visibly surprised.

“Yeah, in one single night, you guys can’t learn a lot,” Leon explained. “But if you manage to learn fire manipulation, your fire attacks will become stronger. By the time the soldiers run out of cores to use, they should have enough power on their own to fight without relying on such tools.”

When night came, Leon, Ren, Ryoko, and the soldiers entered the dungeon again. This time they would only train instead of hunt, that being said. Frozen Dire Wolves appeared frequently, so Leon took care of them. Learning how to control fire in a cold place was difficult, but since Leon could create fire, that wasn’t a problem. In the end, only half of the soldiers managed to learn Fire Manipulation. However, they could teach each other, so Leon’s job was already done there.

While Leon was having breakfast, Ren was giving the last instructions to the soldiers who would stay there. Ryoko would be in charge of things, so he made sure to have a serious talk with her. Ren planned to talk with Emperor, returned to the port to inform of their success, and eventually return to that dungeon to help until they have enough personnel to maintain the dungeon. Since the trip would take more than a few days, it was necessary to instruct his soldiers accordingly.

Usually, they would use the cargo truck, but with Leon, that wasn’t necessary. They traveled to Sapporo using a single steel plate. Although their arrival made some people frown, Leon and the others ignored that. There Ren made a contract with a group of merchants who would bring the goods of the dungeon to the city every day, they would receive a discount for buying things from them, but it was a small price. After that, Leon and Ren flew to Tokyo.

“This is… a weird way to travel.” Ren frowned. “Just make sure not to land in the middle of Tokyo, okay? We don’t need to make a commotion before talking with the Emperor.”

“Got it,” Leon said.

Since they had to land outside the city, it was already night when Leon and Ren arrived. The soldiers who protected the boundaries of Tokyo were already aware of their arrival, but since Leon and Ren came on foot, they lost some time proving their identity. Despite that, the guards escorted both to the palace because they received the orders to do so as soon as they appear.

Ren was tense as the imperial guards were on guard and ready to act if Leon tried something. It looked like Ren had never been summoned by the Emperor himself, and he only met him alongside the other advisors. Leon didn’t know much about the imperial family, but thanks to Ren, he knew that the palace had been reconstructed to also serve as a fortress if the need arises. It was the only building in the city that was walled, but it didn’t look it could block a dragon’s Fire Breath, it was only made of stone, after all.

Regardless, the building was massive, and due to the number of soldiers, it felt like it was more of a headquarters than a palace. Despite that, everything was very clean and traditional. While Leon and Ren were being escorted across the palace/fortress. Leon saw a queue, and at the beginning of that queue, Leon saw a gorgeous young woman wearing traditional clothes that a priest would usually wear in some events. She looked so frail that one could think for a moment she was made of glass, her long black hair, red lips, and delicate appearance made Leon feel mesmerized, but Leon looked away when he saw that she had noticed him and she seemed pretty angry after noticing that he was American.