"First, the contest for the energy vein. Well, I'm already an investor with a 1% share, so I am already involved in the war even though I haven't made any contributions to it yet. One thing you guys have guessed correctly is that I've been dispatched to Arcadia for the sake of gaining experience. That was supposed to be kept a secret, but that would be impossible now that a batch of people from opposing factions to my house are making an appearance."
"In fact, you can consider Arcadia as a private training ground for my faction, but the opposing factions are trying to dispatch secret forces to throw Arcadia into chaos, and by extension, eliminate me without any evidence. However, they're too naive, and for multiple reasons."
Lexus wanted to interrupt Leonardo multiple times now, but he held back his tongue because this information is a first for him. Even though Xavier already confessed to being of opposing factions to Leonardo, that man didn't go into detail. However, since Leonardo is willing to take the extra mile, listening wouldn't hurt.
Seeing that no one had any intentions of interrupting, Leonardo continued, "They're naive because even if they found me, they wouldn't be able to dispatch any true powerhouses. At most, they'll be able to dispatch a second-cycle saint, and their numbers will be limited. As for the saints they dispatch, it would be nigh impossible for them to advance into the third-cycle or high sainthood as their laws and essence won't conform to this planet."
"As for me, I'm in my rightful training grounds, I'm not limited in terms of power if I was to call for reinforcements to aid me. However, I have my pride, and so I wouldn't send a message back to my house asking for help. No matter how many people they send, knowing that their absolute limit is the second-cycle of sainthood, I'm not afraid."
"Now most of you will probably think something like, let the two tigers fight it out, and some of you might think something like, I'll support one of the two and collect the profits later. Well, let me be clear on one thing; from wherever that tiger came from, there will be a second, third, fourth, and so on."
"If you so foolishly believe these tigers will be satisfied with simply taking my life and calling it a day; you're dead wrong. First, since I can come all the way here, I of course have my way to safely make it back. Second, their target isn't simply me, but the faction behind me; I'm simply someone caught in the crossfire."
ραпdα Йᴏνêl(сòm) "If they wish to deal my faction a blow, then their aim isn't me, but Arcadia as a whole. They will treat this planet like a planet of natural resources; they'll pillage, kill, humiliate, and utterly demolish Arcadia's foundations to the point they render it useless to my faction. Although I'm fierce, only my retaliations are so, I never take the initiative."
"Everything I've done, although excessive, was with the aim to establish a very simple foundation; don't fucking provoke me, don't fucking test my bottom line, and don't fucking target my close ones. As for the other pack of tigers, I don't even feel like wasting my breath on them."
Leonardo swept his eyes across the crowd, especially lingering on the representatives from House Regalia, who lowered their heads in shame and anger.
No one would refute Leonardo because as he said, all of his actions were done as an act of retaliation.
"I am but a businessman who wanted a successful business empire, but some fools wanted to constantly test my bottom line and take advantage of my kindness. As for the other factions, they won't even bother showing their kindness. They will directly take drastic actions and enforce their policies. If the fight between their factions and myself escalate to the extent of alarming my house, one of two endings awaits you."
"First, the conservative ending, their people will be annihilated and they will withdraw silently. Honestly, I'm not looking forward to the second ending, which includes flipping this entire planet into an open war zone for multiple factions. If it comes to that… sigh, let's hope it doesn't get to that point."
Everyone tensed up, most of them couldn't even comprehend the lengths of Leonardo's explanation.
The light viel on the mountain peak lifted to reveal the three high crowns who now looked composed and dignified. It was Queen Adeline, the lowest in status and somewhat more familiar with Leonardo, who spoke first.
"If this planet is done for, doesn't it spill doom for your factions as well?"
"What?" Leonardo looked up, confused.
What has this planet got to do with whether or not they survive?
Now it was everyone's turn to be surprised. Queen Adeline furrowed her brows, "Aren't you from the mythical lands beyond the Sky Mountains?"
Leonardo went blank for a moment before snorting coldly, then he involuntarily laughed.
"Haha, you honestly think so? Of course not! How can my factions treat an entire planet as a training ground if they're natives? I descended from what your history books describe as the higher realms, a completely separate dimension from this backwater planet."
Leonardo shook his head, sighing, "That's why I said if this place became an open war zone, you all would be lucky to survive the aftershocks, let alone the planet. Your so-called sovereigns are like ants in my faction. Although divinities can't descend due to the world barrier, simply dispatching a few half-step divinities is enough to utterly wipe the existence of life from this planet."
Queen Adeline and the rest drew in a sharp breath. She shared a glance with the other two high crowns, thinking that the spirit guardian must also be a half-step divinity if that was the case.
However, the others didn't get to feel Aria's killing intent, making them oblivious to her existence and thus prone to disbelief and a bout of instinctive denial of the harsh reality.
"Impossible!" Shouted a young prince from House Regalia, pointing his trembling finger at Leonardo while he did so.
He exclaimed, "If your background was truly so great, how come you're nothing more than a pitiful non-cultivator? An ant! I can swat you dead with the turn of my hand if it wasn't for your bodyguards! What would you need training for?!"
"Exactly! This doesn't make any sense!"
More and more voices of displeasure echoed out. As for the more experienced, wise bunch, they shook their heads.
"Just because you can't sense it, it doesn't mean that he isn't a cultivator," Lexus interjected in a cold voice before looking back toward Leonardo, "Right?"
Leonardo rolled his eyes in agreement. However, seeing Queen Adeline and Princess Veronica's expectant gazes, and remembering his promise to the latter, he snorted.
"If my master gave me the chance to explain myself and that I've already comprehended my martial intent when in my mortal first-cycle, I wouldn't be stuck here for five years. As for why I'm not flaunting my powers around? That's because the will of this planet, what you people call Goddess Arcadia, is afraid of my martial intent."
"Blasphemy!" Lexus raged, about to pounce, but he was stopped by Queen Adeline who looked back at Leonardo with confusion in her eyes.
Leonardo sighed, "Fine, I'll open your eyes and demonstrate!"
Leonardo then lazily snapped his fingers and a domain of absolute desolation erupted to envelop the entire mountain peak for a split second.
Within that split second, the world lost all color, life lost all meaning, and everyone felt as though they were a group of ants with their powers stripped off their bodies.
That world of utter desolation only lasted for a brief split second where nihility, oblivion, death, destruction, decay, and everything in between overlapped only to be shattered by a bolt of lightning that ripped the domain apart.
When the domain shattered, light returned to the world with a touch of rain and a cloudy sky. Everyone felt as though they'd woken up from an illusion, some people had even dropped to their knees from utter shock.
Lexus, Princess Veronica, and the three high crowns looked in shock at the lazy Leonardo on his throne. He rested his cheek on his right fist's knuckles with an 'as expected' expression on his face.
"See? The will of this planet is forcibly suppressing my cultivation base due to its contradictory nature to the laws of Arcadia. Our relationship is like water and fire, positive and negative, life and death; for one to flourish, the other must decline. Even if I want to increase my cultivation, this planet won't allow it out of fear and an instinctive rejection."
Leonardo waved his hand dismissively as though nothing big happened. Then, he said, "Oh, we have deviated from our main objective; dealing with the pestilence that is the opposing factions. Honestly, the best thing you can do is support neither parties, and the second best thing you could do is support me. After all, they are prancing around in my faction's territory."
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