Chapter 561: The Clown
Chapter 561: The Clown
"Huh?"
Instead of a response from Leon, the young Prince Andre saw a hint of pity in his eyes. The childlike version of Prince Andre furrowed his brows and continued, "You should have guessed the situation by now. This world is my creation, painted from my memories. With your current abilities, there's no chance of breaking free and escaping."
"So?"
Leon raised an eyebrow at his words.
"Are you telling me this to make me give up resistance or to surrender to you directly?"
"No need. I don't care about that."
Prince Andre shook his head, then extended his finger towards the emerald-eyed maiden shielded behind Leon. With sincerity, he said, "I only want Felicia. If you return her to me, I can let both of you leave here immediately."
"Brother Andre..."
After hearing Prince Andre's "simple" request, the emerald-eyed maiden's eyes welled up with emotion. She was about to step out from behind Leon, but...
"That's not right, is it?"
Grabbing Felicia by the collar and pulling her back behind him, Leon stared at the young prince with a stern expression. "As a member of the Corlock Royal Family, if you take Felicia as well, the bloodline of the Corlock Royal Family will be severed. The effectiveness of the Watch Palace will diminish, and my mission will be a complete failure."
"That's your problem."
After hearing Leon's response, Prince Andre furrowed his brows slightly, then spoke with a hint of coldness, "The strength or weakness of the Watch Palace has nothing to do with me or the Corlock Royal Family. Neither I nor the Corlock Royal Family have the responsibility to maintain the Watch Palace for the Clean-up Bureau.
As for your mission... Your Excellency Leon, I hope you understand that I'm willing to stand here and discuss this with you, only to avoid fighting in this world and damaging my painting, not because I can't handle you.
Now, I'm willing to let you and Director Edward leave. So, it's best if you agree and stop challenging my patience. Otherwise, the outcome will be something neither of us wants to see."
"Hmm."
Leon nodded noncommittally, grasping the struggling Felicia. With narrowed eyes, he asked, "Compared to completing the Clean-up Bureau's mission, I do value my safety more. This deal isn't impossible, but how can I be sure that after returning Princess Felicia to you, you will truly let me and Director Edward go?
I'm trapped in your painting, and Princess Felicia is my only leverage. If you were just bluffing earlier, what should I do if you take her and immediately attack me and Director Edward?"
Prince Andre furrowed his brows at Leon's words, a hint of impatience in his voice. "Speak frankly. What do you want?"
"I want insurance."
Leon held up the Scission Silver Dagger in his hand and gestured towards Felicia's forehead. Then, with a sincere expression, he proposed, "To ensure you won't go back on your word, I can return half of Princess Felicia to you first. As for the other half, it can wait until I'm safe with Director Edward. Which half do you want, the left or the right?"
"What?!?!"
After hearing Leon's proposal and seeing the glinting dagger at Felicia's forehead, the struggling emerald-eyed maiden froze, not daring to move. She frantically signaled to Prince Andre with her eyes.
No, please! I don't want to be split in half! Don't agree to his terms!
"..."
"If you don't want to talk, that's fine."
After seeing Leon's tight grip on the Scission Silver Dagger, Prince Andre understood that his conditions had been rejected. He remained silent for a moment, then lifted his head, his expressionless face saying, "Although I don't want to damage my painting, since you don't agree to my terms, there's no other way... Goodbye. I hope you won't regret it later."
After uttering a vague threat, the childlike version of Andre trembled slightly, as if something had been drawn out of his body. His eyes, which had just been tinged with anger, returned to their clear and untainted state, free from the pollution of knowledge.
"Huh?"
Looking at Leon in front of him with surprise, the young Andre hugged his ball and scratched his head in confusion. With a puzzled expression, he asked, "Who are you...?"
"Your assassin."
After casually replying to the little Andre, Leon suddenly brandished his knife and rushed forward, grabbing the startled Prince Andre. He stabbed him seven or eight times, making a popping sound.
"Your Highness?!"
Seeing this sudden turn of events, the guard captain who had been watching from a distance was stunned. His eyes turned red, and he scrambled forward, rolling and crawling, trying to rescue Prince Andre from the "assassin's" grasp, to see if there was still hope. However...
"Wow, that's amazing!"
Feeling his body, which had been stabbed seven or eight times but showed no sign of injury, the young prince couldn't help but be amazed. He threw away the ball and clapped his hands vigorously. Then, with an excited expression, he asked, "Are you a magician? Your knife has a mechanism, and when it touches someone, it retracts, or is the blade soft? Am I right?"
"Nope."
Allowing the young prince to touch the blade of the silver scissor dagger, Leon watched as the prince confirmed the condition of the blade. Seeing that the prince's clothes were intact, Leon couldn't help but sigh softly.
Not only was the "canvas" uncut, but even the "content" and "characters" couldn't be cut. Aside from the place where the blade directly touched, any part that was cut would instantly heal.
It seemed that Prince Andre's painting ability truly restrained himself to an extreme degree. Director Edward's judgment was entirely correct; in this kind of battle where he couldn't see the opponent's body, he was indeed unable to handle it.
Just as Leon was secretly worrying, he saw that Andre, who was curiously examining the little knife without any injuries on his body, suddenly rushed towards the burly guard captain. The captain immediately grew flustered and staggered a few steps before leaning against the nearby sculpture for support.
Damn... This magician! From now on, every time I see you, I'll give you a beating!
Glaring at Leon with resentment, the guard captain watched as Andre grabbed Leon's arm and repeatedly stabbed himself with the knife. Taking a few breaths to calm his racing heart, the captain hurried over and earnestly advised, "Your Highness Andre, these people are suspicious. You should..."
"Hmm?"
Hearing the guard captain's advice, the young prince blinked in surprise. Then, pointing at Leon's red, round nose and the colorful paint on his face, he asked in confusion, "What's suspicious about him? Isn't he the clown that my father invited from the circus to liven up the atmosphere?"
"???"
This time, it was Leon's turn to be surprised. As he looked at his own field of vision, he suddenly noticed the large red nose that had appeared. Before he could say anything, he felt his clothes suddenly become heavy.
It was as if an invisible, gigantic paintbrush, dipped in carefully mixed colors, had lightly brushed his clothes, turning his newly-changed black woolen coat into a clown costume with colorful stripes and patches.
Immediately afterward, a long, slightly incoherent spiel from a street performer, accompanied by fairly skilled juggling skills, suddenly flooded into Leon's mind. His originally tense lips relaxed, and he habitually curled up into a bright and formulaic smile.
"..."
Damn it, now I've really become a magician!
(End of Chapter)
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