Chapter 21: The True Examination

"I can wait and hesitate no longer..."

With yet another victim laid out before him, Leon was not as calm as he appeared. He knew that venting his anger on an object that could not feel it was meaningless; the malicious killer in the shadows was simply waiting for him to succumb to impotent rage. He knew that in this game of strategy, he ought to accumulate more chips and strengthen his pieces to increase his odds of victory.

But he was done waiting.

"...Let us begin." Leon had canceled all the preparations that were originally intended to take several days. He did not want to see any more children with eyes that could not be closed.

"I will get straight to the point: standard search and patrol methods are fundamentally incapable of producing results. In this crime-ridden dock district, that murderer isn't even the most evil thing lurking here..."

It was a pessimistic assessment, yet one that had been accepted as reality from the start. Finding him was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Patrolling and hoping for luck was futile; the perpetrator clearly knew their routes. As for using bait? That had been the most viable strategy, but it required too long a timeframe and relied on the target’s impulsive stupidity. The closer Leon got to this cunning and rampant killer, the more he realized the man was unlikely to take the bait.

In the cramped inn room, with the task force’s leader, deputy, and an additional member making decisions, Leon voiced his plan for the first time. To achieve his ends, he did not refuse Larry’s involvement. He needed to leverage her power—both in terms of combat capability and her social status.

"Then why have you been patrolling all these days?" Larry asked, confused.

"First, to survey the surroundings and determine her modus operandi. Second, our presence serves as a reminder for the children to be wary of strangers..."

While there was some truth to that, it was not the whole story. The real reason was that the methods required for his plan necessitated an alibi. Keeping his movements visible was a standard way to lull an opponent into a false sense of security.

"Indeed, finding a needle in a haystack isn't realistic, but I previously thought you were taking them on patrols primarily to train their abilities," Talia nodded, always ready to provide a justification for Leon.

"...That is one aspect." Leon tilted his head. These two little followers were useless for anything other than running errands; they were simply too green.

Returning to the matter at hand, now that the decision was made, Leon finally revealed his plan—a scheme that violated at least several local criminal statutes.

"This is a crime! You—you are being unjust, this is illegal!"

Larry, the bystander, was the first to lose her composure. She could not believe that the man she had recently viewed as the model of a knight was now proposing a plan that combined murder, looting, and assault—multiple grave felonies.

"Although it's absurd... it actually seems possible," Talia said, seriously considering the potential.

"It is the only way when all other ways are blocked. Traditional methods simply cannot eliminate that trouble..."

The facts had already proven that the villain was exceptionally adept at hiding and cunning to an extreme degree.

"In my view, all problems stem from insufficient firepower and manpower. If we had a few full-strength knight orders patrolling the dock district, security wouldn't be an issue. After a few months, the crime rate here would mirror that of the aristocratic district. But we don't have that."

"Or if we had hundreds of mage familiars monitoring every street and alley, we could catch him the moment he dared to strike... but the reality is that we have a single-digit number of people. Even if we patrolled around the clock, the blind spots would remain nearly infinite."

From the start, Leon never believed conventional methods would work. The human resources were too scarce. Reality was sometimes just a simple matter of comparing "size." Just as he didn't believe personal effort alone could improve the status quo of the dock district—a quagmire accumulated over countless years. To truly clean it up, a top-to-bottom purge and the long-term intervention of massive armed forces would be required for any chance of a complete turnaround.

"To realize this plan, we may need help from the nobility... Larry, can I count on you?"

The female knight froze instantly. She could not answer; this clearly violated her sense of justice. Leon did not expect an immediate response, so he turned his gaze to Talia.

"At the same time, we need help from some local snakes—trustworthy ones... I am an outsider here, so I must rely on whether you have any candidates."

At that moment, Talia and Larry simultaneously thought of one person—that face which looked so honest and simple. Leon nodded, not intending to pry; as long as the result was acceptable, he would not question the process.

"Next, we need more reliable people, combatants with sufficient strength. It’s a pity, if only we could get our hands on some Gauntlets of Giant Strength..."

Such a bold plan, spoken so plainly—it suggested Leon still trusted these two. Or perhaps, he trusted something else entirely. The plan needed executioners and more participants. By nightfall, in the dream realm...

"Directly attacking the slave market? He’s insane! Does he know which churches and great nobles are behind it?!"

The night was deep, and the plotting had only just begun. In the opened Dreamland, the ancient heroic souls listened to the story with serene detachment, while below, the candidates were in an uproar. To the candidates, the actions of the former Oath Knight could no longer be described as extreme; it was absolute madness.

"To hunt down one criminal, he is provoking hundreds or thousands of others... Sir Leon is truly a man of utmost sincerity and nobility. He has completely disregarded his own life." Larry still had not decided whether to participate, but that did not prevent her from evaluating him.

This comment made Leon, who was eavesdropping from above, struggle to keep a straight face. *Wait a second, I’m the one who killed your brother, even if you had little affection for him, you can’t change your tune this quickly.* Though it felt good to be praised, the atmosphere felt a bit off.

"Mm-hmm, you think so too? You really have an eye for people, even if he is a saintly knight who perseveres despite his physical disabilities..." This one was a bit too much of a fan-girl.

"Attacking the dock district’s slave market and framing the Tail-Hunter to muddy the waters, forcing the powers behind the slave market to dig out that rat in the gutter... as crazy as it is, it actually seems feasible."

Bone-Crusher Dimon pondered. Come to think of it, there was a real chance. As someone from the bottom of the docks, he truly understood the arrogance of the slave market... they didn't need evidence. The mere fact that a provocation existed was enough for them to make an example of someone, let alone a madman who was already threatening their business. Compared to them, the lives consumed by the Tail-Hunter were merely a rounding error.

"I can sense the personal vendetta in this."

"I can too... he must have been unhappy with that slave market for a long time."

"For him, this is a chance to kill two birds with one stone."

Although the candidates reached a consensus that this was likely mixed with the man's own agenda, considering the possibilities, it was indeed the most likely to succeed. The dock district was huge and filled with hidden dangers; finding a lone wolf criminal who might have stealth capabilities was incredibly difficult.

"...He says there are very few cases in this world that are truly unsolvable, only that there is a lack of sufficient resources. If a few full-strength Oath Knight orders were to come, let alone the dock district, the security of the entire Radiance City would be scrubbed clean."

The new fan-girl relayed his words directly.

"When necessary, one must use extreme measures. Chaotic times call for harsh codes..."

With the current strength of the task force and the candidates, let alone cleaning the dock district, even patrolling day and night would not turn up the killer in the shadows. Who in the dock district, or even in all of Radiance City, had that kind of power...

"...Though I hate to admit it, the great nobles and churches behind the slave market are the only ones with that power."

As long as they found a way to make the slave market suffer enough losses and lock that hatred onto the Tail-Hunter, they might truly flush out the killer within days. Those people were fully capable of hiring top-tier hunters.

"He says, when justice is insufficient, let evil fight evil."

A solution had emerged, but it required sufficient executors and an orderly plan. For now, Leon could only present the scheme; whether it could be completed depended on how much effort the people before him were willing to exert.

How to gather intelligence, and what to do to make the slave market fall into a rage.

"I can do something. The gangs I deal with all have some connection to them... in fact, most gangs in the dock district have some profit-sharing with them," Dimon said directly.

How should this rage be guided, and how could they be driven into a frenzy to charge directly at the Tail-Hunter?

"I can try... but don't hold your breath, my condition isn't great," Dragon-Hunter sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.

Perhaps some pressure and public opinion guidance within aristocratic circles were needed.

"I will talk to my father. That serial killer caused my brother's fall and humiliated the honor of Labor..." Larry seemed to have had a breakthrough. Whether she would participate in illegal acts was one thing, but her father would likely not refuse when it came to matters of family honor.

Right, combat support was also needed.

"I have already acquired the Gauntlets of Giant Strength and the holy-power artifacts. I will have someone trade them to you..." Dragon-Hunter said directly. She saw that the other party was in desperate need, and it was likely directly related to the case.

"Thank you." At that moment, let alone Talia, the others were also surprised. Dragon-Hunter had significant reach; to find such hard-to-locate items so quickly.

"...These days, the 'leeks' are quite self-aware, arranging everything for themselves."

Hearing others praise and complain about him to his face, Leon’s feeling was truly subtle. But seeing them return to idle chatter, he decided it was time. Leon gave a light cough, drawing everyone's attention.

"It sounds interesting, but let's talk about business. Some of you have already verified my authenticity, haven't you..."

The plain words spoken by the ancient hero had the power to command the room and seize everyone's attention. He rubbed the back of his head, looking somewhat helpless.

"...Perhaps I don't have many days left. In such a short time, it is difficult for me to teach you anything."

Reality was not a legendary novel. What could a few days of teaching accomplish? Even Leon could not be certain if he would still be able to open the "Hall of Heroes" once the Heroic Soul card expired.

"So, prove yourselves. Prove that one of you is qualified to inherit my power..."

His right hand summoned a halo of light—a fragment of memory, or rather, a dream.

"...Strive to live."

With a snap of his fingers, the others in the dream hall plunged into a deeper dream.

This was a segment of Suer’s past, a memory from his long history of warfare... This time, he specifically chose a battlefield belonging to a follower of a malevolent god of life. The village had been corrupted, the villagers had mutated, and a large force of cultists and their legions were on their way.

Would the desperate raise their blades, or try to save them with their backs against the wall? If they lingered too long, the enemy army would catch up. Faced with such a predicament, how would they perform... Leon actually didn't care much! In fact, to him, this was merely a reference among references; he wasn't truly concerned with what was happening here.

He was even too lazy to overly focus on their performance in the dream, patiently waiting for the result. In the dream, they would receive a virtual inheritance of heroic souls. Leon was curious to see to what extent they could utilize Suer’s power... but this was still a trap he had laid. This was actually an inheritance template from the Heroic Soul Compendium, a proven and effective trial. If Brother Suer had been serious, it would have been Leon facing the trial.

"Let's see if they can understand where the real test lies..."

He continued to enjoy his barbecue. For some reason, he found himself growing fond of these feasts under the stars. Perhaps this had been Suer’s favorite leisure back in the day.

He didn't have to wait long. Even with time compressed, they didn't stay in the dream for very long.

The first to exit was Larry. Her cause of death was believing the cultists' lies, being reported by the villagers, and dying miserably. The second to die was Dragon-Hunter, who tried to lead the villagers to escape and was slaughtered by the army. The third to die was Talia, who was dug out during a purge despite her best efforts to resist.

The one who lived the longest was the weakest—Dimon. He even managed to blend in with the cultists, passing on information and disrupting their deployment.

Just as Leon expected, such short-term dream trials didn't reveal much... how long they lived had little to do with their abilities, but was directly related to their experience. In this scenario, possessing supernatural power actually made one more likely to be unearthed. Dimon lived to the end precisely because he realized it was a dream and didn't hesitate to embrace "evil," experiencing the taste of the malevolent god’s power.

Then, unsurprisingly, those who died earlier saw the actions of the one who died later. After waking, Larry and Dimon immediately began to clash.

One cursed the other for siding with evil, while the other called them a "waste" for dying the fastest. Both were speaking the truth about the reality of the situation, and they tore into each other with fierce accusations.

"How did it feel to die?" Leon was indifferent. Since he knew it was a dream, how they chose was their own business; being able to use the resources at hand to survive was actually an advantage. As for the sliver of Suer’s inheritance they held... a first or second-rank knight was truly useless against a disaster of this magnitude. Once exposed, they died even faster—like Larry, who died first.

As the character with the highest combat stats, the one who should have been the first or second most capable, she died the fastest and most meaninglessly. Her knight abilities, combined with the diluted heroic soul inheritance, were actually quite good. Even with this power, they weren't enough to change the situation, and after a short experience of its intensity, there was no talk of mastery.

"Terrible."

"Unpleasant."

"I... I... I failed."

The "winner," Dimon, was silent. He didn't know how the heroic soul would view his choice; after all, he had indeed crossed the line.

Leon didn't offer an evaluation; he truly didn't care about the outcome. Reality and dreams were two different things. He was looking more at the future... the results of such a trial were merely choices made based on their current identities, abilities, and states. A heroic soul inheritance, even the diluted version Leon possessed, could still fundamentally change everything.

So, what was it that he valued most... at least for now, as the examiner, he could not reveal it.

"If there are no questions, we will end early tonight. After all, you are all very busy, aren't you..."

Just as Leon was about to declare the end, Dragon-Hunter asked her question.

"...I heard your sword can tear through magic."

"Yes."

"But just now in the dream..."

"That requires long practice. It’s a type of advanced ability."

Secret Sword: Falsehood Deconstruction was Suer’s specialized "Sword of Severing," targeting the essence of elements. It was effective against spellcasters and supernatural magical beings alike.

"Then, is your sword effective against Dragon-language magic?"

Leon went silent. *You, a dragon-descendant, what kind of grudge do you have against dragons?* But, as it happened, it was indeed effective. The dragons of this world were among the most ancient species, known as the Children of Elements, born with the innate power to command magic and elements.

"Yes, my sword has techniques specifically for elements and dragons..."

Following Leon’s signal, the background wall of the Heroic Soul Hall displayed combat memories from the "Beast-Slaying" and "Law-Breaking" systems.

"Please, you must teach me. I am willing to pay any price." Seeing the giant dragon being decapitated in the background, the young girl's dragon-like eyes lit up.

Dragon-Hunter made her request earnestly, but received no response from Leon. Standing from Suer’s perspective, this kind of blind, obsessive hatred—even extending to an entire race—was grounds for a serious penalty.

[Satisfaction: -15%]

*Don't even think about it. You're beyond saving; you're already out.*

Looking around, seeing no more questions from the others, Leon yawned, and the dream began to shatter. But this did not mean the candidates' work was finished. In fact, the crux of their tasks was always outside the dream.

The next morning, at dawn.

In a cafe in the South Gate district, the coffee cups had been empty for a long time. A noble lady waited for a long-awaited guest.

"You... are you the Dragon-Hunter? You look a bit different from what I expected. Should I say long time no see?" The female leopard-person finally chose to meet in person.

"Perhaps," the Pearl of the Radiance City, Viscountess Sallyman Sudar, looked somewhat embarrassed. She truly hadn't expected the person she agreed to meet to be the female officer she had met once before. She had witnessed her greatest black history—that fiasco of a broken engagement.

"This is as agreed upon..." The supernatural items in the box under the table were the foundation of their meeting.

Indeed, the one who came in place of Dragon-Hunter was Leon’s fiancée, Viscountess Sudar. Her expression was now incredibly awkward. They were not the same kind of people, and with the memory of that embarrassing past, conversation was impossible.

But burdened by her mission, Sallyman Sudar bit the bullet and asked. At this moment, her hand gripped the necklace at her throat.

"Lady Shadow-Cutter... it seems you hold some exclusive intelligence that you are trying to hide from me?" A universal technique, combined with certain abilities, always yielded some results. When you ask someone what they are hiding from you, often the next moment, the person will happen to think of the point.

Sure enough, Talia’s expression changed.

An hour later, in a large house on the outskirts of the city, Viscountess Sudar hurried into a room to see the real "Dragon-Hunter."

"Your Highness, the real examination hall is in reality! It is highly likely that the Heroic Soul has an examiner in reality, and he is the one who will make the final selection..."

The test question was never in the dream. The "Tail-Severing Case" was a test question given by Leon to the candidates, and also one given by Suer to Leon.

Facing the stunned Highness—her political backer, the last scion of this fallen royal family, the runaway little princess—she gritted her teeth and spoke the even more embarrassing truth.

"...That examiner should be my fiancé."