The quiet, refined air of the VIP section still lingered in the atmosphere after Leo had left, his earlier presence leaving behind a subtle echo of confidence and satisfaction that almost seemed to imprint itself upon the space.
Henry stood there in silence for a moment, his eyes faintly following the path Leo had taken when leaving. His lips parted, and with a slow, resigned exhale, he said in a calm but weary tone, "I guess I will take my leave."
Lord Maximus, the Sword Emperor himself, sat nearby, his gaze steady and unreadable. The sunlight filtering through the tall, narrow windows reflected faintly against his well-chiseled face, casting faint shadows over the sharp contours.
His expression didn't shift much, but there was a firmness in his voice when he spoke, a quiet command wrapped in measured authority.
"Henry," he began, his voice low yet carrying a weight that demanded attention, "collect all information about Leo. Every detail, every trace, every fact you can gather — and once you have it, convert it into a confidential record. No one beyond us should have access to it."
Henry immediately straightened, understanding the significance behind the order. "Understood," he replied without hesitation, nodding with conviction.
The thought crossed his mind — as the newly accepted disciple of the Sword Emperor, Leo was bound to face countless obstacles and challenges in the days to come.
The path ahead of him would not be easy, and those very obstacles would only be amplified by the enemies Lord Maximus had made over the years.
The Sword Emperor's fame and reputation were both a shield and a beacon for trouble. For a disciple to walk in his shadow meant inheriting not only the weight of his prestige but also the danger of those who sought to harm or challenge him. It was clear to Henry that keeping Leo's information under the highest level of secrecy was not merely a precaution — it was a necessary shield for his safety.
Henry's nod carried more than agreement; it carried the recognition of responsibility. The importance of ensuring Leo's background, details, and connections remained hidden was paramount, especially now that he bore the title of the Sword Emperor's disciple.
Without further words, Henry turned to leave, his footsteps fading into the distance. The sound of the door closing softly behind him left the room in a calm silence once more.
Lord Maximus leaned back slightly in his seat, his eyes lingering on the empty doorway through which Leo and now Henry had exited. A faint sigh escaped him, low and thoughtful, almost blending into the stillness of the room.
He thought of Leo — of his potential, his composure, his decisiveness. Plans began forming in his mind, subtle yet deliberate. Training regimens, trials, sparring strategies, and the careful progression of teaching. He was already arranging in his thoughts the future path for his newly accepted disciple.
There was a rare feeling of satisfaction in his chest — a kind of quiet pride. The more he reflected on Leo's strength, the more pleased he became. It wasn't just the raw power or the sharp mind that impressed him, but the way the boy carried himself, with that mix of patience and readiness to act.
A small smile touched the Sword Emperor's lips, faint but genuine. The kind of smile that was rare for him to show.
Meanwhile, far from the solemn stillness of the VIP room, Leo made his way down toward the stage below. The massive arena, which had earlier been filled with spectators, cheers, and echoing voices, now lay silent. The once-roaring energy of the crowd had dissolved, leaving behind only the faint scent of dust and the lingering trace of excitement in the air.
Rows upon rows of seats stood empty, the shadows of the tall walls stretching across the vacant space. The grand stage in the center, earlier alive with action and attention, now stood as a wide expanse of stone and polished surface — a quiet monument to the battles fought here.
As Leo's footsteps carried him toward the ground level, he noticed that nearly everyone had already left. Only two figures remained in the otherwise empty arena, standing together yet clearly not united.
Selena and Roxanne were waiting for him.
The two young women stood with a tension between them that was almost visible, a fine thread of rivalry pulling tight. Their gazes were locked, eyes glaring into one another's with silent challenge. Neither was willing to be the first to turn away.
The moment Leo's figure appeared, descending toward them, the change was immediate. Both their eyes lit up simultaneously, that sharp glare melting into something else entirely — brightness, warmth, and eagerness all at once.
They stepped forward almost in sync, as though some invisible cue had triggered their movements. Neither hesitated.
In the next moment, both of them were at Leo's sides, each reaching for one of his arms.
Selena's slender fingers wrapped gently but firmly around his left arm, her touch careful yet possessive. Roxanne's grip claimed his right arm with a steady firmness, her posture upright as though asserting a silent declaration.
Leo let out a quiet sigh, his breath almost blending with the still air of the arena. His eyes glanced down at the two of them, but there was no real resistance in his expression. He didn't push them away, didn't try to break free.
Selena noticed.
She had been holding a faint worry in her chest ever since the match — a small, quiet fear that Leo might ignore her or push her away entirely. Yet seeing that he did not refuse her touch, her shoulders eased. A relieved breath escaped her lips, and the corners of her mouth curved into a small smile.
Roxanne, however, was far less pleased by this turn of events. Her expression darkened the moment she saw Selena's subtle smile of relief. A faint shadow passed over her features, and her eyes sharpened like blades aimed at her rival.
With a faint tightening of her jaw, Roxanne leaned slightly forward, her words edged with irritation as she spoke through clenched teeth.
"Stay away from my fiancé."
Selena's smile didn't falter, though her eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of defiance flashing within them.
"I'm still Leo's fiancée, even if he cancelled it, okay?" she replied, her tone carrying a puffed-up confidence, her mouth pressing into a slight pout as she spoke.
The shameless nature of her words left Roxanne momentarily speechless. Her lips pressed together in silence, and for a heartbeat, she simply stared at Selena with incredulity.
The air between them tightened again, the earlier glares returning with renewed intensity.
Leo, for his part, said nothing. He knew better.
Experience — and perhaps instinct — told him that stepping into a quarrel between two women was the quickest way to invite unnecessary trouble. In his mind, it was an unshakable truth: once you interfere in a fight between girls or women, you inevitably make yourself the one who suffers the most.
So he allowed them to glare, to exchange unspoken challenges with their eyes, while he simply stood in between, letting their hands cling to his arms without resistance.
It was Roxanne who broke the silence again, shifting her attention from Selena to Leo himself.
"Where did you go?" she asked, her voice steady now, though still carrying the edge of earlier irritation.
Leo glanced at her briefly before answering in his usual calm tone.
"I went to meet Sword Emperor Maximus," he said, "and I became his disciple."
The effect was immediate.
Both Roxanne and Selena's faces shifted from their earlier rivalry to something entirely different — happiness, pride, and even admiration. Their eyes lit up, and they looked at him as though the announcement had elevated him even further in their eyes.
The title of "disciple of the Sword Emperor Maximus" was no ordinary claim. Maximus was not only a legendary figure but also a name spoken with reverence and awe across the lands.
For their man to stand as the chosen disciple of such a figure was no small achievement. Their expressions reflected it — both were proud, both were pleased, and both seemed to forget their quarrel for the moment as they looked toward him with genuine admiration.
Leo caught their reactions and sighed inwardly.
From the very beginning, he had never truly wanted to become Sword Emperor Maximus's disciple. The thought sat like a quiet weight in his mind. He knew better than most what such a title entailed — dangerous enemies, higher stakes, and challenges far beyond ordinary levels.
His mind drifted briefly to memories of his previous life. He recalled Alex, the protagonist of that timeline, and how Alex had survived dangers that should have been fatal. Leo knew the truth — it wasn't pure skill or unbreakable resilience. It was the protective layer of the so-called "Protagonist Halo" and the shield of destiny itself.
Alex had that kind of protection.
Leo did not.
And yet, he had accepted the offer.
There were two reasons for that.
First — to prevent Alex from becoming stronger in this life. If Leo took this opportunity, Alex could not.
Second — the Sword Emperor Maximus possessed a technique that Leo had long considered invaluable. A technique worth the risk.
That was why, despite the dangers, despite his own reluctance, he had agreed to take the title of disciple.
Still… a part of him couldn't deny the anticipation of learning under such a figure, of gaining power beyond what he currently possessed.
After speaking his thoughts inwardly, Leo allowed the quarrel between Selena and Roxanne to fade into the background of his attention. The empty arena's air felt cooler now, with the echoes of earlier cheers replaced by the faint hum of silence.
Without another glance at their sharp glares, Leo shifted his steps toward the wide exit archway. His pace was steady, his presence calm, though the soft press of both their grips against his arms reminded him that neither intended to let go.
Selena, holding to his left, wore a small, satisfied smile that curved her lips faintly upward. Her head tilted just slightly toward him as though savoring the closeness, her steps perfectly in rhythm with his.
On his right, Roxanne's expression was not one of calm contentment but of a more possessive satisfaction. Her chin was lifted, her posture subtly angled as though making sure Selena could clearly see that she was just as close to Leo.
Both of them seemed to be holding onto their places with equal determination, and yet the tension between them had lessened, replaced — for now — by a mutual satisfaction in accompanying him.
Leo, with a faint exhale, let them be. His eyes moved forward, focused on the exit ahead, the vast corridor beyond promising a way back to quieter spaces.
Step after step, the sound of their movement was soft against the stone flooring, the gentle rhythm matching the fading glow of daylight streaming through the high openings along the arena walls.
The exit came nearer. The vast wooden doors stood slightly open, allowing a sliver of the outside world's light to spill inward in long beams.
Both Selena and Roxanne walked with him in silence now, their earlier arguments tucked away behind smiles — smiles that carried a shared undertone of victory in simply being here at his side.
From the look in their eyes, both were content, satisfied to walk out of the empty stadium this way.
Somewhere far above, in the tall VIP section from which Leo had earlier descended, Lord Maximus had risen from his seat. The room was quiet around him now, but he did not immediately leave.
Instead, his steps carried him toward the tall windows on the far side, the polished frames opening outward to a view of the arena grounds below.
From here, he could see Leo's departing figure. He could see his newly accepted disciple flanked by two young women, each clinging to him with a closeness that carried its own message.
For a brief moment, the faintest curve of a smile touched Maximus's lips.
In that quiet, his thoughts drifted — not to tactics, training plans, or the dangers of the future — but to something much simpler.
He remembered his own youth. He remembered the first time he had met his wife, the way the world had felt both vivid and light in those days. The way small moments seemed worth holding onto.
A sigh escaped him — not one of regret, but of quiet longing. There was a kind of envy in his eyes as he watched Leo, though it was the gentle envy of someone looking at a season of life they had already passed.
"It is good to be young," he murmured under his breath, his voice carrying only to himself.
For a few seconds longer, he let himself stand there, enjoying the rare stillness, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. The sunset painted the horizon in warm colors — streaks of gold, deep orange, and fading crimson.
The glow cast a soft light over the scene below, illuminating Leo's figure until it began to disappear from sight. The two girls beside him moved in step, their forms slipping into the lengthening shadows near the exit until they were gone from view.
Maximus remained still a moment longer, his eyes on the now-empty pathway where they had been. The quiet felt heavier now that the sight was gone, though it still held its peace.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention away from the window.
Henry returned, his presence steady and professional as always. There was a clarity in his voice when he spoke.
"All of Leo's information is now confidential," he said directly, each word precise. "No record of his background or current details can be accessed without passing through the highest level of clearance."
Maximus nodded once, accepting the report without visible surprise. It was what he had ordered, after all — but hearing it confirmed brought a measure of reassurance.
Henry continued, his tone unchanged but carrying the efficiency of someone moving on to the next matter. "Our vehicle is ready outside. We should return."
The Sword Emperor didn't speak immediately. He gave one last glance toward the view outside, as though marking the fading light in his mind, then turned from the window.
His steps were measured, the quiet authority in them as natural as the way he carried his sword at his side. He passed Henry without further words, his decision to leave made without hesitation.
The two left the quiet VIP room together, the echo of their steps following them down the corridor. The tall doors of the stadium's upper entrance opened outward to the evening air, where the vehicle awaited.
The air outside was cooler now, touched with the crispness of the approaching night. The last traces of sunlight filtered through the horizon, bathing the streets in a mix of soft gold and encroaching shadow.
Maximus stepped into the vehicle first, his posture composed as always, settling into the seat with the unspoken ease of someone long accustomed to command.
Henry joined him, closing the door firmly behind them.
Without delay, the driver set them into motion, the quiet hum of the vehicle blending with the distant sounds of the city winding down for the day.
The stadium fell behind them, its towering walls gradually shrinking from view, until it was nothing more than a silhouette against the deepening sky.
The journey was uneventful, the quiet between Maximus and Henry filled not with awkwardness but with the kind of stillness shared by those who understood that words were not always necessary.
Soon, the familiar outline of Maximus's residence appeared ahead, the structure standing with the same commanding presence as its owner.
The vehicle came to a smooth halt before the entrance.
Without a word, Maximus stepped out, his boots meeting the ground with a steady sound. The evening air moved softly around him, carrying with it the faint scents of the surrounding gardens.
Henry followed, the two entering the quiet halls of the house together.
The day's events — from the match, to Leo's decision, to the sealing of his records — had all passed into memory now. But their weight remained, each detail a step toward a future neither could fully see yet.
Somewhere in the city, Leo was walking toward his own path, with both Selena and Roxanne at his side.
Here, in the stillness of his home, Maximus prepared himself for what would come next.
The night deepened beyond the walls.
The chapter came to its close.
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End of Chapter
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