Chapter 561

Leon didn’t respond, but instead, a hint of regret was seen in his eyes. Young Prince Andre couldn’t help but furrow his brows and then continued to speak:

“Regarding the current situation, you should be able to guess part of it. This world before us is what I drew based on my memories. With your current abilities, there’s no way you can break out of it.”

“So what?”

Upon hearing this, Leon raised an eyebrow.

“You telling me all this, are you preparing for me to give up resistance or directly surrender to you?”

“No, I don’t care about those things.”

Prince Andre shook his head and then pointed at the jade-eyed maiden protected behind Leon, saying sincerely:

“I only want Phelia. If you return her to me, I can let you leave here directly.”

“Andre big brother…”

After hearing Prince Andre’s “simple” request, a trace of moved expression appeared in the jade-eyed maiden’s eyes, and she was about to step out from behind Leon. However…

“This isn’t good, right?”

Grabbing hold of Phelia’s collar and pulling her back behind him, Leon stared at the young prince’s green eyes and said: “There are only two of you left from the Crocodile Royal Family. If she also falls into your hands, once the bloodline of the Crocodile Royal Family is severed, the effectiveness of the Watchtower Palace will decrease, and my mission would completely fail.”

“That’s your problem.”

After hearing Leon’s response, Prince Andre slightly frowned and then coldly said: “The strength of the Watchtower Palace has nothing to do with me or the Crocodile Royal Family. Neither I nor the Crocodile Royal Family have any responsibility to maintain its effectiveness for the Clearing Bureau.

As for your mission… Lord Leon, I hope you understand that I’m willing to negotiate with you here just because I don’t want to fight in this world and dirty my painting. It’s not because I lack the ability to deal with you.

Now, if I’m willing to let you and Director Edward go, you’d better agree. Don’t continue testing my patience, otherwise the final result will be something neither of us wants to see.”

“Hmm.”

Nodding noncommittally, Leon grabbed the struggling Phelia and narrowed his eyes to ask: “Compared to completing the Clearing Bureau’s mission, I indeed care more about my own safety. This trade isn’t impossible, but how can I be sure that after returning Princess Phelia to you, you will really let me and Director Edward go?

After all, I’m trapped in the world you painted, and Princess Phelia is my only trump card. If you were bluffing earlier and immediately attack me and Director Edward after taking her, what should I do?”

Prince Andre frowned upon hearing this, somewhat impatiently saying:

“Alright, what do you want to do?”

“I need some insurance.”

Leon raised the [Silver Knife] in his hand and gestured it near Phelia’s forehead, then sincerely suggested: “To ensure you won’t renege on your promise, I can first return half of Princess Phelia to you, and the other half when I and Director Edward are safe… Hmm… Do you want the left half or the right half?”

“?!!!”

After hearing Leon’s suggestion, seeing the shiny dagger near her forehead, the struggling jade-eyed maiden suddenly calmed down, not daring to move anymore, and began frantically signaling to Prince Andre.

No! I don’t want to be split vertically into two halves! Please don’t agree to him!

“…”

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine.”

“Although I don’t want to dirty this painting, since you don’t agree with my conditions, there’s nothing I can do… Goodbye, I hope you don’t regret it later.”

After dropping an incomprehensible threat, Young Andre trembled slightly, as if something had been extracted from his body. His previously irritated eyes returned to their original pure state, free from contamination.

“Eh?”

Looking strangely at Leon in front of him, Young Andre hugged the ball, scratched the back of his head confusedly, and asked:

“Are you…”

“The assassin who’s going to kill you.”

Casually replying to Little Andre, Leon suddenly swung his knife forward, grabbing the startled Prince Andre and stabbed him seven or eight times in quick succession.

“Your Highness?!!!”

Seeing this unexpected scene, the distant guard captain, who had been watching closely, was stunned. His eyes filled with blood as he almost crawled over, trying to rescue Prince Andre from the “assassin” to check if there was still hope, but…

“Amazing!”

Touching his body which had been stabbed seven or eight times but showed no wounds, the young prince couldn’t help but open his mouth wide in surprise, threw away the ball, clapped his hands vigorously, and excitedly asked: “Are you performing magic tricks? Your knife has a mechanism that can retract when it touches someone, or the knife is soft! Am I correct?”

“Wrong.”

Letting the young prince touch the blade of the [Silver Coin], confirming the condition of the blade himself, Leon couldn’t help but sigh when looking at the intact clothes on the young prince’s body.

Currently, not only can’t the “canvas” be cut, even the “content” and “characters” in the painting can’t be cut either. Except for the areas directly touched by the blade, any place cut will instantly heal.

It seems that Prince Andre’s painting ability indeed severely restrains him. Director Edward’s judgment was completely correct. In this kind of battle where the opponent’s true self cannot be seen, he indeed can’t cope.

Just as Leon was secretly worrying, watching Prince Andre, who had no wounds on his entire body and was curiously studying the small knife, the tall guard captain who had rushed halfway stopped and sighed in relief, then staggered a few steps and leaned against the nearby sculpture.

Damn… You circus trickster, I’ll beat you every time I see you! After glaring fiercely at Leon, watching Prince Andre who was grabbing Leon’s arm and repeatedly stabbing himself with the knife, the frightened guard captain took a deep breath and hurried over, earnestly advising: “Your Highness Andre, these people are suspicious… You should…”

“Huh?”

After hearing the guard captain’s advice, the young prince couldn’t help but blink in surprise, then pointed at Leon’s red, round nose and the colorful makeup on his face, asking curiously: “Where are they suspicious? Isn’t he the clown invited by father from the circus troupe to liven up the atmosphere?”

“???”

This time, it was Leon’s turn to be surprised. Seeing the sudden appearance of a large red nose in his line of sight, Leon’s eyes widened dramatically before he could say anything, and suddenly felt his clothes become heavier.

It was as if an invisible giant paintbrush dipped in carefully mixed colored pigments lightly brushed across his clothes twice, turning the newly changed black wool coat into a clown suit full of vertical colorful stripes and clusters of bright color blocks.

Then, a rather vague life story of an entertainer, along with quite exquisite juggling skills, suddenly surged into Leon’s mind. The corners of his originally tightened mouth habitually turned up, splitting into a radiant and formulaic smile.

“…”

Shit, I’ve really become a magician now!

(End of Chapter)