Chapter 1083: Nolan Meets Leona

"How are you going to contact your master, Miss Shion?" Leona asked curiously.

After lunch earlier, they had grown quite close. Leona no longer seemed stiff around Shion.

"Wait a moment."

Shion walked over to her desk, took a small black wooden stick from a drawer, and snapped it in half.

Instantly, she felt a mysterious connection with Nolan.

"Master, are you there?" she called out.

A few moments later, Nolan’s voice echoed in her mind.

"Yes, I’m here. Do you need anything?"

Shion breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t sure if that little wooden stick could really connect her to Nolan.

After all, she had never tried it before.

"Master, Leona is already here. What are you going to do?"

***

Nolan was surprised to hear that.

"Leona’s already at the office? Since when?" he asked.

"This afternoon. She arrived right before lunch."

"Hmmm..."

Nolan rubbed his chin as he thought deeply. A moment later, he spoke.

"All right, wait a minute. I’ll be right there."

"I’ll be waiting for you," Shion replied.

***

Shion opened her eyes and turned around.

Leona was standing there, looking curious.

"I’ve already contacted my master."

"Huh?" Leona was taken aback. "You contacted him just now? Why didn’t I notice?"

She was sure Shion hadn’t moved at all. She hadn’t even heard her speak.

"I used magic. The mechanism is a bit complicated, but I’ll give you a quick explanation."

Shion then explained how it worked.

Leona’s jaw dropped as she listened.

’Magic really is amazing,’ she whispered, letting out a long sigh.

Although she knew magic existed in this world, her understanding was limited to things like creating fire out of thin air or summoning lightning.

She hadn’t expected communication magic to be so advanced.

It really was just like a phone.

"Oh, right. My master will be here soon."

No sooner had Shion said that than the door opened, and Nolan appeared, wearing a mask.

"Master?"

Shion was startled, but soon smiled. She walked over to Nolan and bowed her head in front of him.

"Welcome."

Nolan nodded and turned toward Leona.

’It really is her...’

When he’d entered Alice’s dream, he’d seen the girl take on the form of "Alice."

However, he remembered that Alice’s body had once transformed into that of an unfamiliar girl around fifteen years old.

And that girl looked strikingly similar to Leona, who was standing right in front of him.

Feeling Nolan’s gaze, Leona grew nervous. Strangely, though, she didn’t feel afraid.

Those purple eyes showed no hatred or murderous intent, unlike what she’d feared.

"Are you Leona?"

The question made Leona tense up, if only for a moment.

She straightened her posture and bowed her head toward Nolan.

"Y-Yes! My name is Leona, daughter of the Viscount Corvayne family!" she replied respectfully, though her voice sounded tense.

Nolan nodded slightly.

"Have a seat. I’d like to discuss something with you."

Leona swallowed hard and nodded. She then sat down on the sofa in the middle of the room.

"Shion, go take care of your business. Leave this matter to me."

Shion said nothing. She bowed her head once more, then turned and left.

As the door closed, the atmosphere in the room grew tense and quiet.

Leona’s heart pounded as she pressed her legs together.

Nolan noticed her growing unease and smiled.

"Relax," he said softly as he walked over to the sofa across from Leona and sat down. "I’m here to discuss something important. I won’t hurt you. After all..."

He crossed his legs and chuckled softly.

"We’re both reincarnators, aren’t we?"

...

The Western Continent...

Since the downfall of the Great Kingdom of Horland, many neighboring kingdoms had begun trying to seize its territories.

The western, eastern, and southern borders had become prime targets, especially since those regions were known for their fertile land.

Four major kingdoms—the Kingdom of Arvandor, the Kingdom of Astrelle, the Kingdom of Altheria, and the Kingdom of Iskandria—were now locked in a fierce dispute over these territories.

If the dispute wasn’t resolved soon, war could very well break out.

The growing tension had thrown the citizens of all four kingdoms into a panic. War meant chaos and widespread starvation.

For those who had lived comfortably for years, this was a clear warning sign.

They wanted nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, no matter how strongly they opposed war, the kings were the ones who made the final decision.

As a result, many people, especially those with deep pockets, chose to flee to other, relatively safe kingdoms. Some even considered moving to another continent.

***

The Province of Eldrus...

The Province of Eldrus was once part of the Great Kingdom of Horland.

After the kingdom collapsed, several low-ranking nobles seized control of the province, hoping to establish their own government.

However, just a few months into their efforts to consolidate power, a mysterious force suddenly appeared.

It attacked them, wiping out all their nobles and soldiers.

Now, Eldrus was under the control of that force, led by a mysterious and beautiful woman.

"Reporting, Empress! The entire Eldrus region is now under our control! What are your orders?"

A tall man with a bull’s head bowed respectfully before the beautiful woman seated before him.

The woman had snow-white hair and pale blue eyes.

She wore a black gown that did little to hide her figure.

"What about the people living in Eldrus? Did you kill them, or...?"

"We didn’t kill them!" the bull-headed man replied frantically. "W-We did exactly as you ordered, so you don’t need to worry."

The woman gave a faint smile.

"Good work."

The man let out a sigh of relief, his tense body slowly relaxing.

The woman gave a few more instructions before dismissing him.

The room fell silent once again.

She stood and walked toward the large wall on the right, where a gigantic map was displayed.

Upon closer inspection, it depicted the Western Continent.

"The Province of Eldrus has been conquered," she murmured, narrowing her eyes. "There are still twenty-eight provinces left. But don’t worry. I’m confident I can conquer them all and take full control of the Great Kingdom of Horland."

A smile spread across her face.

"When that happens, the demon race will officially rise, and I’ll present it all to my master."

She licked her lips, her beautiful blue eyes gleaming with a faint, terrifying obsession.