Only I Am A Reader
chapter-276-30041322

Looking at the different attires and complexions, Leo felt that he was attending some sort of world summit where people from all over the world would join for the sake of peace or unity. The flat plains that their Heavenly Strength Society overlooked could be said to be the borders of Zhongyang, but it was obvious that these people were already around to have made it in time.

'Where did they go?'

Unfortunately, the figure that had caught Leo's eyes had already vanished by the time turned to look back. Although his 'Qi Perception' was quite strong, it was hard to sense anything while being in the middle of this large crowd.

"Ho?"

Hearing Yeon's call, Leo shook off the interest that had been sparked out of curiosity. Though… If his mind was playing tricks on him, this could end up in a quite interesting way.

"Let's go."

Their group representing the Heavenly Strength Society only consisted of six members compared to the original setting where over a hundred Peak and 1st rate Martial Artists would be supporting them. Some might feel comfort and safety in numbers, but Leo felt far more in their current small team.

With half of the four pillars of the Heavenly Strength Society present, there was no doubt that their individual strength was going through the roof. Of course, the four geniuses following risked the loss of the Heavenly Furnace's finest fruits, but there was no going around this one!

More numbers could boost your force or hold you back depending on the situation, so they were dispensable. However, Leo, Yeon, Sohee, and Yong had to be there! Let alone the fact that this doubled as another tempering chance, who was supposed to eat the fruit if not them?

Naturally, it was advised that one would only consume the Sky Fruit in a peaceful environment, uninterrupted so they could receive the full effects of the fruit, but in a battle where no one could guarantee their safety, directly consuming the fruit as soon as it in one's grasp was undeniably the safer method.

"Let's wait here."

As the people who knew the terror of the Heavenly Strength Society made way, an empty road formed in the very middle of the crowd, allowing the group to reach a grass-covered rock where they decided to 'camp'.

'This should be okay.'

Even though Geochin had divulged the whereabouts of the Azure Tree's Emergence, he didn't directly reveal the exact spot it would appear in. Comparatively, Cheon Jeong and Cheon Chang had more precise information. They didn't sit directly next to 'it' to avoid being immediately ganged upon, but they chose a relatively close spot.

As there was slightly over a day left, they could only wait for the fun to start. Leo tried to do a quick scan through the crowd to find Geochin or someone related to him, but he failed to do so.

'I guess they still chose to stick to the plan…'

The worst thing about the great diversion that he created was precisely these moments. His mind had great confidence in the things that he supposedly 'knew', but he had to deny that thought and personally confirm it. There was basically no telling what was right, his mind was almost starting to split in two…

'It's not like I can make more of a difference than what I already did anyway.'

Changing the Heavenly Strength Society's standing regarding this event was already a core change. To begin with, the Society wasn't the only one to suffer from this event's tragedy. In fact, the only beneficiary of all of this chaos just happened to be none other than Geochin!

While knowing of the death that would pervade this plain, filling it with blood and misery, Leo couldn't do anything. Even if he were to tell the others about it, what were the chances that they would believe him instead of accusing him of selfish trickery? His own fellow members took a while to do so even with some forged evidence.

'Would I really prevent it if I could actually convince them?'

However, Leo's thoughts wandered into the area of personal and moral dilemmas. The damage that all the other forces would receive was something that would help him with both quests of his. If he somehow had a piece of conclusive evidence or he faked his identity as a seer of sorts, would he really sacrifice what could be soon a future advantage for him?

Feeling his mind suddenly calm down as it fell to the other extreme side of excitement. Was he someone that enjoyed playing the savior? Or was he someone who put personal profits in front of everything else?

As a reader who self-inserted into all kinds of novels including both types of main characters, Leo wasn't exactly sure of his life of thought. He only acted on the situations that were under his grasp, why…

'Does it really matter?'

Why did he have to ponder the impossible at this very moment? Despite the occasional self-doubt, Leo believed that he did indeed possess an identity and a personality of his own! He was someone that unhesitatingly pushed forward as both Arthur and Baekho to this moment!

There was no need to burden himself with self-hatred or undirected gratification! He only needed to deal with things as they came!

"...Ho, Beakho."

Finally coming out of his trance, Leo looked at the source of the voice. It seemed like Cheon Jeong had been calling him out for a while already.

"You seem terribly absentminded for something this important."

"Sorry…"

Cheon Chang and Yeon had also similarly turned to look at him. Considering that he was imagining the carnage that would ensure, Leo understood that he must have looked out of place.

"It's okay. I understand that you are awfully worried with how things turned out last time. Are you still feeling uneasy with the current arrangement?"

"I… Can't tell, it's definitely better than before, but it still feels off."

"Heh, don't worry! I will be sure to show you a back you can rely on."

Suddenly finding himself in a strange situation, Leo felt that he had formed another link with the five around him as the time steered close to the moment of truth!