This action shocked the entire audience. Everyone, except Leo, immediately followed suit and knelt down because it would have been highly disrespectful if even the king knelt while someone else remained standing.
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"Leo, my esteemed elder, I am representing my grandfather and all the officials from that time to offer the most sincere apologies for the events of that year. If this is still insufficient, I am willing to offer my own life," Anwar declared.
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In terms of power and status, Anwar was already at the pinnacle of humanity. However, he knelt before Leo, not only to emphasize Leo's status as a legendary hero but also to earn the trust and respect of those present.
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No one had expected this from Anwar, and for a moment, the courtiers tried to stop him, but Anwar was resolute.
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"Please, everyone, be quiet! You don't understand the suffering that Leo, our esteemed elder, endured back then."
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Leo and Anwar were less than two body lengths apart. With a simple swing of the iron chains in his hand, Leo could have shattered Anwar's head. The members of Kingside were on high alert, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of Leo's aggression.
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However, to everyone's surprise, Leo remained calm and then suddenly burst into laughter.
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"Hahaha! Young king, I admire you... Stand up and return to your throne. A king at the pinnacle of humanity should not kneel for an old man like me. By the way... Do you know what happened back then?" Perhaps it had been too long since he last spoke, but Leo was gradually adjusting, and his speech became less disjointed.
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Seeing this, Anwar led everyone to their feet and returned to his throne. He had intended to offer Leo a seat, but Leo was too massive for any chair, so he sat on the floor.
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"The following information has never been made public. Everyone present here is a trusted official, and I believe you will accept and keep this secret."
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In addition to Kingside, there were others present, including Regent Prince Loki, Director of the Technical Research Institute Vork, and a few other high-ranking officials.
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Anwar had made this decision because, with Leo's return, there was a need for full disclosure. It was the only stain on the royal family for decades, and Anwar hoped it could be completely cleansed today. So, he began to reveal the truth of what happened back then.
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Fifty-five years ago, the name Leo resonated throughout the continent, known to all. At the age of thirty-five, Leo became the spiritual leader of humanity, guiding the people like a beacon of hope. Of course, the courtiers were aware of this, and they realized that if this continued, the situation might become uncontrollable.
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It was at this time that rumors about Leo began to circulate within the palace. There were whispers that his monstrous abilities would one day threaten the king and be detrimental to Grandecy, possibly even leading to the downfall of Homeland.
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So, Director of the Technical Research Institute Alfred and other officials at the time jointly advised the king to place Leo under discreet house arrest. This, they argued, would help the king establish his authority and temper Leo's ambitions. Who was this Alfred? He was one of Deka's prized students, and Deka would later become the Director of the Technical Research Institute.
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Although the king believed in Leo, he was secretly fearful of the rumors. He agreed to the courtiers' request and subjected Leo to a brief period of house arrest. Leo, trusting the king, cooperated fully throughout the process.
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The specially designed underground chamber used for house arrest was spacious and comfortable. It provided minimal surveillance to ensure that Leo did not feel oppressed. For Leo, it was like a vacation, except he couldn't see the outside world and had restricted freedom.
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After a few days, Leo mysteriously disappeared. The king conducted a secret search, but it yielded no results. Leo seemed to have vanished into thin air. Since only a few high-ranking officials knew about the house arrest, most people were oblivious, and his disappearance was not publicly disclosed.
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Finally, the royal family decided to announce to the public that Leo had gone missing while investigating The Bisect Gable for the sake of humanity. From that point on, the name "Leo" became a legend, perpetually handed down through the ages.
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"In truth, I discovered this from my father's diary. My grandfather felt guilty about this matter back then, and my father couldn't make amends. I never expected that in my generation, I would have the privilege of meeting the venerable elder in person..." Anwar spoke with deep emotion, and Vork, who was by his side, knew that his own teacher had been involved in this matter. This realization made him even more ashamed before Leo.
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Leo saw that Anwar was willing to apologize and reveal the truth in spite of his position, and he genuinely believed in Anwar's innocence.
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"...Well, the old king was swayed by the wrong people, and you are innocent. Let's leave it at that."
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"But there's still one thing that isn't clear. May I ask, venerable elder, how have you managed to stay young? And what happened during the time you were missing?"
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Leo's entire body tensed upon hearing this, and his ContQi surged dramatically. It seemed as if he was getting emotional while recalling the past. However, the members of Kingside quickly realized that the aura he was emitting held no malice.
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"For these past fifty-five years, I've been living a life that's far from human!" Leo began to recount the horrors of the past.
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