Chapter 261: Leon's Denial and Athena's Sudden Kiss

"My dear Leon, do you still want to pretend?"Hearing her words and feeling the warm breath against his ear, Leon's eyes widened in surprise as goosebumps crawled over his skin.

He quickly shifted his body away from Athena, staring at her in horror.

"Athena, what did you just do? That's really not funny, you know?" Leon spoke, his voice trembling as he attempted to hide his fear behind an upset facade.

The phrase "My dear Leon" that Athena used had deeply unsettled him, as it was the nickname she had called him in the past.

Having avoided Athena for years, he hadn't heard that name from her in a long time, so it naturally shocked him.

Furthermore, given that his current identity was Leon Orion, not Leon Kruger, it made no sense for her to use that name.

Athena, unfazed by Leon's reaction, licked her lips seductively and gazed at him with lustful intent.

"Leon, my dear, there's no need to pretend anymore. I already know everything," Athena said playfully.

Leon's heart raced, cold sweat trickling down his back as her words sank in, a dreadful premonition taking shape in his mind.

"You mean..." Leon began, but before he could finish, Athena suddenly extended her right hand and lifted his chin with domineering air.

"Yes, I know your real name isn't Leon Orion—it's Leon Kruger~" Athena teased with a chuckle.

*Boom!*

Leon felt as if his head had been struck by a meteor, and his heart raced as though he had just run a marathon.

"Damn it! How did this happen?" Leon thought, overwhelmed with fear.

At first, he suspected that Athena might see through his disguise and realize he was Leon Kruger, not Leon Orion.

However, given the perfection of his disguise—his black hair now white and his golden eyes turned purple—he quickly dismissed these fears, believing it impossible for Athena to uncover his true identity.

Moreover, his disguise utilized chaos power to conceal his scent and other details, making it even more unlikely for Athena to find him.

"Wait! Something's not right... Is she just teasing me?" The thought struck him, and his fear and nervousness quickly gave way to shock.

With the Elysium Holy Empire announcing his death—news that was believed by both humanity and the Demon race—Athena, who had loved him dearly, must have been devastated.

Given that his fake name was somewhat similar to his real one, it made sense that she was only trying to tease him.

Understanding this, his panic subsided, replaced by a deep sense of relief.

Turning his gaze back to Athena, Leon chuckled and shook his head. "Athena, I've heard from Liliana that you and the Sword Hero of Mankind, Leon Kruger, share a very close relationship. I also know that Leon Kruger was declared dead by the Holy Empire of Elysium after his battle with Liliana in the Desert of Chaos."

After a brief pause, Leon let out a small sigh and continued in a calm tone, "Although I share his name, I'm not him. My name is Leon Orion, not Leon Kruger, and I'm a Demon, not a human. So, please don't joke around like that—it's not funny."

After saying that, Leon offered a wry smile and sipped his tea casually.

Although he was confident that Athena could not discover his true identity due to his flawless disguise, he remained cautious.

Athena was incredibly clever and cunning, and even he needed to be wary around her.

Therefore, he had to ensure that he revealed no signs of weakness or inconsistency.

Otherwise, despite his perfect disguise, she would undoubtedly uncover his true identity.

As Leon spoke, Athena's smile faltered, and she stared at him in surprise.

"What do you mean?" Athena asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

Leon couldn't help but smile at her feigned confusion, thinking her acting was rather unconvincing.

Smiling casually, Leon leaned back and crossed his legs. "Considering the death of the sword hero Leon Kruger, I understand you must miss him a lot, and you were just teasing me because I share his name. While it's not a big deal, I'd prefer if you didn't do it again. After all, I'm Liliana's husband, and it would be a problem if she found out."

Athena was initially stunned by Leon's explanation, but then a charming smile slowly appeared on her lips.

"So, you think I was just teasing you?" Athena asked, her voice dripping with charm.

Leon, slightly puzzled by the question, nodded confidently. "Isn't that right?" he replied, scratching his head.

Instead of answering his question, Athena suddenly leaned in, closing the gap between them to just a few centimeters.

Leon was taken aback by her sudden approach and instinctively tried to pull away, but then something completely unexpected happened.

With her hands gently cradling his face, Athena pressed her soft lips against his and kissed him passionately.

As their lips met, Athena's tongue ventured into his mouth, her red eyes half-closed with a look of deep obsession as she savored the kiss.

Leon, caught off guard by the kiss, felt his mind go blank and his eyes widen in shock.

"Ummm~" Athena gently pushed Leon onto the sofa and kissed him even more passionately, snapping him out of his daze.

Leon tried to push her away, but her grip was firm and unyielding, intensifying his fear.

After a moment, Athena finally broke the kiss, a thin strand of saliva connecting their lips, making the scene undeniably provocative.

"Did you enjoy that kiss, Leon?" Athena asked with a playful smile, licking her lips.

Leon shoved her away, his face flushing red with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"Athena! What are you doing? Why did you kiss me?" Leon demanded angrily, backing away from her.

Although he knew Athena was unpredictable and eccentric, he hadn't expected her to be so bold as to kiss him!

The kiss had been so sudden and intense that it left him seething with anger and struggling to catch his breath.

Unfazed by his fury, Athena maintained her playful smile.

"Why are you so angry? Isn't this something couples do?" Athena said casually, without a hint of remorse.

"You..." Leon started to scold her, but his anger caught in his throat. Despite his fury, he knew he had to remain composed; losing control could be dangerous.

Athena, as the dragon empress, was crucial to arranging his meeting with the dragon ancestor.

Additionally, she held the black token adorned with star and moon patterns—a crucial tool for dealing with hidden races.

Angering her and causing her to hold a grudge would be a significant loss for him.

Taking a deep breath, Leon managed to control his anger and regarded Athena with a cool, indifferent gaze.

"I'll overlook this incident for now, but if it happens again, don't blame me for taking severe measures," Leon said coldly.

He was relieved that Liliana had left; otherwise, their recent cooperation might have turned into an outright conflict between the demon and the dragon races.

Athena's smile slowly faded as she absorbed his words, casting a shadow over the atmosphere.

"Do you think my kiss was merely flirtatious, Leon?" Athena asked nonchalantly, surprising Leon.

Before he could respond, Athena's next words made his heart race.

"You don't need to play games anymore. I already know your true identity. Your disguise won't fool me, Leon Kruger."

Leon's body went rigid at her words, his throat dry with fear.

He had thought Athena was merely teasing him, but the realization that she had actually discovered his true identity feared him deeply.

'Damn it! How did she find out? When did she figure it out?' Leon wondered, cursing inwardly.

With his flawless disguise, he was certain it was impossible for Athena to recognize him. However, the fact that she saw through it was a real slap in the face, leaving him deeply shaken.

Nevertheless, he kept his composure, pretending to cough to mask his nervousness.

"Ahem! What are you talking about, Athena? Disguise? You must be mistaken. I'm Leon Orion, not Leon Kruger. So, please keep your suspicions to yourself," Leon said with a calm expression, though his back was already slick with cold sweat.

As Leon continued to deny and refuse to admit anything, Athena's stern expression softened. A serene smile slowly appeared on her lips.

"Are you sure you want to keep denying it?" Athena's question only served to heighten Leon's anxiety.

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"Absolutely. I'm not Leon Kruger," Leon insisted, maintaining a confident façade.

In the art of deception, it's essential to remain calm and exude confidence; otherwise, the lie becomes easily detectable.

Athena's smile widened as she locked her gaze on his violet eyes.

"In that case, how about I show you?"

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A/N: Ahem! It's a great start to the month, and I hope you're all doing well. I have a lighter workload this month, which means I can update a new chapter every day without any of the obstacles I faced yesterday!

I'm hopeful everything will go smoothly, and don't forget the support! Thank you!

Oh, one more thing! I plan to do a mass release, but the chapters are still being edited. So, stay tuned for updates!

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