Or as he is more popularly known today as Governor Valen Wrenleigh. Once a lauded mercenary with decades of experience, he settled in his hometown of Alverton many years back. He was voted into office due to his popularity and renowned sense of justice. It was rare to see a regular mercenary take the role of Governor, which was always reserved for the town’s elites. Still, due to society’s overwhelming corruption and decay, someone fresh was needed to overhaul the entire system.
And Governor Valen Wrenleigh did just that.
First, he cleaned up the upper echelons, rooting out corruption and decimating the old order. Next, he opened up trade and commerce, inviting many merchants to enter Alverton to take over.
But the one accomplishment the Governor was most renowned and venerated for… was how he cleaned up the streets.
Alverton was once a lawless area, with gangs and hooligans roaming the town as if they owned it. No, in the past, the gangs did own Alverton. They kept the populace poor, creating slums that were just as dangerous as they were wretched. No sane person would walk out alone at night as crime was rampant.
Theft and murder were commonplace, and it wasn’t rare to see a dead body or two in the morning.
Alverton was indeed once a god-forsaken zone. This was why people gave the Governor his roses when he made the turnaround, bringing Alverton to heights it would have never seen before him.
So even the high and lofty Knights of the Solaris House respected the man who stood as a beacon of righteousness and justice. Horus was particularly impressed by Valen’s accomplishments and had acquainted himself with the Governor, which was why the Governor was given an audience with Leon and Amon, even though there wasn’t a need to do such a thing.
Speaking of which, after receiving the congregation from the Solaris House, the Governor led them through the modern streets of Alverton, guiding them through the scenic and tourist spots. Eventually, he led them to his quarters, a luxurious mansion in the centre of the aristocratic district of Alverton.
The mansion was huge and could easily accommodate a party of a hundred. Although it was nowhere near as grand as the Solaris House, it was still an abode that only the top one percent could afford. And since it was late, the Governor invited the group to dinner before they went to their lodgings.
Throughout the dinner, there was one standout star from the show.
"So, Sir Leon, I heard you hunted a Demon recently! At such a tender age, too!"
"It was nothing… I had help and…"
"Still! At such a young age, you managed to hunt a formidable Demon. When I was your age, I didn’t dare to face any sort of Demonic Beast! What an accomplishment!"
Seated at the head of the table, the Governor lavished Leon with praise, treating him as though he were a messiah. Leon, unsure how to handle the overwhelming compliments, could only lower his gaze in embarrassment as the Iron Count carried on with his admiration.
Fortunately, the Governor was about to move onto a wholly new topic.
"Sir Horus, if I may be so bold to ask. How long will you be staying in our humble town?"
"Hmmm, not too long. A little over one or two weeks. At least until our accommodations in the Capital is ready to receive us, would it prove to be an issue?"
"Ah, of course not! Alverton is delighted to host the Solaris House! It’s just that your current line-up may intimidate our guards."
The Governor quickly voiced his concerns. Even if they ignored the younger members, Carmen and Horus alone were tactical nukes that could destroy Alverton, so it was natural for the Governor to feel threatened by them.
"Not to worry, we won’t cause any trouble during our stay. You have my word."
Horus blindly promised the Governor their good behaviour, much to the dismay of Amon and Yue. However, they didn’t actively express their discontent and continued dining on their feast. They did, however, continue to observe the situation with hawkish eyes.
"Thank you; your assurance means the world to me."
Governor Valen warmly thanked Horus as his attention returned to the young Leon.
"Sir Leon, or young hero, if I may call you that."
"Please, just call me Leon."
Unable to bear the formalities and adulation further, Leon begged the Governor to be more comfortable addressing him. Sensing his unease, the Governor didn’t push the matter and changed his tone.
"Then, Leon. You know, I’d always admired heroes from a young age. And the stories of the Solaris Founder and Saint have always been my favourite. Their righteousness and honourable conduct have been a staple in my life."
"It’s a pleasure to hear that."
Leon frowned with mixed feelings.
Each time he encountered someone new, they appeared to view him through an idealized lens. They weren’t seeing Leon Bright as an individual but rather as the potential hero he might become — questioning whether he could live up to the legacy of the two previous wielders of Ascalon, or if he would fall short.
And it was the same with Governor Valen. The man didn’t care about Leon Bright but rather the prestige of Ascalon and the legend of the two greatest heroes of humanity.
"Those two heroes were why I decided to run for Governor after retiring as a mercenary. I thought I could do some good with my wretched life and change the lives of others for the better."
"Lord Valen, your life isn’t wretched."
Leon cut the conversation short when he heard the Governor demean himself. Always the idealist, Leon felt it was right to give the Governor his flowers if he himself wouldn’t do it.
"To bring Alverton from a lawless town into this thriving metropolis… It’s a feat that is worth admiration, Lord Valen. Because of your actions, the people of Alverton can now thrive without fearing for their lives. Your actions have proven good!"
"Oh my," the Governor laughed, possibly blushing at Leon’s sudden praise. "Thank you, my young hero, you truly made my day."
"Ah, I didn’t mean it that way, but…"
"No, I fully understand your intentions. You have a heart of gold."
Governor Valen laughed out loud while patting Leon’s shoulders. He grinned from ear to ear as he continued: "As I was saying, I have lived my life following the Solaris heroes’ tenants. So, if I may be so bold, could I pose you a question? To this generation’s hero?"
"You see, I have stumbled across a philosophical dilemma. And I’m curious to hear your thoughts." Governor Valen took a sip of his wine to calm himself before asking:
"What would you do if you had to choose between saving one life or a thousand?"
Leon blinked, unable to comprehend what was being asked of him. He stared at the Governor, particularly his silver streaks of hair before the man finally added a clarification.
"It’s purely theoretical, so please speak your honest thoughts about this." The Governor swirled the wine in his silver goblet before continuing: "I have always subscribed to the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of a few. So, for the majority to thrive, some must be sacrificed. That was the philosophy of the Solaris Founder, and I resonate deeply with that thinking."
Without waiting for Leon’s answer, the distinguished gentleman continued his monologue.
"In the past, there were situations where I was placed in that position. To decide how to run Alverton, I had to sacrifice the needs of the few, for instance, the old aristocrats who corrupted my town into disarray or even the gang leaders who made my streets unsafe. But those were the extremes. There were even instances when I was forced to relocate some residents to make way for future developments."
"I’d always felt bad for them, particularly the innocent ones who were victims of my circumstance. But without their sacrifices, Alverton wouldn’t be where it is today. So, maybe indulge this old man rambling, but what is your opinion?"
Leon thought, profoundly contemplating the problem the Iron Count had just posed him. Little did he know that his answer was widely anticipated by the Governor and everyone else seated at the dining table. Particularly, the man who idolised Leon the most as the hero.
Amon watched in earnest as Leon continued his train of thought. Like a hawk watching its prey, he waited patiently for Leon to arrive at an answer, and sure enough, the man didn’t disappoint. Orıginal content can be found at novｅlfire.net
"I believe that I won’t sacrifice anyone."
Not getting the answer he was expecting, the Governor paused and looked at Leon as if he were an anomaly. Unperturbed by the shocked look, Leon elaborated:
"The problem you posed to me is that you make it seem like only two options exist. However, the world is varied and unpredictable. If I look hard enough, I will find a third option that will save a thousand and one lives. That is my belief."
That answer stumped the Governor. With a dropped jaw, he looked straight at Leon blankly. But if one looked closely, they would observe a slight trepidation in the Iron Count’s pupils—as if an earthquake had gone off in the man’s heart.
As for Amon, a proud smile crept up the edge of his lips.
’Leon, you never disappoint.’