Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2644: 1455: Doubts and Confessions (Part 2)

“Here, take them. They're nothing compared to what you've accomplished, old sir.”

A faint smile appeared on Leo Ray's face as he passed the shining items straight to the man.

The depth of thanks and sighs Frank poured out later doesn't bear repeating, considering that even a veteran like him, roaming the Outer Region for hundreds of years, had spent most of his time solely on cultivation and couldn't come close to gathering even a small portion of such treasures.

One thing was clear: these items would surely boost his power immensely, propelling him to an entirely new realm!

Brimming with thrill, Frank let his eyes scan over our formidable companions before settling on Lina.

He recalled the time he dispatched this young woman from her home village to hone her skills close to the Human Domain—back then, her power hovered at Tier 3 Peak, yet now she had transformed utterly, mirroring the current rise of the Human Clan.

Without witnessing it firsthand, who would believe that humans, once dismissed as mere insects by the Outer Region tribes, had carved out a foothold there, commanding more than 50 Tier 3 Legions and even outshining numerous ancient Outer Region powers?

And this entire turnaround owed itself to the youthful human ruler standing before them!

Frank's eyes, alight with thrill and reverence, returned to Leo Ray, overflowing with joy.

Sensing the eager look fixed on him, Leo Ray merely offered a grin in reply.

Guided by his instruction, Lina—already gifted with notable talent—had climbed to Tier 5 and was pushing toward Tier 5 Peak.

The Human Clan's collective might had soared as well. Beyond the million troops inside the city, the regular guards across the Human Domain now exceeded Tier 2, a standard that had recently marked the pinnacle of human elite forces.

Naturally, provided his progress continued without pause, this represented nowhere near the Human Clan's ultimate potential.

“Hehe, teacher, thanks to the Lord's guidance, I can now command the undead souls of Giant Dragons!”

Lina thumped her chest with pride, then wore a confused expression as she inquired, “Teacher, back when I departed, you were merely a Tier 5 powerhouse—how did your might become so overwhelming now?”

“Lass, your home village belongs to the Rainforest Fortress Alliance; if a foreign Tier 6 powerhouse showed up, how could the Rainforest leaders overlook it?”

Frank replied with a light smile, “I simply wished to train in peace, without causing any disturbance.”

“So, teacher, you concealed your true power all that time? Not even the clan elders detected it.”

Lina exclaimed, her face lighting up with understanding.

“Truth be told, we're puzzled too.”

Grey Elder and Yonir, joined by Qiana—one of the Nine Dragon-slaying Heroes—shared a look before questioning in bewilderment, “Old companion, during your dragon purges and journeys through the Outer Region after departing the Human Clan, your power matched ours closely—so why this explosive growth?”

For Grey Elder and Yonir, who had freshly entered Tier 6, they knew all too well that after enduring endless perils to access the Tier 6 domain, decades of intense training still left Tier 6 Two Stars as a far-off goal.

Yet Frank had shockingly attained Tier 6 Five Stars—an utterly astonishing feat!

In their confusion, Yonir appeared to remember something and burst out, “Old friend, did you access the Tier 6 domain long ago?”

“Staying understated is always wise.”

Frank nodded reluctantly with a grin, “I have to admit, it's shocking to find you two old timers still kicking.”

“We outlast you,”

Grey Elder and Yonir refused to yield, retorting with arched brows.

But Frank's following words caught them off guard: “Incidentally, I wasn't alone in masking my abilities back then.”

Before Grey Elder and Yonir could respond, Frank faced the eternally youthful and lovely Qiana, gave a small nod, and remarked, “Though next to Qiana, us old folks have truly transformed beyond recognition.”

“What do you mean? Though half-elves live longer, I surely lagged behind you all.”

Qiana smiled wryly, a hint of weary longing appearing on her fair, refined features.

Among these four reunited companions, she alone lingered at Tier 5 Peak, unable to advance, which naturally stirred a sense of regret within her.

“Oh, over a century past, I spotted a half-elf much like Iris Winters at the Shadow Market's entrance—her presence felt remarkably alike.”

Frank seemed to recollect abruptly and mentioned to Qiana offhandedly, “But she disappeared quickly, trailed by a few strong figures, so I missed the chance to call out.”

“Do you mean Aunt Iris lives on?”

Qiana's eyes expanded in shock at Frank's statement.

As Iris's heir and kin, Qiana well knew that this past Moon Chaser Clan leader—who had aided the Coldflame Hero King in conquests across south and north—had perished abruptly in a conflict over five centuries ago, leaving no remains.

Yet if this extraordinarily talented former leader survived, she would certainly have entered the Tier 6 domain by this point.

Above all, Qiana—orphaned young and nurtured by Iris—held an especially deep bond with her.

“But if Aunt endures, why hasn't she come back to the Moon Chaser Clan for me? This is her home, after all.”

Confusion clouded Qiana's pale face once more, melancholy etching her expression.

“Perhaps my aged eyes tricked me? Or some other factors at play.”

Frank fell silent, merely shaking his head in resignation.

Listening to their exchange, Leo Ray nodded pensively.

Now, with successive enlistments of Crisis, Broy, Fanny, and more, though his Tier 6 forces expanded, many bore heavy duties and couldn't be readily mobilized.

Not just Frank—if Iris Winters and fellow dragon-slaying heroes lived, their aid would prove invaluable.

“Still, even Frank likely knows nothing of their locations; better to proceed gradually. These powerhouses, whether human or tied closely to humans, have lingered in the Outer Region for some time—they could offer vital support beyond their personal efforts.”

As these thoughts crossed Leo Ray's mind, Elder Bing materialized, bowing to him, “Your Majesty, representatives from the Rainforest Fortress Alliance and the Desert Alliance have arrived one after another.”

With Elder Bing's announcement, Leo Ray glanced around Ice Stone City and spotted two ironclad armies radiating fierce presence approaching from either side. From their standards, they hailed from the Desert Alliance and Rainforest Fortress Alliance.

“Truly, witnessing these coalition forces gather stirs the blood.”

Leo Ray observed the two markedly superior elite units rapidly assembling beneath the walls, giving a slight nod.

For the moment, even the far-off Horizon veiled in Black Fog, the mysterious Land of Howling, appeared less daunting.

“Time to move out.”

Leo Ray gestured, directing his nearby mighty comrades, “All beyond Tier 5, advance with me to fight!”

At Leo Ray's order, as Ice Stone City's grand portals swung wide, our sturdy allies poured forth steadily, taking position amid the two coalition formations.

Positioned at the vanguard of the array, Leo Ray turned to behold our comrades alongside the dual alliance troops packed tightly, the Tier 5-plus powerhouses abundant, nearing a thousand in count.

Sensing the immense, intimidating force sweeping the heavens, Leo Ray and his nearby companions alike felt profoundly stirred. This formed a genuine Tier 5 legion!

While excitement swelled in Leo Ray's chest, the pair of specialist squads hurtled forward rapidly.