From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 496

Leander fell silent, lost in thought.

The secret vault of Western deities that Celia had mentioned was located in the Sahar Wastes. He had originally planned to visit it with her some time later, just to see what secrets it held.

What he did not expect was that Nathan would suddenly propose a trip to Dechor.

He had no objection to going to Dechor, but the Sahar Wastes had always been chaotic—warfare year-round, danger everywhere. Although Dechor was relatively safer, he could not guarantee that nothing unexpected would happen during this trip.

Especially now, with the King of Assassins lurking in the dark, watching him like a predator—coupled with the unrest in the Sahar Wastes—he had no idea when the Hermit would make his move. He did not want Nathan and the others to be exposed to unnecessary risks.

Seeing Leander frown deeply, Nathan's expression immediately changed. He apologized in a hurry. "Leander, sorry… I was just saying it casually. I know the Sahar Wastes can be dangerous. Let's change the destination!"

"Yeah. I mean, the sea is mysterious and all—a world wonder—but we don't have to go there. Places like Highcrest, Bladewick, or Jesund are all great. Why don't we pick one of those instead?"

The others nodded in agreement, but anyone could still see the disappointment in their eyes.

Leander returned from his thoughts, and when he noticed their expressions, he suddenly smiled.

"No need. We'll go to Dechor."

Everyone turned around instantly, surprised and delighted. Leander continued, "That's settled. We'll depart one day before National Day. Prepare your clothes and whatever necessities you need. We're going to enjoy ourselves this time—don't try to save money for my sake."

"Haha, now that's what I like to hear!"

Nathan, Luke, and Evander laughed heartily, each with an arm around his girlfriend.

Aurora's beautiful eyes softened. She was already calculating how she could use this trip to get closer to Leander.

She had even steeled herself mentally—if it meant offering her untouched purity of twenty years, she was willing. She had to secure this man.

…

When he returned to the dorm that night, Leander called Daphne to ask whether she wanted to join them.

Daphne hesitated for a long time, but eventually declined reluctantly. She had just broken through to the Martial Sovereign Realm and needed time to stabilize her realm, laying the groundwork for stepping into the Transcendent Realm in the future. She could not afford distractions now.

Leander understood well. Though gentle and graceful on the surface, Daphne's competitive spirit was in no way inferior to his. She naturally refused to fall behind others in martial cultivation.

After a brief conversation, he hung up.

After sending a message to Celia, he finally lay down to rest.

…

The next day at 1 p.m., Leander was shaken awake by his three excited roommates.

He didn't even bring a single change of clothes before heading out with them.

Livia and the other four girls were already waiting at the airport. When the four boys arrived, the girls—each beautiful in a different way—were standing outside, craning their necks expectantly.

Among them, Aurora was the most stunning. Her long, silky hair fell over her shoulders; her sunglasses were pushed up to her forehead; her summer outfit highlighted every perfect curve of her figure.

Many men turned their heads to look. Aurora, however, remained cold and aloof.

The only one she was waiting for was Leander.

When she saw him arrive, she smiled softly. She had just opened her mouth to speak when Leander suddenly said to Luke and the others, "Hold on. Someone else is coming."

Aurora's heart jumped. Before she could react, a graceful figure approached quickly from ahead—beautiful enough to rival her, perhaps even surpassing her.

"Master Leander."

Celia, wearing an elegant long dress, bowed respectfully to Leander.

Leander nodded casually and patted Nathan's shoulder. "Everyone's here. Let's go."

The group followed him in confusion.

The moment he stepped in, the women on board couldn't help glancing at him.

He looked thirty-five or thirty-six—the peak of a man's charm. Tall, well-built, refined in a perfectly tailored suit. Even Aurora found her eyes lingering on him.

He walked leisurely to the only vacant seat on the plane. Only then did the flight attendants recover and close the door.

…

Twenty minutes later, the plane took off. As the altitude rose, the clouds drifted past the windows.

Leander sat beside the aisle. Across from him sat an elegant middle-aged woman who kept giving him flirtatious looks. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the refined man who boarded last suddenly stood before her.

"Madam, I got airsick. May I switch to your middle seat?"

He smiled with gentlemanly charm, and the woman seemed bewitched. Without hesitation, she stood up and swapped seats with him.

The man adjusted his collar and sat down gracefully—now separated from Leander only by the aisle.

At the same time, Leander lowered the magazine in his hands. Their movements were eerily synchronised.

For half an hour, neither man moved.

Only when the plane leveled out at several thousand meters did the middle-aged man finally speak.

"Young man, it's our first meeting. How about a little game?"

Leander smiled. "Why not?"

The man nodded, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes.

"If it's a game, then naturally—there must be stakes." His next sentence made the expressions of all nearby passengers twist in horror. "Let's bet on the lives of the 392 passengers and eight crew members on this plane."