Chapter 2299 A Hero’s Heart, a Beauty’s Tears!
“It won’t happen!” Santiago declared confidently. “With the legendary Dawnbringer holding the line, Chanaea’s soldiers are invincible, capable of overcoming any obstacle!”
Leaving those words behind, he parted ways with his beloved fiancee.
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“If I were you, I wouldn’t be heading to the battlefield right now, Santiago!” Yorick, who was accompanying him to Tocvale, spoke those words beside him.
“Haha, you say you wouldn’t go, yet here you are, marching alongside me!” Santiago laughed heartily.
“I’m not like you!” Yorick replied seriously. “I’m going to the battlefield because I refuse to live as a lowly nobody. I want to make a name for myself–I want to achieve glory and fame! And I want to support my boss in becoming president so the entire nation will know my name!”
“President? Haha… Santiago laughed, clapping Yorick on the shoulder. “Alright then, no matter what your goals are, since we share the same dream right now, let’s see which one of us can achieve fame first and carry on the Dawnbringer’s banner!”
Everyone knew that when the Dawnbringer slew the Ten Saints several years ago, although he emerged victorious, he suffered severe internal injuries that had yet to fully heal. Moreover, age was catching up to him, and Chanaea needed a new generation to step forward, take up his mantle, and uphold the nation’s status as a global power.
What neither Santiago nor Yorick expected was that the war that year would later be known as the Chanaea- Vanara Reprisal. Though Chanaea ultimately defended its homeland, the cost was steep. During one pivotal battle, the Dawnbringer fell into an ambush and was attacked by a mysterious master. By the time the main forces arrived to reinforce him, it was too late to save him.
“Do not weep for me! Chanaea is the most wondrous place in this world. Though our ancestors‘ flesh and blood may perish, their spirit will endure forever, never dying, never fading!
“Five thousand years have proven our greatness. Our strength does not lie in how powerful we once were but in our refusal to give up–no matter the crisis. Our history, culture, spirit, and countless legacies will never be severed!
“Wherever dragon blood flows, a new dragon will rise, bathed in holy light. Wherever the Chanaean spirit endures, flames will burn brightly–illuminating our nation, blessing our people, and sowing the seeds of hope…
“Santiago, Yorick, Liora–you three are the torchbearers of my spirit. I trust that you will pass on Chanaea’s unyielding spirit until the day a new dragon soars once more!
In my name, I recognize your strength and status. From now on, you are Chanaea’s new Three Saints. Forge ahead, my dragon, tiger, and phoenix–I place my highest hopes upon you!”
With these final words, Lucian passed away with honor on the battlefield.
Santiago returned to Chanaea, carrying Lucian’s body back to the land the nation had bestowed upon him. That place was called Hero’s Village, where countless heroes of Chanaea had been laid to rest.
To fulfill the promise he made to his idol, Santiago remained in the village, intending to take the
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Chapter 2299 A Hero’s Heart, a Beauty’s Tears!
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Times were changing. The president who had bestowed the title of Dawnbringer had passed away. Two new candidates now vied for the presidency, each with a vastly different leadership style. Depending on who ascended to power, Chanaea’s future would follow a very different path.
“Is that so? Are you going to support Artemis Barton?”
At that point, Santiago had already become a 3–star soldier and was married to Jane. Yet, upon hearing his political aspirations, Jane’s expression seemed mixed with conflicting emotions.
“That’s right! The recent war made me realize that this isn’t the time for Chanaca to flaunt its military might or compete for international dominance. We need to recognize the situation, focus on recovery, and pursue peaceful development to prepare for our great revival!” Santiago said passionately. “Sheffield–Grey is a member of the pro–war faction–he’s not the right candidate to lead Chanaca right now. Only someone like Barton, who understands the power of patience and restraint, can ensure the nation’s steady growth. That’s why we must support Barton!”
“Is that so?” Jane’s smile was complicated. “Santiago, you’ve changed. When I married you, it was because of your warrior spirit and your dream of becoming a hero. I thought you’d continue to fight for Chanaea, spreading its glory across the world.”
“Yes, I’ve changed!” Santiago admitted without hesitation. “Fighting alongside the Dawnbringer made me understand his greatness. His heart seemed as vast as the stars and oceans, and his gaze could see a hundred years into the future! Haha, compared to him, I was nothing but a brash kid–not only was my martial skill inferior, but my mindset was galaxies apart from his. So, I changed because I wanted to become as great as he was!
“He taught me that patience isn’t cowardice–it’s the vision of a true strategist. Constant warfare doesn’t make us stronger–it only brings short–lived thrills followed by devastating consequences. Chanaea is a great nation, and we don’t strive for fleeting victories–we strive for prosperity and revival, generation after generation!
“Do you get it, Jane? I know you do!” Santiago gently shook his wife’s shoulders.
The beauty, whose charm could topple kingdoms, gave a slight nod, her smile growing more complex. “I get you.”
“Excellent!” Santiago embraced his wife tightly, unaware of the faint tears welling in her eyes.
Yorick happened to arrive for a visit. In truth, during Santiago’s long absences, Yorick often came by to check on Jane under the guise of friendship.
After Jane’s parents passed away, she bore heavy responsibilities alone, with her husband frequently away. Yorick frequently visited her with various excuses, offering his help. Sometimes, a single word of concern from Jane could fill him with joy for days, leaving him so excited that he couldn’t sleep, his smile lingering on his face.
But now, seeing Santiago holding the woman he adored, Yorick could only turn and leave in silence.
Regret gnawed at him—he regretted deliberately losing to Santiago in the past. That defeat was like a thorn lodged deep in his heart. Every time it was touched, the pain would spread, numbing his entire body.
“Santiago, must you also become my enemy after taking away my goddess? Don’t you know that Jane is the woman I love most, and Atticus is my boss, the one I owe everything to? Sigh…” Yorick clutched a bottle of liquor and drank alone, his words slurring as he spoke to himself.
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Atticus had shown him immense kindness. When he was a reckless youth who had offended a powerful figure, it was Atticus who stepped in to save him–and even provided him with a livelihood. Now, Atticus. trusted him deeply, gifting him a luxurious mansion and ensuring his mother and siblings lived comfortably.
Yorick was only human. How could he not support Atticus‘ bid for the presidency? But he also knew that by doing so, he and Santiago would inevitably stand on opposite sides.
Yet the conflict between them came sooner than expected. Before politics could force them apart, they clashed violently–culminating in a physical fight.
“Santiago, you b*stard! How could you let this happen to Jane?!” Yorick roared, pouring all his fury into each punch and kick. “You’ve been so busy working for Artemis that you’ve neglected your family–and now someone’s taken your wife! If anything happens to Jane, I swear I’ll kill you myself!”
