The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Sned had not died.

Pierced through the chest by Li Weiliam's sword, the robust physique of the Sky Knight still sustained his vitality, having lost only the ability to fight, he lay fatally injured.

The battlefield quickly ended with Sned's exit, and the knights of Celery Fort scattered like smoke—those knights, nurtured at great expense, were all brought to their end here because of the Grand Duke's wrath.

Cooling his head, Liszt couldn't help but clench his fist and sigh.

The number of knights sacrificed in the years of the Pioneer Mandate probably couldn't compare to the number slain in this one battle at Iron Hoof Island. The Earth Knights, held high in the eyes of the commoners, were reaped like slaughtering dogs, leaving a profound impact within the heart of every victorious knight.

But such were the nobles under the knightly system. Traitors must pay with their lives to deter other knights and ensure their loyalty to their own landlords.

"Collect the names of all the fallen and give them to me," the Earl said as he rode slowly across the blood-drenched battlefield, his tone heavy. "Their lives will not be sacrificed in vain. Their honor will extend to their offspring, and you all will enjoy the supreme glory after the battle!"

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The victorious knights, raising their spears and longswords, shouted out loud, responding to the Earl's promise.

When the shouting ceased, the cleanup of the battlefield continued. Captain Layden and Viscount Jonas were busy tallying the casualties, while Marcus rode up to Liszt's side, reporting solemnly, "My Lord, Lasse Steelyard has died in battle."

Lasse Steelyard.

An Earth Knight who had joined him alongside Rondo Waterpot, second only to Marcus, had become one of his earliest followers, often participating in feasts at the castle.

Lasse Steelyard was more familiar to Liszt than the previously fallen follower, Leslie Pile of Dead Leaves.

After a moment of silence, he steeled his spirit: "I will remember his name. Teacher Marcus, tell everyone in the Knight Squad that glory awaits on the road ahead. Once the battle is over, everyone will partake in it, whether sacrificed or surviving."

"From the moment we joined the battle, we have all understood this truth. To charge and die in battle for my lord is our honor as well," Marcus said, clutching his fist, "And we are proud to follow you. Your strength now qualifies you to participate in Sky Knight battles, and you are certain to gain noble authority!"

"Noble authority, huh..."

Liszt gazed toward the vast distance, his military exploits from the battle of Bull Hair City were absolutely radiant. First was the overwhelming victory over the knight legion of Mane City, then rushing to assist Little River City and capturing Nameless Castle, coordinating with Levis and Trick to take Green Leaf Fortress. Lastly, returning to Bull Hair City, assisting the Earl in slaying the Sky Knight.

Such accomplishments dare not assure a barony, but he was decidedly not far from it.

After recuperating, he might even participate in the battle for Iron Hoof City, seizing yet another round of exploits. Thus, a barony for Viscount Black Horse Island was virtually a certainty.

"Step by step, what's mine will eventually be mine, and no one can take it away!"

He turned his head and called out, "Douson," who, with an injured shoulder blade, staggered up to him. The blow Sned had unleashed was far from what Douson, barely over a year old, could withstand.

If it were a duel, Douson might have already been slain.

Patting Douson's large head, Liszt rode his Landwalker Bird toward the now occupied Celery Fort; the Earl had already taken the severely wounded Sned into the castle for interrogation.

Perhaps from his mouth, they might uncover the secrets behind the dragon-slaying incident.

...

In the room.

The Earl was interrogating Sned: "What orders did the Marquis of Bull give to you?"

With his hand clutching his chest, Sned's breath was weak, but he cooperated surprisingly well: "To defend Bull Hair City to the death, to resist the invading knight legion from Iron Hoof Island."

"Why do you have to do this, do you know?"

"Of course I do, because Lord Marquis is going to accomplish the great feat of slaying the dragon."

"Dragon slaying, do you really think it's something you can get involved in? The Duchy of Sapphire has lost its dragon, do you think you, or any of us, can get a better ending?"

"I can't decide all of this, yet I look forward to change." Sned's eyes seemed a little distracted, "Lord Marquis had made all the arrangements long ago, including now, all within his plans. Li Weiliam, you did indeed defeat me today, but that doesn't mean you will still be the victor in the future!"

"Heh."

The Earl sneered coldly, "You are going to die, how can you defeat me?"

"When the Duchy of Sapphire disintegrates, you people will be buried with it! My offspring have already been safely relocated, they will reclaim the glory of Celery Fort, and even more so!"

"Disintegrate? No, the Duchy of Sapphire won't disintegrate, but Iron Hoof Island will certainly be annihilated. In fact, the Knight Order that broke through led by the Marquis of Bull has already been blocked by the Grand Duke's Knight Order, none of you will escape from Iron Hoof Island, and your offspring will certainly not continue, they will burn to ashes in the Grand Duke's fury."

"Ha-ha, you will soon know, the Sapphire Dragon is already dead... or not dead, but it will be critically wounded, then..." Sned lifted his head, locked eyes with the Earl, and grinned with a cough, "Cough... There will be another wave of assassination, that dragon won't live long!"

"Another assassination?"

"Calculating the time, it should have already ended, and the news of the Sapphire Dragon's death will soon spread throughout the Eagle Kingdom and the Steel Ridge Kingdom... especially the Knight Order of the Eagle Kingdom, they will cross the sea quickly to purge this maritime area."

The new assassination made Li Weiliam's heart shudder.

But he did not show it, remaining calm, "I'm curious, how does it benefit you for the Eagle Kingdom to purge this place?"

"Lord Marquis will lead us back to the mainland."

"Back to the mainland..." The Earl shook his head, his tone not without mockery, "Having lost the footing of your territory, even if you return to the mainland, how much glory can you obtain."

Everyone yearns for the mainland; it was because the Sapphire Family could not establish itself on the mainland that they came to this maritime area to found a nation.

Though remote and lacking resources, it was a patch of soil that provided shelter. The nobles here have grown accustomed to the current way of life, with the wars far from the archipelago, occurring on the mainland. Few people wanted to return to live on the mainland anymore, having rooted themselves on the islands of this maritime region.

Upon further questioning, Sned did not reveal any more information.

...

"What do you think of what Sned said?"

After a round of interrogation, the Earl asked several Knight Commanders.

"Is the Sapphire Dragon really facing a second assassination? I doubt this very much. I think he's just bluffing. The Grand Duke wouldn't fail to make the defenses," Levis said.

Liszt thought for a moment.

He offered his view, "Father should immediately contact Marquis Glendenton to probe his reaction. I believe Marquis Glendenton must know the situation of the Sapphire Dragon... or, we continue at our own pace, as real news will spread quickly, why not see how the other families react?"

Li Weiliam was just Coral Island's Count.

Above him, there were six Marquises drawing the attention, so there was no need to act high-profile.

Then, Liszt added, "Moreover, I suspect that things are not as Sned described. His offspring might very well be controlled by the Marquis of Bull, which is why they had no choice but to hold fast to Celery Fort, and the second wave of assassination against the Sapphire Dragon is likely nothing but a rumor deliberately spread by the Marquis of Bull."

Li Weiliam nodded, "I will contact Marquis Glendenton right away... and then continue the interrogation of Sned!"