The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Chapter 880: Chapter 0877: Choices After the Battle (Fourth Update, Alliance Hierarch Extra 7/147)

“Complete the task, reward: a Man-Eating Tree Cluster.”

Tracking down the dragon, the Smoke Mission had undeniably been perfectly completed, and the reward was forthcoming. Liszt presently didn’t understand what a Man-Eating Tree Cluster was, nor did he pay much attention to it.

At this moment, his mood was still immersed in the joy of having slain the fourth dragon.

The Smoke Mission quickly transformed into fresh Serpent Script.

“Mission: Perfectly complete the second Dragon-Hunting War, your name will shake the entire Legendary Continent, even the sea will tremor at the sound of your name. The battle is now over, but the matter is not yet finished; why not punish the traitor within the Sapphire yourself? Reward: Elf Shadow.”

“Punishing a traitor, that task is simple… Elf Shadow, what kind of reward is this?”

Liszt pondered for a moment with no clues, then decisively gave up. Oftentimes, the reward from a Smoke Mission supplements the content of the task, and one could deduce the nature of the mission from the clues provided by the reward. However, most of the time, there’s little connection between the reward and the mission.

Like this Smoke Mission and its reward that seemed unrelated, so there was no need for deep thought; upon completing the mission, he would naturally come to know what an Elf Shadow was.

“Time to sleep, tomorrow I’ll head straight back to Black Horse Island, then deliver a message to the Sapphire Duke… Although he didn’t take part in the Dragon-Hunting War, I absolutely do not believe that he was oblivious to the war unfolding within Sapphire—it’s not so easy to sit back and reap the benefits!”

And Liszt wasn’t wrong in his expectations.

In the Azure Sky Peak Palace, the Sapphire Duke was receiving a report from the Rat Leader about the situation on Hot Spring Island: “The Dragon Knights of the Eagle Kingdom have withdrawn, and the Count of Hot Spring Island has taken steps to erase any traces on the island. However, our rats have discovered another wave of rats active on Hot Spring Island.”

“Rats under the Marquis of Flames?”

“Highly likely. They’ve been inquiring about the transportation of goods on Hot Spring Island right from the start and clearly knew full well about the Eagle Kingdom Dragon Knights stationed there.”

“So ends the Dragon-Hunting War, with the death of the Purple Copper Duke as its conclusion?” the Sapphire Duke mused from the head seat, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

Crown Prince Anthony, sitting at a lower seat, wanted to interject, but did not dare interrupt the Duke’s conversation with the Rat Leader.

The Rat Leader replied, “We have no deeper information as of yet. However, everything in the Flame Territory is running smoothly. But on the night of the Dragon-Hunting War, the Marquis of Flames returned to Thorn Castle to rest for the night… If my deduction is not mistaken, the Dragon-Hunting War was a victory for the Marquis of Flames.”

“Fire Dragon, Light Green Gemstone Dragon… How did he defeat Alex, Alonso, Loyle, and the other three Dragon Knights, as well as a formidable team of five dragons?” the Duke wondered, finding it incomprehensible.

Anthony couldn’t help but interrupt, “Father, do you believe this result, that the Marquis of Flames, however strong, could withstand the might of five dragons?”

“I cannot see through it, nor can I comprehend it, but one thing is clear to me: since the rats of the Flame Territory were previously active on Hot Spring Island, it indicates that Liszt already knew the situation of the opponent. He could prepare at ease, whether to hide away or to stand out. The outcome of Loyle has also proven this point.”

“But…”

“There is no ‘but’.” The Duke cut off Anthony’s words with a cough, his aged face revealing a profound exhaustion, “The situation now is that Alex and the other Dragon Knights have been forced to leave, they failed in the Dragon-Hunting War; otherwise, it would have already been proclaimed far and wide.”

He paused, allowing his breathing to become smoother, “And what we are now facing is Liszt, the victorious Marquis of Flames from the Dragon-Hunting War, the future King of the Flame Kingdom!”

“King of the Kingdom, he really dares to adopt such a title for himself!” Anthony said indignantly.

“Having won the Dragon-Hunting War twice, he is entitled to become the new overlord of the seas and the new King of the Flame Kingdom. The sea is no longer calm; the Sapphire Family has reached a moment of decision again. Anthony, this state will ultimately be handed over to you; what do you think our choice should be?”

“This…” Anthony had a lot to say, but when the words reached his lips, they wouldn’t come out, “How about we first annihilate Hot Spring Island to secure the Marquis of Flames and then send someone to contact the Steel Ridge Royal Family? Once the Flame Kingdom is established, Steel Ridge should feel unsettled.”

“Let’s not interfere with Hot Spring Island,” Li Si Te (Liszt) had already noticed Hot Spring Island, and it’s best to leave it to him to handle personally, to test his thoughts… We find ourselves in an awkward position, Anthony, external forces can never last long, the only one we can truly rely on is the Sapphire Dragon.”

Moreover.

The Sapphire Duke felt somewhat bitter inside, having signed a defensive and offensive alliance with Li Si Te (Liszt) yet he stayed out of the fray—the young Dragon Knight was not someone who could be dismissed easily.

…

After returning to Black Horse Island.

Li Si Te (Liszt) arranged accommodations for Duke Pierrot, a Completion Level Sky Knight with no small amount of strength, so despite being treated well, necessary shackles had to be placed.

Subsequently.

Without a moment’s rest, Li Si Te (Liszt) proceeded to Tulip Castle on Coral Island to see the Marquis of Bull Tail, “Father, there is a matter I need you to handle.”

“What is it?”

“The day before yesterday, there was a dragon slaying battle at sea to the north.” Li Si Te (Liszt) explained the battle succinctly, not exaggerating the severity of the fight nor using a dramatic tone.

But when he casually mentioned the death of Purple Copper Dragon Knight Loyle Purple Copper, the capture of Duke Grey Iron, and how Grey Iron Dragon Ornn became his mount, the Marquis of Bull Tail was so shocked that he was speechless for a long time.

Until Li Si Te (Liszt) quietly finished a cup of tea.

Only then did he manage to digest the news and regained his fatherly authority, “Are you saying that you were ambushed by five dragons, killed one Dragon Knight, and captured one of the Iron Dragons? The Eagle Kingdom witnessed the collapse risk of two vassal states in the blink of an eye, while you came out unscathed?”

“As you can see, I am indeed in good health.”

“This is so sudden, Liszt, if I hadn’t seen you standing here, I might have doubted you were my son. I always thought I had some talent, but I never imagined my son achieving such glorious feats, you are even more legendary than what’s described in Knight’s Novels.”

In Knight’s Novels, the protagonists ride just one dragon to a stylish end, but Liszt, at the rate of two dragons a year, just keeps on Dragon Riding.

“Perhaps these seas need a King to stand up, and it just so happens that I’m that choice.” He acknowledged with rare humility, “Father, the stance that the Sapphire Family took during this dragon slaying battle chills my heart. As allies supposed to aid each other, they watched idly as the Eagle Kingdom encroached and seriously infringed upon my interests.”

“A Grand Duchy by the sea submitting to a Kingdom by the sea, isn’t that a very normal scenario? Oh, and Father, dispatch a group of Knights to help me eliminate Viscount of Square Island, I suspect he’s a traitor planted by the Eagle Kingdom, and I shall personally head to Hot Spring Island!”