The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Chapter 887: Chapter 0884: Joyful Atmosphere (Second Update)
 

“Prince Liszt, Lord Acherloides, welcome to the Azure Sky Peak Palace as guests,” the Sapphire Duke looked at the tall and spirited Liszt, his eyes calm yet unable to fully conceal a faint sense of loss.

A nobody who used to grovel before him.

Now, he had become a Dragon Knight on equal footing with him, no, more precisely, a high and mighty new overlord who required a slight bow from him upon meeting.

Especially when he saw that grey-white Grey Iron Dragon, his heart clenched painfully—clearly, it was the Grey Iron Dragon from the Grey Iron Duchy.

Last time, he had slain Carlo Violet in the Dragon Slaying Battle and snatched away the Light Green Gemstone Dragon.

This time, in the Dragon Slaying Battle, he killed Loyle Purple Copper and took the Grey Iron Dragon.

The Sapphire Duke could hardly imagine how this young man, barely twenty years old and smiling, managed to achieve all this.

But the Grey Iron Dragon was perched right there in the palace square, leaving him no choice but to believe.

“It’s not the three dragons previously mentioned, but four… With such a luxurious lineup, I’m afraid the visitors have ill intentions. This time, the Sapphire Family probably has no choice at all,” the Sapphire Duke thought bitterly, feeling a continuous sense of weakness throughout his body, thankfully supported discreetly by the Duchess, Lady Sarette, by his arm.

So as not to show it.

“Grand Duke, I hope my uninvited arrival hasn’t disturbed you,” said Liszt, not arrogantly but still with the gentlemanly demeanor, greeting him properly.

His gesture was a salute between equals, giving full respect to the Sapphire Duke.

He then turned to the Marquis of Bull Tail and bowed, “Father.”

This made the recently overjoyed Li Weiliam even prouder, his smile barely concealable, “Liszt, why isn’t the Light Green Gemstone Dragon here? Instead, you’ve brought the Grey Iron Dragon?” He did not know that the Grey Iron Dragon had already been ridden by Liszt, as it was the dragon’s first public appearance.

“I have captured Duke Pierrot. The Grey Iron Dragon and I are compatible; it has become my dragon!”

As if in response to Liszt,

the Grey Iron Dragon let out a long “roar,” casually glancing over the Sapphire Duke and his entourage, as well as the Sapphire Dragon perched on a hilltop not far away.

“Prince Liszt is indeed the most outstanding youth of this era, a veritable incarnation of knightly glory,” observed Lady Sarette, aware of the Grand Duke’s frailty, and extended an invitation, “After a long journey, perhaps Prince Liszt and Lord Acherloides would like to enter the palace for some tea and rest.”

Acherloides, not fond of such social occasions, remained silent, staying close to Liszt and lost in his thoughts.

Liszt readily agreed, “Very well.”

And thus, everyone returned inside the Azure Sky Peak Palace.

The Azure Sky Peak Palace could be said to be less a single palace and more a conglomeration of castles, sprawled across a mountaintop and connecting from summit to base. Its grandeur was something the few castles on Earth could not match by even a hundredth.

Furthermore, it had magical creations, such as a floating garden suspended over one of the castle rooftops.

That was the private chamber of the Sapphire Duke.

Standing on the castle corridor, one could see the distant Blue Dragon City and the vast blue lake that was Tranquil Lake, the largest lake on Blue Dragon Island. The pearl jewelry that was all the rage throughout the Grand Duchy was harvested from the low-level magical beasts, pearl oysters, farmed in the lake.

However, the Black Pearl products from Black Horse Island were now renowned throughout the nation.

Compared to the white pearls produced by pearl oysters, black pearls were bigger, more scarce, and thus more expensive.

The top-grade black pearls were kept by Liszt for making Calming Wind Pearls and not sold to outsiders. Likewise, pink pearls and golden pearls were not sold to outsiders—the cultivation of the black tridacna, fen hai luo, and golden-lipped clams had yet to expand significantly, with production levels insufficient even for their own needs.

Perhaps in a few years, or even a dozen or so years, with the maritime development of Flame Island, it would be possible to develop and expand the cultivation of these three kinds of shells. For the time being, there was no likelihood of expansion.

…

In the luxuriously decorated palace hall.

Liszt and the Sapphire Duke sat at opposite ends of a huge round table, surrounded by the Marquis of Bull Tail, the First Prince, the Quicksand City Marquis, and the Red Maple City Marquis—and of course, Acherloides, who held a magic book and did not look up.

“Your Highness, Liszt, I warmly welcome your visit. If it’s not a formal visit, shall I take it as a private exchange between the Sapphire and Flame Families?” the Sapphire Duke had recovered his health, the previous moment of weakness merely an emotional fluctuation.

Liszt neither confirmed nor denied, “Of course, this is a private exchange. However, concerning the Dragon War, I felt it was necessary for you, Duke, to have a more detailed understanding, so I came over.”

The Sapphire Duke nodded, “Then, what else do I need to be filled in on?”

Neither of them had any intention of engaging in empty pleasantries.

Liszt thought for a moment, “The situation of the Dragon War is completely under my control. Whether it’s the Eagle Kingdom, Steel Ridge Kingdom, or Blast Furnace Fortress Kingdom that sets off a Dragon War, it is all but a laughable act to me. I need the Sapphire Family to understand that the seas should be controlled by the knights who sail them.”

The Sapphire Duke likewise pondered for a moment, “Concerning the invasion by the Eagle Kingdom, I apologize, and there will not be a next time when dragon knights from the continent brazenly cross the Sapphire Archipelago.”

“That is necessary,” Liszt said with clear determination. “Whether it be the Tulip Family or the Flame Family, both were once followers of the Sapphire Family. Though the situation has changed, I hope that the two families can still cooperate closely without being impeded by outsiders.”

“Then, how should the position of the Sapphire Family be defined?” the Sapphire Duke asked in a serious tone.

Liszt retorted, “Duke, what do you think it should be?”

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Ultimately, it was the Sapphire Duke who broke it with a wry laugh: “Formless Dragon, Fire Dragon, Grey Iron Dragon, Light Green Gemstone Dragon, His Highness Liszt, Lord Acherloides… facing the current situation, I fear that I don’t have much room for choice.”

“That is not my intention.”

Liszt spread his hands, indicating he had no desire to pressure others: “But a stable maritime order is the prerequisite for the establishment and development of the Flame Kingdom. I am not afraid of the Dragon Wars, in fact, if every Dragon War could yield a dragon, I would look forward to it.”

He made a rather cold joke.

Continuing, he said: “However, if peaceful development is an option, I would prefer to patiently build a home. The Flame Islands are far from the continent, vast in size, and deserving of many years of cultivation, rather than relying on war to seize resources… Essentially, I very much prefer peace.”

After saying this, he laughed.

The Marquis of Bull Tail, the First Prince, the Red Maple City Marquis, and the Quicksand City Marquis joined in the laughter, and the Duke chuckled along, lightening the atmosphere as though it had instantly become more joyful.