The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Chapter 950: Chapter 0947: Atlantis (First Update)

Duke Pierrot had been living in luxury on Black Horse Island, he was no fool, and had early on guessed the outcome regarding the Mountain Copper Dragon from Liszt’s composed expression.

To be able to snatch away the Grey Iron Dragon Ornn so swiftly, was enough to prove how powerful this young Dragon Knight, who caused him such conflicting feelings, truly was. That’s why he had originally used the information about the Mountain Copper Dragon in exchange for Liszt’s help in stabilizing his ducal position, hoping to maintain his power and wealth.

Once someone has tasted prosperity, how could they willingly let it go? At least Pierrot couldn’t.

“Your Majesty, the envoy group from the Eagle Royal Family has already reached out to me, and after the Dragon Sprite exchange, I will be able to return to the Grey Iron Duchy,” Pierrot said frankly to Liszt after meeting him, “Relying on Your Majesty’s power, I remain the Duke of the Grey Iron Duchy, though I still have to pay tribute to the Eagle Kingdom and dare not sever the vassal relationship lightly.”

Switching sides in secret was one thing, but publicly he had to consider the face of the Eagle Royal Family. After all, the Grey Iron Duchy was a distant 108,000 miles from the Flame Kingdom but lay on the border of the Eagle Kingdom.

“No matter, I will naturally protect you. Both the Eagle Royal Family and the Grey Iron Duchy wouldn’t dare to openly turn against me, so your position as Duke is very secure for at least the next six months. However, after half a year, I cannot guarantee whether the Eagle Royal Family will act against you in private, nor can I assure you of the Grey Iron Family from within, which may join forces with the Eagle Royal Family.”

Pierrot could use Liszt’s name to return to his country and continue as Duke.

However, this could not change his culpability for losing the dragon; he was still a criminal in the eyes of the Grey Iron Family and his own Duchy.

Moreover, his secret defection and Liszt’s verbal protection—both the Eagle Royal Family and the Grey Iron Family would surely guess how many favors Pierrot had promised Liszt. For such acts of betrayal against the Duchy and the suzerain state, even his own son might wish to devour his flesh and blood.

Therefore, Liszt doubted whether Pierrot could survive the next six months.

The previously mentioned twenty years of protection were simply a consolation, more so to retain an excuse to provoke war.

Pierrot nevertheless smiled confidently: “Your Highness, I lack your greatness and dominance; even my son hopes that I die in a foreign land. But I am not a lone individual; the Dragon Rearing Families within the Eagle Kingdom’s vassal states who have good relations with me will help me get through the tough times.”

“Confidence is good.”

“Twenty years, I hope to live to see Your Highness conquer the three great Kingdoms, unifying the Northeastern Corner of the Legendary Continent… Perhaps I won’t live that long, but my grandson will surely witness it.”

Grandson?

Liszt’s eyebrows raised but he said nothing else—he guessed that after Pierrot returned, he would kill his own son, as having grandchildren meant it didn’t matter whether he had a son or not.

After meeting with Duke Pierrot, he quickly announced the summoning of the Eagle Kingdom’s envoy group.

The head of the envoy group was still a familiar face, Alexander White Iron, and after a series of courtesies, the ransom was directly transacted in the great hall of Thorn Castle.

Liszt left the details to his father, Li Weiliam, focusing solely on the transaction involving the Dragon Sprite.

The Dragon Sprite brought as ransom by the Eagle Royal Family, according to the rules, had to be of the grain or Magic Potion type, and could not be over two hundred years old. Dragon Sprites only have a lifespan of five hundred years; if the Eagle Royal Family brought a Dragon Sprite that was over four hundred years old, Liszt would definitely turn hostile.

“Its name is Atlantis, which evolved into a Dragon Sprite one hundred and twenty years ago, and has since diligently ploughed buckwheat for the Eagle Royal Family. His Majesty the King of the Eagle Kingdom, bearing great pain, allowed it to be cut away and sent to Your Majesty the Flame King,” said Alexander in a low tone, emanating a sense of enduring humiliation and reluctance.

By his side stood a delicately dressed, slender little figure wearing the garb of a noble – Little Flack Abieye.

The tiny figure’s head was crystal clear and white, crowned with a cluster of light pink blossoms, the Buckwheat Dragon Sprite itself.

At this moment, the Buckwheat Dragon Sprite Atlantis gazed at Liszt with its sparkling large eyes, its expression filled with a humanlike sorrow and nervousness. It had already dissolved the spirit contract with the Eagle Kingdom’s King, but the memories from over a hundred years of life in the Eagle Kingdom were indelibly etched in its mind.

It took several days of persuasion by the Eagle Kingdom’s King before it agreed to serve as a ransom, to depart for a new life in the Flame Kingdom.

However, during the voyage, its spirits were consistently low, and even the light pink flowers atop its head seemed a bit wilted. It had no expectations for its new life, only a desire to return to the carefree days spent among the Eagle Royal Family, amidst familiar faces and houses.

But.

It had to muster some spirit to take stock of the human in front of it, who would soon become its new contract partner.

By the aesthetic standards of the Elves, the human before it seemed rather easy on the eyes, certainly not an odd or disfigured looking one. His facial features were well-proportioned and symmetrical, with a straight stature, and a pair of bright eyes like the stars gave off a benevolent gaze.

All in all, the first impression wasn’t bad, but neither was it particularly good—the changes it faced were still met with considerable resistance in its heart.

Simultaneously, Liszt was also taking measure of Atlantis. He had surmised that the Eagle Royal Family would send this Buckwheat Dragon Sprite. Piero, the “traitor,” had submitted reports about the Eagle Royal Family to him long ago, including information about their Dragon Sprites, and the one most fitting was the Buckwheat Dragon Sprite.

First of all, buckwheat was classified as a type of grain, which met the prerequisite of being a grain-related Dragon Sprite; secondly, the Buckwheat Dragon Sprite was less than two hundred years old, aligning with Liszt’s age requirement; lastly, among all grains, buckwheat was of lesser value.

The name buckwheat contains “wheat,” but in fact, it has no relation to wheat.

Wheat belongs to the Poaceae family, part of the monocots, whereas buckwheat is a dicot, related to the Chinese knotweed, producing triangular seeds. In this world, buckwheat’s yield and nutritional value couldn’t compete with barley and wheat.

However, there was one good thing about buckwheat—it was unpretentious and easy to care for, capable of growing once scattered in the field, and sometimes, even without the influence of Cordyceps, it could still produce a respectable harvest.

“Atlantis, welcome to the Flame Kingdom. I am Liszt Flame, the king of these lands, the master of the seas, and the Knight of many dragons. From now on, we will be partners. The Flame Family welcomes you, and I believe you will grow to love it here.”

He extended his hand, not to stuff it into Atlantis’s mouth, but to offer it a handshake.

Dragon Sprites had the intelligence of a grown human, understanding many things and deserving to be treated as equals. Atlantis hesitated for a moment before it extended its little hand and shook hands simply with Liszt.

“So, shall we contract now?” Liszt then raised his hand, extending a single index finger.

Atlantis was conflicted—it could feel Liszt’s friendliness and remembered the Eagle Kingdom’s King’s request, but still, it did not want to change.

At that moment, Liszt glanced over at Alexander.

Alexander immediately felt an almost palpable weight of serious pressure upon him and promptly spoke up: “Atlantis, please contract with His Majesty the Flame King, don’t hesitate any longer. Hasn’t His Majesty the King of the Eagle Kingdom already spoken to you? You need to accept this new life.”

Atlantis hung its head low, silent for a moment. Then it grasped Liszt’s outstretched hand with both hands, reluctantly opened its mouth, and bit down on Liszt’s fingertip.

Blood oozed from the fingertip, and in an instant, a wondrous reaction occurred with Atlantis’s teeth, bringing forth a mysterious and profound feeling in the hearts of both Atlantis and Liszt.

They were now of one mind and one spirit.