Translator: AnubisTL
Deep within the Duchy of Raymond, in the ancient and imposing castle of the Albert Family.
Mills Albert, the old earl with frost-dusted temples, frowned deeply, his knuckles tapping lightly on the heavy oak armrest.
The news that the Scaly Earth Rift Road had been captured and occupied by monster clans was now irrefutable, laid out on his desk.
What weighed even heavier on his heart was intelligence suggesting that these savage monsters might well be the same dragon pack that had murdered his own brother—Horato Albert, Viscount Ironthorn—over twenty years ago.
Horato Albert, Viscount Ironthorn's true name.
He and Earl Mills were blood brothers.
Though the Albert Family had gradually faded from the military's inner circle, their foundation had been built upon generations of military merit. Their illustrious Marquis ancestor, who had served the Duchy of Raymond with distinction and held a high military command, was the best proof of this.
Thus, the family had always maintained the tradition of sending their heirs to dangerous lands for training.
Viscount Ironthorn Horato and Earl Mills were not merely brothers by blood; they had fought side by side in the bloody crucible of the borderlands, forging a bond of camaraderie in countless life-or-death struggles that transcended ordinary brotherhood.
Among noble kin, disputes over interests often arise, and affection tends to grow thin.
Yet, the camaraderie forged in the crucible of war—sharing life and death, entrusting each other with their backs—burns with fiery intensity.
When Earl Mills ascended to his title, Viscount Ironthorn Horato's unwavering support and behind-the-scenes maneuvering had been indispensable.
Upon hearing the devastating news of Viscount Ironthorn's brutal death at the claws of a wilderness evil dragon, Earl Mills flew into a rage. He dispatched his family's private army into the wilderness repeatedly, vowing to avenge his brother and settle the score.
However, the vastness of the wilderness and the ferocity of its monsters thwarted his plans time and again, ultimately forcing him to return in failure.
As years passed, the bone-deep hatred seemed to lie dormant, and the desire for vengeance gradually faded.
Yet, just when he thought the past was buried, news emerged of the evil dragons' familiars seemingly returning.
Moreover, this was no longer merely a personal vendetta.
The enemy had brazenly seized his territory, trampling upon the honor and dignity the Albert Family had built over generations through blood and sacrifice. This was an open slap in the face to the entire duchy's nobility.
He had to respond swiftly and decisively.
Otherwise, falling into the same trap twice would bring him eternal shame, reducing the Albert Family to a laughingstock among the duchy's nobility—a byword for cowardice.
Yet, the reason Earl Mills had risen above his many equally valiant brothers to claim his title was precisely because he understood the value of calm and reason in the power games better than anyone else.
Rage could ignite the blood, but it must never burn away reason.
He did not let the surging flames of vengeful fury cloud his judgment. His knuckles remained steady, rhythmically tapping against the solid oak armrest as he silently pondered, weighing the pros and cons.
"Deploy the family's most elite private army to Scaly Earth Rift Road."
"Regardless of whether we succeed in expelling or annihilating the monsters entrenched there, fighting in that godforsaken wilderness will inevitably inflict unbearable losses on the family's most valuable military assets. The cost of training and equipping elite private troops is astronomical; each loss is like a knife twisting in my heart."
"Moreover, clearing the wilderness is the federal garrison's sacred duty."
"The best solution to this problem is to have the federal garrison step in and eliminate those damned monsters for us."
The Albert Family had risen to prominence through military merit, naturally possessing a deeply rooted network of connections cultivated over generations within the duchy's military circles and the broader Federation military system.
Earl Mills swiftly contacted a senior officer with whom he shared a close personal relationship. After the necessary pleasantries and the promise of substantial benefits, he subtly made his request. He hoped the officer could pull some strings to mobilize the federal garrison in the Sierre Wilderness to deal with the "minor trouble" at Scaly Earth Rift Road, thereby salvaging the Albert Family's reputation and avenging his brother.
To Earl Mills' surprise, the matter proceeded with unexpected difficulty.
In less than ten minutes, a response arrived via an encrypted communication stone:
The situation in the Sierre Wilderness is dire. Demonic beasts and ferocious beasts run rampant, the land is ravaged by war, and requests for aid from outposts are piling up like mountains. Matters in remote areas like Scaly Earth Rift Road have extremely low priority and won't be addressed for at least several years.
Earl Mills felt a surge of indignation, his brow furrowing into a knot. He couldn't believe that given the officer's position and their personal ties, he couldn't even handle such a trivial matter.
He contacted several other military acquaintances, all holding different positions and all indebted to the Albert Family or having shared interests with them.
The responses were identical: "The wilderness situation is unstable, and we're stretched thin on troop deployment."
"Has the Federation's attention waned to the point where the Sierre Wilderness has deteriorated so badly? They can't even spare a single party?"
Earl Mills' brow furrowed, deepening the lines on his face.
However, he didn't dwell on the possibility of foul play or intrigue. He simply assumed that the chaos in the wilderness was far worse than he had anticipated, and that his connections were insignificant in the face of such large-scale defense matters.
He could never have imagined...
That the creatures he considered savage monsters, dwelling deep in the wilderness, could actually have connections to the Princess of the Kingdom of Lothurn.
Nor could he have imagined that Her Highness had already quietly made all the necessary arrangements.
Though the Kingdom of Lothurn had declined, it still possessed deep-rooted influence and extensive reach. The capabilities of a princess far surpassed anything a mere earl family from the Duchy of Raymond could match or resist.
Seeing that the road to the federal garrison was completely blocked and would remain impassable in the short term, Earl Mills, after much deliberation, ultimately decided that he must deploy the family's private army to resolve the matter in the wilderness himself, in order to defend the family's honor.
However, he didn't stake all his chips on this private force.
After careful consideration, he picked up the magic communication stone used for long-distance communication and activated a specific spiritual imprint.
"Charles, it's me, Mills."
The earl's voice carried a hint of weariness, yet was brimming with anticipation.
"I've encountered a rather troublesome situation and I was hoping for your help."
Charles Haynes—the most dazzling, comet-like rising hero in the Duchy of Raymond in recent years, a renowned warrior whose name was celebrated and in whom countless people placed their hopes!
From the moment he embarked on his adventuring career, he was showered with endless praise, flowers, and the screams of adoring maidens.
He never lost a battle, whether his opponents were vampires lurking in ancient castles, hordes of troll beasts ravaging villages, or evil dragons perched on treacherous peaks. He always vanquished them with dazzling flair, formidable strength, and impeccable combat skill.
At just nineteen years old, he achieved a legendary feat: single-handedly tracking and slaying an adult blue dragon of his own rank, escaping the dragon's clan in pursuit, and returning its head to the Ducal Capital. This exploit brought him widespread fame, celebrated in songs and tales by bards across the land.
Everyone believed he was destined for greatness, destined to become the pillar that would support the Duchy of Raymond in the future.
His extraordinary handsomeness and the many beautiful women who admired him, coupled with his deep respect and care for women, earned him the affectionate title of the Flower Knight.
When this Flower Knight first emerged, having shown his prowess in several small skirmishes along the eastern border of the duchy, the shrewd Earl Mills immediately noticed this rising star.
The earl began to invest generously in him over the long term.
When Charles faced financial difficulties, the earl provided timely assistance. When Charles's missions offended local power brokers, the earl used his family's influence to discreetly resolve the trouble. Even when Charles needed rare equipment or intelligence, the earl's network always provided timely support.
The earl offered this support and convenience without asking for anything in return, never requiring Charles to do anything for him.
It is worth noting that...
The Albert Family made numerous investments in individuals like this.
Each year, the family set aside a special budget to fund young people who displayed extraordinary talent in military affairs, magic, or adventuring, regardless of whether they were commoners born in humble circumstances or noble scions temporarily fallen on hard times.
Though most of these investments yielded nothing—either because the recipients proved unworthy, failed to develop their potential, or chose to forget their benefactor's kindness after achieving success—the Albert Family never ceased this practice.
It was like scattering countless seeds of hope across vast fields.
Even if most failed to sprout, with time and cultivation, some would eventually bear fruit.
Among the rare successes, the Flower Knight Charles Haynes stood out as the most valuable harvest.
Now, it was time to reap the rewards of that investment.
"What is it? Please, tell me."
After receiving a response, Earl Mills took a deep breath, casting aside the dignity and pride inherent in his noble status.
Before the rising hero on the other end of the line, he poured out his grievances almost in tears, each word dripping with blood-red anguish.
"Charles, the evil dragons that plague the Scaly Earth Rift Road—their atrocities are beyond measure!
"They not only cruelly murdered my only brother, Horato, but now they've returned to trample the territory my Albert Family has guarded for generations, crushing the glory our ancestors earned with their blood beneath their feet! They treat us as if we don't even exist!
"I am old, Charles. To see my family disgraced, my brother's blood unavenged, and my territory occupied by these monsters... and to be powerless to stop it—I loathe my own weakness. I am unworthy of the Einherjar who came before us!
"Charles, I would never have contacted you if I had any other choice. Only you can help me now. Please, help me. Help the Albert Family."
On the other end of the message stone, the young adventurer Charles Haynes listened silently to his benefactor's accusations and pleas.
He was in the prime of his life, burning with passion, eager to make his mark and prove his worth through heroic deeds. His heart overflowed with fervor and dreams, and he believed in the principle of repaying kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance.
For years, the kind-hearted Earl had selflessly supported the Flower Knight's adventuring journey, like a loving father, providing crucial benefits—from precious magic potions and rare equipment leads to resolving troublesome political matters.
Now, the Earl had humbled himself to such an extent, making such a sincere request, and entrusting the entire hope for his family's revival and vengeance to a single person.
What a heavy burden of trust, what a tremendous honor! This weighty trust and responsibility instantly ignited the Flower Knight's heroic spirit and sense of gratitude.
With heroic fervor surging in his chest, the Flower Knight felt an undeniable sense of duty. Moreover, beyond repaying the Earl's kindness, the enduring legend of heroes slaying evil dragons remained the quickest path to fame and glory.
Even without the Earl's request, if he heard of an evil dragon rampaging somewhere, he would have sought it out to slay it.
"Mr. Mills, please rest assured," came the young knight's resolute reply through the message stone.
"I swear to resolve this matter for you and restore the Albert Family's rightful dignity!"
(End of the Chapter)
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