Chapter 505 - 398: Tragic News from Silver Moon Territory
Chapter 505: Chapter 398: Tragic News from Silver Moon Territory
Three days later, Raylo inspected the newly expanded Earth Dragon Ranch.
With the Hill Giants’ help, the expansion moved much more quickly. The basic framework was finished in just three days.
Raylo instructed Lady Martha to build a new Mammoth Ranch next to the Earth Dragon Ranch once its expansion was complete.
Raylo planned to find time to visit the Giant Dragon Realm, round up all the Mammoths in the Mammoth Basin, and bring them back to Black Stone Territory.
「Back at the castle.」
In his study, Raylo was looking over the letters and documents that had piled up over the last few days.
At that moment, the study door was pushed open.
Avril came in carrying a steaming cup of peppermint tea. When she saw the mountain of documents piled in front of Raylo, her brow furrowed slightly.
"Still busy?"
She placed the teacup by Raylo’s hand and asked softly.
"Yeah, I’m almost done."
Raylo smiled.
"Don’t overwork yourself."
Avril moved behind him and began to gently massage his temples with her slender, pale fingers.
He leaned back in his chair, enjoying the rare moment of warmth and tranquility.
"By the way, a maid brought a letter earlier. She said it was from a messenger from Red Leaf Territory."
Avril said as she continued her massage.
"I left it on the desk for you."
Raylo opened his eyes and saw an exquisitely crafted letter sitting on the corner of his desk.
The envelope was made of fine parchment, stamped with a lifelike red leaf.
Raylo picked it up and opened the envelope.
Inside was an equally exquisite invitation card.
The invitation was for a grand ball in Red Leaf Territory, to be held one month from now.
The ball was in honor of the recently-of-age younger sister of Count Red Leaf, Gao Wen.
The invitation used the most elegant prose to praise the young lady’s beauty and talent, calling her the "Northern Rose."
After reading it, Raylo casually tossed the invitation aside.
’A ball?’
’As if he had the spare time for that now.’
’In a month, the first clash between the Red Dragon Empire and the Light Holy See should be over. Heaven knows what kind of chaos the Continent will have descended into by then.’
’Besides, he had never been interested in the hypocritical pleasantries of the nobility.’
’He would rather spend that time training his army, or go to the Giant Dragon Realm and capture a few more Magical Beasts.’
"So? You’re not going?"
Avril saw his gesture and asked with a smile.
"I’m not going. It’s not interesting."
Raylo shook his head.
"But it’s for the ’Northern Rose,’ you know."
There was a hint of teasing in Avril’s voice.
"I hear that this young lady is widely considered the greatest beauty in our Northern Territory. So many talented young men are climbing over each other for a chance to meet her. Aren’t you the least bit tempted?"
"I’ve already married the most beautiful pearl in the Duchy!"
Raylo grasped her hand and said with a smile.
A faint blush crept onto Avril’s cheeks.
She tapped him lightly on the arm but said,
"Smooth talker."
But she couldn’t hide the smile playing at the corners of her eyes.
The two were teasing each other, enjoying a rare moment alone together.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
Ed burst in, a panicked expression on his face.
"My Lord!"
Ed said as soon as he saw Raylo.
"Something has happened!"
"Slow down. What happened?"
Raylo asked.
"It’s Silver Moon Territory... Something’s happened in Silver Moon Territory!"
Ed said.
"Just last night, Silver Moon Castle... there was a massacre!"
"Everyone in Silver Moon Castle, from the Baron himself down to the servants and guards... no one survived! They were all slaughtered!"
Raylo sighed.
’He had long expected this outcome, but hearing the terrible news for real still sent a chill down his spine.’
"Give me the details."
Raylo asked, his voice low.
"Our Pegasus Knights on border patrol learned of it from a group of refugees fleeing from Silver Moon Territory. They said that last night, screams echoed from Silver Moon Castle all night long. This morning, a few of the braver ones snuck back to look and found the entire castle had become a city of the dead!"
"Among the refugees were a few of Silver Moon Castle’s guard Knights. They said that last night... Vampires attacked the castle!"
"What else did they say?"
Raylo asked.
"The few Knights who managed to escape said they never even got a clear look at the enemy before the fighting was over. All they knew was that there weren’t many attackers, but every single one was terrifyingly powerful."
"The Iron Shield Mercenary Corps, which Baron Kailan paid a fortune to hire—over a hundred of them—were slaughtered without even making a ripple."
"And... they said that at the height of the battle, they felt the pressure of a Domain Level expert emanating from above the castle!"
Ed said.
’Just as I thought!’
’A Domain Level expert made a move.’
’That explains it.’
’Faced with a Domain Level opponent, all of Baron Kailan’s so-called preparations might as well have been made of paper.’
’This is a provocation from the Crimson Bloodline against the entire Thunder Dragon Duchy!’
’If I just sit idly by and let these gutter rats do as they please in the Duchy’s territory...’
’...what would become of the Thunder Dragon Duchy’s authority?’
’And how could I, the Northern Guardian and the Duchy’s Crown Prince, ever show my face again?’
’While Baron Silver Moon was alive, the laws of the Duchy prevented me from intervening.’
’But now that Baron Silver Moon is dead, a bloody massacre like this gives me—as the Duchy’s Crown Prince and Northern Guardian—every reason I need to deploy my troops.’
’Raylo had already made his decision. He would use the swiftest, most merciless methods to drag every last one of these damned Vampires out of their rat holes. Then, one by one, he would nail them out under the Sun and watch them burn to ash!’