Chapter 395 - 143: The Prince and the Dragon

Chapter 395: Chapter 143: The Prince and the Dragon

Thanks to the Royal Capital’s recent prosperity, the streets remained packed with pedestrians late into the night, and the city was aglow with lights.

Suddenly, from the Griffin Platforms scattered throughout the Royal Capital, a chorus of chimes rang out.

The pedestrians on the street immediately stopped in their tracks, looking around in confusion.

Many of the older Franks even drew their blades.

The Griffin Corps was the Royal Capital’s last line of defense. ’For all the Griffin Platforms to sound the alarm in unison... the last time that happened was thirty years ago...’

"What’s happening?"

"Look! Look at the sky!"

As the crowd murmured, it wasn’t long before some of the Extraordinary noticed something amiss.

In the distant sky, something was burning.

As everyone was talking, squads of the City Guard emerged to take control of the situation.

"Everyone, return to your lodgings immediately! Everyone..."

Under the immense pressure of the Beastman Empire, everyone in the Frank Kingdom had learned to obey. Obedience was the only way to survive.

Under the command of the City Guard, the bustling streets quickly emptied as residents returned to their homes.

The foreign merchants and tourists saw the citizens of the Frankish Royal Capital moving. Though they didn’t know why, they followed the crowd and joined the exodus.

Before long, the shrieks of griffins echoed from all over the city. Over a hundred of them took flight, one after another, heading off into the distance.

It wasn’t just griffins. The sky was also filled with countless other flying magical beasts.

The Frankish residents watched all this curiously, not understanding why.

Then, from the direction of the Royal Palace, a sound of incredible piercing power rang out.

A dragon’s roar.

...

By now, Robson had been brought to the Crystal Palace. Louis III, in a rare display, showed him immense goodwill, while the Algerian envoy saw Robson as his last and only hope.

Even someone with Robson’s composure couldn’t help but feel a shift in his attitude.

’If this works out,’ he thought, ’the payoff will be enormous.’

Everton let out a roar, having already assumed his colossal dragon form.

His enormous draconic eyes looked down upon them all.

"I’ve told you everything you need to know," Louis III said, his tone heavy. "Robson, the fate of the Frank Kingdom for the next century is in your hands!"

"The same goes for the Algeria Kingdom! I will personally offer ten thousand Gold Coins!" the envoy added.

"Rest assured, gentlemen. I will do my utmost."

Facing the pleas of two such powerful figures, Robson didn’t dare overpromise.

Even though Everton had said it would be fine, Robson had never flown thousands of meters in the air, and he didn’t know the full extent of Everton’s capabilities.

The situation was urgent. Without further delay, Robson vaulted onto the dragon’s back.

’It would have been better to let Everton go alone, but Louis III wasn’t comfortable with that.’

Watching Robson fly away, Louis III rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.

...

「In the sky, the airship had begun to enter its self-destruct sequence.」

Countless Energy Balls shot out from all sides of the airship and exploded, sending a beam of light stabbing through the space ahead.

"Your Highnesses, the airship is breaking apart. It will begin to fall soon. You should prepare to jump," the Mage said.

Prince Noah glanced down. They could already see the Royal Capital. The lack of oxygen at this high altitude made the Prince feel dizzy.

"This high up... can’t we wait a little longer?" Prince Noah asked.

’The griffins haven’t even arrived yet. I can’t see a thing down there. Jumping now is no different from suicide, is it?’

As if in response to the Prince, the airship gave a violent shudder. Princess Yifulei nearly fell but was caught by Prince Noah just in time.

The Mage frowned.

"We can’t wait any longer," the Mage said. "If you jump now, we can still cast a few more Light Feather Techniques for you."

Prince Noah looked down and swallowed hard. Only now did he truly understand the meaning of ’in the face of death, all are equal.’

"Alright. I’m counting on you," Prince Noah replied.

At his command, the Mage immediately summoned several of his companions. They placed their palms on the Array, their lips moving as they chanted an incantation.

"Your Highness, may you be safe."

...

「Taking a deep breath, Prince Noah leaped from the airship with Princess Yifulei, several War Mages following close behind.」

As he looked down into the endless darkness, Prince Noah wanted to scream, but the beauty in his arms remained composed.

The Light Feather Technique took effect. Their rapid descent suddenly slowed as if they had opened a parachute, and they began to float down as lightly as a feather.

"What the hell?"

Prince Noah had no idea where he was landing, but with his Silver-tier strength and the moonlight reflecting off the ground, he could make out what was below.

It was empty. There was nothing there.

’Where are the griffins?’

As if in answer to his thoughts, the roar of a griffin echoed from the distance.

Prince Noah looked over and saw a large formation of the Griffin Corps flying toward him from afar.

But the moment he saw the Griffin Corps, Prince Noah felt no excitement. Instead, the color drained from his face.

What’s more terrifying than knowing you’re about to die is knowing that your only chance of salvation is useless.

And that was exactly how Prince Noah felt.

He was now only about a thousand meters from the ground, and the Light Feather Technique was about to wear off.

’At the speed those griffins are moving, I’m dead for sure.’

’To think that I, Prince Noah, renowned for my brilliance, would end up like this...’

’What’s that?’

ROAR!

A furious dragon’s roar echoed from the distance, and a massive dragon came soaring toward them at high speed.

’Since when did my family have a dragon?’

Prince Noah’s face was ashen. If something like this existed, he would have known about it.

’If it’s not one of ours... it’s not here to finish me off, is it?’

"Fuck..."

Prince Noah didn’t have long to wonder. The Light Feather Technique’s effect wore off, and their rate of descent increased more than tenfold.

Even Princess Yifulei, who had been holding herself together this whole time, could no longer contain her fear and began to scream.

He looked toward the ground.

Just then, the distant dragon seemed to spot Prince Noah. It suddenly accelerated, its speed becoming an absolute blur.

’I wonder what would be a quicker death,’ he mused grimly, ’being bitten in half by a dragon or being splattered into a meat paste on the ground?’

...

Prince Noah felt something slam into him, a sharp, persistent pain flaring in his chest.

"Robson!"

Prince Noah opened his eyes and looked at the person in front of him.

If he flew in the sky for the rest of his life, he never would have imagined that this man would be the one to save him.

’And he came to save me... riding a Flying Dragon?’

"Your Highness, it’s been a while!" Robson said with a smile.

’No matter how you look at it,’ Robson thought, ’I’ve hit the jackpot.’

...

「As a dragon’s roar echoed from the sky, Louis III could no longer remain calm. He looked up at the sky anxiously.」

He saw the red dragon circling in the sky.

"His Highness the Prince! There are three people on the dragon’s back!" the Griffin Knight Commander reported.

"Praise be! Praise be to the Lord of Dawn! The Lord of Dawn protects us! Praise the Lord of Dawn!"

Hearing this, the envoy fell to his knees and began to pray right then and there.

Louis III also breathed a sigh of relief. As he came to his senses, he realized his back was drenched in a cold sweat.

"As long as he’s safe... as long as he’s safe."

...

"Whoa! Robson, where did you get this thing? A giant dragon! This is so cool!"

Prince Noah stood on Everton’s back, looking toward Robson, who was positioned at the dragon’s head.

"A chance encounter, Your Highness!" Robson said with a smile.

’Have to admit,’ Robson thought, ’in an age of Magic Bed Crossbows, a single dragon doesn’t have much combat strength.’

’But damn, does it look impressive!’

Even the prince of a kingdom couldn’t manage to get a dragon for a mount.

Down in the Royal Capital, the City Guard had reopened the streets.

Unable to contain their explosive curiosity, the citizens poured into the streets, all looking up at the sky.

"A dragon! Mama, look! A giant dragon!"

"Oh! By the Lord of Dawn, is that a giant dragon?"

The citizens thronged the streets, buzzing with excitement.

Robson took all of this in from the sky. A mere hundred meters was no distance at all to the eyes of someone at the Golden Eighth Tier.

Robson turned and smiled at the Prince. He, Lord Robson, always liked to provide the complete package.

"Your Highness, are you ready?" Robson asked.

Prince Noah frowned in confusion.

"To greet your subjects."

With that, Robson stepped aside, clearing the spot at the dragon’s head.

Prince Noah immediately understood what Robson meant, and his heart began to pound.

’This is the ultimate flex!’

As a Prince, Noah was of course thinking about more than just the simple matter of showing off. By appearing before the people on a dragon, it wouldn’t be long before his fame would spread throughout the land!

"Really? Robson..." Prince Noah said, deeply moved. "I may have misunderstood you in the past. I see now that you are a truly generous and loyal nobleman!"

Robson smiled and nodded.

’Fame is useless to me,’ Robson thought, ’but for Prince Noah, it’s invaluable.’

Of course, he, Lord Robson, never acted without a clear incentive.

His current generosity stemmed from his belief that Prince Noah was just as "generous" as Lord Robson himself.

’What if the Prince isn’t so generous? Well, if he isn’t, then you just have to *help* him be generous.’

’After all, His Highness wouldn’t want his subjects to find out the dragon he’s riding belongs to someone else, would he?’

...

Everton, also a master of showmanship, began a low-altitude flight carrying the three of them. Many sharp-eyed people spotted Prince Noah standing at the dragon’s head.

"It’s His Highness! His Highness is riding a dragon!"

"Dragon Knight! Dragon Knight!"

It’s unclear who started it, but soon the entire street was chanting, then the whole district, and then the entire city.

"Dragon Knight! Dragon Knight!"

Everton finally landed in the largest square in the Royal Capital.

Prince Noah stood at the dragon’s head, looking out over the crowd, smiling and waving.

"Franks, your Prince has returned!"

Robson simply stood behind Prince Noah, quietly watching him have his moment.

Listening to the cheers of the crowd, all Robson could think about was the river of Gold Coins that would soon flow his way.