Chapter 1431 - 607: Royal Zoo (2)

Chapter 1431: Chapter 607: Royal Zoo (2)

Not to mention the pure-blooded Elf Warhorse, which can easily carry the fully-armed World-Devourer Primarch Anggron galloping across the plains. An Imperial Warhorse would hardly last a few minutes before collapsing from exhaustion.

The best horses the Emperor has are still the few Half-Elf Warhorses imported from Laine, due to the utter confusion on how to breed them correctly, causing the Royal Zoo to constantly fail at breeding these mounts.

Regarding this, Laine neither intends nor can provide guidance because the Knight Kingdom’s national policy tree is thus.

And then there are the Pegasi.

The Empire and Brittania both possess Pegasi, as these creatures predominantly inhabit the Gray Mountain Range. In the Empire, Pegasi are usually referred to as Imperial Pegasi, their coats gleaming white like snow. Their intelligence far exceeds that of ordinary horses. To have a Pegasus as a mount, it must be captured when it’s still a foal, requiring years of training to earn its trust. Once trust is established, they become loyal steeds, obedient to any command from their masters.

Similarly, Laine and Surya are uninterested in Imperial Pegasi because Brittania has them as well, and Laine’s father-in-law Francois rides the most powerful Pure-blooded Elf Pegasus in the Old World. This Pegasus named Prague possesses not only high intelligence but also magical abilities, allowing it to convert the magic energy within into a blinding light to flee from combat and scourge enemies when surrounded.

Brittania prefers to form flying armies with Pegasus Knights, while the Empire tends to use Pegasi as mounts for generals. The Royal Zoo houses dozens of immaculate white Pegasi. The Emperor gently approaches, receiving a carrot from the coachman, offering it to the Pegasus. Watching it munch down, he contentedly brushes the Pegasus’s mane, "These are my treasures, but the best one is called Swift Silver, now Gailte’s mount."

"Where is Gailte now?" Laine showed interest, "The competition is less than two weeks away. Why hasn’t he turned up yet?"

"He’ll be back soon." The Emperor nodded, "Gailte led an army to Kislev to stop the Northern Barbarians from releasing Ancient Dragon Demons. He completed the quest successfully, and now he and his army have reached Talabeheim, arriving in no more than a week."

Saying this, the Emperor seemed uninterested in speaking further, leading Laine and the others to view a special creature.

The highly renowned Half-Griffin of the Empire.

Half-Griffins are ferocious and dangerous creatures with sharp beaks, powerful claws, and robust bodies, heavily destructive with irritable tempers. Their sturdy bodies allow them to wear plate armor, leading many knights to attempt capturing these beasts as mounts, though many failed and perished. However, if successful, the loyal steed will follow its master throughout its life.

Half-Griffins are generally found only in the Black Forest, earning the name "Half-Griffin" due to their eagle-headed and tiger-bodied structure, differing from Griffins in being significantly smaller in overall size and flightless. Scholars often speculate Half-Griffins are new hybrids from Griffins mating with other creatures in the Black Forest, though some disagree, believing they are unrelated to Griffins whatsoever.

The largest Half-Griffin force in the Old World is commanded by Laine’s godfather, Duke Ivan, serving as Grand Master of the Griffin Knight Order, currently with over a hundred Half-Griffin Knights following Imperial commands in Brunswick, referred to as Brunswick Royal Half-Griffin Cavalry.

There are few Half-Griffins in the zoo since most have found owners, serving the military. Laine considered the perpetual strain on the Empire’s military force.

"Nuer’s Champion, Grand Judge Nuer, the Holy Sanctuary Tier power Theodore Bruckner rides the largest and fiercest Half-Griffin in the Empire—the Harvester." The Emperor signaled everyone not to near the Half-Griffins to avoid injury, "Isn’t that right, Emmanuelle?"

Amelia shot the Emperor an annoyed look, "You sure know a lot about Theodore, Carl Franz. Perhaps I should reevaluate my court upon returning?"

Laine’s tiny maid stomped her little shoe on the ground, as naturally as ever since reuniting with Laine, Amelia had swapped high heels for her preferred small shoes.

"Since having Frederick, you’ve become more combative, Emmanuelle." The Emperor dryly remarked, abandoning further discourse with Amelia, "Next, it’s my collection, War Griffins, Laine, you have a Griffin too, correct?"

"That’s right, a ravenous one." Laine nodded; his Griffin Empress consumes several hundred Gold Crowns worth of food annually, maintained only due to his ample resources.

Emperor Carl Franz keeps numerous War Griffins at the Royal Zoo, towering twice the height of grown men, with meat-tearing beaks like sharp shears. As the group walked past the enclosures, aggressive Griffins fiercely crashed against fences, roaring defiantly, hissing, showing hostility to everything. Many were captured as cubs and juveniles from the World’s Roof Mountain Range.

Taming a Griffin is an endeavor far grander than taming Half-Griffins, demanding exceptional strength, fortitude, and patience.

Even Imperial Prince-Electors boast of having a Griffin in their enclosures, akin to Brittania’s Horned Eagle Beast Knights, Griffin Knights in the Empire are scarce. Aside from a few true "Griffin Knights" within the Griffin Knight Order, only structured Griffin Knights are found within the "Tal’s Fury" Knight Corps in Talabeheim.

Beyond these, Legendary Tier Amber Element Wizards possess Griffin mounts, magically bound to Amber Wind, allowing tame beast control and communication, resulting in Griffins willingly becoming mounts for some Amber Element Wizards.

"Where’s your Death’s Claw?" Laine noticed absent from the Emperor’s stable.

"It doesn’t stay in the stable by day; it prefers soaring in the sky but returns at night, no matter the journey, to rest peacefully in the stable." The Emperor beamed, pride brimming in his words, "It always returns, sleeping quietly inside."

"Impres is likewise; my Griffin favors forested hunts for little animals." Laine chuckled.

"Breathing lightning? How’s it done?" The Emperor inquired, puzzled for quite a while.

"A gift from the Lady." Laine blinked.

"Alright then." The Emperor shrugged, "Let’s change topics. Look, here’s the Double-headed Griffin, a War Griffin variant, equally formidable yet extremely untamed, especially since the two heads often bicker."

As if to echo the Emperor’s words, the colossal Double-headed Griffin aggressively clawed at straw beneath, proudly raising one head towards the group treating it as awe, glaring with cold contempt and rage at the descriptive Emperor and attendants, seemingly about to tear them apart at any moment.

Upon finishing the Griffin tour, the Royal Zoo was roughly fully traversed.

Finally, the Emperor led them to a sealed gateway, where a thick sulfur smell emanated from its gap.

"A dragon is beyond this door, but as you see, even I don’t dare approach. If given a chance, I’ll show you next time." Carl Franz nodded, "You are all guests of the Empire; harm mustn’t befall you."

"Does Your Majesty study dragons?" As everyone retreated, Duchess Surya intriguingly spoke, a hint of playfulness on the knight’s face, "Behind the door is a Silver Moon Dragon, quite young."

"Oh?!" Carl Franz was intrigued, "Lady Surya, do you know dragons well?"

"I’ve studied a little." The Lake Fairy controlled Surya’s body, the Goddess held Laine’s arm, "Does Your Majesty wish to know?"

"Please tell me more."