Chapter 359: Blue Dragon Suppression Order

Levis was hosting Boski Pansy, a viscount and an elite Earth Knight known for his unconventional methods, hailing from the Pansy family.

This family's fiefdom is located in Rainbow City on Blue Dragon Island and holds the rank of a count family.

The family has numerous descendants, with most of its members serving in the Blueblood Knights. Families like the Pansy family are part of the Blueblood Alliance, a coalition of noble families that serve under the Blueblood Knights rather than holding traditional fiefs. They are not standard noble landlords but are more like pioneering nobles.

They act as the enforcers of the Sapphire Family, carrying out their will without holding large territories or engaging in production. All their wealth comes from rewards and plunder.

The Blueblood Alliance tends to marry among themselves, creating a significant divide with other fiefdom lords.

Moreover, the non-direct female members of the Sapphire Family often become the mistresses of families within the Blueblood Alliance, helping the Sapphire Family maintain control over the alliance. For example, Boski's mother, the wife of the Count of Rainbow City, is a distant relative of Duke Andrew Sapphire.

Levis wanted to gather some information from Boski but received no positive response: "I'm sorry, Sir Levis. I don't know what's happening. I only know that the Duke ordered me to bring the decree and follow the instructions of the Count, executing the Duke's next command."

"Of course, the Duke's decree is the action guideline for our Tulip family," Levis had to respond with a diplomatic reply.

On the other side.

In the study, Lee William had already opened the black-covered letter, and the intact sapphire dragon seal indicated that it was indeed written by the Duke, not a forged letter.

The three-masted clipper and Boski's identity were enough to prove the authenticity of the message.

The letter was brief.

"My follower, Lord of Coral Island, Count Lee William Tulip, when you read this letter, your lord, Duke Andrew Sapphire, ruler of the Sapphire Duchy, is consumed by rage that must be vented through the most brutal war!

"My once closest comrade-in-arms, a partner worthy of life and death trust, Andy Sapphire of Iron Horse Island, has betrayed me! He dared to covet my most revered symbol of power, the Sapphire Dragon! This is an unforgivable betrayal. Now, as your lord, I command you to gather all your knights and meet me at Iron Horse Island, Horn City!

"This betrayal must be cleansed with blood and fire. Lee William, it is time to prove your loyalty and courage! Take this black-covered letter and depart immediately; it is the order to encircle and destroy Iron Horse Island!"

"152nd year of the Sapphire Dynasty, May 26th."

After reading the letter, Lee William's face showed no expression as he sat still in his chair for a full three minutes. He then suddenly stood up, put away the black-covered letter, and called for deputy housekeeper Silva: "Notify Captain Mickey and Advisor Jacob to come to my study immediately for a meeting."

"Yes, my lord." Silva left promptly.

Lee William tapped his fingers on the table, continuing to ponder.

When he came to his senses, he immediately took out paper and pen, beginning to draft a letter, writing a salutation: "Respected as my father, Marquis Merlin Longtaro…"

He had only written half when Captain Mickey arrived.

The Count put down his pen and said directly: "Mickey, the Knights need to move! Immediately send knights to notify Lords Levis, Yunas, Trick… and other lords to come to Tulip Castle for a meeting, and tell them this is a meeting of the same nature as the exploration order."

"My lord, is war coming?"

"Yes, it has already arrived."

"I'll go and notify everyone immediately!"

Captain Mickey left excitedly, and the Count continued writing his letter until Advisor Jacob of Coral City arrived, just as he finished his letter.

After sealing the letter, he handed it to Silva: "Use the merchant caravan's channels to send it to Longtaro Castle."

Then he said to Jacob: "Send notifications to the advisors of various towns. We need to collect this year's summer harvest early as we have a war to fight and require substantial financial resources to support our logistical needs. Remember, I need you to ensure that the necessary supplies for the expedition, including food, weapons, and equipment, reach the port and are loaded onto the ships within three days."

…

Flower Town.

Liszt had just woken from his afternoon nap when the messenger knight from Tulip Castle arrived: “Lord Liszt, the Count is summoning all the lords to Tulip Castle for a meeting.”

“What is the meeting about?”

“A meeting regarding the Expansion Edict.”

“The Expansion Edict?” Liszt’s eyebrows shot up, and he instantly understood. The news from Coral Island confirmed that the dragon-slaying event had taken place. It seemed the dragon-slaying attempt had failed, and the Duke had issued an Expansion Edict to begin the purging of Marquis Bull. “I understand. I’ll prepare to head to Tulip Castle. Please wait a moment.”

Donning his leather armor and mounting the Black Dragon, Liszt hurried towards Tulip Castle.

Along the way, his emotions surged, and it took several deep breaths to calm his mind. This might be his first battle, and it was about to begin. However, the expected fear and anxiety did not surface; he was only somewhat excited. After composing himself, he even had the leisure to summon the smoke mission.

“Complete the mission, reward: Breeding of green caterpillars.”

Strange green caterpillars were likely quietly multiplying somewhere in Flower Town or Black Horse Island, and Liszt had no idea what they were for.

But after seeing the new mission reward, his confusion remained.

“Mission: Though not an Expansion Edict for raiding the Kingdom of the Eagle on the mainland, the black letter from Duke Sapphire has the same nature. Participate in the military meeting held by the Count and secure the desired position. Reward: Settlement of the mallard.”

Attending the meeting and securing a position, this mission wasn’t difficult.

The key was the reward, “Settlement of the mallard.” What did this mean? Was the mallard the earthly green-headed duck? Would this duck settle in Flower Town or Black Horse Island and become a delicacy for Liszt to raise? Furthermore, was there a connection between the green caterpillars and the mallard?

Green caterpillars.

Mallard.

There seemed to be a significant connection between the two.

After briefly thinking about the rewards of green caterpillars and mallards, Liszt turned to consider what position he should aim for: “If participating in the Expansion Edict, crossing the sea to fight on another continent is very dangerous; logistics would be the safest role. But this time, it’s probably just a raid on Iron Horse Island, where the enemy’s strength is limited.”

The highest combat strength on Iron Horse Island was a Perfect-level sky knight and a great magician proficient in various types of magic.

And their numbers wouldn’t be many.

The Count had told him that among Marquis Bull and his followers, the Perfect-level sky knight was likely only Marquis Bull himself; at most two sword saints, Andy Sapphire, son of Marquis Bull, and Count Fanzechko of Topaz Island; and at most three Ordinary-level sky knights.

And Cris had also revealed that there were only four great magicians in the Goat Assembly: Weber Truth, Wornt Truth, Olive Truth, and Vitsel Truth, with Vitsel being the oldest and most reclusive great magician, whose magical prowess was unfathomable.

“Encountering Andy Sapphire and Vitsel Truth, even Parris’s transformation couldn’t stop them from killing me, but with Hiddleston and Parris to distract them, it shouldn’t be difficult for me to escape... But Andy and Vitsel shouldn’t bother with me; I’m not their opponent.”

Now, the conspirators like Marquis Bull were probably too preoccupied to bother with him.

The Duke couldn’t have just summoned Coral Island to raid Iron Horse Island.

“So this battle achievement is practically a freebie for me, right? I can earn merit without much effort.” Liszt compared his strength with the potential opponents and felt a surge of confidence.

“I won’t fight for logistics; I’ll aim for frontline combat instead.”