Chapter 658: Hehe

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The study lay silent. The weather in September wasn't as scorching as August, and the windows had all been replaced with glass, filling the room with light.

The Earl seemed to hear Liszt saying something, but his thoughts had wandered far away.

Shards of memory cascaded through his mind.

There was the awe he felt as a young boy when his father first showed him the Sapphire Dragon; the joy when Melissa gave birth to their second son, expanding their once-threadbare lineage... His entire life had been a relentless pursuit—for the glory of the Tulip family, to see the Tulip bloom over the Sapphire.

And indeed, through his efforts, the Tulip family's reputation had gradually spread across the Sapphire. High and low nobles knew of this family, of this one Wave Sword Saint.

But at some point, unbeknownst to him,

perhaps when Liszt came of age and decided to establish his own branch,

the achievements he had once taken pride in began to seem increasingly hollow. He had become a sky knight at twenty-three, an achievement remarkable enough for the son of a minor noble to be called a genius. Yet his second son, whom he had neglected and provided no resources for, became a sky knight at eighteen.

He had inherited his ancestors' estate and nurtured one Grand Sprite and twelve spirit bugs. Liszt, meanwhile, had chanced upon a Grand Sprite and a bunch of spirit bugs while swimming—his palm-sized territory's yield nearly matched what Coral Island could produce in a decade.

From his youth, he had longed for a mid-tier magical beast as a mount, but it remained an unfulfilled dream. Liszt first raised a herd of mid-tier Snowstorm Beasts, then acquired a herd of extraordinary Blackblood horses, and even possessed a flying roc named Loki and a diving Rainbow Whale Rosi.

Most importantly, he was now forty-six, while Liszt was only eighteen.

In a sparring match earlier this year, he, a revered Sword Saint, had been soundly bested by Liszt, barely able to fight back. He had convinced himself to accept this—that his son was stronger than him. He had also accepted that his son was a Child of Glory, naturally favored by the glory of knighthood.

And then,

suddenly, Liszt became the inheritor of the Ghostblade Legacy, strong enough to defeat a mighty Domain Knight head-on.

No matter what, the Earl had believed it and tried to convince himself to be proud—proud that his son could bring him unparalleled military honors, especially when the Grand Duke personally promised him the choice of three marquisates on Ironhoof Island. For the first time, he truly felt he had fathered an extraordinary son.

What the Tulip family would have needed generations to achieve had been effortlessly realized.

It was the perfect outcome—he would be promoted to Marquis Niuwei, Liszt to Marquis Ironhoof Island, and the Tulip family would branch into two marquisates, continuing their legacy.

But now,

what was he hearing?

"A Dragonrider?" The Earl felt the foundation of his worldview, his life's philosophy, everything he had painstakingly constructed to reassure himself, crumble in an instant.

All that remained was bewilderment.

Adrift like some senile elder, he realized that all his life's struggles, in the face of Liszt becoming a Dragonrider, had turned into meaningless trifles.

What did all that effort, perseverance, and resilience mean in the face of a Dragonrider?

The tea in his cup spilled onto his clothes.

He didn’t even notice, lost in reminiscence about his life—its joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. Only in these memories could he still feel like the Sword Saint he was, revered and flattered by countless people, bearing the weight of his family’s destiny.

He didn’t have to face the overwhelming, suffocating reality of this shocking news.

Until a voice like thunder roused him from his reverie: "Father!"

Startled, he jerked his hand, spilling the last of his tea. Bleary-eyed, he stared at Liszt, who was waving a hand in front of him, his mind still foggy. "What?" he murmured.

"Your tea has spilled, father."

"Oh, it's nothing. Go ahead." He placed the teacup on the table, glanced down at the water stains on his chest, and took a deep breath to steady his mind. "Where were we? Ah, yes. You said you're a Dragon Knight, right?"

"I already explained it once, Father. You must have been distracted," Liszt sighed helplessly. Who would have thought the mere news of being a Dragon Knight could shock the renowned Wave Sword Saint so much?

The Marquis suppressed his chaotic thoughts and said, "Then explain it again."

"I’ve gained the recognition of a Fire Dragon and have become a true Dragon Knight. The reason my strength has grown so much is because I train alongside the dragon. My mana has evolved into Dragon Aura. Now, my power increases rapidly every day. If I were to face the Raging Waves Marquis again, I could likely defeat him with a single strike."

"How would you fare against the Bull Marquis?"

"I'd crush him easily."

"The Duke once nearly defeated the Bull Marquis in an instant. Can your strength compare to his?" After several deep breaths, the Marquis had fully regained his composure, no longer dazed.

He reclaimed his paternal authority—though the water stains on his chest were still rather conspicuous.

Liszt nodded. "When the Duke defeated the Bull Marquis, the Marquis had already been worn down by a hundred Sky Knights. I wouldn’t dare claim I could absolutely defeat the Duke now, but I should be able to hold my own against him."

The Marquis didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he drummed his fingers on the table, lost in thought.

After a moment, he looked at Liszt seriously and asked, "Then, since you’re a Dragon Knight now—where is your Fire Dragon?"

"I’ve hidden it. But I can let you feel the dragon's might!" Liszt smirked, mentally connecting with Leo. Instantly, he channeled waves of draconic aura through Leo, though he restrained it to the study, not unleashing its full force.

Yet even this brief release of draconic power made the Marquis erupt in goosebumps. His chest felt as if struck by a heavy blow, his breath caught as if suffocating.

"Yes!"

"This feeling—dragon's might!"

"Just as intense as that of the Duke and the Sapphire Dragon!"

Once the pressure faded, the Marquis swallowed hard, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion, a mix of bitterness and exhilaration. "Liszt… when can I see your Fire Dragon?"

"Whenever you have time. Anytime."

"Hm? No need for advance notice?"

"Father," Liszt said calmly, "I am a Dragon Knight. The Fire Dragon is my war companion, joined by mutual respect. When I call, it will come. There’s no need for negotiations like the Duke had with the Sapphire Dragon."

The Marquis suddenly pounded the table. "I see… But I need time to comprehend this. Let me gather my thoughts. We’ll discuss this in detail after dinner."

"I’ll speak with my brother then. Please take your time, Father." Liszt stood and left, leaving the Marquis alone in the study.

The door clicked shut.

The Marquis’ gaze lingered on it—until his lips twisted into a grin. "Hah... a Dragon Knight."