Chapter 715: The Order of the Sea

This chapter is an extra update sponsored by "The Ancient Salted Fish."

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"A Lightgreen Gem Dragon!"

Liszt carefully examined the reward from the hazy mission, confirming it was indeed a Lightgreen Gem Dragon. His pulse quickened with excitement, and he couldn't help but feel the urge to immediately turn around and search his territories for the dragon.

However, he reined in this urge.

The intense battle had left him in bad shape, and embarking on a long journey would probably fail to capture the Lightgreen Gem Dragon. It would be better to wait until he, Leo, and Acheronides had fully recovered before attempting the capture, to claim the dragon for himself.

"Leo, Acheronides, and I are just worn out—easy to recover from. But the Lightgreen Gem Dragon is severely wounded and will need a long time to recuperate. Right now, it must be on high alert, fleeing at the slightest disturbance. Arriving early would spook it."

At any rate,

the Lightgreen Gem Dragon was roosting on his territory...

"Hmm, roosting on one of my islands?" He suddenly came to his senses, realizing the smoky mission had pointed to his own lands. Earlier, he had been so consumed by the dragon that he overlooked the mention of his islands. "My islands—Coral Island? Black Horse Island? Seagull Island, Sandy Beach Island, Rocky Island? Or perhaps the Ring Reef, or Dodo Island?"

All of these lay far to the northeast.

Yet the Lightgreen Gem Dragon had fled southward, so it probably wouldn't double back to hide on one of his islands, using the "hiding in plain sight" tactic. Besides, most of his islands were already settled, making it improbable for a dragon to slip in unnoticed.

"So it can't be near Black Horse Island... Dodo Island is even farther. I doubt the dragon could even find its way there."

Frowning, a nearly forgotten island rose in Liszt's memory: "Could it be Mind Island? The island where the Milon Mind Fruit grew. After I dug up the withered tree, I'm sure I declared it as part of my territory."

"That's definitely the place!"

"Milon Mind Fruit and the Lightgreen Gem Dragon—I wonder if there's a connection between them. Could remnants of the fruit have attracted the dragon?"

Now that he'd located the dragon's resting place, Liszt felt reassured.

By now, he and Acheronides had slowly arrived at Oxhoof City's harbor. The Duke stood on the docks to greet them, with Lee William and other knights who hadn't joined the naval pursuit behind him. Everyone craned their necks, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Fire Dragon Knight Liszt and the Archmage Acheronides.

"Lee William, you make me envious."

The Duke mused wistfully as the menacing and majestic Fire Dragon descended from the sky.

Lee William stood tall and proud, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Duke. Ever since Liszt had become the Fire Dragon Knight, he had soaked up their jealous stares. He reveled in this sudden elevation in status, though it was also mixed with anxiety.

Especially during the moment when Liszt was being outmatched by the Pale Emerald Dragon Knight—he had feared Liszt might become a sacrifice in the dragon-slaying battle.

But once the Archmage Acheronides intervened,

the tables turned immediately, and his worries vanished.

His proud posture never faltered.

"The glory of knighthood has favored him. I never dared to dream Liszt would become a Dragon Knight, yet those around him call him the Child of Glory. Perhaps he truly is."

"He is indeed the Child of Glory!" the Duke affirmed. "An eighteen-year-old Dragon Knight, accompanied by an Archmage—the glory of knighthood has showered him with blessings. In this sea, even on this continent, no one is more deserving of the title than him."

Amid their admiration,

the Fire Dragon circled above the harbor before diving straight toward the gathered crowd. The knights, previously packed tightly on the docks, scattered like startled birds.

"Whoa!"

Leo exhaled gouts of fire from his nostrils and let out a tremendous roar, landing swiftly on the open ground cleared by the retreating crowd. His crimson eyes swept over the surrounding people, gleaming with predatory malice, as if choosing whom to devour next. An overwhelming draconic presence radiated from him, coiling outward like spectral hands choking the knights.

Even Lee William was no exception; his breath grew labored.

A dragon’s oppressive might was simply too much for ordinary knights to bear.

Only the Duke stood unfazed, for he himself could wield the Sapphire Dragon's power. Yet seeing his own knights behind him, their faces twisted in pain, gasping for air, he couldn’t help but let out a bitter chuckle. He recognized Liszt’s posturing for what it was—an overt display of dominance aimed at him.

*Thump.*

Ka Erluo’s corpse hit the ground as Liszt calmly dismounted from his dragon. Behind him, Acheronides landed lightly from the waterspout, standing shoulder to shoulder with Liszt.

Liszt’s gaze swept over the Duke, Lee William, and the others before finally settling on the knights of the Tulip family. “A few of you, come forward and retrieve the body of Ka Erluo Violet.”

The knights who met his eyes stepped forward eagerly, bowing respectfully before moving to carry Ka Erluo’s remains.

Liszt added coolly, “Treat him with care and respect. This is the first dragon knight I’ve slain—it’s a trophy worth honoring.”

At these words, the surrounding knights shuddered once more, their hearts heavy under Liszt’s dominance, fear sinking deep into their souls. A dragon knight, powerful enough to subjugate an entire kingdom, had fallen—and the one who struck him down was none other than the tall, handsome Fire Dragon Knight, Liszt Tulip.

The Duke’s lips twitched again, as though feeling his age. This new generation had no concept of subtlety.

Killing a dragon knight was one thing—but to rub it in his face like this, reiterating the deed right in front of him—was another matter entirely. It was as if Liszt was determined to ensure everyone knew exactly who had emerged victorious in this battle against a dragon rider.

Though inwardly disdainful of Liszt’s behavior, the Duke still stepped forward, offering a warm smile. “You have my deepest thanks, Lord Liszt, Lord Acheronides, for your timely intervention, saving the Sapphire Duchy in its hour of peril.” Spoken before all, his gratitude carried genuine sincerity.

Liszt was pleased with the Duke’s attitude—this was what it meant to know which way the wind blows.

Thus, he reined in his aggressive demeanor, assuming noble poise as he replied with restrained authority, “The sea has its own order. As a knight born of the Sapphire, I cannot allow the kingdoms of the mainland to interfere with the sea’s affairs.”

The Duke nodded in agreement. “We are all knights of the Sapphire. The sea answers to its own knights.”

With that, he gestured forward. “Lord Liszt, Lord Acheronides, as the Duke of the Sapphire Duchy, I formally invite you both to a banquet at Castle Hoofprint. The matter of restoring the sea’s order requires careful and thorough discussion.”

“An excellent suggestion. After you, Duke,” Liszt responded with a smile.

Once the Duke took the lead, Liszt suddenly snapped his fingers at Leo. “Return!”

The Fire Dragon Leo, who had been crouching nearby, spread his wings and shot into the sky. After circling the port of Castle Hoofprint once, he let out a deafening roar toward the distant hillside where the slumbering Sapphire Dragon lay. Then, in a burst of flame, he vanished into Liszt’s body.

Liszt tossed the Wrath of Thunder to the knights of the Tulip family and, beneath the awed gazes of those around him, fell into step behind the Duke’s retinue.

They made their way toward Castle Hoofprint.