Chapter 824: Copying Iron Ridge

"I need to consult my father." Anthony gave no direct answer to Liszt's proposal, as he required careful deliberation with the Sapphire Duke before responding.

Liszt nodded: "It's merely a suggestion. There's still time before this year's Reclamation Decree. The Duke can take his time to consider... Personally, I am very willing to facilitate such cooperation. When the Kingdom of the Eagle weakens, we should act with swift and decisive action to hasten its decline."

"Rest assured, Your Highness. Once Marquis Merlin's funeral concludes, I will immediately return to the Blue Sky Pillar Palace and relay Your Highness's words to my father in full."

"Excellent." Liszt picked up his teacup and took a sip of the slightly bitter tea. The green tea trees of Black Horse Island were unique to Black Horse Island, and after long cultivation, their yield had grown significantly.

Because this Dragon-Rider drank tea daily, he quickly influenced the customs of the Sapphire Duchy. Nobles would purchase batches of tea from Black Horse Island to brew and savor. Even the Sapphire family ordered considerable quantities, and it was said the Duke greatly enjoyed tea, further intensifying the tea-drinking trend.

Of course, Liszt didn’t care how many genuinely liked tea.

He had originally just wanted to drink tea himself. Even now, with a pound of tea selling for several gold coins, he cared little for the meager profits.

Sea salt, white paper, and glass remained the three pillars of the Flame Territory’s trade.

The evening banquet featured no alcohol, just a simple meal—a suggestion from Liszt, who believed it inappropriate to drink during Marquis Merlin’s funeral. In truth, the Sapphire Duchy had no rule against drinking during mourning, but Liszt personally felt alcohol would create too celebratory a mood.

With the Dragon-Rider setting the tone, the nobles naturally refrained from insisting.

After a brief dinner, everyone withdrew to their quarters. Only then did Liszt find an opportunity to speak privately with Marquis Niuwei: "Father, let’s talk in the study."

"Good. I also have many questions for you."

"May I join?" Levis asked eagerly, always keen to participate in family affairs.

Liszt nodded: "Of course, brother. But first, please ensure the study is quiet enough to prevent our conversation from being overheard."

In the study, Acher remained absorbed in her books and writings. After a brief greeting to Lee William, she immersed herself again in her research on the Magic Teleportation Circle, setting aside all other experiments to complete it as soon as possible.

Liszt took the wine and glasses from the servants, signaling he would handle it himself.

Once the servants closed the door, Levis stepped out briefly to instruct his retinue to prevent disturbances before returning.

Accepting the wine glass from Liszt, he said, "No one is outside now, Liszt. You may speak freely."

Seated, Liszt began: "Father, has Uncle already informed you?"

Lee William nodded gravely: "Mexiro told me... A trio of dragons. This news kept me awake all last night." He had arrived at Longtuber Fort the previous day, where Mexiro shared the revelation. At first, he thought it a jest.

Only after much hesitation did he reluctantly accept it—though still half in doubt.

Levis felt the same.

"I do indeed possess three dragons. This is the foundation for establishing a kingdom outright. The Flame Kingdom will rise upon the seas, and I doubt any kingdom would dare rashly launch a Dragon-Slaying War against it... As for its location, I’ve already chosen the Flame Archipelago."

Without waiting for Lee William or Levis to react, Liszt produced a pre-drawn map from his coat.

Unfolding it, he explained: "This is the map of the Flame Archipelago, situated roughly 7,000 kilometers from the Sapphire Archipelago—quite distant, but not an insurmountable obstacle. Father, look—this largest island is Flame Island, which will be the personal demesne of the Flame family."

Setting aside his shock at the three dragons, Lee William followed Liszt’s finger to the map: "How large is this island?"

"Measured at approximately 3,000,000 square kilometers."

"Three million? That’s larger than the entire Sapphire Archipelago combined!"

"Indeed." Liszt smiled proudly—finding the Flame Archipelago was truly an achievement. "Flame Island belongs to the Flame family. As for the second-largest island in the archipelago, this one here, I’ve already named it Tulip Island, a fiefdom I’m granting to the Tulip family."

"What’s its size?" Levis interjected impatiently.

"Approximately 450,000 square kilometers, one and a half times larger than Steel Ridge Island."

"450,000!" Levis' eyes gleamed with excitement, instantly feeling an intense eagerness for this seemingly much smaller island compared to Fire Island. "Liszt, when do you plan to establish the kingdom and develop the Fire Archipelago?"

"What does Father think?" Liszt decided to first ask Lee William's opinion.

Marquis Niuwei, stroking his chin and forcing himself to stay calm, examined the map seriously before speaking slowly: "Develop first, then establish the kingdom—that's my thought. The Fire Archipelago is still an unknown environment, its resources unexplored, making its habitability uncertain."

He paused, then continued: "Moreover, the distance between the Sapphire Archipelago and the Fire Archipelago is prohibitive. Without sufficient preparation, the resources spent on travel could easily go to waste... Our house's resources are still limited. Rushing to cultivate the Fire Archipelago could prove more costly than profitable."

"Father's thoughts align with mine, but development must still proceed. We can first send a group of knights to pioneer the land. I've been recruiting knights from Steel Ridge City, and you, Father, can do the same. Any knights no longer serving Sapphire can be recruited and sent to the Fire Archipelago for colonization."

As long as they eat enough meat, most people can advance to Land Knights, and Knight Apprentices are even more numerous.

But truly accomplished knights are rare—most eventually put down their lances, sell their warhorses, and return to farming or odd jobs. With Liszt's sudden rise, all knights could see the opportunity, inevitably driving the ambitious to stake their lives.

No coercion—just clearly explain the dangers and benefits of pioneering, then leave it to the knights' own will.

Lee William nodded: "That could work. Steel Ridge Island lacks many things, but not knights. With the fall of the Bull family, many knights were forced to dismount and farm."

"By the way, Father, though my focus in the coming years will be developing the wilds of the Fire Archipelago and I'm in no hurry to establish a kingdom, the court institutions of the Fire Kingdom should still be determined early. Do you have any advice for me?" Liszt inquired.

The feudal system under knighthood differs greatly from that of Earth.

First, as a feudal system, the lord is the supreme ruler of their fiefdom. Apart from paying taxes to their superior lord, all other affairs are handled independently. Even the royal court primarily manages the king's own fief and coordinates subordinate lords.

Before enfeoffing Marquis Niuwei, Liszt held the position of Royal Stablemaster.

This role might seem like a servant's duty, but in reality, the titles nobles bear at court are mostly honorary—High Steward, Chamberlain, Cupbearer, Stablemaster... As for roles like Minister of Finance or Minister of War, no such offices exist.

The main administrative offices in the king's domain are filled by minor vassal nobles, with cities and towns managed by Counselors and Administrators.

War is left to the knight orders—unless they are specially trained elite knights, most knights support themselves without the lord's concern.

The leaders of knight orders are selected from among the great nobles, tasked with organizing the kingdom's chaotic knights. Before his retirement, Marquis Merlin served as Captain of the Court Fleet, equivalent to the leader of a land-based knight order. The grand knight orders in each Settlement Edict are typically led by marquises.

In the first two Settlement Edicts and the Steel Ridge Island campaign that Liszt participated in, though he and Lee William fought under the Knights of Coral Island, they still followed the command of the grand knight order leader overseeing the battle.

After a moment's thought, Lee William quickly replied: "Just copy the Kingdom of Steel Ridge."

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