Chapter 891: Red and White Roses

The magic gate flared to life.

The magic gate steadied itself.

The magic gate held firm.

On April 21st of the 155th year of the Blue Sapphire Calendar, this day was destined to be recorded in history—at least in the records of the Fire Kingdom, even though the Fire Kingdom had yet to be established.

"The maintenance of the Reed Marsh Magic Gate is entrusted to you, Kenley. If anything changes, inform us via the arcane relay at any time." When leaving the Reed Marsh Magic Gate, Liszt solemnly instructed.

Kenley Truth responded seriously, "Rest assured, Your Highness. We will closely monitor the Reed Marsh Magic Gate. Any slight disturbance will be reported to you and Lady Acheronides immediately."

"Excellent."

Next, Liszt and Acheronides packed abundant magic materials into their spatial rings, then rode the Invisible Dragon Bard straight into the Reed Marsh Magic Gate, swiftly entering the world beyond matter. Wrapped in spatial magic, they moved effortlessly and freely in this realm.

Locating the natural node of Heart Island, they traversed directly out.

On the island, some knights and mages were overseeing serfs' labor. After setting Acheronides down, they unloaded the materials from the spatial rings, allowing her to set up the magic array here.

Liszt continued riding Bard, darting through space.

He still had much work to do—gathering magic materials from Black Horse Island, Ox Tail City, and other places. Many materials had been exhausted by the Reed Marsh Magic Gate and needed replenishing.

By the time the materials were collected and arranged by Acheronides, the establishment of the Heart Island Magic Gate had already entered May.

The weather grew increasingly hot, and all things flourished.

The spirits of Black Horse Island became ever more abundant, and Fire Island also welcomed good news.

Under the blessing of the Grand Sprite, Kuki, the potato plantation in Ember City yielded a bountiful harvest, filling warehouses with potatoes and eliminating food shortages. The banana Grand Sprite, Bobi, was also a native of Fire Island, though the banana plantation had just begun cultivation, requiring another year or two before harvest.

More and more tribes of the Moon Slayers were incorporated, with the population now reaching 400,000. However, the number of Fire People remained unchanged at just over 20,000.

To prevent management chaos, the Order of Knights had temporarily halted campaigns against Moon Slayer tribes. Everything would resume after the magic teleportation arrays were established. For now, the main tasks were training, reorganizing, and dividing the Moon Slayer serfs, along with city-building, road construction, and plantation development.

It could be said that everything in Fire Island and the Fire Territory was thriving.

Liszt remained in high spirits, unfazed, even as the territory's finances were strained from gathering materials for the magic teleportation arrays.

At this moment.

On the rooftop garden balcony of Thorn Castle.

He leisurely sipped Half-Slope Milk while reading a knight novel titled *The Time Travel of the Sacred Dragon Knight Maduha-Rose*.

After his fame from the dragonslaying battle in April, a surge of novelists suddenly found inspiration, crafting new knight stories centered around Sacred Dragons. Many plots were hastily assembled, often using Liszt as a template with minor adjustments.

For instance—these Sacred Dragon Knights were almost always accompanied by a stunning Archmage.

The novel in his hands featured a protagonist who rode not an invisible dragon but the Twilight Dragon, representing time, capable of freely traversing any era. Yet the author remained limited, only depicting the Twilight Dragon Knight leaping a few days to rescue a princess captured by enemies.

"Why not travel through the Moon Empire, traverse ancient times, leap into the future, or cross infinite dimensions to dominate all realms? These novelists lack imagination—why not write an infinite flow?"

Liszt closed the knight novel and tossed it aside.

"Wah!"

Jie La's voice seemed to drift from downstairs, perhaps scolding some spirit or quarreling with a Grand Sprite—after harvesting crops, the spirits from Hot Spring Island began trickling into Thorn Castle, and Jie La needed to establish authority over them.

It has a bad temper, like a bully.

But Liszt dotes on it and also believes that Jie La might bring a catfish effect (a competitive stimulus)—stimulating the spirit bugs could potentially increase their chances of evolution.

If every spirit bug were like the corn spirit bug Mickey, lazing around in the bug room counting corn kernels without ambition, evolution would be difficult. After all, Jie La evolved from a spirit bug to a Grand Sprite in just a few years due to environmental stimulation.

Flutter, flutter...

A black bat fluttered its wings, flying toward Thorn Castle and landing on the rooftop balcony. After a brief transformation, Mary Dawnbreak appeared.

"Your Highness." Mary bowed, subtly slipping under the shade of the parasol—vampires despise sunlight, as it suppresses their strength and causes discomfort.

"Would you like some milk?" Liszt asked casually.

Mary smiled in response. "Thank you, Your Highness. If possible, I’d prefer a glass of red wine. The sun’s brutal today."

She greatly enjoys her current life.

With the Black Knights, vampires endured strict hierarchies and cutthroat politics, making one constantly yearn to escape. But here, the atmosphere is exceptionally peaceful. The master she serves is not only great but also isn’t overbearing, especially in private interactions.

This young Dragon Knight lord does not demand his followers and footmen to maintain a stiff, formal act.

"Bring a bottle of the aged Crescent Moon Wine from the cellar," Liszt instructed the footman standing behind him.

"Yes, my lord."

The footman hurried downstairs to fetch the wine. Only then did Liszt ask, "What reactions have the three kingdoms shown?"

"Your Highness, the glory of your dragon-slaying battle has not spread among the common folk of the three kingdoms. It only circulates among a small circle of high nobility. According to intel from our Blood Servants, the Kingdom of the Eagle’s Eagle Knights have been frequently mobilized, likely due to increased interactions between the royal family, its vassal states, and other Dragon Knights."

"Have you sent anyone to investigate the Gray Iron Duchy?"

"No, our Blood Servants are spread thin. However, we did gather information from a minister of the Kingdom of the Eagle and got a new lead. The heir of the Gray Iron Family, Pitford, refused to pay the ransom for Duke Piero, pinning Duke Piero’s capture on the Kingdom of the Eagle and expecting the crown to foot the bill."

"So, what stance has the Kingdom of the Eagle taken?"

"King Adonis Moonlight Silver has agreed to send a royal envoy, which should arrive in the Sapphire Duchy soon."

"What about the situation in the Purple Copper Duchy?"

"No unusual movements. It seems that after Prince Alex's visit, things cooled down fast. Following the funeral of the Purple Copper Duke, the heir smoothly inherited the title, keeping the Grand Duke title without demotion," Mary replied. The Blood Servants' network is still small, limiting their intel network.

"No demotion, huh..." Liszt gave nothing away.

Only a Dragon Knight can establish a Duchy, with the corresponding rank of Grand Duke. If descendants fail to produce another Dragon Knight, the title must be downgraded to Duke, and the state from a Grand Duchy to a Duchy. However, this rule is not strictly enforced.

Regardless, whether a Grand Duchy or a Duchy, they remain independent vassal states with fixed tributes—taxes do not decrease due to demotion.

Thus, many heirs of Grand Duchies refuse to rename their states or lower their titles upon succession.

The Sapphire Duchy is one such example. After the First Dragon Knight, three generations of Grand Dukes couldn’t tame a dragon—until the current Sapphire Duke managed it.

After reporting on the Kingdom of the Eagle, Mary continued, "The Blood Servants have limited intelligence on the Blastfurnace Kingdom and the Kingdom of Steel Ridge. The Sapphire Family likely has official channels to relay information... However, our Blood Servants did dig up some good news in advance."

Liszt raised an eyebrow. "What news?"

"The Kingdom of Steel Ridge has dispatched a diplomatic delegation led by Ma Xiu Red-White Rose to formally visit the future Fire Kingdom and meet with you, Your Highness."

This means they’re recognizing the Fire Kingdom and the beginning of diplomatic relations—indeed, good news.

However, Liszt's focus was on another aspect: "Ma Xiu Red-White Rose? Isn't Red-White Rose the surname of the dragon-raising family from the Duchy of Roses?"

"Yes, Your Highness, Ma Xiu Red-White Rose is the direct heir of the Duchy of Roses, but he is also King Osborn's nephew and a member of the Kingdom of Steel Ridge's dragon knight candidate program. Currently serving as the deputy commander of the Golden Fleece Knights, he holds the title of Count and is on excellent terms with the Platinum family."

Mary added earnestly, "Count Ma Xiu has a younger sister, Marilyn Red-White Rose. Only fifteen years old, she is hailed as the 'Steel Pearl' and renowned as the North's most celebrated beauty."

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