Chapter 900: Piero’s Revenge

The day's talks yielded no concrete results, which was to be expected—negotiations naturally involved days of back-and-forth haggling.

However, that evening, Duke Piero took the initiative to visit Liszt, who happened to be having tea with William Lee. Liszt invited him into the study.

The study in Thorn Fortress was vast, filled with all kinds of books, radiating old-world charm and artistic flair.

It was said that a man’s study best reflected his cultivation, and Liszt’s study was the very image of a refined, cultured gentleman.

"Duke Piero, in just a few days, you will regain your freedom. What brings you here at this time?" Liszt gestured for him to take a seat.

Piero didn’t stand on ceremony and plopped down.

Taking the green tea offered by the servants, he downed half the cup in one swallow. "I suppose both of you are secretly mocking me. As the sinner who lost the dragon, even if I return, my ducal title won't last much longer."

He was right.

Liszt did indeed mock him inwardly, but there was no need to voice such thoughts. "War always has its winners and losers. It’s unfortunate, Duke Piero, that you participated in a foolhardy dragon hunt. In truth, my original targets were Alex Bai Kou Tie or Alonso Cyclamen."

"I admit I chose the wrong opponent in this war. You took the Gray King from me, and I accept that," Duke Piero nodded calmly. "The fall from ruler to prisoner has made me see many things clearly. Frankly, if not for the dignity of the Eagle Kingdom, no one would have come to ransom me."

Liszt and William Lee exchanged a glance but remained silent.

Earlier, during a casual conversation between father and son, William Lee had complained about the difficulty of the negotiations. The Eagle Kingdom and the Gray Iron Duchy were only willing to pay the absolute minimum to save face, indifferent to Duke Piero himself. Thus, they firmly rejected the outrageous demands on the table.

Duke Piero continued, "At first, I harbored deep hatred for Your Highness, Liszt. The sting of losing the dragon ate at me day and night. But today, betrayed by those closest to me, my hatred for Your Highness has strangely dissipated. Defeat and capture naturally mean the victor takes all—what’s truly despicable is betrayal!"

William Lee offered a half-hearted comfort, "From the perspective of family interests, perhaps they had their own difficulties."

"Do you think I’m talking about my family’s betrayal?" Duke Piero shook his head. "No, no. I do resent them for abandoning me, especially my son. But if I were in his place, I’d make the same choice—preserving the family’s strength is more important than rescuing a prisoner like me."

"Then who are you referring to?"

"Adonis Moonlight Silver!"

"The King of the Eagle? How did he betray you?" Liszt still hadn’t grasped Piero’s purpose.

Initially, he thought Piero might be so enraged that he intended to defect, but that was impossible—after all, he was to be exchanged for a Dragon Spirit.

A mere Sky Knight, a worthless man, couldn’t compare to a Dragon Spirit.

Piero quickly explained, "I once believed Adonis, Loyel, and I were an inseparable trio. As the two most loyal vassal states of the Eagle Kingdom, Loyel and I grew up there and were both selected for the Dragon Knight candidate program. The only difference was my lack of talent, and I failed to earn the Gray King’s recognition."

Though middle-aged, Piero still felt the trio was as close as family.

So when the royal family of the Eagle launched the dragon-slaying campaign, he and Loyel Zitong answered the call without hesitation. Unfortunately, Loyel died in battle, and Piero was captured.

"I thought even if my family chose to abandon me, Adonis never would. I fought for the dignity of the Eagle’s royal family, for the sake of Adonis’s friendship… Yet now, I’ve become a complete nobody. Adonis didn’t even send a single word of comfort!"

His voice grew louder.

Piero became increasingly agitated: "This is humiliation! This is betrayal! He betrayed our friendship, betrayed the interests of the Gray Iron Duchy. Traitors deserve no mercy!"

"So, Duke Piero, what exactly are you trying to say?" Liszt had little interest in the emotional turmoil of a middle-aged man stuck in some teenage rebellion—it wasn’t half as dramatic as a knight's ballad.

"I want revenge on Adonis, and I need Your Highness’ help!" Piero finally revealed his purpose.

"How can I help you?"

"All the information I possess about the Eagle Kingdom—I'll hand it all over to Your Highness, including that grandson of the Bull Marquis. In exchange, I ask for Your Highness’ support in my return to the Gray Iron Duchy. Henceforth, the Gray Iron Duchy will pledge allegiance to the Flame Kingdom!"

Without waiting for Liszt to speak, Lee William directly said, "Duke Piero, do you think such a possibility exists? The Gray Iron Duchy has already lost its dragon, which means your country will cease to exist in a few years. Even if we support your return, what will you use to suppress the nation and repay the Fire Kingdom?"

"Of course, there will be repayment!"

"Let's hear it."

"Andre, the grandson of the Ox Marquis, is currently subduing a new dragon, and from what I know, he is close to success. If I am willing to hand over the information about this dragon to Your Highness, would Your Highness be willing to protect the Gray Iron Duchy for twenty years? Twenty years—I believe within that time, Your Highness will conquer the Kingdom of the Eagle."

Duke Piero spoke with an unusually firm gaze: "By then, if the Gray Iron Family still hasn’t found a new dragon, I am willing to surrender all my wealth, only asking to become an ordinary ducal family within the Fire Kingdom."

After hearing Duke Piero’s words.

Liszt gradually narrowed his eyes, weighing the truth of his words.

Originally, he hadn’t paid much attention to Andre—this was the enemy of the Sapphire Duchy. No matter how talented, he would first seek revenge against the Sapphire Family. Besides, even if Andre became a dragon rider, what could he do? Would he dare to challenge a dragon rider with four dragons?

But.

The news that Andre was subduing a new dragon piqued his strong interest: "What new dragon is he subduing?"

"An extraordinary dragon. Though it can’t compare to Your Highness’s Invisible Dragon, it is more extraordinary than ordinary metallic or gemstone dragons. If not for this dragon, how would that Ox Marquis dare to rebel against the Sapphire Family?" Duke Piero settled back in his chair. As long as Liszt was interested, he had seized the advantage.

Lee William suddenly asked, "Duke Piero, do you really think the Fire Kingdom can conquer the Kingdom of the Eagle within twenty years?"

"Given Your Highness Liszt’s rising power, I believe there is hope—though it’s more of a gamble on the future... Without a dragon, the Gray Iron Family will inevitably lose its duchy. Rather than fading into obscurity as ordinary nobles, why not take a gamble... A Divine Dragon Rider, unseen in centuries, has already emerged. Why can’t the Kingdom of the Eagle perish?"

His words made sense.

Liszt couldn’t refute them, nor did he want to: "First, tell me what dragon Andre is subduing. If I’m interested, I might agree to your terms."

After a brief hesitation, Duke Piero nodded: "I trust in Your Highness’s honor. The dragon Andre is subduing is the Kingdom of the Eagle’s best-kept secret. I only learned of it by chance during a banquet with Adonis, catching his drunken remarks and secretly investigating further."

He paused, then declared through clenched teeth: "It’s an Orichalcum Dragon!"