Chapter 387: Legend of the Dragon Spirit

With the conclusion of the battle on Iron Horse Island, the encirclement campaign has become clear.

The traces of the Furious Knights have also been discovered, appearing around the last major city, Ox Sinew City. This city has not been granted to anyone and still belongs to the Bull Marquis.

Not only have the traces of the Furious Knights been spotted around Ox Sinew City, but the magicians of the Goat Assembly also openly enter the city to select various magic materials.

They have no intention of avoiding the encirclement by the knights that is about to surround Ox Sinew City.

They are fearless.

"The Hawk Knight Corps has locked onto the position of the Bull Marquis." After attending the meeting, Lee William gathered his followers and announced the final battle plan formulated by the Second Prince, "All knight corps will immediately break camp and head to Ox Sinew City, joining the First Prince to complete the encirclement of Milk Lake."

Liszt took a deep breath, "Baron, is this the final battle?"

Lee William looked at his second son, who had been eagerly seizing credit in the last two battles, with great satisfaction, "Yes, this is the final battle!"

After this battle ends, perhaps the Tulip Family will rise further.

In any case, at such a chaotic juncture, it is always a cause for celebration that his son is growing up.

...

Ten kilometers away from Ox Sinew City, there is a huge lake called Milk Lake.

In the center of the lake, there is a tall solitary island with a not-so-grand fortress called Juniper Fortress, which is only slightly larger than Tulip Castle.

The fortress is named after the dense shrubs and small juniper trees on the solitary island in the lake.

Juniper Fortress is well-known throughout the Sapphire Duchy because it is the place where the famous premium white wine "Juniper Wine" is produced. There is a rumor, of questionable authenticity, that the Bull Marquis family has a dragon elf, a five-hundred-year-old Juniper Dragon Elf, which is specifically responsible for brewing the wine.

This Juniper Dragon Elf was a gift from the first generation duke to his favorite youngest son.

Since then, it has become a treasured heirloom of the Bull family.

If this rumor is true, then the Sapphire Duchy has two dragon elves, with the Sapphire Family possessing another Oat Dragon Elf.

Because dragon elves are rare, not much more numerous than dragons themselves, very few people know what dragon elves actually look like.

Liszt doesn't know either.

"I have gathered information about dragon elves, and a relatively reliable account suggests that the evolution of a spirit into a dragon elf requires the help of a dragon."

"The help of a dragon?" Parris, riding the Black Dragon, followed Liszt, accompanying the knight corps.

Now that Liszt can ride a chocobo to launch charges at will, he lent the Black Dragon to Parris so that when she rescues him, she can do so more quickly.

"Or it can be described as an infection; this is my own speculative conclusion." Liszt said, "Just like dragon-beast species and dragon-magic species, dragons should also be able to infect greater elves, which then undergo a transformation with the magical power of the dragon, becoming dragon elves."

"Is that so? I've heard that dragon elves are servants of dragons."

"There is such a saying; dragon elves are very friendly with dragons and like to live around them. I have read in some magic books that dragon elves appear alongside evil dragons. However, there are also a few magic books and knight novels that mention another interesting theory."

"What theory?"

"Dragon elves are servants of dragons, but when a dragon elf evolves into an Elf King, the dragon becomes its mount, to be commanded by it."

"Baron, does the Elf King really exist in the world?"

It's an intriguing question. Most people dismiss the notion, considering the Elf King merely a legend. There's no precise description of the Elf King—some claim it’s as vast as a forest, while others believe it can ride dragons.

However.

Liszt replied, "It exists. The Spirit King exists in this world."

"Really? What does the Spirit King look like?" Parris asked with great interest.

"I haven't seen it, so I can't answer that."

His confidence stemmed from the fact that legendary creatures had appeared one after another before his eyes. First, it was the ghost, then the dragon revenant, followed by the lich, and soon the mermaid... So, if one day the Spirit King appeared before him, he wouldn't be surprised. This world wasn't Earth.

It wasn't necessary to adhere to the theory of species evolution.

Parris didn't dwell on the existence of the Spirit King. Her mind jumped quickly: "Lord Baron, why isn't the Bull Marquis called the Iron Horse Island Marquis, or why hasn't he changed his name to Andy·Juniper?"

According to the enfeoffment system, the correct title for a noble should be their fiefdom plus their rank. For example, William Lee Tulip's title is Count of Coral Island; Liszt Tulip's title is Baron of Flower Town.

Only the Bull Marquis has the title of Bull Marquis, instead of Iron Horse Island Marquis.

"It's a tribute," Liszt knew the anecdote behind it. "Before the Sapphire Family came to these seas to establish their country, they were on the mainland somewhere. At that time, the nickname of the youngest son of the first duke was 'Little Bull.' When he was first enfeoffed, he was made the Bull Count."

Later, when the Sapphire Family founded their country, the Little Bull was promoted to Bull Marquis, with the fiefdom of Iron Horse Island.

Perhaps to preserve this intimate connection, the title of Bull Marquis was continued. As for the surname, it was likely for the same reason, to highlight the closeness to the Sapphire Family. Of course, it's also possible that the Bull Marquis doesn't have the Juniper Dragon Spirit.

Without the Juniper Dragon Spirit, he naturally couldn't take the surname Juniper.

...

After a day of marching, they reached the shore of Milk Lake.

The knight brigades surrounding Iron Horse Island rendezvoused successfully, tightly encircling the lake, ready to launch the final strike at any moment. Liszt was making his final preparations. This was the last battle in the campaign against Iron Horse Island. Missing this opportunity would make it difficult to seize any more battle merits.

So far, there had been no news of the death of the Sapphire Dragon, nor had the possible invading army from the Kingdom of the Eagle arrived.

The battlefield was becoming increasingly clear; the Bull Marquis was doomed.

With a special resin-soaked cloth, he slowly cleaned the Zankong Great Sword. These maintenance tasks reduced weapon wear and increased their lifespan.

Every weapon would eventually become scrap after continuous use.

Even divine weapons made from dragon teeth would decay over time, though at different rates.

"Lord Baron!" A messenger knight arrived. "Count William Lee Tulip asks you to prepare. He will be heading to a banquet in half an hour and wants you to join him."

"I understand."

Half an hour later, dressed in his mithril armor, Liszt followed his father, William Lee Tulip, and his brother, Levis, to the First Prince's tent for the banquet. Even in the midst of war, the nobles couldn't resist feasting, with cups even placed on the table.

Was this going to be a hearty drink in the frontline of war?

Fortunately, the First Prince hadn't lost his senses. The first thing he said at the banquet was, "One cup of beer per person to moisten your parched throats. After the war, once the wrath of the Sapphire Family is vented, I'll drink to my heart's content with all of you!"