Chapter 846: Where to Go

..., the great dragon is dead.

The spirit bugs have been deployed, and once the plantations are established, the task will be completed.

After returning from the Sacred Tribe of the Moon Killers, Liszt had largely let his guard down. When riding the invisible dragon to patrol the area, he no longer deliberately concealed his presence.

So far, no port has been established on Fire Island.

All the knights, craftsmen, serfs, and mages who arrived have no means of leaving. After all, the Great Vortex Magic Teleportation Circle is a one-way teleportation circle, and the fleet previously led by Duert Hongxingguo had its ships mostly stranded at the estuary of the Vortex Great River, unable to resupply or return.

Thus, apart from the strictly scrutinized magic communication platforms, this large island has almost no means of communication with the outside world.

Not even trade connections with the neighboring Tulip Isles are possible.

The Tulip family has only just established a presence on the island, and not even a single town has been established yet. It will likely take a long time before trade with Fire Island becomes feasible.

Therefore, even if the news of Liszt riding a dragon were to leak, it would only circulate within Fire Island.

"Chairwoman Kenli, here is the record of our interrogation of the Elder from the Sacred Tribe. There are some points of suspicion that need to be addressed," a mage entered Kenli's office to report.

Kenli was reviewing a new translation of the Lunar Language and did not look up. "What suspicions?"

"The Elder mentioned dragons. He said they were brought here by a dragon—one that was crystal-like and could suddenly disappear," the mage tried to describe it more accurately. "It seems to be referring to the dragon Lord Liszt rides, but it doesn’t match the description of the Fire Dragon Leo. I don’t know if this Elder is lying."

After hearing this, Kenli set down her quill, her expression suddenly turning serious. "Mage Mansano, leave the record with me. I will personally verify the Elder’s claims about the dragon with Lord Liszt. You need not concern yourself with it further. Also, do not discuss this privately."

"Yes, Chairwoman Kenli."

After the mage Mansano left, Kenli picked up the interrogation record, her gaze growing thoughtful. "Lord Liszt has so many secrets. This new dragon must be the invisible dragon that Archmage Acheronides once inadvertently mentioned, right?" The mages respectfully referred to Acheronides as "Archmage" because she was both an Archmage and an Arcane Master, holding a revered status.

"Invisible dragon..." Kenli narrowed her eyes in thought. She had researched this topic and knew the invisible dragon was a legendary dragon from the Sacred Dragon lineage, capable of producing space rings.

Kenli had seen the rings on Liszt and Acheronides and guessed they were space rings, having witnessed them summoning items out of thin air. Thus, she was certain of the invisible dragon’s existence and deduced that Acheronides’ Magic Gate project relied on the dragon’s mystical abilities for rapid progress.

"Fire Dragon, invisible dragon... This dragon knight from a small island nation might truly be the Chosen One those knights proclaim... The era of mages has long passed, the Magical Weave has withered, and dragon knights are the true rulers... But what does that matter to me? I only wish to study magic!"

With a wry laugh, Kenli opened the interrogation record and began summarizing its contents. Having traveled all the way from the distant Kingdom of Steel Ridge to Fire Island, her only goal had always been magic—the truth itself.

The struggles of secular power, the wars and killings—what did they have to do with her? Once she became a mage, she no longer bore the surname "Magic Elephant" but instead took "Truth" as her name.

...

It wasn’t just Kenli who suspected the existence of the invisible dragon—many knights had also started suspecting.

During a break in their mission to capture Moon Killer natives, two knights wandered off to answer nature’s call—all knights who had landed on Fire Island had developed proper hygiene habits and no longer relieved themselves indiscriminately.

"I’ve seen Lord Liszt riding different dragons!"

"I’ve known for a while. Remember when we first crossed the Great Vortex Magic Teleportation Circle? While moving supplies from the skeletal ships, I heard the dragon’s cry... It was clear—'Wuu-yah,' sharp, piercing, and bone-chilling."

"And the immense Dragon Fear—I remember it now too!"

"But what kind of dragon is that?"

"I don't know."

"Anyway, His Highness is the Chosen One, blessed by the lifelong favor of the Order—this is beyond doubt. As long as we closely follow in His Highness's footsteps, we'll surely become noble and honored one day!"

The two had no idea that not far from them, Cross Shaji, the leader of their knight order, was also answering nature's call. Shortly after, Cross returned to the knights and chatted with another leader, Duert Hongxingguo: "I overheard some knights discussing His Highness's dragon again."

"Are they talking about how many dragons His Highness has?" Duert replied in still somewhat clumsy *Serpent Tongue*. Even in private, these knights from the Kingdom of the Eagle, accustomed to speaking the Wind Language, had begun using *Serpent Tongue* as per Liszt's orders.

"Exactly."

"A knight's curiosity about dragons never fades. But it's not just them—aren't we the same?"

"Right? Who'd have guessed His Highness doesn't just have one dragon, but two? And with the addition of A Ke Luo Yi De Si, the future strength of the Kingdom of Flames will be unprecedented."

"That's why there's a saying in my homeland—don't cry over a lost dog, for it might come back with a friend. We were captured at sea, yet who could have guessed we weren't abandoned by the glory of knighthood, but deeply favored by it?"

Duert glanced at Cross. "Especially you—surviving the vortex's magic array, and you were gloriously promoted from Viscount to Earl. Imagine how jealous your former colleagues would be if they knew."

Cross grinned smugly. "The Prince is generous. It's an honor to follow him!"

……

While some secretly rejoiced over Liszt having multiple dragons, others frowned at the news.

Blue Dragon Island, Blue Sky Spire Palace.

The Duke of Sapphire's temples had already turned gray, aging faster than expected. He now looked solemnly at Crown Prince Anthony. "Is what Angela said true?"

"It shouldn't be false. Meopo drunkenly admitted that Liszt owns three dragons—one confirmed to be the Fire Dragon and another the Lightgreen Gem Dragon lost by the Kingdom of the Eagle. As for the third dragon, even Meopo doesn't know, and Marquis Mexiro gave Angela nothing."

"Though Mexiro is talentless and unremarkable in character, he's inherited the shrewdness of the Longyu family. Angela lacks the skill to pry anything from him." The Duke tapped the table. "This time, Angela has rendered great service by sending word to the family. For her birthday, send her a Grand Sprite."

"Father, must we send a Grand Sprite?" Anthony hesitated—even dragon-raising families had few Grand Sprites to spare.

The Duke sighed. "Do you think the Grand Sprite is just a reward? It signals goodwill from the Sapphire family… I've studied Liszt for a long time. Young as he is, don't underestimate him. He acts with purpose—every move calculated."

Had Liszt known his scatterbrained, spur-of-the-moment antics were being praised so highly by the Duke, he might have blushed in shame.

His actions truly weren't that calculated.

Of course, the news of three dragons was deliberately planted… so the Duke's words weren't entirely exaggerated.

"I suspect the news of the Lightgreen Gem Dragon and the three dragons was intentionally spread by Liszt through the Longyu family, and Meopo's drunken confession was likely arranged by Mexiro." Pausing, the Duke leaned back in his chair, deep wrinkles etching his face. "Anthony, what's our next move?"