Chapter 866: Setting the Trap

"Mission: Your daily routine is being spied on, and danger lurks in the shadows, drawing ever closer. Even as a Dragon Knight, you cannot guarantee immunity from being ganged up on, and combat is the best solution. Please resolve the crisis in the shadows. Reward: Signs of Ogres."

The reward of "Ogre Traces" did not unsettle Liszt.

It was the mission content that unsettled him: "Someone is investigating me, a shadowy crisis approaches... The only ones who could threaten me on the Sapphire Sea must be the Kingdom of the Eagle. After I slaughtered one of their Dragon Knights and seized one of their dragons, the royal family of the Eagle Kingdom will never let this go—and neither will Alonso Cyclamen!"

He quickly regained his composure, his gaze cold and calm: "Ganging up on a Dragon Knight? They’re asking for trouble!"

Though the danger was already looming, he wasn’t overly worried. Ever since the war between the Kingdom of Steel Ridge and the Blastfurnace Kingdom, he had considered the possibility of the Eagle Kingdom gathering strength against him. Had they not lost a dragon, perhaps the Eagle Kingdom might have swallowed their pride.

But a dragon was lost.

This was no small matter—even the king could not let it slide. Each dragon represented immense resources.

"Investigating my routine to gang up on me? A new war to slay dragons is coming. Fate itself senses their growing agitation. This battle is inevitable!" Liszt, a Dragon Knight poised to establish his own kingdom, was at the peak of his momentum. He would not back down now.

Moreover, there was no reason to. With Archmage Acheronides in the sea, he stood invincible. In the sky, the Invisible Dragon Bard could slip into the boundaries of the material world—what could mere Dragon Knights do to him?

He wouldn’t even need to call upon Fire Drake Leo to escape this dragon-slaying war.

"From this unassailable position, I must expand my gains and make the Eagle Kingdom regret seeking revenge!" He pondered how best to respond.

With the Invisible Dragon Bard, he could launch a surprise attack and kill a Dragon Knight.

Based on current intelligence, even if the Eagle Kingdom could stabilize relations with the Blastfurnace Kingdom and the Kingdom of Steel Ridge to recall Dragon Knights and dragons from the borders, they couldn’t recall them all. At most, they could muster three Dragon Knights and two dragons at great cost.

The Eagle Kingdom had eight dragons in total, with five Dragon Knights—the White Iron Dragon Knight, the Bronze Dragon Knight, the Amethyst Dragon Knight, the Topaz Dragon Knight, and the Lead Dragon Knight—as well as the Silver Dragon, another White-Mouthed Iron Dragon, and the Brass Dragon.

Their vassals held five dragons, with two Dragon Knights—the Copper Dragon Knight and the Deep Ruby Dragon Knight—alongside the Grey Cast Iron Dragon, the Pink Diamond Dragon, and the Chrysoberyl Dragon.

Among them, the White Iron Dragon Knight, Alex Bai Kou Tie, was stationed at the Blastfurnace border and could be deployed. The Bronze Dragon Knight, Alonso Cyclamen, guarded the Steel Ridge frontier and could also be mobilized. Among the vassals, the Copper Dragon Knight, Loyel Zitong, had the closest ties to the Eagle royal family and could be called upon.

Additionally, the royal Silver Dragon and the vassal Grey Cast Iron Dragon could be deployed.

Dragons were the guardians of a nation’s fortune, rarely deployed without heavy cost. Mobilizing them could even spark a border war. For the Eagle Kingdom to assemble a force of three Dragon Knights and two dragons would be a gamble of monumental stakes.

"If they win, all will be well—perhaps devouring me could restore the Eagle Kingdom to its former glory. But if they lose, they’ll at least be skinned alive... If they dare come, they’d better be ready to bleed!" Liszt’s eyes were sharp, fearless.

Without a second thought, he headed straight to Doom’s Crater and summoned Leo from the volcanic magma: "A great battle approaches. Remain inside me for now, ready to fight at any moment!"

"Roar!"

Leo did not refuse. Though he loved the crater’s heat, he also thirsted for the thrill of battle. As a wicked dragon, how could he fear a fight?

Returning to the reed marsh construction site, he said to Acheronides: "Halt the magic gate construction for now, Acheronides. I need you to stay close to me in the coming days. A dragon-slaying war awaits!"

"Acheronides obeys. Acheronides will protect brother!" She clenched her fists.

"Good. I trust you."

Then they rode the Invisible Dragon Bard beyond the material world, crossing from Bone Lake’s natural node to Black Horse Island. Liszt swiftly summoned Mary Dawnbreak and Xavier at Thorn Castle.

"Your Highness." Mary, who appeared youthful, no longer flaunted her alluring figure. As the leader of the Blood Servants and Liszt’s eyes, she wielded great authority. She had selected many talented youths in Flame Territory, planning to expand the vampire ranks.

"Mary, I need you to lead the Blood Servants immediately and investigate the movements of the Dragon Knights and dragons in the Eagle Kingdom and its vassals. Focus on Alex, Alonso, Loyel, the Silver Dragon, and the Grey Cast Iron Dragon."

"Mary will track the movements of these dragon knights and dragons for Your Highness!"

"Make it quick. Just get a general idea of their movements; details aren't necessary."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Liszt then gave orders to Xavier: "Your task is to investigate the movements of the Sapphire family, especially the Duke and his sapphire dragon!" The Sapphire family’s allegiance was unclear, so for this dragon-slaying battle, he hadn't considered allying with the Sapphire Duchy.

He’d rather work alone when possible—untrustworthy allies could betray at any moment.

Xavier bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Highness!"

"Are you prepared regarding the activity traces of rats in the territory?"

"We’re watching the suspicious rats. I’ve had some intel leaked on purpose, so we’ve got everything covered."

"Good. Then continue leaking my schedule to these rats—make it regular and fixed for a period. Also, I want you to spread the word that I frequently travel to Dodo Island, where there’s a volcano that serves as Leo’s training ground."

Liszt decided to proactively set the battlefield, setting a trap—no one knew his fate-given ability to evade danger in advance, and this was precisely his greatest advantage.

Xavier didn’t question the reasons and simply accepted the order: "Understood!"

With that, his two eyes—the vampires and the rats—were now in play.

Liszt and Acheronides wasted no time crossing through a natural node to reach Mind Island. From there, they stealthily advanced toward the Kingdom of the Eagle. He intended to scout for natural nodes along the kingdom’s coastal areas, particularly those along the flight paths of dragon knights.

It’d be rude not to return the favor.

Since the Kingdom of the Eagle dared to launch a dragon-slaying war, they’ll pay a bloody price.

In a straight fight, Liszt stood no chance against their combined assault. His plan was to use the invisible dragon to outmaneuver his foes, making a mockery of their dragon-slaying war. Once the Kingdom of the Eagle realized they couldn’t capture Liszt, they would retreat—and that’s when the invisible dragon would strike for an assassination.

"What if I could kill another dragon knight and even capture a dragon? Would that be enough to break the Kingdom of the Eagle?"