Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Rewarding Bolin

Raylo watched Bishop Augustus’s grand procession depart, not letting out a long sigh of relief until the banner of the Holy See had vanished over the distant horizon.

The pressure from the Bishop had been far greater than Raylo had let on.

”Finally got that pest out of here for a while.”

Raylo finally relaxed.

In the days that followed, Black Stone Territory returned to its former state of busy tranquility.

All matters in the territory proceeded in an orderly fashion according to Raylo’s plans.

But what brought him the most joy was the growth of the two young Armored Rhinoceros calves.

The little creatures he had stolen from the banks of the Black Water River were now awe-inspiring sights.

Their bodies had shot up to over two meters in length and nearly 1.5 meters in height. Their once-tender, blue-black hides now gleamed with a hard, metallic luster, as if clad in true iron armor.

Their limbs were thick and powerful, and every footfall echoed with a heavy thud.

The once-short horns on their heads had grown to half a foot in length, their tips shimmering with a cold light.

On the training grounds carved out within the territory, they resembled small whirlwinds when they ran.

Most Great Knights wouldn’t dare to match their strength. By a rough estimate, the two youngsters already possessed the combat power of Tier Two Magical Beasts, becoming one of Black Stone Territory’s core assets.

That afternoon, after dealing with the official business at hand, Raylo thought for a moment and had an attendant summon Bolin.

Before long, Bolin appeared at the study’s entrance.

Raylo looked him over. The gloom and resentment that had clouded Bolin’s features when he first arrived in Black Stone Territory had long since vanished.

”My Lord.”

Bolin bowed.

Raylo motioned for him to sit and personally poured him a mug of ale.

”Bolin, following me out here to this godforsaken borderland to build something from scratch... I bet you’ve had plenty of complaints in your heart, right?”

Bolin’s weathered face flushed. He raised his mug and took a sip, seemingly trying to hide his sudden awkwardness.

”My Lord, it is my duty to follow you.”

His words were dutiful, but his slightly lowered gaze was a clear admission to Raylo’s claim.

When he first arrived in Black Stone Territory, he had indeed been full of grievances and had even been neglectful in his duties at the start.

”Duty?”

Raylo raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with a hint of teasing.

”I seem to recall a certain someone who had a face longer than a rock from Black Stone Mountain when he first arrived. Nothing pleased him. For a moment, I thought I’d have to sell him to the mines to dig for Black Iron.”

Bolin looked rather sheepish and gave a dry cough.

”You’re joking, My Lord. I... was just having a little trouble adjusting at the time.”

Raylo laughed and stopped teasing him.

”Alright, no more joking. I’ve seen everything you’ve done for Black Stone Territory these past days.”

His smile faded, and his expression turned serious.

”From building the first camp to maintaining law and order in the territory, you’ve put your heart and soul into it, never once slacking. When Black Stone Territory was invaded multiple times, you were always charging at the front, never falling behind. Black Stone Territory owes its current scale and stability to you, Knight Bolin. Your contributions are indispensable.”

Hearing Raylo’s solemn praise, Bolin’s heart warmed.

”My Lord, you are too kind. It is merely my duty.”

Bolin said in a deep voice, his tone even a bit choked with emotion.

Raylo waved his hand. ”Merit is merit, and fault is fault. I, Raylo, have always been clear about rewards and punishments.”

He took an exquisite wooden box from his coat, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it toward Bolin.

The wooden box was simple and unadorned, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

Bolin’s heart skipped a beat. He had a faint idea of what it was, and his breathing grew heavy.

”Open it and see,” Raylo said with a smile.

Bolin reached out with a slightly trembling hand and slowly opened the wooden box.

A translucent Crystal Bottle rested silently on a red velvet cushion. It contained a pale golden liquid that emitted a peculiar energy fluctuation and a deeply refreshing aroma.

”This... This is...”

Bolin’s voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with incredulous shock and yearning.

As a veteran Great Knight, how could he not recognize the origin of this Potion!

”The Earth Knight’s Breakthrough Potion.”

Raylo stated its name clearly.

”You’ve been stuck at the Great Knight realm for many years, haven’t you? This Potion might help you break through your bottleneck and join the ranks of the Earth Knights.”

An Earth Knight!

Bolin felt his heart hammering in his chest.

He was already forty-four years old and had thought any hope of advancement in this lifetime was lost.

He never expected that in this remote borderland, at an age when he was no longer young, such an opportunity would present itself!

He shot to his feet, dropped to one knee, and his voice trembled with emotion.

”My Lord! For such a generous gift, I... how can I possibly be worthy!”

He knew the value of this Potion all too well.

In Thunder Dragon City, a single Earth Knight’s Breakthrough Potion was enough to make Knights fight tooth and nail over it.

And now, Lord Raylo was actually bestowing such a precious Potion upon him!

”Rise, Bolin.”

Raylo helped him up.

”You and Ed followed me to Black Stone Territory, and your hard work and achievements have been great. Whether it’s Ed or you, as long as you are loyal to me, your efforts will be rewarded.”

Bolin’s eyes reddened slightly, and he took a deep breath.

”Please rest assured, My Lord! In this life, Bolin will not fail your great expectations! I am willing to serve you, and Black Stone Territory, to the death!”

At this moment, there was no longer any lingering attachment to the past in his heart, only anticipation for the future and infinite gratitude toward Raylo.

Raylo nodded in satisfaction.

”Very good. Go now. Find a quiet place and focus on your breakthrough. This Breakthrough Potion is a fine specimen personally crafted by Master Barnaby, so the chance of success is higher than with an ordinary potion. Make all your preparations before taking it, and strive to break through in one go when the time is right.”

”Yes, My Lord!”

Bolin gripped the wooden box tightly in his hand, bowed solemnly once more, then turned and strode away.

Watching Bolin’s departing figure, Raylo raised his mug and drained the ale in one go.

「The next morning.」

[Daily Intelligence Refreshed]

[1: A medium-sized Mercenary Corps from Thunder Dragon City has arrived in the nearby Ironthorn Territory. The corps is named ”Iron Skull,” and its composition is one Earth Knight, three Great Knights, twenty-six Knights, and over a hundred Knight’s Attendants. The financial backer of this Mercenary Corps is the First Prince, Eliot.]

[2: The youngest daughter of the Baron of Sunset Territory has reportedly eloped with a stable hand. The Baron has offered a reward of fifty Golden Dragons for her return, becoming a laughingstock among the nobles of the surrounding territories.]

[3: South of the Black Water River, the finances of Red Stone Territory are on the verge of collapse due to the excessive banqueting of Baron Philip, ”the Alcoholic.” He is currently selling off family manors and the mining rights to several properties at low prices.]

[4: The Viscount of Grey Rock City has announced a ”War Surtax” on all merchant caravans within his territory, causing widespread dissatisfaction and protest among traveling merchants.]

[5: Countess Isabella, a single noblewoman famous throughout the Duchy for her beauty, wealth, and romantic affairs, has recently made a high-profile announcement through the mouths of Minstrels. She wishes to recruit a ”personal advisor who is not only handsome, charming, and humorous but also possesses profound knowledge and great power.” In exchange, she offers a generous annual salary of one thousand Golden Dragons and a private lakeside manor. As soon as the news broke, countless self-proclaimed extraordinary, wandering Mages and young Knights eager for a meteoric rise have begun to flock to her.]

[6: The struggle for succession in the Red Leaf Earl’s Domain has intensified. The two heirs are contacting lords who support them, gathering Knights, and preparing for war. A conflict is imminent.]

[7: To the east of the Black Stone Mountain Range, the recently established Young Black Dragon is becoming more active, having recently incinerated several Demon nests. Some surviving Demons were intimidated by its Dragon Mighty and forced into submission. A Tier Four Magical Beast, the Two-winged Bat Dragon, and a flock of Red Fire Demon Crows have become the Black Dragon’s new vassals.]

[8: The border conflict between the Fiery Sun Kingdom and the Thunder Dragon Duchy is escalating. The Duke of Thunder Dragon has dispatched a thousand-man battalion from the Thunder Dragon Knight Order to the border to assist in its defense.]

[9: Knight Bolin, having received the Earth Knight’s Breakthrough Potion you granted him, is now fully dedicated to preparing for his advancement. He will successfully break through to become an Earth Knight in two days. As a result, the training morale of the territory’s Knights and Apprentices has risen dramatically.]

[10: Your Seed of Fighting Spirit is nearing completion, and you have reached the bottleneck to break through to Tier Two Great Knight. Because of your talent from contracting with the Silver Dragon Moonlight, your physique and mental strength far exceed those of an ordinary Knight, and your chances of a successful breakthrough have been greatly increased.]