Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Annihilating a Clan and Seizing a Title

「The next day.」

「Thunder Dragon City.」

Inside the Grand Audience Hall, dozens of colossal pillars carved with ferocious Thunder Dragons supported the vaulted ceiling.

Sunlight streamed through the towering stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of light and shadows across the floor.

The Duke of Thunder Dragon sat upon his high-backed oak throne, clad in a ceremonial ducal robe of purple and gold, the crest of the Thunder Dragon Family pinned to his chest.

His Highness Eliot had also donned a new formal suit today. He stood at the front of the assembled vassals, his face a mask of perfectly calibrated concern and reverence.

He glanced toward his father on the high seat, his mind racing. After receiving a secret message from Alan Rickman yesterday about the upheaval in Ironthorn Territory, he’d been surprised by Baron Mengde’s incompetence but had quickly adjusted his plans.

’Raylo dispatched troops and seized a noble’s land without authorization. No matter how you look at it, he broke the laws of the Duchy. This is the perfect angle of attack.’

”Your Grace!”

A short, stout Baron with a meticulously trimmed brown beard stepped forward. It was Baron Fielding, a man who had always been one of His Highness Eliot’s staunchest supporters.

”Baron Raylo of Black Stone Territory has ignored the laws of the Duchy! He raised an army without authorization to attack Ironthorn Territory and has taken Baron Mengde captive. His actions are no different from those of a common brigand! If we do not punish him severely, what will become of the Duchy’s laws? Will everyone not follow his example, letting might make right? The Duchy will know no peace!”

The moment Baron Fielding finished speaking, a tall, gaunt Viscount with high cheekbones immediately echoed his sentiment.

”Your Grace, Baron Fielding is absolutely right! The Baron of Black Stone Territory is young and arrogant. Just because he has some military might, he acts with impunity and shows no regard for the laws of the Duchy. This invasion of Ironthorn Territory sets a vile precedent. I implore Your Grace to dispatch the Thunder Dragon Knight Order at once to apprehend this fiend and punish him in public as a warning to all!”

In quick succession, three or four more vassals stepped forward, their words sharp as they joined in denouncing Baron Raylo’s ”unlawful conduct.”

Some decried Raylo’s lack of respect for his betters, claiming he had shattered the unspoken rules that governed the nobility. Others hinted that Raylo was dangerously ambitious, a potential scourge upon the Duchy’s future.

The hall erupted in a flurry of accusations, the nobles’ passions inflamed as if Raylo were already a sinner condemned for the most unforgivable of crimes.

His Highness Eliot stood to the side, a flicker of triumph in his eyes.

’These are the vassals I’ve worked so hard to win over. They haven’t disappointed me today.’

’Under this much pressure, even the Duke will have to consider the collective outrage and punish Raylo severely.’

Upon the throne, the Duke of Thunder Dragon remained utterly silent.

Only when the clamor began to die down did the Duke of Thunder Dragon finally speak, his voice slow and deliberate.

”Are you all quite finished?”

The boisterous hall fell silent in an instant. The vassals, who seconds before had been brimming with righteous indignation, now bowed their heads, daring not to meet the Duke’s gaze.

”To dispatch troops without authorization and invade the territory of a fellow noble is indeed a violation of the Duchy’s laws.”

The Duke of Thunder Dragon’s tone was level, betraying no emotion.

”However, every action has a cause.”

He paused, his gaze shifting to the Minister of Internal Affairs standing in attendance.

”Read aloud the urgent dispatch that arrived from Black Stone Territory late last night.”

The Minister of Internal Affairs bowed. ”As you command.” He retrieved a thick stack of parchment scrolls from within his robes, cleared his throat, and began to read in a clear voice.

”A record of the crimes of Baron Mengde. Document one: Testimony of Fernando, head butler of Ironthorn Castle. It states that one month prior, Lord Baron Mengde secretly contacted the notorious Blood Wolf Corps. He promised them a great reward to attack Black Stone Territory and ensure the ’accidental’ death of Baron Raylo...”

As the Minister of Internal Affairs continued his rhythmic recitation, one shocking testimony after another was revealed to the assembly.

There were twelve testimonies in total. They included signed statements from Baron Mengde’s own confidants—his head butler and his Knight Captain—as well as depositions from several captured lieutenants of the Blood Wolf Corps.

Each testimony meticulously detailed how Baron Mengde conspired with the Blood Wolf Corps, how he orchestrated the attack on Black Stone Territory, and how he plotted to have Baron Raylo killed.

The vassals in the hall listened to the litany of crimes, one after another, completely dumbfounded.

The very vassals who had been ”speaking out for justice” on Baron Mengde’s behalf, so vehemently denouncing Raylo, were now ashen-faced, cold sweat beading on their brows.

’How could this be the truth!?’ They couldn’t believe it.

That Baron Mengde would be so audacious as to collude with bandits and attack the lands of a fellow noble of the Duchy... his malice was so venomous, his methods so vile, it was utterly appalling.

The revelation that the Blood Wolf Corps’ target was not merely plunder, but Baron Raylo himself, struck a particularly sensitive nerve with every noble in the room.

Squabbles among the nobility were common, but colluding with bandits to carry out an assassination was a cardinal sin.

Especially when the target was of the Duke’s own blood.

The look of triumph and composure had long since vanished from His Highness Eliot’s face.

He felt an icy chill shoot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, and his back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

Each testimony was like a ringing slap across his face.

”Did everyone hear that clearly?”

The Duke of Thunder Dragon’s voice, as cold as the ice of the Nine Netherworld, echoed through the hall.

”Mengde colluded with the Blood Wolf Corps and attacked Black Stone Territory first. His crime is punishable by death! Baron Raylo fought back to defend his lands. That is legitimate self-defense. What crime has *he* committed?”

His gaze, sharp as a sword, swept over the vassals who had been the most vociferous in their accusations.

”But you... you who speak without knowing the facts, who cannot distinguish right from wrong, who stand here spouting baseless accusations... what is your motive?”

Sweat poured from those few vassals like rain. Their legs gave out, and they collapsed to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly.

”Your Grace, please quell your anger! We were foolish! We are at fault! We beg Your Grace’s forgiveness!”

”Hmph!”

The Duke of Thunder Dragon snorted coldly, ignoring these turncoats.

He shot to his feet, his voice suddenly rising to a roar, filled with a thunderous fury.

”As a Baron of this Duchy, Mengde enjoyed its privileges. Yet instead of protecting his land and his people, he colluded with bandits, harmed his peers, and plotted to murder a man of ducal blood! Such treason, I, Aiden, will not tolerate!”

”Hear my decree!”

The Duke of Thunder Dragon’s voice reverberated through the hall.

”First! Dispatch a contingent of Thunder Dragon Knights to Ironthorn Territory at once and take the traitor Mengde into custody!”

”Second! Mengde is sentenced to death by beheading. His line shall be extinguished for three generations to uphold the sanctity of our laws!”

”Third! Strip Baron Mengde of his title and reclaim all his lands!”

”Fourth! In light of the grievous losses suffered by Black Stone Territory, all of Baron Mengde’s private assets shall be forfeit to them. As further compensation, Ironthorn Territory is hereby annexed and shall become part of Black Stone Territory!”

The commands were issued one after another.

The vassals in the hall held their breath, bowing their heads in assent.

They knew the Duke was truly enraged this time.

In the past, the Duke had often turned a blind eye to friction among the nobility, refusing to intervene as long as things did not go too far.

But this time, Baron Mengde’s actions had crossed the Duke’s one unassailable line: any threat, in any form, to his own blood.

The Duke of Thunder Dragon’s gaze swept slowly over the crowd before finally landing on His Highness Eliot, whose face was as pale as a sheet.

”Eliot.”

”I... I am here, Father.”

Eliot forced himself to remain calm as he bowed and answered.

The Duke of Thunder Dragon gave him a long, searching look.

He said slowly, ”Mengde’s actions have had a vile influence. He must be punished without mercy as a warning to others. You will go in my stead. You will personally take Mengde’s head and bring it back to me.”

Eliot’s head snapped up.

’He wants *me* to behead Mengde?’

’This... this is tantamount to forcing me to execute my own supporter! And I’ll have to declare to everyone, on the Duke’s behalf, that I, Eliot, have nothing to do with Mengde’s crimes!’

”Father...”

Eliot managed to say, attempting to argue or excuse himself.

”What is it?”

The Duke of Thunder Dragon’s eyebrow arched slightly.

”Are you unwilling?”

”No! I... I will obey!”

Eliot felt a chill rise up his spine and spread through his entire body.

”Good.”

The Duke of Thunder Dragon nodded, his tone softening slightly.

”Remember, you are a prince of the Thunder Dragon Duchy. Your words and deeds represent the honor and dignity of the Thunder Dragon Family. Anyone who dares to defy the laws of this Duchy or threaten the royal bloodline is an irreconcilable enemy of our family!”

”You will depart with the Thunder Dragon Knights at dawn tomorrow. Bring Mengde’s head back to Thunder Dragon City and hang it from the city gates for three days as a warning to all!”

”Yes... Father.”

Eliot’s voice was bone dry. He could feel the cold sweat soaking through his shirt, clinging to his skin.

He dared not say another word and could only bow to accept his orders.

’He knew that, from this moment forward, his standing in the Duke’s eyes had plummeted.’

The Duke of Thunder Dragon gave one last, sweeping glance at his silent, terrified court and his ashen-faced eldest son, then flicked his sleeve with a sharp snap.

”Be gone!”

As if granted a royal pardon, the vassals bowed deeply and scurried from the Grand Audience Hall.