Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Viscount Baker of Red Maple Ridge

The clamor and undercurrents of the great hall were completely shut out as the heavy oak doors swung closed.

Raylo returned to the inn where he was staying.

He walked slowly to the window and pushed aside the heavy velvet curtains.

’I’ve managed to sidestep the murky waters of the Jade Swamp for now.’

He breathed a small sigh of relief, his thoughts already turning to the journey back to Black Rock Territory.

’My talk of ’recuperating’ wasn’t entirely an excuse. Compared to whatever I might gain in the Jade Swamp, I can undoubtedly achieve far more by acting on my own with my intelligence network.’

Just as he was lost in thought, a knock came at the door.

”My lord, Viscount Baker of Red Maple Territory is here to see you!”

Raylo’s brow furrowed slightly.

The Lords’ council had just ended. A visitor at this hour seemed rather abrupt.

”Let him in.”

The door opened, and Viscount Baker of Red Maple Territory walked in, looking somewhat flustered.

The Viscount was of medium height, his face etched with an anxiety he could not quite hide. His noble attire was slightly wrinkled, as if he had been restlessly worrying about something moments before.

”Baron Raylo, my apologies for the intrusion.”

Viscount Baker bowed slightly, his tone cautious.

Raylo gestured for him to sit. ”Viscount Baker, please sit. What can I do for you?”

His tone was polite but distant.

’His intuition told him this Viscount’s visit was no simple courtesy call.’

Viscount Baker perched on the edge of his chair, hands clasped tightly in his lap, seemingly choosing his words with care.

”Lord Baron, to be frank, I... I’ve come to ask for your help.”

Raylo remained impassive, waiting for him to continue.

”It’s like this.”

Viscount Baker’s eyes were imploring.

”My domain, Red Maple Territory, has recently been plagued by Ogre raids. A sizable nest has taken root in the Black Pine Forest on the edge of my lands. Several villages have already been ravaged, and my people are suffering terribly! Hundreds have already been carried off as food for the Ogres.”

He paused to gauge Raylo’s reaction before continuing, ”I... I want to ask you, Lord Baron, to lend your aid. I need you to dispatch your Storm Griffins and Pegasus Knights to help me destroy that Ogre nest!”

Raylo raised an eyebrow.

”Viscount Baker, as you know, my Black Rock Territory has just been through a major war and is still recovering.”

He picked up the long-cold cup of tea from the table.

”Besides, by rights, it’s not my place as an outsider to interfere in the affairs of your territory.”

His words were almost identical to the reply he had given Count Barton in the great hall, only the scale of this request was much smaller.

A flash of disappointment crossed Viscount Baker’s face, but he didn’t give up. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his voice low and urgent.

”Lord Baron, I understand your concerns! I’m not asking your troops to handle the main assault. The Ogres are tough, but they’re clumsy. This is a fight for ground troops. My Red Maple Territory guards will handle the direct engagement...”

Viscount Baker laid out his plan.

”I need your flying units to provide aerial harassment and ranged attacks to suppress the Ogres. I have some fire oil prepared that I need them to drop from high altitude. With your aerial forces assisting, I’m fully confident we can exterminate this Ogre nest at a much lower cost.”

Raylo remained silent, his calm gaze fixed on the viscount.

Though the room was not particularly warm, fine beads of sweat had appeared on Viscount Baker’s forehead.

”As for the spoils.”

Seeing that Raylo had not immediately refused, a flicker of hope ignited in Viscount Baker’s heart, and he quickly sweetened the deal.

”If you agree to dispatch your forces, Lord Baron, I’m willing to give you thirty percent of all the spoils! On top of that, you will get the first pick of any one item from the loot, no matter what Treasure it is!”

Thirty percent of the spoils, plus the right of first pick.

For what amounted to ”auxiliary support,” this was an undeniably generous offer.

Raylo weighed the pros and cons.

’Interfering in another Lord’s affairs was risky and could invite unnecessary trouble.’

’But even a large Ogre nest was just a local skirmish compared to the complex political and military vortex of the Jade Swamp.’

’His aerial forces were his trump card.’

’Their mobility and aerial strikes would give them a massive advantage against ground-based enemies like Ogres, who lacked any effective anti-air capabilities.’

”The Ogre nest.”

Raylo finally spoke.

”What are the specifics? How many of them are there? Are there any... special individuals? Any who can use tools or ranged Weapons? Most importantly, do they have any flying units? Or any means of attacking targets in the air?”

Hearing Raylo’s questions, Viscount Baker’s spirits lifted. He knew Raylo was now considering the proposal.

He answered quickly, ”According to multiple reports from my Scouts, there are about seventy to eighty Ogres in the nest. Their leader is an exceptionally burly One-Eyed Ogre, said to be immensely strong. The regular Ogres throw rocks, but their aim is poor, and they can’t throw them very high. As for flying units...”

Viscount Baker shook his head emphatically.

”Absolutely none! Lord Baron, rest assured, those dim-witted Ogres can do little more than run on the ground, howl, and use brute force. They have no effective way to deal with aerial targets! If they did, I wouldn’t have dared to trouble you.”

’No flying units, and no effective anti-air capabilities.’

This key piece of information piqued Raylo’s interest.

’This meant his Storm Griffins and Pegasus Knights could operate almost without threat, drastically reducing the risk.’

’Thirty percent of the spoils from an Ogre nest, plus the right of first pick...’

’Ogres often hoard their victims’ valuables, so the nest might hold some unexpected treasures.’

’This was a deal with manageable risk and substantial reward. Compared to getting entangled in Count Barton’s grand scheme, it was far more in line with his principle of getting rich quietly.’

He looked at Viscount Baker, whose eyes were filled with hope and desperation. The man had clearly been pushed into a corner.

’Lending a hand would not only bring material gain but also earn the gratitude of a neighboring Lord—something that could prove useful in the future.’

”If it’s only a matter of aerial harassment and ranged support, and the spoils are divided as you’ve described...”

Raylo paused intentionally, observing the viscount’s reaction.

Viscount Baker held his breath.

”I can consider it,” Raylo said slowly.

A wave of immense joy washed over Viscount Baker, and he nearly leaped from his chair.

”Wonderful! Thank you, thank you, Baron Raylo! You are... this is a godsend!”

Raylo raised a hand, signaling for him to calm down.

”There’s no need for all that, Viscount. I have my own conditions. We’ll need to discuss the operational details carefully. I also need time to prepare my men and supplies.”

”Of course, of course!”

Viscount Baker nodded repeatedly, bobbing his head like a chicken pecking at grain.

”Lord Baron, whatever you require, you have only to ask! I will refuse nothing!”

”In half a month.”

Raylo mused, ”I will bring my men to Red Maple Territory and rendezvous with you at Red Maple Castle.”

”Half a month... Yes, yes! That’s more than enough time! I will make full preparations on my end!”

Viscount Baker’s face lit up with joy, all traces of his former anxiety and sorrow completely gone.