Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Marching on Ironthorn Territory

The Black Stone Army surged out of Black Stone Castle, riding hard for the border of Ironthorn Territory.

Hoofbeats thundered, kicking up a sky-blotting cloud of dust.

Night began to fall, but the army’s pace did not slow in the slightest.

Torches were lit, forming a winding dragon of fire that illuminated the path ahead.

When the Black Stone Army appeared on the border like an army of vengeful gods descending from the heavens, the Ironthorn Territory soldiers guarding the outpost were utterly stunned by the sight.

’What is that?’

Cold Armor reflected the torchlight, and a forest of Long Spears radiated a grim chill. The sheer killing intent washing over them made the legs of the normally complacent Ironthorn Castle soldiers turn to jelly. A cold dread shot straight up their spines.

”En-enemy attack! It’s the Black Stone Army!”

A sentry shrieked at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking with panic.

”Quick... go report to the Lord Baron!”

Another soldier, who looked like a squad leader, his face deathly pale and his lips trembling, scrambled to command his men.

He didn’t dare spare another glance at the Black Stone Army, which loomed like a thunderhead about to break, terrified they would charge forward and simply crush them.

The few soldiers with any courage left scrambled onto their horses. Forgetting all sense of formation or discipline, they galloped madly toward Ironthorn Castle, wishing their parents had given them more legs.

The remaining soldiers cowered behind the crude outpost, trembling and praying the Black Stone Army hadn’t noticed small fries like them.

However, Raylo paid the panicked border guards no mind.

His targets were Ironthorn Castle and Baron Mengde.

”All troops, on my command! Cross the border! Our target is Ironthorn Castle! Cut down any who stand in our way!”

”Cross the border!”

”On to Ironthorn Castle!”

The order given, the Black Stone Army didn’t pause for a second. Like a bursting dam, they flooded thunderously into the lands of Ironthorn Territory.

Seeing an army of such scale pass by, the inhabitants of the small villages along the route had long since barred their doors, none daring to venture out to see what was happening.

The army marched at full speed, heading straight for Ironthorn Castle.

When the vanguard’s Scouts reported sighting an army from Ironthorn Castle about a mile ahead, Raylo knew the man he was waiting for had finally shown up.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before an army of over a hundred men appeared on the horizon.

This force had clearly been assembled in a hurry. Compared to the imposing Black Stone Army, they distinctly lacked a warrior’s edge and killing intent.

At the head of the army, a middle-aged nobleman in ornate Armor, mounted on a white warhorse, watched with a grim expression as the Black Stone Army rapidly approached.

He was none other than the Lord of Ironthorn Territory, Baron Mengde.

Clustered around him was a group of nervous-looking Knights and officers.

Clearly, the border soldiers who had fled back had delivered the news.

But Baron Mengde had apparently not expected Raylo’s actions to be so swift, so... utterly ruthless.

He had originally assembled his army to take advantage of the chaos in Red Leaf Territory, never expecting a fire to break out in his own backyard first.

The two armies met on an open field about a mile from the walls of Ironthorn Castle, facing off from a distance.

The air was thick with tension, like a powder keg waiting for a spark.

Baron Mengde suppressed his shock and anger, urging his horse forward a few steps.

”Baron Raylo! How dare you lead an army into my territory! Are you trying to provoke a war between two vassal fiefs?!”

Raylo prompted the Storm Griffin beneath him to hover ten feet in the air, several dozen paces from Baron Mengde, and looked down upon him.

”Baron Mengde, you know full well why I’m here.”

”I do not!”

Baron Mengde roared.

”I only know that you have invaded my territory without cause! This is a grave violation of the Duchy’s laws!”

A mocking smile touched the corners of Raylo’s mouth.

”Violating the Duchy’s laws? Baron Mengde, your Ironthorn Territory harbors remnants of the Blood Wolf Corps, secretly funds bandits to harass neighboring territories, and brings harm to the citizens of the Duchy. What crime would you call that?”

At these words, the color drained from Baron Mengde’s face.

’He hadn’t expected Raylo to be so direct. It was true; he had acted as the middleman when His Highness hired the Blood Wolf Corps to attack Black Stone Territory.’

”You... You’re spouting slander!”

Baron Mengde retorted, his voice a nervous bluster.

”The Blood Wolf Corps was wiped out long ago! What’s this nonsense about remnants?”

Raylo’s gaze sharpened like a blade.

”It seems Baron Mengde won’t be convinced until he’s facing his own doom. I’ll give you one last chance. Hand over the remnants of the Blood Wolf Corps and compensate Black Stone Territory for all its losses. Otherwise...”

Raylo paused, then slowly raised his sword. He leveled the tip at Baron Mengde, his voice as sharp as steel.

”Today, I will raze Ironthorn Castle to the ground!”

”Arrogant!”

Overwhelmed by Raylo’s presence, Baron Mengde felt a flicker of fear, but it was instantly consumed by an even greater rage.

’He was a Baron, damn it! How could he let himself be humiliated by some upstart newcomer?’

Swords were drawn and bows were strung. A great battle was about to erupt.

Baron Mengde looked from the menacing, battle-hungry Black Stone Army behind Raylo to his own clearly demoralized soldiers, and his heart began to pound with anxiety.

’He had to admit, Raylo was telling the truth. He had indeed taken in some remnants of the Blood Wolf Corps.’

’But what Lord hadn’t taken in scattered bandits and refugees? It was common practice.’

’Weren’t plenty of soldiers in Raylo’s own army recruited from the very Blood Wolf Corps bandits he had captured?’

”Baron Raylo.”

Baron Mengde took a deep breath, making one last attempt to de-escalate.

”Everything is negotiable. Why must we resort to arms? This matter with the Blood Wolf Corps... perhaps it’s all a misunderstanding.”

His tone began to soften.

Raylo scoffed.

”A misunderstanding? My Scout saw one of the Blood Wolf Corps leaders, ’Scar-faced’ Jon, coming and going from Ironthorn Castle as he pleased. Baron Mengde, are you going to keep lying?”

’Scar-faced Jon?’

Baron Mengde’s expression darkened further.

’There was no one named ’Scar-faced Jon’ in the Blood Wolf Corps.’

’At that moment, he was certain. This Raylo punk was just here to pick a fight.’

Before he could speak, Raylo spoke again.

”Baron Mengde, isn’t that man right beside you ’Scar-faced’ Jon? You have some nerve. The Blood Wolf Corps has invaded my Black Stone Territory numerous times, causing me immense losses. And you, a noble of the Duchy, dare to collude with them to plunder the fiefs of other nobles.”

”This is something I will not tolerate!”

Baron Mengde was about to explode with rage.

”Bullshit!”

’That punk Raylo was pointing at the leader of the Iron Skull Mercenary Corps standing right next to him and falsely accusing the man of being ’Scar-faced Jon’ from the Blood Wolf Corps.’

’He was sure that punk Raylo had just made up the ’Scarface’ nickname on the spot after seeing the scar on the mercenary leader’s face.’