Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 152: Chapter 146: Evil Eye Battle Group

The setting sun’s afterglow painted the walls of Red Leaf City a warm orange-red. The air carried the faint scent of wheat and the hearth smoke of a human settlement.

WHOA!

Raylo reined in Baofeng, and the army behind him gradually came to a halt.

The Guard Knights of Red Leaf City had already noticed the approaching army.

Mammoths, Earth Dragons, Storm Griffins, Pegasi.

The guards stared, overwhelmed by the sight of these powerful and wondrous Magical Beast units.

”Quickly! Go and report to the Lord Earl!”

Snapping out of his shock, a City Guard Captain hastily shouted to his men.

He was a long-serving soldier, but he had never seen a lord’s army of this caliber in the entire Northern Territory.

This was far beyond the power an ordinary lord could command.

A moment later, a commotion arose from within the city gates, and the drawbridge was slowly lowered.

A troop of Knights emerged at a brisk pace, flanking a robust young nobleman dressed in fine attire.

It was none other than Gao Wen, the new Count of Red Leaf Territory.

Gao Wen’s eyes swept over Raylo and Lillian’s armies. A flash of astonishment crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by a welcoming smile.

”Lord Raylo, Lady Lillian, you’ve finally arrived! The mighty armies of Black Stone Territory and Amber Territory truly live up to their reputation!”

He strode forward to greet them, his voice booming.

”Count Gao Wen, it has been a while. You’re looking as distinguished as ever.”

Raylo smiled.

”Lord Count.”

Lillian greeted him as well.

Gao Wen let out a hearty laugh.

”There’s no need for such formalities. Your armies are a true sight to behold! Especially these Mammoth Knights. I doubt there’s another company like them in the entire Northern Territory!”

He exclaimed in genuine admiration, his gaze lingering on the Mammoth Giant Elephants, each one the size of a small hill.

’The last time I met Raylo, he only had a single Griffin and about twenty Pegasi.’

’And now, just a few short months later, he has herds of Mammoths, Storm Griffins, and entire units of Earth Dragons. His Pegasus Knights have multiplied several times over—he could form his own Pegasus Knight Order.’

”You’re too kind, Count,” Raylo said modestly.

”With you two here, I’m much more confident about our campaign to clear out the Jade Swamp.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Count Gao Wen said warmly,

”I’ve already prepared a camp and supplies for your armies outside the city. Please, both of you, come with me. Knight Luke and the other lords are waiting for you.”

Raylo and Lillian exchanged a glance and nodded.

Then, accompanied by Count Gao Wen, Raylo and Lillian passed through the heavy gates and into Red Leaf City, bringing only a few of their Personal Guards.

Red Leaf City lived up to its reputation as a major stronghold of the Northern Territory. Its streets were broad and lined with shops, and the endless stream of pedestrians painted a picture of prosperity.

The Count’s Mansion, grand and imposing, was situated in the heart of the city.

Many people had already gathered in the mansion’s great hall. Though their attire varied, they all carried the air of authority—clearly lords from the surrounding territories.

At the head of the hall, a burly, resolute-faced, middle-aged man was in conversation.

His mere presence exuded a daunting, powerful aura, like that of an unshakeable mountain.

’Raylo had recently witnessed Knight Luke and Bishop Augustus clashing with their Domain Power, and the memory was still vivid.’

As if sensing their arrival, the middle-aged Knight turned his head. His gaze was as sharp as lightning.

To Raylo and Lillian’s surprise, Knight Luke actually approached them and gave a slight bow.

”Your Highness Raylo, Your Highness Lillian. It must have been an arduous journey.”

Unlike the other lords, Luke was a direct vassal of the Duke’s own house. He therefore first and foremost recognized their status as the Duke’s children.

The other lords, however, were vassals of the Duchy, just like Raylo and Lillian. They primarily recognized one another by the titles the Duke had granted them.

Raylo and Lillian quickly returned the gesture, their posture deferential.

”You are too kind, Lord Luke. You are a pillar of the Duchy. We juniors should have been the ones to greet you first.”

Raylo said.

Lillian also gave a graceful curtsey.

”Greetings, Lord Luke.”

Knight Luke gave a slight nod in return.

Gao Wen had prepared a welcome banquet for Raylo and Lillian.

The banquet lasted for two hours.

As the night deepened, the boisterous welcome banquet drew to a close.

Raylo and Lillian politely declined Count Gao Wen’s invitation to stay the night in his mansion, returning to their encampment outside the city with their Personal Guards.

Moonlight spilled like water over the vast expanse of tents.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, the Northern Lords gathered in the council hall of the Count’s Mansion in Red Leaf City.

Sunlight streamed through the tall, floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air.

In the center of the hall, a large military map was spread across a long table, the borders of the Jade Swamp clearly outlined.

Knight Luke sat at the head of the table. His steady, mountain-like presence quickly silenced the previously noisy hall.

His gaze swept over each of the lords present.

”My lords, I have gathered you all today to discuss the specifics of our campaign to clear out the Jade Swamp.”

Count Gao Wen was the first to rise, moving to stand beside the map.

”My fellow lords, according to our reconnaissance, Demon activity within the Jade Swamp has grown increasingly rampant.”

”Aside from the scattered Demon Serpent’s Fangs that have been harassing our villages and towns, we have discovered a much larger force: a descendant of the Nine-headed Demon Serpent, a Snake-man Commander-in-Chief who calls himself ’Evil Eye.’ Under its command is a Snake-man Battle Group ten thousand strong.”

He paused, picking up several small green flags.

”This ’Evil Eye Battle Group’ has been broken down into several smaller battle groups of about a thousand soldiers each. Like the fangs of a viper, they constantly infiltrate our territories to plunder and pillage.”

”Currently, several territories, including Stone Creek Territory, Luoyu Castle, and Silver Moon Town, have suffered heavy losses. Stone Creek Territory, in fact...”

Gao Wen’s voice grew heavy.

”The entire territory was virtually razed to the ground, and its people were carried off.”

As he spoke, he planted six green flags one by one onto the map, each at a different point along the border between the Jade Swamp and human lands. They represented the six known encampments of the smaller Snake-man battle groups.

Indignation and worry appeared on the faces of many lords in the hall.

When Count Gao Wen finished his briefing, Knight Luke spoke, his voice grave,

”The situation is urgent. We cannot afford to delay.”

”My plan is this: we will gather the superior forces of our Northern Lords’ Alliance Army, split into three prongs, and strike with the force of a thunderbolt. We will swiftly uproot and eliminate these six battle groups active on our border, one by one, before the main Snake-man army can react!”

The plan was direct and decisive. Most of the lords present were military men who understood that speed is paramount in warfare. They nodded in agreement.

”We agree with Knight Luke’s plan!”

”It’s time we taught those brutes a lesson!”

Just as the lords began to discuss among themselves, preparing to hammer out the details of troop allocation, Raylo gave a soft cough and rose from his seat.

Seeing this, Count Gao Wen assumed he had a different take on the plan and said with a smile,

”Baron Raylo, please, speak your mind.”

Raylo nodded slightly.

”Knight Luke, my lords. On our way to Red Leaf City, the armies of Black Stone Territory and Amber Territory encountered one of the Evil Eye Battle Groups. We have already annihilated it.”

As he spoke, he stepped forward and plucked one of the small flags from the map—the one representing the Snake-man Battle Group in the northwest.

His statement stunned the entire room.

’A Snake-man Battle Group of a thousand soldiers would surely have a Tier Four Leader in command, not to mention a considerable number of Tier Three Snake-men and Swamp Magical Beasts. Raylo and Lillian were new Pioneer Lords in the Northern Lands, yet their forces were already strong enough to eliminate a thousand-strong battle group while on the march?’