Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 227: Chapter 221: New Intelligence

Duke Aiden nodded, his gaze shifting to the side.

”Raylo!”

Raylo’s heart skipped a beat. He stepped out from the ranks and saluted.

”Viscount Raylo of Black Stone Territory,” the Duke declared, ”has performed many extraordinary feats in this war. His wisdom and courage have proven him worthy of greater responsibility.”

”I have decided, by exceptional decree, to promote you to the rank of Count!”

A promotion that skipped a rank!

To jump directly from Viscount to Count was extremely rare in the Duchy’s history.

Raylo could feel the gazes from all around him growing more complicated than before.

He composed himself and replied in a deep voice.

”Thank you, Your Grace!”

Duke Aiden continued.

”Lillian, you have served with merit in battle. For your outstanding contributions, you are hereby promoted to Viscount of Amber Territory.”

Lillian covered her mouth in surprise, then, encouraged by a look from Raylo, she stepped out from the ranks and saluted.

Her face was flushed red with excitement.

”Th-thank you, Your Grace.”

Next, the Duke ennobled Gaius ”Iron Wall,” Elvin ”Frosty Winter,” and a host of other generals and lords with distinguished military service. They were either promoted in rank or granted land, to everyone’s delight.

Even for the nobles whose military achievements were not quite enough for a promotion, the Duke announced that their contributions would be officially recorded. This would benefit their descendants, who could use these merits to gain priority for future advancements.

This act of grace moved those lords to tears of gratitude.

Finally, the Duke’s gaze fell upon the knight formations behind him: the Thunder Dragon Knight Order and other military legions directly under the Duchy’s command.

”And you, the cornerstones of the Duchy.”

”During this war, a great number of brave and fearless knights have emerged. They may be of common birth, but they carry the hearts of honorable nobles. The Duchy will not forget a single hero.”

”I declare that all knights who have earned a third-class merit or higher in this war shall be granted the status of nobility!”

”Those with outstanding merit will be made Barons! The even more exceptional will be made Viscounts!”

The entire formation of knights instantly erupted.

To become a noble.

This was the lifelong dream for the vast majority of them.

Now, that dream had come true.

Countless knights were moved to tears, their eyes welling up with emotion. They raised their long swords high and roared with all their might.

”Long live the Duke!”

”Long live the Thunder Dragon Duchy!”

The cheers shot straight into the heavens, so powerful they seemed to scatter the clouds on the horizon.

Afterward, a Scribe began to loudly proclaim the list of knights who were receiving awards.

”...All the newly-promoted nobles listed above shall receive fiefs from the lands seized from the Fiery Sun Kingdom in this war!”

Directly granting conquered lands to meritorious soldiers and officers was the most direct and effective method of rule.

From this day forward, these new nobles would use their swords and their families’ fates to firmly anchor themselves to this newly claimed territory, making it an inseparable part of the Thunder Dragon Duchy.

The award ceremony ended, and the crowd dispersed.

Back at the Black Stone Territory’s camp, the news had clearly arrived ahead of them.

”The Lord is back!”

”It’s Lord Earl!”

It is unknown who shouted first, but with a great ROAR, the soldiers of the entire camp swarmed forward, their faces beaming with sincere joy and pride.

Their Lord had become a Count!

This meant that from now on, their Black Stone Territory would be considered part of the true high nobility within the Duchy.

”Congratulations, Lord Earl! Congratulations!”

”Lord Earl is ever-victorious!”

The rough shouts merged into a heatwave that washed over him.

Raylo looked around at the excited faces, feeling the power coalescing around him—a power born of belonging and glory.

He raised his hand, and the camp instantly fell silent.

”We’ve made it here today because of all of you and your bloody battles, because of the glory bought with the very lives of our brothers who now lie forever on the battlefield. This glory belongs to every single person from Black Stone Territory.”

”Tonight, there will be plenty of roasted meat and fine wine! Celebrate to your heart’s content! First thing tomorrow morning, pack your things. We’re going home!”

”Home!”

”Home!”

The soldiers erupted in cheers even more fervent than before.

The joy of victory and the glory of promotion could not compare to the warmth brought by that single word: ”home.”

That night, bonfires were lit throughout the camp. The aroma of roasted meat and the rich scent of ale drifted everywhere.

Raylo did not join the soldiers’ revelry. He stood on high ground within the camp, quietly watching it all.

The boisterous night passed.

Early the next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Raylo was already up. The camp was still a mess from the previous night’s celebration, and many soldiers were sleeping soundly, clutching their weapons and leaning against their packs.

[Daily Intelligence Refresh]

[1: Several Kobold tribes in the eastern Black Stone Mountain Range have begun offering tributes and slaves to the Black Dragon, worshiping it as the ”Black Winged Deity.”]

[2: Public opinion within the Fiery Sun Kingdom is rapidly shifting. General Valerius ”Scorched Earth,” a hardline general and friend of Aston ”Blood Lion,” has publicly accused the King of weakness in the Royal Capital’s council, declaring his intent to form a ”Revenge Legion” to slaughter the Thunder Dragon Duchy.]

[3: In the Thunder Dragon Duchy Capital City, playwrights worked through the night to create a new play, ”The Foolish Lion and the Wise Giant Dragon.” It is being performed in major theaters to sold-out crowds and has become a sensation.]

[4: Remnants of the 3rd Banner of the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s ”Fiery Sun Lions” legion, approximately three hundred men, are roaming the Duchy’s newly occupied territories under the leadership of Baron Otto, a son or nephew of Aston ”Blood Lion.” Operating under the name ”Flames of Vengeance,” they are attacking caravans and villages in an attempt to stir up chaos and avenge the ”Blood Lion.”]

[5: In the free port of Seagull Port, which borders Amber Territory to the west, a Legendary Pirate King on the verge of execution declared that he had hidden the treasure map to his life’s fortune, the ”Heart of the Deep Sea,” behind the label of a bottle of ”Mermaid’s Tears” rum. This treasure map leads to the island where he buried his treasure.]

[6: Your subordinate, Great Knight Bane, got into a brawl in a tavern in Nu River Castle and broke the leg of a young noble from the Royal Capital who mocked the Black Stone Territory as a ’hick legion.’]

[7: A Cardinal from the Light Holy See has publicly condemned the war between the Thunder Dragon Duchy and the Fiery Sun Kingdom as an ”act of aggression,” calling it an ”unjust war.”]

[8: In one month, Marquis Orlando of Baisha Port in the southern part of the Duchy will send an envoy to Black Stone Territory to subtly express his interest in a marriage alliance. His youngest daughter, Avril Baisha, just turned eighteen this year and is renowned for her beauty. It is worth noting that Avril Baisha possesses an undiscovered and unparalleled talent for Spiritual Magic.]

[9: The hiding place of the ”Eternal Giant Turtle,” the original master of the Jade Swamp, has been discovered by Snake-man scouts sent by the Nine-headed Demon Serpent. An ”expedition” against the ”Eternal Giant Turtle” is about to erupt in the Jade Swamp.]

[10: A mysterious person calling themself the ”Prophet” is spreading a prophecy throughout the Duchy: When the Black Dragon’s shadow covers the mountains and the nine-headed serpent’s venom pollutes the rivers, the foundation of the Duchy will be shaken. The blue giant dragon will fall to black wings, and the Duke’s bloodline will wither from the venom.]