Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 589: Chapter 437: A Promise to the Black King and an Imminent Breakthrough

Raylo was pleased with its attitude.

He knew this cunning Black Dragon had been cowed, at least to some degree.

”You are fortunate, Black King,” Raylo said.

”Because you are still of use to me.”

The Black King’s massive body trembled slightly.

”Now, I have a mission for you. And a promise.”

Raylo’s eyes grew sharp.

”Return to the Black Stone Mountain Range.”

”Use any means necessary to rally and unite the Demons of the Black Stone Mountain Range. The Kobolds, the Jackal-Wolf Folk, the Ogres, even the Magical Beasts that inhabit the mountains—I want all of them to bow at your feet and become your legion.”

”I want you to assemble a great Demon army in the shortest time possible—an army that answers only to you, and therefore, only to me!”

The Black King’s slit pupils contracted sharply.

Raylo’s gaze passed over the Black King’s head, drifting toward the distant southern horizon.

That was the direction of the Jade Swamp.

”A war is coming.”

Raylo’s voice was like the north wind in the dead of winter, sending a chill through the Black King’s very soul.

”Black Stone Territory needs an army large enough to counter the coming threat from the Jade Swamp.”

”I need to see what you’re capable of, Black King.”

Raylo pulled his gaze back, his eyes once again fixed on the dragon.

”Don’t disappoint me,” Raylo said finally.

”As for my promise to you...”

Raylo looked at the Black King and spoke slowly.

”The day the threat from the Jade Swamp is eliminated, I will give you another choice...”

”You can be like Sun and become Black Stone Territory’s second Giant Dragon Knight, pledging your loyalty to me. Or you can choose freedom, and start anew.”

The Black King’s massive body shuddered violently.

”Yes! My master!”

The Black King’s voice echoed in Raylo’s mind through the Master-Servant Contract.

A tremor ran through the Black King.

Without another moment of hesitation, its massive head lowered deeply, responding to Raylo’s command in the most submissive posture possible.

”I will not disappoint you!”

”Good.”

Raylo nodded.

”Go.”

With its orders received, the Black King let out a draconic roar and shot into the sky.

It transformed into a black streak of light and sped away to the north, toward the Black Stone Mountain Range.

”Ed.”

”My Lord!” Ed stepped forward from his position nearby, answering in a deep voice.

”Relay my orders.”

”From now on, secure a one-kilometer perimeter around the four Giant Dragons. No one is to approach. The main camp is also to be moved back one kilometer to prevent any unnecessary losses should the dragons have a breakthrough.”

”Yes, My Lord!”

Ed acknowledged the order.

Having given his instructions, Raylo walked toward the southern part of the camp.

A huge, temporary tent had been erected there.

Piles of boxes and equipment, all covered with oilcloth tarps, surrounded the tent. Knights and craftsmen were carefully cleaning and sorting through them.

This was Master Barnaby’s temporary Alchemy Workshop.

A while back, when Sun was fusing with the Sun Crown Stone, the uncontrolled Flames had started a massive fire in Black Stone Town.

Fortunately, a downpour summoned by Moonlight had extinguished the blaze, preventing irreparable damage.

The Alchemy Workshop hadn’t suffered major losses, but it had been temporarily relocated to this camp during the reconstruction of Black Stone City.

As Raylo approached the tent, a Knight on guard duty immediately bowed to him.

”My Lord.”

”Is Master Barnaby inside?” Raylo asked.

”Yes, My Lord. The Master has been in there ever since the fire, sorting through the equipment they managed to salvage. He won’t let anyone in,” the Knight replied.

Raylo nodded.

He lifted the heavy flap of the tent and stepped inside.

A mixed scent of herbs, minerals, and metal, tinged with the faint smell of something burnt, washed over him.

The space inside the tent was large, yet it felt crowded and cluttered.

Precious alchemy equipment and experimental apparatus were piled in the corners, covered with fire-resistant blankets.

The surfaces of several enormous glass vessels were still stained with black soot.

In the center of the tent, a figure in a gray Mage Robe, his hair a messy bird’s nest, was hunched over a desk, engrossed in his research.

He muttered under his breath, his concentration absolute, as if the rest of the world had melted away, leaving only him and the subject of his research.

He was completely oblivious to Raylo’s entrance.

Raylo didn’t make a sound, not wanting to disturb him.

Master Barnaby was currently studying the Black Dragon’s Essence Blood.

Since subjugating the Black King, Raylo hadn’t passed up the opportunity to use the dragon as a ready-made test subject.

He had already provided Master Barnaby with nearly two whole barrels of the Black Dragon’s Essence Blood for his research on the Dragon Bloodline Potion.

Raylo stood there and waited in silence.

The minutes ticked by.

At last, Master Barnaby straightened up, letting out a long sigh.

He removed the monocle perched on his nose, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a grimy sleeve, and jotted down his research data in a nearby notebook.

’Whew... As expected of a Giant Dragon’s Essence Blood. The purity is leagues beyond that of those Subspecies Dragon Beasts,’ he muttered to himself.

Only then did he finally notice someone else was in the tent.

He turned to find Raylo standing behind him, though he had no idea for how long.

”Raylo, you kid! What are you doing here?”

His tone was hardly respectful. It was even tinged with a hint of complaint.

”Didn’t I tell you? No one is to bother me right now. My research is at a critical stage...”

He cut himself off.