Chapter 298 The Flower Knight, Hero Fights the Dragon
In the heart of the Principality of Raymond, lies the ancient and imposing castle of the Albert family.
Mills Albert, the old count with graying temples, frowned and tapped his knuckles lightly on the heavy oak armrest.
The news that the Scaled Earth Rift had been captured and occupied by the monster clan was now undeniably on his desk.
What weighed heavily on his mind was that intelligence indicated that the ferocious monsters were very likely the dragon retinue that killed his own brother, Viscount Horato Albert, more than twenty years ago!
Herato Albert, the real name of Viscount Ironthorn.
He and Earl Mills were blood brothers.
Although the Albert family has gradually faded from the core of the military, its foundation is built upon a legacy of military achievements.
Their family's illustrious marquis ancestor, who had rendered great service to the Duchy of Raymond, is the best proof of this; he had served as a general in the army.
Therefore, the family has always maintained the tradition of sending its offspring to dangerous places for training.
Viscount Horato of Ironthorn and Earl Mills are not only brothers by blood, but also fought side by side in the bloody battles on the border, forging a bond of camaraderie that transcends ordinary brotherhood through countless life-or-death struggles.
Noble blood relatives often quarrel due to conflicts of interest, and their feelings for each other are often weak.
However.
The camaraderie forged in the midst of sword fights, where soldiers share life and death and entrust their backs to each other, is intense and passionate.
Earl Mills's eventual ascension to the earldom was made possible by the full support and mediation of Viscount Horato of Ironthorn.
When he heard the tragic news that Viscount Ironthorn had died at the hands of the Wild Dragon, Earl Mills was enraged and repeatedly sent his family's private army deep into the wilderness, vowing to avenge his brother.
However, the vastness of the wilderness and the ferocity of the monsters repeatedly thwarted his plans, ultimately forcing him to return empty-handed.
As time passed, that deep-seated hatred seemed to have been buried in the dust, and the thought of revenge gradually faded away.
But I never expected it.
Just when he thought the past was over, news came that the dragon's remnants had returned.
Moreover, this is no longer just about personal grudges.
The other party brazenly seized his territory, wantonly trampling on the glory and dignity that the Albert family had inherited for many years with blood! This was tantamount to slapping the Albert family hard in the face in front of all the nobles of the duchy.
He must make the fastest and strongest response.
Otherwise, if he falls into the same pit twice in disgrace, he will lose face, and the Albert family will become a laughing stock and a synonym for cowardice in the duchy's noble circles.
However.
The reason why Earl Mills was able to stand out among his many equally brave and skilled brothers and eventually become an earl was because he understood better than anyone else the value of calmness and rationality in the game of power.
Anger can ignite blood, but it can never burn away reason.
He was not blinded by the raging fire of revenge; his knuckles maintained a heavy, regular rhythm as he tapped the solid oak armrest, quietly pondering and weighing the pros and cons.
“Dispatch the family’s most elite private army to the Scaled Earth Rift.”
"Regardless of whether we can ultimately drive out or even annihilate those monsters entrenched in the wilderness, fighting in such a godforsaken place will inevitably cause our family's most precious military force to suffer unbearable heavy losses. The training and arming of elite private troops comes at an extremely high cost, and every loss is like tearing flesh from our hearts."
"Moreover, eliminating threats in the wilderness is the inherent duty of the federal garrison."
"The best solution to this problem is to get the federal troops to step in and wipe out those damned monsters for us."
The Albert family rose to prominence through military achievements, and naturally possesses a deep-rooted, multi-generational network of connections within the military system of the Principality and even the Federation.
Earl Mills quickly made contact with a high-ranking military officer with whom he had a close personal relationship.
After some necessary pleasantries and promises of substantial benefits, he tactfully made his request.
He hoped that the other party could find a way to mobilize the federal troops stationed in the Sel Wilderness region to deal with the "small trouble" of the Scaled Earth Rift, to save face for the Albert family, and also to avenge his brother.
To Earl Mills' surprise, things did not go very smoothly.
In less than ten minutes, the other party's response was transmitted back via the encrypted communication stone.
—The situation in the Wilderness of Sel is in a state of chaos, with monsters and ferocious beasts running rampant and war raging everywhere. Requests for help from various outposts are piling up like mountains. Matters in remote and marginal places like the Scaled Earth Rift Road have extremely low priority and will be scheduled for several years at the earliest.
Earl Mills was unwilling to accept this, and his brows furrowed in resentment.
He didn't believe that someone of the other person's position and their relationship with him couldn't handle such a small matter.
He then contacted several other former military acquaintances who held different positions in the military and had also received favors from or had business dealings with the Albert family.
The responses they received were all the same, all using the excuse that "the situation in the wilderness is turbulent and our troop strength is stretched thin."
"Has the Federation's attention waned to such an extent that the situation in the Sel Wilderness has deteriorated to this point? They can't even spare a single team?"
Earl Mills' brow furrowed even deeper, becoming as deep as a ravine.
However, he did not delve into the possible oddities and shady dealings involved, only assuming that the chaos in the wilderness far exceeded his expectations, and that his personal connections were powerless and insignificant in the face of such a major situation involving overall defense.
He could never have imagined it.
The being he regarded as a savage monster, deep in the wilderness, was actually connected to the princess of the Kingdom of Lorthen.
Little did they know that the princess had already quietly arranged everything.
Even though the Kingdom of Lortheon has declined somewhat, it still possesses a profound foundation, immense influence, and pervasive reach. The methods employed by a princess are far beyond what a single earl family in the small Duchy of Raymond can compare to or contend with.
Seeing that the path of federal troops being stationed there has been completely blocked and there is absolutely no possibility of it being possible to get through in the short term.
After much deliberation, in order to defend the family's honor, Earl Mills finally decided that he had to use the family's private army to personally go to the wilderness to resolve the matter.
However, he did not bet all his chips on this private army.
After careful consideration, he picked up the magical communication stone used for long-distance communication again and activated one of the specific mental imprints.
“Charles, it’s me, Mills.”
The count's voice carried a hint of weariness, yet was full of anticipation.
"I've encountered a very difficult situation and hope to get your help."
Charles Hines – the most dazzling hero in the Principality of Raymond in recent years, rising like a comet, a renowned hero with a great reputation and high expectations from countless people!
From the moment he embarked on his adventure, he was surrounded by countless praises, flowers, and screams from young girls.
He was invincible in every battle, whether his opponents were vampires entrenched in ancient castles, hordes of trolls ravaging villages, or evil dragons perched on treacherous peaks; he could always defeat them with magnificent style, overwhelming strength, and impeccable combat skills.
He was only nineteen years old.
He then accomplished the astonishing feat of single-handedly tracking down and hunting down an adult blue dragon of his own level, escaping the dragon's family's pursuit, and bringing its head back to the capital. From then on, he became famous far and wide, and his name was sung by bards.
Everyone firmly believed that he was destined to achieve legendary feats and become a pillar supporting the future of the Principality of Raymond.
Because of his exceptionally handsome appearance, he had many female confidantes and was extremely caring and respectful towards women, so he was affectionately known as the "Flower Knight".
This was when the Flower Knight was just starting out, having just begun to show his talent in a few minor conflicts on the eastern border of the Duchy.
The astute Earl Mills noticed this rising star.
He made a long-term and generous investment in it.
When Charles encounters financial difficulties, the Earl provides just the right amount of assistance; when Charles offends local powerful figures due to his mission, the Earl uses his family's influence to subtly resolve the trouble; and even when Charles needs certain rare equipment or intelligence, the Earl's channels can always provide timely assistance.
He provided various conveniences and support without expecting anything in return, but never asked Charles to do anything for him.
It is worth mentioning.
The Albert family has made many other investments in talent like this.
Every year, the family allocates a special budget to support young people who demonstrate extraordinary talent in the fields of military, magic, or adventure, regardless of whether they are commoner geniuses from humble backgrounds or noble scions who are temporarily down on their luck.
Although most of these investments either disappeared without a trace, were entrusted to the wrong people, or were selectively forgotten by the recipients after they became successful, the Albert family never stopped making such investments.
It's like sowing countless seeds of hope in a vast field.
Even if most of them fail to sprout, as long as you are willing to put in the time to cultivate them, you will eventually reap some rewards.
Among the very few who achieved great success, Charles Hines, the Knight of Flowers, was undoubtedly the most valuable.
Now, it's time to reap the rewards of this investment.
"What is it? Please tell me."
Upon receiving a response, Earl Mills took a deep breath, casting aside the reserve and pride inherent in his aristocratic nature.
He spoke to the rising hero on the other side, his voice choked with tears, each word dripping with blood as he denounced him.
"Sharl, those evil dragons that dwell in the fissured earth, their atrocities are beyond description!"
"They not only cruelly murdered my only brother, Horato, but now they have returned to trample on the territory that my Albert family has guarded for generations, and trampled the glory that my ancestors earned with their blood! They treat us as nothing!"
“I am old, Charles. I see my family disgraced, my brothers' blood feud unavenged, and my territory overrun by monsters. I, the Earl, am powerless to do anything. I hate my own incompetence. I have failed the spirits of my ancestors!”
He paused for a moment, then earnestly pleaded, "Charles, I had no choice but to contact you. Only you can help me now. Please help me, help the Albert family."
The other end of the communication stone.
The young adventurer, Charles Hines, listened silently to his benefactor's accusations and pleas.
He was in the prime of his life, full of passion, eager to make achievements and prove his worth with brilliant deeds. He was full of enthusiasm, dreams, and believed in the principle of repaying kindness and avenging wrongs.
For many years, the kind count has been selfless and fatherly, providing him with crucial benefits—from precious potion supplies and rare equipment clues to resolving thorny political troubles—silently supporting his adventure.
At this moment, he has so humbled himself, so sincerely pleading with me, and placing all the hopes for the family's revival and revenge on me alone.
What a weighty trust this is, and what an immense honor it is.
This weighty trust and entrustment instantly ignited the surging spirit of courage and gratitude in the heart of the Flower Knight.
The knight in flowers felt a surge of heroic spirit, believing it was his duty to serve.
Moreover, besides repaying a debt of gratitude, the story of the hero fighting the dragon has endured for a long time, and slaying the dragon is the fastest way to make a name for oneself. Even without the old count's request, if he heard that a dragon was rampaging somewhere, he would try to go and slay it.
"Mr. Mills, please rest assured."
The young knight responded decisively through the communication stone: "I assure you, I will resolve this matter for you and restore the dignity that the Albert family deserves!"
(End of this chapter)
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