Chapter 341 Stone Creek
The dragon knight finally moved.
The other party seemed to be tired of this boring confrontation in which only one side was frightened, and turned to walk towards them.
Charlotte subconsciously took a step back. The slight crunching sound of the weeds under her boots made her shiver violently. Her fingers subconsciously pinched Emilia Carleton's arm, and this seemed to alarm the noble lady who was already frozen in fear along with the mercenaries. She took a step forward, passed Charlotte and Ethan, and stood in front of the two mercenaries.
"Hello, good night." She spoke, trembling, but at least she managed to speak out under the terrible oppression brought by the dragon rider.
What is she doing?! Charlotte stared in disbelief at the noble girl who mustered up the courage to strike up a conversation with the dragon knight, unaware that Emilia Caledon was also nervous.
She had a rough idea of who this dragon knight was. In the few times they had met before, at least in front of Mr. Nova, he was a very easy-going person to talk to, although Emilia would never forget the great shock this gentleman had caused her.
But so many years have passed, and Emilia is not sure whether the little friendship between her and Mr. Nova can make this gentleman remember her identity and be more tolerant of her.
Unexpectedly, under the incredulous stares of the two mercenaries, the dragon knight actually nodded politely to her. His voice was even youthful, gentle, clear and pleasant, with an inexplicable power that made people trust and feel at ease: "Good night, Miss Caledon."
He even removed his hood, revealing a face that shone brightly in the moonlight. Compared to four years ago, the blond youth had completely shed any remaining immaturity, his body reaching peak physical condition. This gave him the horrifying illusion of being so perfect he was beyond human.
Charlotte: “…”
The warlock fell into a state of profound stupor. The news that her employer actually knew the Dragon Knight wasn't enough to make her scream; instead, she was preoccupied with the fact that she had seen a face that could instantly make her rich. Putting aside the astronomical price the "Ghost Dragon Knight's" true appearance would fetch on the black market, Charlotte swore that even for the face itself, wealthy yet bored nobles, both men and women, would be willing to frantically wave their wallets just to get a crude charcoal sketch of him, or one with "Wanted" written underneath.
—Oh, gods, why didn't the People's Party let this man show his face and recruit people to join? Putting herself in his shoes, Charlotte felt that she probably couldn't resist for more than three seconds in front of those amazing blue eyes.
But soon, the instinctive enthusiasm and pursuit of beauty by human beings quickly receded like the tide, and what remained was a huge, hideous, sharp and cold fear.
All seasoned mercenaries knew that when someone who hadn't revealed their face suddenly revealed themselves, it was usually a sign of murder. Ethan, beside her, had clearly thought of this as well. He broke out in a cold sweat, yet he didn't even dare to touch the hilt of his sword, fearing he would attract the attention of the man conversing with Miss Carleton.
"You still remember me." Emilia was a little surprised and a little happy, which meant that they were probably safe.
"That's Master's order," Azuka said gently, her gaze flickering across the two extremely nervous mercenaries behind her before settling on a face that had clearly matured and calmed down. "The latest battle reports indicate that the operation in Eagle's Nest will likely be forced to move forward. Based on the timeline, he's worried you might be trapped in the center of the fighting and unable to reach White Moss Slope. I happen to be nearby, so I'll go."
...And to be honest, the Savior thought indifferently with a gentle and faint smile, it was really difficult for him to forget this "fiancée".
Emilia was quite moved by this. She stepped forward and said anxiously, "So, regarding what I mentioned in the letter to Mr. Nova—"
"Please wait until you see the gentleman to discuss this in detail," the other person politely interrupted her, "It's not safe here. I'll take you away first."
Emilia nodded subconsciously, then she was stunned for a moment: "Wait, us?"
The dragon knight's blue eyes swept calmly over the mercenaries whose faces looked as if they had been struck by lightning. The latter two looked like someone was strangling them.
He said calmly, "Yes, and this gentleman and lady."
Noticing the dragon knight's good temper, Charlotte mustered up the courage to step forward, saluted hurriedly, and stammered, "Your Excellency, we won't reveal a single word of what happened tonight. If you have any reservations, we're willing to sign a soul contract immediately..."
"I don't know them at all, and their employment relationship will end tomorrow," Emilia pleaded softly, "The Suzuran Mercenary Group is well-known in the industry and has always maintained a strong professional ethics. They wouldn't speak carelessly."
The dragon knight's cloak was blown up by the wind, revealing a small section of his strong forearm with smooth lines and relaxed hanging down, showing a kind of terrifying deterrent that was ready to be unleashed.
"I know," he nodded gracefully, his voice still gentle and pleasant. "And this is also due to my respect and trust in you, Miss Carleton. Otherwise, I would have killed them just as this gentleman killed our soldiers."
The words were spoken lightly, without a trace of murderous intent, but the two mercenaries' faces turned pale. Especially Ethan, he had already begun to wonder if he could save the innocent Charlotte by standing up and saying that everyone should take responsibility for their actions.
"I know it doesn't seem reasonable from your perspective, after all, they were the ones who started it." Those blue eyes fixed indifferently on the sweat-drenched mercenary. "Unfortunately, there's no logic or morality on the battlefield. Anyone who attacks a teammate is the enemy. If you kill me, I'll kill you. It's that simple."
Just as the two were about to collapse under the terrifying pressure, the dragon knight's momentum suddenly loosened. He spread his hands helplessly and sighed, "But I didn't interfere. It seems I have no right to attack you in the name of 'teammates' - sorry, did I scare you?"
Ethan and others: "..."
——It was so scary! The fact that you didn’t pee yourself out of fear shows your professionalism!
It had come to this point, and any further resistance would be ungrateful. Charlotte obediently huddled aside with Ethan, wishing she could turn invisible right then and there.
Emilia, under the mercenaries' gazes on the warriors, spoke again, "Sir, regarding Eagle's Nest Town..."
"Don't worry," Azuka closed his eyes slightly and listened to the movement in the wind for a while: "It will be over soon."
Emilia bit her lip and looked up at the suspicious shadow in the sky: "So... are we going to ride the dragon away?"
There were no carriages in the desolate countryside nearby, and this gentleman did not look like someone who would accompany them on a night walk.
Charlotte, who was eavesdropping on the side, couldn't help but prick up her ears, and Ethan's eyes lit up slightly - even if there was some resentment in his heart, that was a dragon!
The Dragon Knight looked at them and said, "Of course not. I'm afraid I'll disappoint you."
"A dragon is very proud and has a bad temper," he explained kindly. "It won't allow strangers to approach, much less allow anyone other than the dragon rider to stay on its back."
——Of course, he could force Ezra to surrender purely by force, but why would he let his own Screaming Chicken suffer for three strangers?
"We have other ways to travel." Azuka said with a smile.
…
Charlotte's eyes glazed over.
Her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees, retching profusely. Her stomach churned like a raging rage, as if she were about to turn her intestines inside out. Ethan, beside her, was in no better shape. The warrior, known for his exceptional physique, was struggling to hold onto the cold stone wall, sweat dripping down his forehead. Only Emilia Carleton seemed better. Even though her face was pale, she was still able to stand.
The dragon knight's so-called way of traveling is to ride the wind.
It sounds impressive, but executing it is incredibly dangerous. Miss Caledon, a mere ordinary person, was at least stabilized by invisible air currents to prevent her neck from being broken by inertia during the high-speed flight. The two mercenaries weren't treated so well. It's unclear if it was revenge—in any case, they enjoyed the thrill of human flight, and their dreams of dragon-riding were completely shattered.
The dragon knight stood gracefully not far away, waiting for the three men to finish vomiting and adjust to the solid ground beneath their feet. He remained spotless, not even a strand of hair out of place. The red coral and turquoise braided into his golden hair became even more vibrant in the morning light that gradually emerged from the horizon. The cyan gemstone dangling from the end of his hair swayed gently, reflecting tiny diamond-shaped spots of light on his pale face.
"here it is……"
Emilia, who finally caught her breath, looked up blankly and looked at the surrounding scene: the unfamiliar town, completely different from the depressing and solemn Eagle's Nest Town, carried a dilapidated but tenacious atmosphere of life.
The town nestles beside a turbid and fast-flowing stream. The crooked stone houses are crowded together, looking weathered. The walls with traces of repairs are charred, probably from the war.
The sky was just beginning to light up, and a thin morning mist clung to the simple eaves of the houses and the bare treetops a little further away. The sentry tower at the edge of town was still manned, and the soldiers passing by walked hurriedly, their expressions alert, and their voices kept low.
"Stone Creek Town." The dragon knight answered briefly.
Since arriving here, he seemed no longer willing to waste time talking. Instead, he put on his hood again, as if he had reached the limit of his patience. He said to Emilia Carleton, who could already barely walk, "Miss Carleton, please follow me—and you, Mr. Ethan."
Ethan's pupils shrank violently. He was very sure that he had never told the dragon knight his name, and no one called his name while he was on the road... Could it be that the guy in Eagle's Nest Town heard it while flying in the sky?
But the other party's next words completely shattered his luck: "Mr. Ghost also wants to see you."
Those blue eyes clearly reflected his increasingly ugly expression: "You can consider whether to bring Miss Charlotte with you."
"Ethan?" Charlotte looked at the dragon rider blankly, then at her somewhat puzzled companion: "What does this mean?"
Ethan ignored her and asked through gritted teeth, "If I don't take her with me, will she be considered worthless on the spot, and then..."
"Of course not. I'm reasonable, and so is my lord. The People's Party won't embarrass innocent people." The Dragon Knight gave him a surprised look. "If you don't intend to involve her, you can probably let Miss Charlotte go on her own after confirming there's no threat."
"Let me go," Charlotte said before Ethan could say anything, frowning, "We've been together for more than ten years. There's never any reason for one of us to leave."
"Then follow me." The dragon knight nodded nonchalantly, not giving them time to argue or debate, and turned to walk towards the end of the alley. Under the influence of the confusion spell, the people on the road seemed not to see him.
Finally, they stopped in front of an inconspicuous stone house, but soon several dark figures emerged. After Azuka lifted the confusion spell and confirmed his identity, they quietly disappeared. Ethan's whole body was tense. With his strength, he had never noticed the presence of these people.
The wooden door creaked, and then the three heard the dragon knight suddenly say, "Everyone, please wait here for a moment."
Before the three of them could express their opinions, the man had already left them outside the door in a flash, and disappeared behind the door with an inexplicable sense of impatience.
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