Chapter 352: Chapter 296: Flower Knight, Dragon Slayer

In the heartland of the Raymond Duchy, lay the ancient and imposing castle of the Albert Family.

Mills Albert, the weathered old Count with frost-touched temples, furrowed his brows, gently tapping his fingers on the solid oak armrest.

The news that the Scale Earth Rift had been conquered and occupied by the Monster Race was undoubtedly laid out on his desk.

What weighed further on his heart was the intelligence suggesting that the ferocious monsters were likely the very dragon kin that had slain his blood brother—Viscount Ironthorn Horatio Albert—over twenty years ago!

Horatio Albert, the true name of Viscount Ironthorn.

He was the blood brother of Count Mills.

Although the Albert Family had gradually faded from the core of the military, its foundation was built on numerous military achievements.

Their ancestor, a renowned marquis who had rendered great services to the Raymond Duchy, was the best testament to this, having served as a general in the army.

Thus, the family retained the tradition of sending their descendants to dangerous places for training.

Viscount Ironthorn Horatio and Count Mills, not only were blood brothers, but they had also fought side by side in the blood-soaked borders, forming a camaraderie that transcended ordinary brotherly bonds through countless deadly skirmishes.

Noble blood relatives often clashed over interests, and feelings were frequently thin.

However.

The battle-tested friendship forged in life-and-death situations, where they entrusted each other with their backs, was fiery and intense.

Count Mills eventually ascended to the position of Count, thanks in part to Viscount Ironthorn Horatio’s full support and maneuvering behind the scenes.

Upon hearing of Viscount Ironthorn’s tragic death under the claws of a wilderness evil dragon, Count Mills was enraged and repeatedly dispatched his family’s private army into the wilderness, vowing to avenge his brother.

However, the vastness of the wilderness and the ferocity of the monsters repeatedly frustrated his plans, leaving him with no choice but to return empty-handed.

As the years passed, that deep-seated hatred seemed to have been sealed away, and the desire for revenge gradually faded.

Yet, never did he imagine.

Just as he thought the past was laid to rest, rumors emerged suggesting the return of that dragon kin.

Moreover, this was no longer a matter of personal revenge.

The enemy had brazenly seized his territory, wantonly trampling the honor and dignity the Albert Family had forged with blood over the years! It was akin to slapping the face of the entire duchy’s nobility in public.

He must respond swiftly and forcefully.

Otherwise, if he were to fall twice into the same pit with disgrace, he would lose all dignity, and the Albert Family would become a laughingstock and synonym for cowardice among the duchy’s nobility.

Yet.

Count Mills had emerged among his equally brave and warlike brothers precisely because he understood better than others the value of calm and reason in the game of power.

Rage could ignite the blood, but it must not burn away reason.

He was not consumed by the overwhelming desire for revenge, his fingers still maintained a heavy and rhythmic beat, tapping on the sturdy oak armrest, quietly contemplating and weighing pros and cons.

"Dispatch the most core private army of the family to the Scale Earth Rift."

"Regardless of whether we can ultimately succeed in expelling or even annihilating those entrenched monsters, fighting in such a dreadful place as the wilderness, the family’s most precious military force is bound to suffer unbearable and costly losses; the grooming and arming of elite private forces are extraordinarily expensive, each loss is like cutting into the heart."

"Besides, dealing with wilderness threats is the destined duty of the Federation’s stationed troops."

"The best solution is to prompt the Federation garrison to come forward and cleanse those damn monsters for us."

The Albert Family, built on military accomplishments, naturally had deeply rooted and multi-generational connections within the duchy and even the Federation military system.

Count Mills quickly reached out to a senior officer with whom he had a close personal relationship.

After some necessary pleasantries and promising ample benefits, he delicately made his request.

He hoped the other party could maneuver to mobilize the Federation garrison in the Sel Wilderness to handle the "small nuisance" of the Scale Earth Rift, helping to restore the Albert Family’s dignity and also avenge his brother.

The result was unexpected for Count Mills, as the progress was exceedingly sluggish.

In less than ten minutes, a response came back through a secure Communication Stone.

——The Sel Wilderness is in turmoil, overrun with rampaging monsters, the land is ablaze, and request documents for aid are piled high, with matters of such a remote fringe area as the Scale Earth Rift being of extremely low priority, at best several years away.

Count Mills felt unwilling, his brows knotted into a tangle.

He couldn’t believe that with the other’s position and their personal relationship, even this small matter couldn’t be handled.

He then reached out to several other acquaintances in different positions within the military, who had also received the Albert Family’s favor or had interests in common with them.

The replies were identical, all using "the wilderness situation is turbulent, and the troops are stretched thin" as an excuse to evade responsibility.

"The Federation’s attention has decreased to such an extent that the Sel Wilderness situation has deteriorated to this point? Can’t even deploy a single troop?"

Count Mills’s brows furrowed even deeper, like ravines.

However, he did not deeply ponder the likely tricky and suspicious elements within but only thought the chaos of the wilderness was far beyond his expectation, and his personal connections appeared powerless and insignificant in the grand scheme of overall defense responsibilities.

Little did he imagine.

Deep within the wilderness, those he considered barbaric monsters had secretly established a connection with the Princess of the Lotheren Kingdom.

Unexpectedly, the princess had already arranged everything without a trace.

Even though the Lotheren Kingdom has declined, it still possesses deep foundations, extensive influence, and penetration capabilities. The means of a princess are far beyond what a mere Earl family of the Raymond Duchy can match or contend with.

Seeing that the path of the Federation’s stationed troops was completely blocked, there was no way to proceed in the short term.

After much deliberation, to defend the family’s honor, Count Mills ultimately decided to mobilize the family’s private army and personally venture into the wilderness to resolve the matter.

However, he did not place all his bets on this private army.

After careful thought, he once again picked up the magic communication stone used for long-distance communication, activating a specific spiritual mark within.

"Shire, it’s me, Mills."

The count’s voice carried a hint of fatigue, yet was full of expectation.

"I’ve encountered a very troublesome situation and hope to get your help."

Shire Haines—the most dazzling hero figure to rise like a comet in the Raymond Duchy in recent years, renowned and held in high regard by countless people as a famous adventurer!

Since he embarked on his adventure, he has been surrounded by countless praises, flowers, and the screams of young girls.

He is victorious in every battle, whether against vampires lurking in ancient castles, giant beast groups ravaging villages, or evil dragons dwelling on perilous peaks, he always manages to slay them with a magnificent posture, powerful strength, and impeccable combat skills.

At the mere age of nineteen.

He achieved the astonishing feat of single-handedly tracking and hunting an adult Blue Dragon of equal rank, escaping its family’s pursuit, and bringing its head back to the Duchy Capital, becoming renowned everywhere, celebrated by minstrels.

Everyone believes he is destined to achieve legendary feats, becoming the backbone supporting the Raymond Duchy in the future.

With his extraordinarily handsome appearance, he has many close female friends and treats women with care and respect, earning him the affectionate title from the people—Flower Knight.

When the Flower Knight first emerged and showed his prowess in a few small conflicts on the eastern border of the Duchy.

The keen-eyed Count Mills noticed this rising star.

He provided long-term and generous investment in him.

When Shire faced financial difficulties, he provided just the right amount of support; when Shire offended local nobles due to missions, he subtly resolved the troubles using the family’s influence; even when Shire needed rare equipment or information, the count’s channels could always conveniently provide assistance.

He offered all kinds of conveniences and support without asking for anything in return, never requesting Shire to do anything for him.

It’s worth mentioning.

The Albert Family has many such talent investments.

Every year, the family allocates a special budget to support young individuals who exhibit extraordinary talent in the fields of military, magic, or adventure. Whether they are talented commoners born into humble circumstances or temporarily impoverished young nobles.

While most of these investments become like stones sinking into the sea, or the entrusted ones are unreliable, or the recipients choose to selectively forget past favors after success, the Albert Family never ceases this investment activity.

It’s like sowing many seeds of hope in the vast fields.

Even if most cannot sprout, with the willingness to invest time and effort, a harvest is bound to come eventually.

Among the rare successful harvests, Flower Knight Shire Haines is undoubtedly the most valuable one.

Now, it’s time to reap the rewards of this investment.

"What is it, please go ahead?"

Upon receiving the response, Count Mills took a deep breath, discarding the nobility’s innate pride and reserved demeanor.

Speaking to the rising heroic knight on the other end, he almost tearfully and passionately accused.

"Shire, those evil dragons occupying the Scale Earth Rift, their atrocities are beyond recount!

"They not only cruelly murdered my only brother, Helato, but have also now returned to trample on the territory my Albert Family has guarded for generations, crushing the honor our ancestors bought with blood underfoot, treating us as if we were nothing!"

"I’m old, Shire, watching my family be shamed, seeing my brother’s blood feud unavenged, and my land occupied by monsters, yet as a count, I am powerless, I resent my own incompetence, I am ashamed before the heroic spirits of my ancestors!"

His voice paused for a moment, and he sincerely pleaded: "Shire, I’m contacting you out of sheer desperation; only you can help me now. Please help me, help the Albert Family."

On the other end of the communication stone.

The young adventurer Shire Haines listened silently to his benefactor’s accusations and pleas.

He was in the most passionate stage of life, eager to build achievements and prove his worth with glorious deeds, filled with dreams and ideals of avenging grievances and repaying kindness.

For many years, without expecting anything in return, like a benevolent father, he received various crucial benefits—from precious magic potion supplies, rare equipment leads, to smoothing out tricky political problems—silently supporting his adventurous journey with the kind count.

At this moment, lowering himself in such a manner, sincerely requesting his help, placing all the hopes of family revival and revenge on him alone.

What immense trust, and what immense honor that is.

This profound trust and entrustment instantly ignited the surging heroic spirit and gratitude within the Flower Knight’s heart.

The Flower Knight felt his chest filled with a sense of duty and honor.

Moreover, besides repaying the favor, the enduring story of a hero slaying an evil dragon has always been popular, and dragon slaying is the quickest way to gain fame and wealth. Even without the old count’s request, if he heard of an evil dragon ravaging somewhere, he would find a way to subdue it.

"Mr. Mills, please rest assured."

From the communication stone came the young knight’s firm and resolute reply: "I assure you, I will solve this problem for you and restore the Albert Family’s deserved dignity!"