Raylo’s life remained calm on the surface, but only he and a few core members knew what kind of storm was brewing beneath the placid waters.

He continued to inspect the territory, handle administrative affairs, and would occasionally watch with great interest the spontaneous duels the Knights held in Knight Plaza.

His subjects saw a composed lord, full of confidence for the future, which put them at ease. Even the work chants from the construction sites seemed to ring out louder.

However, beneath this veneer of prosperity, an invisible net was slowly tightening.

Atop the castle’s highest tower, Raylo stood leaning against the railing, his gaze sweeping past the bustling construction sites and into the distance.

On the stone table beside him lay a military defense map of Black Stone Territory, marked with several conspicuous crosses in red ink.

Master Barnaby’s Alchemy Workshop had also received Raylo’s orders.

Their first priority was to process the Scorpion-tailed Lion’s venom into an effective poison.

Black Stone Territory was like a giant bow being drawn in secret. The bowstring, in a corner unnoticed by anyone, tightened inch by inch, waiting only for the moment the prey entered its range.

Seven days slipped by in an atmosphere that was relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside.

That afternoon, Raylo was in his study reviewing documents.

Warm sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting bright patches of light on the floor.

Moonlight was curled up on a corner of the desk, dozing lazily, the tip of its silver-white tail twitching intermittently.

Suddenly, without any warning, Moonlight’s eyes snapped open.

All laziness instantly vanished from its pale golden, slitted pupils, replaced by a sharp, alert glint.

It shot to its feet, crouching low and letting out a deep, almost inaudible growl from the depths of its throat. The soft fur all over its body stood on end, making it look like an enraged predator.

Its gaze was locked firmly on the airspace to the south of the castle, as if some invisible terror lurked there.

"What is it?"

Raylo immediately put down the feather pen in his hand.

He knew Moonlight; an ordinary disturbance would never provoke such a strong reaction.

This was a posture it only adopted when facing an opponent of the same level, or even a stronger one.

Raylo strode to the window and looked in the direction of Moonlight’s gaze.

The sky was a brilliant, clear blue, with a few white clouds drifting lazily by. Other than that, it was empty.

The construction sites outside the castle were still bustling with activity, and everything seemed normal.

However, Moonlight arched its back, leaped onto the windowsill, and let out a roar at the sky.

Summoned, Sun’s massive form cast a shadow from the top of the castle. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A chill ran down Raylo’s spine.

’Could those two assassins have arrived early?’

’No, the system’s intel said there were still three days.’

He gently placed a hand on Moonlight’s head, soothing its tense nerves, while simultaneously extending his own magic perception to its absolute limit, probing that patch of empty sky.

The air was filled with normal elemental particles; there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Just as doubt began to creep into Raylo’s own mind, the air in the space he was focused on suddenly rippled, like the surface of water after a stone has been tossed in.

Immediately after, the scene at the center of the ripple began to distort and fold, as if a pair of invisible hands were tearing open a curtain in the fabric of space.

Light and shadow shifted, and two figures materialized from nothing, appearing without warning several hundred meters up in the sky.

The man on the left was as burly as a mountain.

He sat astride a massive Giant Dragon covered in cyan scales, between which sparks of electricity occasionally flickered.

The Giant Dragon’s body was over a hundred meters long. Every breath it took was accompanied by a dull clap of thunder, and its savage eyes looked down upon Black Stone Castle below, exuding an immense, oppressive pressure.

The Knight himself wore a suit of heavy, silver-gray Full Body Armor. The armor’s style was archaic yet majestic, and the crest of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order was branded onto the chest plate.

He wore no helmet, revealing a weathered face with features as sharp and resolute as if they were carved from stone.

Simply by sitting silently on the dragon’s back, he resembled an unshakeable steel barrier.

Raylo’s pupils contracted sharply.

A Thunder Dragon!

’That armor, that crest...’

The man in the lead was, without a doubt, the commander of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order, hailed as the "Iron Wall" of the Duchy—Gaius!

And beside Gaius, there was another person.

It was an old man in a simple gray Mage Robe, standing on the back of an equally large Thunder Eagle.

The Thunder Eagle’s feathers shimmered with a metallic luster, and its sharp, falcon-like eyes scanned its surroundings warily.

The old man’s hair was graying, but meticulously combed. His face was gaunt, and in his hand, he held a Magic Staff made of some unknown white wood. Its head was not inlaid with any ornate gemstones, yet it radiated a heart-pounding fluctuation of Magic Power.

His aura was reserved and profound, like a bottomless, starry sky, making it impossible to fathom its depths.

Raylo’s heart skipped a beat.

’That vast, ocean-like Magic Power, and the status to stand as Gaius’s equal... his identity is obvious.’

The Duchy’s chief Magic Consultant, the Tier Five Domain Mage, Herast.

’The Duke actually sent these two foundational pillars of power over!’

The shock in Raylo’s heart was instantly replaced by a great surge of warmth.

He had thought the Duke would, at most, dispatch a single Domain Powerhouse to assist him. He never expected such overwhelming, cost-is-no-object support!

"Moonlight, they’re on our side."

Raylo said softly, patting Moonlight, which was still in an attack stance.

Moonlight gave him a quizzical look, then glanced up at the two figures in the sky. Sensing that their auras, though powerful, held no ill intent, it slowly relaxed its body, and the low growl in its throat gradually subsided.

"Open the main castle gate. Welcome our distinguished guests."

A few moments later, Raylo, along with Ed and a retinue of his Personal Guards, had hurried to the plaza in front of the castle.

The enormous Thunder Dragon and Thunder Eagle descended slowly, the gale they kicked up making everyone’s robes whip and snap in the wind.

The heavy thud of the Thunder Dragon landing made the hard Stone Slabs themselves tremble.

Gaius swung himself off the dragon, his heavy metal boots hitting the ground with a crisp CLANG.

His gaze swept over Raylo, then to the grand, fledgling plaza behind him, and finally to the bustling construction sites in the distance. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Count Raylo."

Gaius’s voice, like the man himself, was steady and powerful, betraying no excess emotion.

"Commander Gaius, Master Herast."

Raylo bowed slightly, performing a standard noble’s salutation.

"Your arrival brings great honor to Black Stone Territory."

Master Herast floated down from the Thunder Eagle’s back, his movements as light as if he were weightless.

He smiled and nodded at Raylo, but his gaze fell with great interest on the large white cat following closely at Raylo’s heels.

"Its magical perception is very sharp. A rare Magical Beast?"

Moonlight understood they were talking about it and lifted its chin proudly.

The small gesture did much to ease the serious atmosphere.

"Pardon the display."

Raylo smiled and, turning to the side, made a welcoming gesture.