The early morning sun cast dappled shadows across the study in Black Stone Castle.

Raylo closed the copy of *Star Realm Traveler’s Notes* in his hands.

"My Lord."

The voice of a Personal Guard sounded from outside the door.

"The leader of a small merchant caravan has arrived outside the castle, asking to see you specifically. He says he brings greetings from your ’old friend,’ His Majesty Karachi."

Raylo’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

’Karachi is moving faster than I expected.’

"Show him to the side hall. I will be there shortly."

"Yes, my Lord."

Raylo carefully put away the notes and walked over to the window.

In the courtyard, the large white cat transformed from Moonlight was lounging lazily on the lawn, sunbathing. The tip of its tail twitched occasionally, teasing a butterfly that fluttered around it.

Not far away, the Space Young Dragon, Coal Ball, was chasing its own tail.

Everything seemed peaceful and serene, but this tranquility was built upon a foundation of absolute military power.

’Raylo was well aware of this.’

A moment later, in the side hall, Raylo met the so-called caravan leader.

He was of average height and ordinary appearance, the type who would go unnoticed in a crowd, but his eyes shone with astuteness and competence.

Upon seeing Raylo, he bowed respectfully.

"Respected Black Stone Lord, Count Raylo."

The Secret Envoy began, his voice lowered.

"On behalf of my king, Karachi, I extend to you his most sincere greetings."

"You may rise."

Raylo sat in the host’s seat.

"How are the preparations for Karachi’s ’greetings’ coming along?"

The Secret Envoy took a letter sealed with wax from his coat and presented it with both hands.

"His Majesty is deeply grateful for your generosity. As agreed, the first batch of ’gifts’ has been prepared. A squadron of one hundred Pegasus Knights will arrive in three days at the edge of the Blood Maple Forest in the eastern part of your territory, under the pretext of ’scouting the Black Stone Territory’s border,’ and will make camp there."

He paused, carefully observing Raylo’s expression.

"You understand, His Majesty has his own difficulties. This unit cannot simply vanish into thin air, nor can we just ’deliver’ it into your hands. Therefore... you will need to ’take’ it yourself."

"I understand."

Raylo took the letter, glanced at it briefly, and tossed it into the fireplace, where it instantly turned to ash.

"Tell Karachi this has been a pleasant transaction. I enjoy dealing with intelligent people."

The Secret Envoy visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"His Majesty feels the same. Well then, I shall not disturb you any longer, Lord Earl."

"Ed, see our guest out."

After the Secret Envoy was led away, Raylo sat alone in the side hall for a moment.

’Karachi’s plan suits me perfectly.’

A "border conflict," a "glorious victory," would allow him to legitimately claim one hundred Pegasus as spoils of war.

For the next three days, everything in the Black Stone Territory proceeded as usual.

Raylo spent most of his time at the training grounds, personally supervising the Knights’ drills.

Thanks to the batch of Breakthrough Potions left behind by Graves, the strength of the Black Stone Knights was entering a period of explosive growth.

Watching the vibrant faces of the young Knights, Raylo felt an unprecedented sense of security.

Meanwhile, he also took the time to write letters to his lord friends in the Northern Territory, explaining the assassination attempt on him by two Domain Level experts and asking them to jointly pressure Thunder Dragon City.

Among them was the former Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Alliance Army, the current Marquis Nu River, Luke.

At dusk on the third day, the dispatched Scouts returned with precise intelligence.

"My Lord, a unit of Pegasus Knights from the Fiery Sun Kingdom has been spotted near the forest on the eastern border. There are about one hundred of them, and they have already begun to make camp."

"Excellent."

Raylo nodded.

"Issue the order: all Griffin Knights and Pegasus Knights are to assemble in the square tomorrow at dawn."

The next day, as the sky began to lighten, the morning mist had not yet dispersed.

Outside Black Stone Castle, immense shadows swept across the land.

Raylo sat astride the broad back of the Storm Griffin King, "Baofeng." Behind him was an aerial formation consisting of sixteen Griffin Knights and two hundred Pegasus Knights.

Like a silent storm cloud, they flew eastward without a sound.

The Golden Dragon, Sun, concealed its aura and flew alongside them high in the clouds, its massive body partially obscured by the mist.

After more than an hour of rapid flight, the forest on the eastern border of the Black Stone Territory was visible in the distance.

Raylo raised his hand, and the entire formation instantly slowed down, using the cover of the woods to silently approach the Fiery Sun Kingdom Knights’ camp.

Smoke from cooking fires curled up from the camp. Most of the soldiers had just woken up; some were drawing water, others were feeding their horses. It was a scene of complete unpreparedness.

Their Pegasi were all tethered in an open area next to the camp, their heads bowed as they ate their fodder.

Raylo’s gaze was as cold as iron, devoid of any pity.

"Sun."

He issued a short command through their Spiritual Link.

The next moment, the sky erupted in a brilliant golden light!

"ROAR!"

A clear, resounding dragon’s roar tore through the morning tranquility.

The Golden Dragon Sun’s massive body burst through the clouds, descending with an unparalleled sense of pressure.

Its hundred-meter-long body blotted out the rising sun. Its golden scales reflected a dazzling light in the morning glow, and its golden, slitted pupils looked down upon the tiny camp below.

The terrifying Dragon Mighty, like a physical tide, crashed down and swept through the entire camp!

The soldiers in the camp were instantly stunned by this sudden turn of events. They stared upward at the legendary creature, the color draining from their faces at a visible rate. Many couldn’t even hold their weapons and simply collapsed to the ground.

The reaction of the Pegasi was even worse.

As Magical Creatures highly sensitive to the pressure of a superior Dragon Race, the moment they felt the Dragon Mighty, they let out terrified whinnies.

All one hundred Pegasi went weak in the legs. Unable to even flap their wings to take flight, they could only tremble on the ground, burying their heads between their forelegs like lambs to the slaughter.

"Attack!"

Raylo’s voice was like a death sentence.

He slapped Baofeng’s neck, and the tawny Griffin King let out a piercing shriek as it led the charge, diving down.

Following close behind, the sixteen Griffin Knights and two hundred Pegasus Knights burst from the forest like a flood from a broken dam. A fierce wind kicked up as their Javelins traced deadly arcs through the air.

"Ambush! We’re under attack!"

Piercing screams rang out in the camp, but it was all too late.

A Knight without a mount is like a tiger that has had its fangs pulled.

Facing the assault from the sky, they were completely unable to mount any effective resistance.

Javelins rained down, and screams of agony rose and fell one after another.

After a brief period of chaos, the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s Knights completely broke down.

They dropped their weapons and scrambled on all fours toward the dense forest, attempting to flee the nightmare on foot.

But it was futile.

The Pegasus Knights of the Black Stone Territory swept by at low altitude like experienced hunters, precisely tracking every fleeing target.

One after another, Javelins were thrown without mercy, pinning the desperate figures to the ground.