Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 210 - 204: Great Replacement

Raylo thought back on his time commanding the Allied Air Cavalry Corps.

The flying mounts of the Northern Lords were a chaotic mix: Griffins, Horned Eagles, Giant Bats, and Flying Serpents... a total hodgepodge.

In battle, the coordination between these different species of Flying Magical Beasts was abysmal. Some were even hostile toward one another due to their conflicting natures.

The Knights had to devote a great deal of energy to pacifying and controlling their mounts, severely hampering their combat effectiveness.

’A truly powerful aerial cavalry corps could never be a motley crew thrown together like this.’

An idea struck him like a bolt of lightning.

’Black Stone Territory’s aerial corps can’t be a motley army thrown together like this.’

’Numbers are important, of course, but standardization and coordination are the true force multipliers.’

The Fiery Sun Kingdom’s Pegasus Knight Order had been almost completely wiped out in the recent battle, but many of their mounts survived and were divided up among the various lords of the Northern Territory.

In addition, there were a few scattered Griffins.

’These are what Black Stone Territory truly needs.’

’He could trade the varied Magical Beasts in his possession for their Pegasi and Griffins, which would be far easier to organize into a large-scale force.’

Once the idea took hold, he found it impossible to suppress.

He knew that Black Stone Territory’s true ascent might just begin with this crazy "Great Replacement."

He decided to act at once.

Raylo’s first visit was to Barton, the Count of Giant Stone.

Upon seeing Raylo, the boisterous Count pulled him into a crushing bear hug.

"Attaboy! I knew you’d have your eyes on the spoils of war!"

Barton’s booming voice made Raylo’s ears ring.

"Count Barton, that is indeed why I’m here."

Raylo got straight to the point.

"I was allotted some Magical Beasts, but they aren’t very useful to me. I heard you received two Griffins and more than a dozen Pegasi?"

"I got a few, yes," Barton said.

"But those are valuable assets. I was planning on using them to form a small squad of Flying Knights."

"I’ll trade you two Giant-Horned Demon Rhinoceroses for them."

Raylo immediately laid his best card on the table.

Barton’s eyes shot wide open.

"What did you say? Giant-Horned Demon Rhinoceroses? When those things charge, not even a city gate can stop them! And you’re willing to part with them?"

"They eat a fortune, and they’re ill-tempered. My camp is small. I can’t afford to keep them," Raylo said, his words a mix of truth and fabrication.

"Don’t you think they’d be a perfect fit for the style of your Giant Stone Territory?"

Barton pictured two Giant-Horned Demon Rhinoceroses rampaging across a battlefield, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

The Knights of his territory were known for their ferocious and unyielding style; these two Giant-Horned Demon Rhinoceroses were practically tailor-made for them.

’Two of my commanders could be mounted on Tier Three Magical Beasts. It would be a perfect use for them.’

"Deal!"

Barton slapped his thigh.

The trade went exceptionally smoothly.

Next, Raylo paid a visit to Gao Wen, Count Red Leaf.

The young Count was already on friendly terms with Raylo, so the negotiation went just as smoothly.

"Raylo, your plan is a bold one," Gao Wen began slowly.

"You want to build a standardized aerial cavalry force?"

"An aerial cavalry that isn’t organized at scale is just a collection of individuals, not a true corps," Raylo replied.

Gao Wen nodded in approval.

"I admire your foresight. I have twenty Pegasi and one Griffin in my possession. What are you offering in trade?"

"One Thunder Feathered Eagle, plus four Tier Two Magical Beasts."

"A very fair trade. Since you have a need for them, I agree to the exchange."

Raylo thanked Gao Wen formally.

In the days that followed, Raylo was seen in the camps of lords both great and small all across the Northern Territory.

With the exception of the Tier Four Magma Lizard Dragon, which he kept as a strategic trump card, the rest of his Magical Beasts—along with large quantities of equipment, rations, and Alchemy Materials—flowed out of the Black Stone Territory’s storehouses like an endless stream.

In their place, an ever-growing host of Pegasi and Griffins was assembled.

When the final trade was complete, Raylo took stock of his achievements.

One hundred and eighty Pegasi, five Griffins.

There was just one final step.

Raylo straightened his armor and walked toward the command tent of the Northern Alliance Army.

He was going to visit the man who had contributed most to the victory, who also happened to possess the second-largest share of the spoils.

Commander Luke.

Inside the command tent, Luke stood in plain clothes, staring intently at a military map.

When he saw Raylo enter, a teasing smile appeared on his face.

"Sit."

He pointed to a nearby chair and personally poured Raylo a mug of ale.

"I figured it was about time you came to see me. So, how is your ’Great Replacement’ going?"

Raylo was surprised for a moment, but then relaxed.

’Of course, a move this big couldn’t have escaped the Commander-in-Chief’s notice.’

"Thanks to you, it’s gone quite smoothly."

Raylo sat down and laid his purpose bare.

"I hope to trade for some of your Pegasi and Griffins to complete my vision for an aerial corps."

After hearing him out, Luke roared with laughter.

"Trade? Raylo, you underestimate me. And you vastly underestimate your own contributions to this war."

He stood, walked over to Raylo, and clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Do you know," Luke said, "that the only reason I was able to take the head of Aston the Blood Lion was thanks to that horn you lent me?"

"It was only by joining forces with the Starfall Knight summoned by the Horn that I was able to slay Aston the Blood Lion. Do you understand, my boy? Without your help, not only would I have failed to secure this great victory, I might very well have been defeated on the Wind Cry Plain."

Luke turned, took out the ancient horn, and handed it back to Raylo.

"Back to its rightful owner. Also, the Duke’s messenger just arrived today. After this war, I am to be named the Marquis of the North."

Raylo was stunned. He immediately rose to his feet to offer his congratulations.

"Congratulations, my Lord Marquis."

"Hahaha, it’s a bit early for that."

Luke waved his hand, but he couldn’t conceal the delight on his face.

"As for the Pegasi and Griffins from my share of the spoils, if you want them, take them all. Consider it a small investment from a future Marquis."

He shouted to someone outside the tent, and a Knight entered.

"Go and have all the Pegasi and Griffins we were allotted sent to the Black Stone Territory’s camp."

"Yes, General!"

Raylo looked at Luke, a warmth spreading through his chest at the Iron Blood Knight’s generosity and spirit.

He offered no further protest, simply performing a solemn Knight’s salute.

"Thank you for your generosity, Sir Luke."

Carrying the Soul Horn, and with the two Griffins and twenty-four Pegasi gifted by Luke, Raylo returned to his camp.

By now, a corner of the Black Stone Territory’s camp had transformed into a vast aerie.

Nearly two hundred snow-white Pegasi quietly preened their feathers, gathered together like a white sea of clouds. The seven majestic Griffins occupied a higher slope, ruffling their Iron Feathers and letting out the occasional sharp cry.