Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 248 - 242: The Source of the Rumors

Marquis Orlando turned to his daughter, his tone more serious than ever before.

"Avril, you heard him. Count Raylo is not the tyrant from the rumors. He is young and promising, powerful, and a future pillar of the Duchy. Marrying him is no slight to you. Now, you must make your own decision. If you are still unwilling, I will not force you."

For a moment, all eyes were on Avril.

She lifted her head and looked at Raylo again.

Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, falling upon him and seeming to coat him in a faint golden radiance.

He didn’t speak, only watched her quietly.

She remembered the sight of him descending from the sky on his Storm Griffin King. She remembered the nonchalance with which he forced a powerful enemy to retreat. She remembered his tolerance in the face of her own venomous words, and the respect he was showing her now.

In that instant, the odious image of him from the rumors completely disintegrated, crumbling to dust.

Avril’s cheeks grew warm again, but this time it wasn’t just from shame. There was also a strange flutter in her heart.

Finally, under the dual gaze of her father and Raylo, she gave an almost imperceptible nod and squeezed a syllable from her throat that was quieter than a mosquito’s buzz.

"Mhm."

Though the sound was small, it was clearly audible in the quiet reception hall.

A smile of immense relief finally spread across Marquis Orlando’s face.

Raylo also smiled and nodded.

"Since that is settled, consider the matter decided. In one month, I will deliver the formal betrothal gifts and discuss the specific wedding arrangements with you."

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Marquis Orlando was in high spirits.

"I shall await you with the grandest of ceremonies!"

With the official business concluded, Raylo did not linger.

He rose to take his leave and was escorted out of the castle by Marquis Orlando and his daughter.

In the square, the Storm Griffin King, Baofeng, had been waiting for some time. It stretched its tawny Iron Feathers and let out a low cry.

Not far away, the figure of the Golden Dragon Sun also descended slowly from the sky, its colossal body creating a powerful visual impact.

Raylo swung himself onto Baofeng’s back and glanced back one last time.

Avril was standing on the castle steps, staring at him in a daze.

Their eyes met. The girl’s cheeks flushed red again, and she hastily lowered her head.

The corners of Raylo’s mouth turned up slightly, but he said nothing more.

"Baofeng, let’s go."

With a clear, eagle-like screech, the Storm Griffin King beat its wings and soared high, kicking up a fierce gale as it shot into the clouds in an instant.

Raylo and his party became black specks on the horizon, gradually disappearing behind the clouds.

On the castle steps, Avril continued to stare blankly at the sky.

She was only jolted back to her senses when her father, Marquis Orlando’s, low voice sounded in her ear.

"Now, perhaps you can tell me why you ran away from home?"

The smile on Marquis Orlando’s face had vanished, replaced by an icy seriousness.

This was the true master of Baisha Port—the Iron Fist Marquis who had built a vast enterprise amidst treacherous waves.

Avril trembled. Not daring to meet her father’s gaze, she lowered her head, her voice as faint as a gnat’s buzz.

"I... I heard some... rumors... about Count Raylo."

"Rumors?"

Marquis Orlando snorted coldly and turned to issue an order to the Knight Captain behind him.

"Duncan, investigate this. I want to know what blind fool dared to spread slander about the Baisha Family’s esteemed son-in-law on my territory. Get to the bottom of this, from start to finish!"

"Yes, Lord Marquis!"

Knight Duncan bowed, accepted the order, and quickly departed.

Duncan was extremely efficient. In less than an hour, he returned to the Marquis’s study with the results of his investigation.

"My Lord, I’ve found out everything," Duncan reported.

"It was the eldest son of Viscount Kru from the neighboring Azure Bay. He has long admired the young lady, and after his marriage proposal was rejected, he grew resentful. When he heard you intended to form an alliance with Black Stone Territory, he bribed one of the young lady’s personal handmaidens, Jenny. He had her whisper rumors in the young lady’s ear, painting Count Raylo as an old, ugly Demon who had ravaged hundreds of young women."

"Viscount Kru’s good-for-nothing son?"

A vicious gleam flashed in Marquis Orlando’s eyes.

"Where is he now?"

"Still drinking at the Mermaid’s Kiss tavern in the port. He’s probably waiting to laugh at our expense."

"Excellent," Marquis Orlando sneered.

’This absolutely cannot reach Count Raylo’s ears, or the Orland Family will lose all face.’

’I have to handle this as quickly and cleanly as possible.’

He looked at Duncan, his tone chilling.

"Find some ’clean’ Mercenaries. Have them break one of his legs and toss him into the cesspit south of the city to soak for a night."

"Send a man to tell Viscount Kru to control his son. Baisha Port is not a place where he can run wild."

"Yes."

"As for the handmaiden named Jenny."

Marquis Orlando’s voice was utterly devoid of warmth.

"Put a sack over her head, stuff a rag in her mouth, and sink her in the Outer Sea to feed the sharks. The Orland Family does not keep dogs that betray their masters."

Knight Duncan’s eyelid twitched.

"As you command, my lord."

The study door closed, shutting out the outside world.

Avril stood outside the door, listening to her father’s emotionless commands. Her face was ashen, and a chill ran through her entire body.

For the first time, she understood with stark clarity the cold, resolute reality hidden beneath the warmth and elegance of the nobility.

「Three days later.」

Dusk. Black Stone Territory.

Baofeng landed slowly in the square before Black Stone Castle, the afterglow of the sunset dyeing the castle a warm, golden hue.

Raylo leaped from Baofeng’s back, and Personal Guard Captain Ed immediately came forward to greet him.

"My Lord, you must be tired from your journey."

"Mmm."

Raylo nodded, unfastening his cloak and handing it to an attendant.

After a simple dinner, the sky had grown completely dark.

Instead of returning to his study to deal with the pile of administrative work, Raylo took Sun and headed toward a massive construction site being expanded on the west side of the castle.

Under the night sky, the construction site was brightly lit with torches, where hundreds, if not thousands, of craftsmen and soldiers were busy at their posts.

This was the future core of Black Stone Territory—a military fortress rising from the ground.

Raylo walked across a vast, newly leveled clearing, the ground solid beneath his feet.

Sun followed beside him, touring the new construction site with Raylo.

"Over there is the exclusive garrison for the Sun Knight Order, built to the standards of a Giant Dragon’s physique. Next to it are the new barracks for the Moonlight Knight Order and the Black Stone Knight Order. And this area under our feet will be the square for the Knights’ training and assembly."

Sun’s golden eyes swept over the magnificent construction site, a look of satisfaction appearing in them as well.

"Hmph. It’s barely big enough for me to stretch my back."

Raylo chuckled, shook his head, and continued walking.

By the time he finished inspecting the progress of the construction site, it was late at night.