Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 624 - 275, Griffin Cub

PS: Yesterday, I helped my mentor move some equipment and strained my back. It hurts so much, so I need to rest well these days, sob sob sob~ It's not like I'm asking for leave or anything, since besides lying down, I can only sit and write or play games.

The black cloth was pulled away, revealing a small griffin cub in front of Laine.

With the face of an eagle and the body and claws of a lion, silver mane, and brown body, a small griffin cub was crashing around inside an iron cage. It let out a sharp cry, its short sharp beak brimming with power, and its black eyes full of hostility. It screamed "Wa-la wa-la" then struck hard against the iron bars with its claws: "Clang~ Clang~"

"A griffin cub!" Laine was slightly surprised. He understood why Anton was so confident that he would be willing to help.

No one could refuse a griffin cub, just as in Brittania no one could refuse a Horned Eagle Beast as a mount. Throughout the kingdom, only the Duke of Connet, Lorne-Rio Cornwall, and the Duke Bohemond of Bastogne had Horned Eagle Beasts in their stables, with registered Horned Eagle Beast Knights numbering less than thirty in all of Brittania!

(Here's a side note, some readers ask why not fully muster the Horned Eagle Beast Knights and push forward, and this is the reason.)

"Waa waa waa!" The small griffin cub stared fiercely at Laine, who was watching it in front of the cage. Its short beak emitted sharp cries, and its fluffy wings flapped twice, not able to lift off at all.

"Ah! This truly is!" Laine hadn't even reacted yet when Surya's eyes lit up. The female knight clasped her fingers together, her eyes full of little stars: "It's just...so cute!!!"

A good mount is incredibly important to a knight, Surya's mount was a pure-blooded elf warhorse named Lixihofen, which was recently pregnant (with grapes), and sometimes she would ride a pegasus.

The Gray Mountain Range was rich in two types of fine mounts: the Pegasus and the Horned Eagle Beast. Especially the Pegasus, for whose sake hunters from the Empire and Brittania often clashed fiercely. Knight lords even encouraged peasants to steal Horned Eagle Beast eggs; as long as the egg was presented whole to the lord, every master knight was willing to offer the identity of a free person and a staggering reward.

Of course, the success rate of this endeavor was calculated at about one in a hundred, and even ignorant peasants knew how low the success rate was. No peasant would engage in such a foolish act unless absolutely necessary.

The small griffin cub acted like a little puppy; Surya's eyes gleamed as she held onto Laine's arm: "Laine! This little griffin is just too adorable!"

"This little griffin is the cub of my father's mount, 'Beast Calamity.'" Seeing Surya's delight, Anton continued: "Now, I offer it to you as a symbol of our friendship."

"This gift is too valuable, Anton." Laine's face initially showed some joy, though he instinctively wished to decline: "I can't accept it."

"This has nothing to do with our matters." Anton shook his head: "I told you, it's a symbol of our friendship. I came here expressly to give this griffin cub to you, whether you agreed to help or not."

Laine lowered his head in silence, extending his hand toward the griffin cub in the iron cage under everyone's gaze.

Just as a griffin knight wanted to warn of the danger, remembering Laine's strength, he closed his mouth again.

"Waah!" The griffin cub saw Laine reaching for it, so it pecked aggressively at Laine's hand with its sharp beak.

"Ooh!" Laine's tough skin made the little griffin cry out in pain, quickly realizing that this human before it was not an easy opponent to provoke. It retreated tearfully into the corner of the cage, opening its mouth at Laine as if to say it was not afraid of him.

It must be said that this truly was a gift Laine couldn't refuse. After exchanging a glance with the female knight, he smiled: "Very well then, Anton, I sense your sincerity. I won't say any more insincere words; I will persuade Mr. Francois and Duke Bohemond for you."

"That would be wonderful." Anton nodded satisfactorily. A mount is a knight's second life; no knight can refuse a griffin mount. Prince-electors pride themselves on having a griffin in their stables, let alone Laine, a count?

"Come, come here!" Laine extended his hand toward the little creature again, as pale blue spiritual energy swirled around his hand, the Light of Spiritual Power shone throughout the hall.

The griffin cub gazed at the Light of Spiritual Power in confusion, instinctively feeling an affinity from Laine's presence and let out a few soft calls.

Seeing this, Laine opened the cage. The little griffin flapped its wings, fluttering onto Laine's arm, and chattered away in some incomprehensible babble by Laine's ear.

All the griffin knights gaped at the sight.

It was well known that griffin knights were the most powerful heavy cavalry (beast) of the Empire, and one of the Three Great Knight Orders of the Old World.

Though these knights were excellent warriors themselves, it was their mounts that were the real combatants. These gigantic living weapons were fierce and imposing, towering over any Imperial warhorse when standing and possessing vicious bloodthirsty attacks scarier than any other beast of the Empire.

Only the most powerful Imperial knights were equipped with such fearsome creatures. Although the Empire had tried hard to implement breeding programs and stimulate them to reproduce, the low fertility rates and the monstrous creatures produced by the breeding plans have made griffin knights relatively scarce. Thus, the only way to increase their numbers was to catch griffins near the Black Forest of the Griffin Duke's Domain.