A lavishly dressed, middle-aged man stood at the front of the encirclent, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his body trembling slightly from a mix of anger and fear.
This must be the Lord of Silver Moon Territory, Baron Kailan.
And in front of Sun’s massive head, sothing lay on the ground.
The thing retained a humanoid shape, but it was charred black from head to toe, like a piece of charcoal burned a thousand tis over. Wisps of smoke were still rising from it.
Without a doubt, these were the remains of Baron Kailan’s unfortunate new son-in-law, Anrust.
It was a standoff on a knife’s edge.
Although Baron Kailan’s Knights had the advantage in numbers, fear had long since overwheld their courage in the face of a true, adult Golden Dragon.
The legs of many Knights in the front rank were trembling uncontrollably.
But Sun, the perpetrator of the incident, appeared exceptionally calm.
He held his head high, his eyes—burning with golden Fla—swept indifferently over the surrounding humans. His gaze held not a shred of guilt or remorse, but rather an imposing and ruthless authority.
Just as the tense standoff was about to erupt, a sharp, piercing cry echoed from the sky.
As one, everyone looked up.
A massive black speck was diving down from the clouds at an astonishing speed.
It was the Storm Griffin King!
Baron Barret’s expression instantly darkened.
BOOM!
Baofeng landed with imnse force, the powerful downdraft sending the Knights stumbling and scattering.
Raylo vaulted off Baofeng’s back.
Imdiately after, the Griffin Guard led by Ed landed in succession. They ford neat, disciplined ranks behind Raylo, their solemn bearing exuding a powerful aura.
"Count Raylo!"
Baron Kailan shouted through gritted teeth upon seeing who had arrived.
"You’ve finally arrived!"
He pointed at the charred body, his voice filled with grief and indignation.
"You will answer for this today!"
"Answer for this?"
Raylo calmly swept his gaze over Baron Kailan’s crimson face before glancing at the charred, humanoid shape on the ground.
He ignored Baron Kailan’s grief and indignation, instead taking two steps forward. His boots made crisp, echoing sounds on the stone tiles of the square.
Each step seed to land on the taut nerves of Baron Kailan and all the Knights of Silver Moon Territory.
"Baron Kailan, you seem to be mistaken about sothing."
Raylo stopped, his tone detached.
"My Knight companion, the Golden Dragon Sun, braved great danger to co to your domain. He resolved a massive crisis for you—one that could have destroyed your entire family."
"And you, the Lord of Silver Moon Territory, not only failed to offer your imdiate thanks and reward, but you instead draw your blades against the very benefactor who saved your family?"
Raylo’s voice suddenly rose, sharp as the clash of tal on stone, and echoed across the entire square.
"Is this the noble etiquette the Silver Moon Family has passed down for centuries? Is this your way of treating a guest? It’s... utterly pathetic!"
This barrage of questions struck Baron Kailan like a sledgehamr to the chest.
The torrent of accusations and rage he had prepared was choked back down his throat, his face turning from crimson to a deep, purplish red.
The Knights behind him exchanged uncertain glances, their grips on their Weapons faltering.
They had thought they were seeking justice for their Lord, but from the sound of it, they were now cast as ungrateful wretches.
"You... You’re spouting nonsense!"
Baron Kailan’s lips trembled as he forced out a rebuttal.
"He killed my son-in-law! My daughter was about to marry him! In front of everyone, he used his Dragon Breath to burn Anrust to ash! Is this what you call resolving a crisis?"
"Your son-in-law?"
Raylo let out a cold laugh, his gaze as sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce a man’s very soul.
"A Blood Servant, turned by a Vampire’s Initial Embrace? A monster, lurking by your side, plotting to seize your family’s bloodline and fortune? You think *that* is worthy of being your son-in-law?"
"Blood Servant?!"
"Vampire!"
The mont these two terms were uttered, a wave of sharp gasps rippled through the crowd.
Even Baron Kailan himself looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, his pupils constricting violently.
Raylo’s words were like a key, instantly unlocking the door to his most hidden fears.
A few months ago, a small Silver Mine had been discovered by chance in the Silver Moon Territory.
What should have been a joyous occasion had beco a source of sleepless nights for Baron Kailan.
An innocent man becos a criminal simply by possessing a treasure.
The Silver Moon Territory was not powerful, and this windfall was sure to attract the covetous eyes of countless hungry wolves.
He had tried every ans possible to keep the news secret while simultaneously organizing a Knight tournant in a desperate search for a powerful, reliable son-in-law to bolster his family’s defenses.
Anrust’s appearance had been perfectly tid.
He was powerful and well-spoken, and had quickly won Baron Kailan’s favor.
But now, Raylo was claiming he was a Vampire’s Blood Servant, plotting to seize the family’s fortune...
’Could it be...’
’Had news of the Silver Mine leaked out after all?’
’And had it attracted not just opportunistic nobles, but the greedy and powerful Vampires that lurk in the shadows?’
The mont he thought of those legendary, mysterious creatures, Baron Kailan’s back was instantly soaked in a cold sweat.
’Compared to the survival of his family, the death of a would-be son-in-law seed...’
’...not so unacceptable after all.’
But he was a Lord, after all. He couldn’t back down so easily in front of so many of his vassals and Knights.
Forcing himself to preserve his last shred of dignity, he said stubbornly.
"Those are empty words! You say he was a Blood Servant, but where is your proof? Anrust is already... already ash. The dead can’t testify!"
"Proof?"
Raylo retorted.
"The proof is my Knight companion, a Golden Dragon who is by nature proud and a believer in order and justice! He would rather bear the accusation of murder than fail to purify that monster on the spot!"
"Baron Kailan, you, as a Lord, were utterly oblivious to a massive, hidden threat. You even welcod the wolf into your own ho."
"So I have to ask: are you simply a poor judge of character, hopelessly foolish, or... were you in collusion with these dark creatures from the very beginning?"
"I wasn’t!"
Baron Kailan leaped up as if his tail had been stepped on, shrieking.
Collusion with Vampires was a grave cri, one that would doom his entire family to eternal ruin!
’He hadn’t done it, but even if he had, he could never admit to it.’
He looked at Raylo, the last shred of defiance in his heart crumbling into dust, leaving only endless panic.
He opened his mouth, wanting to offer another rebuttal, but his throat was too dry to utter a single word.
The atmosphere in the square beca bizarrely still.
The Knights of Silver Moon Territory had already lowered their Weapons, their gazes toward their Lord now filled with suspicion and alarm.
Sun remained where he was, his golden eyes watching everything with cold indifference.
He slowly lowered his massive head, blasting two jets of sulfurous air from his nostrils that sent Baron Kailan stumbling backward.
This silent display of power was the last straw.
"Hmph."
"Baron Kailan, I will be waiting for your explanation at Black Stone Castle!"
Raylo let out a aningful, cold snort and turned away from the crestfallen Baron Kailan.
He turned, and in one fluid motion, leaped back onto Baofeng’s spine.
"Sun, we’re leaving."
The Golden Dragon let out a low roar.
He spread his massive wings, kicking up a violent gale that sent the Knights on the ground tumbling. Cries of alarm rose and fell in waves.
Amidst the chaos, the massive golden figure soared into the air, montarily eclipsing the sun.
Close behind him, Baofeng and a dozen or so Griffins also took flight, transforming into streaks of light that quickly vanished over the horizon.
All that remained was the devastated square and the ashen-faced Baron Kailan.
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