Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 226 - 220: Eastern Border Guardian

"Your Grace is indeed a man who understands the bigger picture. Therefore, I propose that to avoid further casualties, we limit this conflict between our two kingdoms to combat below the Domain Level. Neither of us will commit fighters at or above the Domain Level. We shall let the outcome of our legions’ battles decide the ownership of these two fortresses. What do you say?"

These words sounded fair, but in reality, they shifted the brutal burden of war onto the common soldiers.

But for the leaders on both sides, this was undoubtedly the best way to avoid a mutually destructive outcome.

"Agreed."

Aiden once again gave his terse agreement.

The agreement was reached.

The main forces of both armies retreated like the tide. The Fiery Sun Kingdom’s formations pulled back thirty kilometers. Their banners still flew, but the murderous intent that seemed to burn everything away was gone.

The Thunder Dragon Duchy’s army, under the command of Aiden Duke, advanced toward Gray Rock Castle and the Twin Castles.

Raylo was not riding Baofeng; instead, he was on a warhorse, mixed in with the ranks of his own Black Stone Army, silently watching everything unfold.

His gaze passed over countless bobbing helmets and long spears, settling on the distant, now-peaceful sky.

’He had a good grasp of Karachi’s intentions.’

’This young King was by no means a loyal dog of the Light Holy See.’

’The Fiery Sun Kingdom had bathed in so-called divine grace for generations, but the man on the throne held not a shred of reverence for the gods in his heart.’

’This war was less a conquest between kingdoms and more a warning from the Light Holy See, delivered via the Fiery Sun Kingdom, to the increasingly powerful Thunder Dragon Duchy.’

’Karachi was clearly unwilling to exhaust his Kingdom’s true foundation to serve the Holy See’s will.’

’So he played his strongest card right from the start.’

’The Six-winged Angel, "Fiery Sun."’

’If the Thunder Dragon Duchy couldn’t withstand this Catastrophe Level power, he could just go with the flow. He’d use the momentum to launch a decisive, lightning-fast battle with his main army, settling everything in one go. This would both complete the Holy See’s mission and secure tangible benefits for himself.’

’But, against all expectations, the Thunder Dragon Duchy had held on.’

’Aiden Duke and the Thunder Dragon named Astra had joined forces, managing to withstand the Catastrophe Level might of the Six-winged Angel of Death.’

’In that case, it was only natural for Karachi to activate his second plan.’

’A direct ceasefire would be impossible to explain to the Holy See, but limiting the intensity of the war to below the Domain Level was the perfect solution.’

’He could use the lives of common soldiers to fuel a "brutal" war of attrition. This would buy time, allow him to cry poverty to the Holy See by citing "heavy losses," and maybe even demand more benefits in return.’

’As for the lives of the soldiers, to a lofty King, they were just cold numbers on a battle report.’

’And Aiden Duke, of course, saw it all with perfect clarity.’

’An all-out war with the Fiery Sun Kingdom, even if won, would be a Pyrrhic victory.’

’The Thunder Dragon Duchy had been founded too recently and lacked deep foundations. A fight to the death would likely shake the very core of the nation.’

’He had no reason to refuse the way out Karachi was offering.’

’Besides, the Fiery Sun Kingdom was just a pawn pushed forward by the Light Holy See. Even if they won this war, another dispute with a neighboring country might arise, and a new war would break out.’

Before their assembled armies, the two rulers had reached a tacit, unspoken understanding.

As he was lost in thought, the army arrived at its destination.

Raylo’s Black Stone Army, along with the Eastern Border Legion led by ’Iron Blood’ Luke, were garrisoned together at the Twin Castles.

The Twin Castles were not one castle, but two.

They stood like two ancient giants on opposite banks of the Nu River, connected in the middle by a massive stone bridge hundreds of meters wide—the Bridge of Sighs.

However, the Bridge of Sighs had crumbled and fallen into ruin long ago, no longer connecting the two banks of the Nu River. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The fortresses were built from black granite, their weathered walls covered in sword scars and dried bloodstains.

Legend said this place was once a choke point controlling east-west travel and waterway trade. Countless heroes had shed their blood here, their souls and sighs merging into the bridge that connected the banks.

Since the founding of the Thunder Dragon Duchy, with the Nu River serving as the border with the Fiery Sun Kingdom, this connecting bridge was demolished, and travel between the two banks ceased.

Now that the Twin Castles were back in the hands of the Thunder Dragon Duchy, communication between the castles on both banks had to be restored.

The repair of the massive stone bridge between them was also put on the agenda.

Over the following period, the war between the two armies went just as Raylo had predicted—a perfunctory affair, all thunder and no rain.

Every day, the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s army would launch an attack. The war drums thundered, catapults howled as they hurled boulders at the city walls, and dense ranks of soldiers charged with scaling ladders, their battle cries seemingly poised to tear the sky apart.

However, whenever the defenders’ lines showed the slightest strain, the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s assault would strangely weaken, and they would eventually sound the retreat, leaving behind a symbolic scattering of bodies and a few burning siege ladders.

"Boss, you think those bastards on the other side haven’t eaten?"

On the Black Stone Territory’s section of the wall, Griss held up a tower shield with a few limp arrows stuck in it. He poked his head out and spat at the enemy forces, who were conducting an ’orderly retreat’ below.

"It’s all bark and no bite every time. They put all their energy into their throats."

Beside him, Thales, known as the sharpshooter, was wiping his longbow. He couldn’t help but laugh at the remark.

"Maybe they get paid by the decibel level of their shouts. Look, their retreat formation is even neater than their charge."

Raylo didn’t join in the soldiers’ banter. He just stared at the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s distant military camp.

For three consecutive months, the combined casualties of both sides were less than what you’d see in a single high-intensity skirmish.

Meanwhile, the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s elite troops, like the Fiery Sun Knight Order, had not appeared on the battlefield even once.

’Karachi had clearly mastered the art of being perfunctory.’

Intelligence reports kept arriving from the rear, confirming his suspicions.

King Karachi of the Fiery Sun Kingdom had repeatedly requested support from the Light Holy See’s Knight Orders, citing a "stalemated war and heavy losses," but all his requests were denied.

The Holy See also seemed to be losing its patience. Instead, they kept urging him to end the war as soon as possible and travel to the Holy City to receive the Pope’s coronation and baptism.

The Holy See needed an obedient king bathed in divine grace, not a general slacking off on the front lines.

And so, this strange war gradually subsided in an even stranger atmosphere.

The Fiery Sun Kingdom’s army retreated once more. This time, they didn’t stop but withdrew completely to their royal city.

The war ended so anticlimactically.

...

「Half a month later, at the Twin Castles.」

The weathered old fortress was personally renamed "Nu River Castle" by Aiden Duke. The newly rebuilt "Bridge of Sighs" connecting the two banks was also renamed the "Bridge of Victory."

Afterward, a grand award ceremony was held in the Central Plaza of Nu River Castle.

All the Duchy’s participating generals and Lords were assembled in the plaza.

They wore their magnificent armor or formal attire, their expressions solemn, yet their eyes couldn’t hide their excitement and anticipation.

Raylo stood among them. Lillian, beside him, seemed a little nervous, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of her dress.

Aiden Duke stood on a high platform. Behind him lay the Thunder Dragon Astra, as still as a mountain range.

"In this war, the Warriors of my Thunder Dragon Duchy have, with their own flesh and blood, repelled the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s invasion and defended the Duchy’s honor."

The Duke’s voice rang out.

"Those with merit shall be rewarded!"

His gaze swept across the entire assembly, landing first on ’Iron Blood’ Luke.

"’Iron Blood’ Luke!"

Luke strode forward from the ranks and knelt on one knee, his armor clanking sharply.

"I am here!"

"You led the Northern Alliance Army, slew ’Blood Lion’ in battle, and defeated an enemy legion ten thousand strong. Your achievements are monumental. In my name as Duke of the Thunder Dragon Duchy, I bestow upon you the title of ’Marquis Nu River’! I grant you Nu River Castle and the hundred li of land surrounding it as your fief. I also grant you the authority of ’Eastern Border Guardian,’ with command over all armies of the Lords in the Eastern Territory to defend against foreign threats!"

As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar went through the crowd.

Marquis Nu River!

Eastern Border Guardian!

This wasn’t just a promotion in title; it was an endowment of power.

This meant that Luke had effectively become the "King of the East" of the Duchy, his status second only to the Duke himself.

Countless gazes of envy, jealousy, and awe fell upon Luke’s back in unison.

Luke took a deep breath and bowed solemnly.

"I thank Your Grace for this honor! I will serve the Duchy until my last breath!"