Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 96: A New Storm Griffin Group

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, spilling across Raylo’s face. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

He opened his eyes, the lingering exhaustion feeling like a hangover.

[Daily Intelligence Refreshed]

[1: The Young Black Dragon in the eastern Black Stone Mountain Range has subjugated the Blood Fang Jackal-Wolf Tribe. Its sphere of influence has expanded thirty miles eastward, and the Black Dragon’s territory now reaches the edge of the Jade Swamp.]

[2: The Demon Serpent’s Fangs are expanding rapidly within the Jade Swamp, preying on its inhabitants. As a result, large numbers of Magical Beasts have been forced to leave their habitats and migrate. One such group, a flock of thirteen Storm Griffins, will migrate this afternoon. They will travel to the Stone Forest in Black Stone Territory, near the Black Stone Mountain Range, and claim it as their new home.]

[3: The border conflict between the Fiery Sun Kingdom and the Thunder Dragon Duchy has escalated further. A war affecting several territories will break out in three days.]

[4: Tomorrow afternoon, an ominous celestial body known as the "Twin-Tailed Comet" will streak across the sky of this world. Prophets and secret cults everywhere have become active, with prophecies ranging from a "Golden Age" to the "Apocalypse."]

[5: In the Blazing Flame Duchy to the south, years of drought and a local lord’s cruel tax policies have triggered a large-scale serf uprising. Although the rebellion was quickly and brutally suppressed by the lord’s army, the embers of resistance were not extinguished. Instead, they are showing signs of spreading to surrounding areas.]

[6: In the Wind Language Hills of the Eastern Duchy, Elvin, the youngest son of Baron Legolas, caused a massive stir during his family’s annual Wind-Worshiping Ceremony by unexpectedly demonstrating a rare talent for communicating with Wind Elements. The Hurricane Mage Tower will extend him an invitation.]

[7: In the Western Territory, Countess Bella of Liuhuo City is secretly offering a high price to recruit a High-Tier Alchemist of at least Master Level. Her goal is to repair a powerful family heirloom, the Magical Artifact known as the "Tears of the Phoenix" Talisman. It is said that once repaired, the Talisman has the power to resurrect the dead.]

[8: In the Golden Baron Territory of the Eastern Duchy, a strange illness called "Petrification Disease" is spreading. The skin of the infected gradually hardens, eventually turning them into lifeless stone statues. The Baron has ordered the territory to be sealed and is offering a hefty reward for any Alchemist who can cure the disease.]

[9: A Mammoth Herd of about twenty has begun migrating south from the Black Stone Mountain Range ahead of schedule. Their route passes the border between Black Stone Territory and Amber Territory, and they are expected to pass through the area in one month.]

[10: Your sister, Lillian, failed the bonding ceremony with a Thunder Dragon Cub at her coming-of-age ritual. According to family tradition, she will now become a new Pioneer Lord on the Northern Border. Her domain will be adjacent to Amber Territory, northwest of Black Stone Territory. In half a month, her party will pass through your lands.]

After breakfast, it was time for Raylo to handle his administrative duties.

"My Lord, Master Kaven wishes to see you."

An attendant’s voice sounded from outside the door.

"Let him in."

Raylo sat up straight.

Kaven, who was once an Alchemy Apprentice, had achieved success several times. Now, among the Knights and commoners of Black Stone Territory, he was known as Master Kaven.

"My Lord!"

Kaven carefully placed a wooden box on the desk. When he opened the lid, a rich medicinal aroma mixed with the faint scent of blood filled the air.

Inside the box, more than ten deep-red potions, shimmering with a faint light, were neatly arranged.

"This is..."

Raylo’s gaze fell upon the potions.

"The Knight’s Physique Potion! My Lord!"

Kaven’s voice was filled with excitement.

"Using the Bone-Strengthening Grass you gave me, My Lord, as the main ingredient, supplemented with the blood of several Magical Beasts and other herbs, this subordinate... I have finally succeeded in crafting it!"

Raylo picked up a potion. It was cool to the touch. The deep-red liquid sloshed gently inside the Crystal Bottle, seeming to brim with rich Life Force.

"What are its effects?"

"Far better than expected, My Lord."

A fanatical light gleamed in Kaven’s eyes.

"If an ordinary Knight Apprentice takes it, there’s a high chance they will break through to become an Official Knight within half a month! For a follower with superior talent and a strong constitution, it could take as little as seven days! For those who are already Official Knights, it can significantly enhance their physique and accelerate the accumulation of their Fighting Spirit. It will also be of great help in breaking through the bottleneck to become a Great Knight!"

Raylo’s heart stirred.

Great Knights and Knights were the foundation of a territory’s strength, and they had always been a developmental bottleneck for Black Stone Territory.

"What are our reserves of Bone-Strengthening Grass?"

he asked. This was the key.

"We have used up all the Bone-Strengthening Grass for now. I’ve already spoken with Captain Ed, and he has agreed to assign more men to gather it."

Raylo nodded and said,

"Relay my orders. Have Ed conduct a large-scale search of the Giant Valley to determine the distribution and yield of the Bone-Strengthening Grass. The Knight’s Physique Potion is vital to the territory’s development. Kaven, you are to go with Ed to the Giant Valley and see if there is any way to increase its yield."

"Yes, My Lord!"

Kaven replied excitedly.

He knew this meant the Lord was going to throw his full support behind the Alchemy Workshop.

Just then, a white shadow darted onto the desk. It was Moonlight.

It curiously approached the wooden box, sniffed at the potions, pawed at one of them on the desk, and then turned its head to look at Raylo.

Clearly, the little fellow wanted a taste.

Raylo wasn’t stingy. He uncorked the potion bottle in his hand and offered it to Moonlight.

Moonlight cupped the bottle with its two furry paws, lifted the deep-red potion, and poured it into its mouth.

It smacked its lips a couple of times, tasting only a faint bitterness.

Moonlight seemed dissatisfied and lost interest in the remaining potions.

"My Lord, we haven’t missed a single daily dose of the Magical Beast Growth Potion. How come your Moonlight doesn’t seem to be growing?"

"Those two Armored Rhinoceros calves are getting tougher and tougher. An ordinary Knight can’t even beat them now."

Carl commented from the side.

Raylo just smiled. ’Moonlight’s growth rate isn’t slow at all,’ he thought. He recalled how it had created the Storm Griffin King Avatar yesterday. ’The little fellow’s Magic Ability is getting stronger and stronger.’

In the afternoon.

Raylo had just finished lunch and was about to take a short nap.

A Personal Guard reported from outside the door.

"My Lord, a Pegasus Knight has arrived with an urgent military report!"

"Send him in."

A Pegasus Knight strode in and knelt on one knee.

"Reporting to the Lord! A Storm Griffin Group, about fifteen strong, has appeared near the Stone Forest Group in the northern part of the territory. They have attacked nearby villages and carried off livestock from several households. There are no reports of human casualties yet."

"Understood."

Raylo stood up.

"Issue an order. Tell the commoners to avoid the Stone Forest Group for now. The surrounding villages are to be on high alert. I will deal with this myself."

"Yes, My Lord!"

The Pegasus Knight acknowledged the order and quickly withdrew.

Raylo walked to the window and looked to the north.

The Stone Forest Group was a natural barrier in the northern part of Black Stone Territory, but its complex terrain also meant that some unwelcome "guests" would often pass through.

There had been sporadic harassment from Magical Beasts before, but the patrols had always dealt with them. A whole group of Storm Griffins, however, was an entirely different matter.

If it had been just one or two, Raylo would have immediately organized a party to capture and tame them, bolstering his territory’s aerial forces.

The terrain of the Stone Forest Group was complex and ideal for Magical Beasts to hide. A dozen or so Tier Three Storm Griffins were beyond the capabilities of the forces at his disposal.

If this Storm Griffin Group decided to stay for long, it would cause significant trouble for his territory’s development.

’Perhaps I can have the Storm Griffin King use its higher Tier to drive them away. If that doesn’t work, I’ll probably have to ask the "big shot," Moonlight, to step in.’

As he was pondering, a white shadow leaped gracefully onto the windowsill. It was Moonlight.

It seemed to sense Raylo’s worry, tilting its fluffy head, its pale gold eyes filled with a questioning gaze.

"There are a few disobedient feathered beasts. Let’s go take a look."

Raylo reached out, scratched Moonlight under the chin, then scooped it up and tossed it onto his shoulder.