Calamity Dragon, Starting with the Cultivation of Knight Families

Chapter 61 The Knights' Audience, A Mysterious Presence.

Swamp Territory, outside Baron's Castle.

"Look! It's the lord!"

The gates of Baron's Castle opened, and York, along with seven knights and fifty militiamen, appeared.

Eight riders, fifty paces in total, all with serious expressions, quickly headed out of the town.

Meanwhile, the pedestrians in the town outside the castle all looked somewhat surprised.

"It's almost evening, why is the lord still leading his troops out of the city? What happened?"

A mercenary looked at the Baron's entourage with surprise, appearing somewhat nervous and puzzled.

"It must be that a small group of magical beasts has appeared in the cultivated land on the outskirts of the territory."

"It's not like the Baron hasn't done this before."

"Don't worry, the lord always wins big every time. It's normal for a new mercenary like you not to know."

The shopkeepers on the street said this to the mercenaries who were buying things.

"A beast tide?" The mercenary's expression tightened.

Seeing the mercenary's state, the shopkeeper immediately laughed:
"What beast tide? That's just a rumor from the outside world. It's just a normal roaming herd of beasts."

"It's funny, I've noticed that you new young mercenaries are all a bit overly nervous."

The shop owner shook his head, looking relaxed, clearly having encountered this situation more than once.

"Young man, think carefully. If there really is a beast tide, do you really think the Baron is stupid?"

“A man as noble as him would never put himself in danger. So, if there really is a large-scale beast tide, or a great danger that is insurmountable, the Baron’s mansion will definitely evacuate quickly.”

"In short, you have to believe that noblemen like the Baron value their lives more than we do."

The shopkeeper spoke confidently, while the mercenary seemed skeptical.

"Is that really so? I remember there was a beast tide in the swamp territory a year and a half ago, and this baron didn't evacuate then, did he?"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper burst into laughter: "Hey! That's hardly a beast tide! It's just a small, harmless herd of beasts charging into our territory."

"The Baron made a big fuss about that incident to prove his bravery; otherwise, the third-tier giant lizard he contracted would have been enough to wipe out that group of small beasts."

"So, what do you outsiders really think of our swamp territory? Do you really think we're in dire straits?"

Upon hearing the shopkeeper's words, the mercenary paused, looking thoughtful.

Then, as if struck by a sudden flash of inspiration, I had an epiphany.

"Damn it! Could we have been scammed? Could it be the work of those big merchant guilds? Are they trying to monopolize the profits from the various magical beasts produced in the swamp territory?"

"But the Duke's mansion can't have been fooled too, can it? The Colorado Highlands are under martial law right now, what exactly is going on?"

At this point, the mercenary was confused again, feeling like his brain wasn't working properly.

Just as the mercenary was deep in thought, two people suddenly rushed past him from the side.

The two men were completely shrouded in gray cloaks and ran non-stop.

The two moved very fast, but strangely, they made no sound or wind, and it was as if the people around them could not see them at all.

And so, unnoticed by anyone, the two gray-robed figures followed the lord's entourage at a distance.

------

About thirty miles from the town of Swamp Territory, York once again arrived at the familiar outskirts of the territory.

But this time is different from the last.

He is not the only one who has arrived now.

"Everyone disperse and remain on guard around the previously marked area. Do not let anyone who dares to spy on this place get away."

"Anyone caught spying will be killed without exception."

York gave orders to the fifty militiamen at hand.

"Yes! Lord Lord!"

The fifty militiamen, dressed in decent light armor, already possessed the air of an elite army from an old, established family.

After more than two years of training, under the mentorship model of veterans guiding new recruits, these militiamen can now be considered true soldiers of the Swamp Territory, no longer just ordinary militiamen.

York was quite satisfied with the appearance of the soldiers.

At the same time, York also ordered one of his family knights to stay here as the commander of the troops.

"Lu Wen, you stay here and take charge of everything."

"Yes!"

A hint of regret flashed in the eyes of the knight squire, but he still loyally and without hesitation chose to carry out the order.

York nodded in satisfaction, then, without further ado, led his six knights, who were both excited and apprehensive, toward the swampy area inside the forest.

'A god? A god of radiance? What kind of being is that?'

At this moment, the knights and squires behind York were already speculating wildly.

They even imagined all sorts of scenarios.

There are both good and bad.

But when they walked along a forest path and saw the presence appearing in the center of the empty swamp ahead, they were all stunned and speechless!

Because, at this very moment, right in the center of the swamp ahead, a huge rock has fallen into it.

On the platform atop that massive rock, something that should have been a figure from legends and picture books suddenly appeared, as if it had been dormant.

"That appearance, that physique!"

"dragon!!!"

"It's a dragon!!! Even if it's not a true dragon, it must be a powerful sub-dragon!"

"Gods above, isn't the Lord's summoned creature a giant lizard?! Could it be that the Radiant God the Lord speaks of has chosen a new magical beast as his mortal form?!"

"."

At this moment, the knights and squires felt the same way York felt when he first signed the contract with Link.

The knights were shocked? Terrified? At a loss, filled with trepidation and fear.

However, even as the knights and squires were horrified, York had already skillfully dismounted.

"What are you all standing there for?!"

"Quickly come with me to pay homage to His Majesty! Do not be disrespectful before the gods!"

The knights then came to their senses and hurriedly dismounted.

At that moment, the dragon beast on the boulder seemed to have awakened and suddenly raised its head, looking indifferently at the shore.

Those eyes were filled with a chilling, oppressive aura.

Just being stared at made Paul and the other knights' squires feel a sudden tightness in their chests, and their breathing became difficult and oppressive.

"come yet?"

"The timing is also quite good; this time it's just right for the Rock Steel Dragon to advance another level."

"With the improvement in the quality of magic crystal ore, let's begin this process, so as not to lose the status of 'god'."

Lin Ke had a sudden thought.

[Player's request to upgrade to intermediate level using magic crystal ore has been confirmed and the upgrade has begun.]

[The player has confirmed receiving a 25% increase in their character's growth.]

As two subtitles flashed before Lin Ke's eyes, the next moment, the entire swamp territory, along with many surrounding areas, suddenly began to shake without warning.

At the same time, a fierce magical storm suddenly began to rise from the swamp.

"Roar!!!"

A high-pitched roar came from the dragon.

The next moment, under the panicked and helpless gazes of the knights, it spread its dragon wings and stood up!

(End of this chapter)