Lord: I can see loyalty.

The winged insect dragon's blood-red vertical pupils overlooked the entire coastline, like two blood moons hanging in the sky.

It opened its massive maw, and a deafening roar sent boulders flying into the air, crashing against the city walls with a dull thud.

The soldiers were blown about, and cracks appeared in the shield wall, but no one retreated.

"Hold on! Hold on!" Ansquie shouted hoarsely, pressing his longsword firmly against the ground to prevent it from being blown away.

Vio stood at the very front of the beach, his robes rustling in the gale, but he remained perfectly still.

The purple light on the Demon Feather Sword grew even more intense, creating a stark contrast with the blood-red light in the sea beast's eyes.

Alec and Gina stood on either side of him, their breathing techniques working in unison, creating three invisible auras that intertwined on the beach.

"It has become stronger, but it has lost Finn's control." Vio's voice was calm and steady, piercing through the howling wind. "It is now just a beast driven by rage, and every beast has its weaknesses."

Alec nodded, holding his greatsword horizontally in front of him, his gaze fixed on the swirling black shadow overhead. "I'll draw its attention. Its scales are too thick; only close-range attacks will cause effective damage."

"I'll go and break its wings," Jimmy's voice came from behind.

Vio turned his head and saw Jimmy standing up, leaning on his sword.

His face was still pale, and the bloodstains on his robes had dried, but the weariness in his eyes was masked by the will to fight.

"Captain, can you still fight?" Vio asked with a wry smile.

Jimmy grinned, revealing bloodied teeth. "My lord, I am the captain of the Azure Peak Knights. How can a captain hide behind his soldiers?"

Vio glanced at him and nodded. "Be careful."

"clear!"

The sea monster swooped down again.

This time, instead of spewing poisonous mist, it opened its massive jaws, its row of barbed teeth gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Its target is the densest crowds on the beach.

"Scatter!" Ansquie shouted, and the soldiers retreated to both sides like a tide.

But the sea monsters weren't targeting them.

Just before it was about to crash into the beach, it suddenly changed direction, the shockwave from its wings tearing the shield wall apart completely, and then its huge mouth snapped towards the city wall!

"Its target is the castle!" Marcus's expression changed drastically.

On the city wall, the crossbowmen were still loading their weapons and had no time to dodge.

Just then, a platinum-gold figure descended from the sky.

Alec had already leaped onto the city wall, raised his greatsword high, and slashed down with all his might at the nose of the sea monster!

"clang--!"

Sparks flew everywhere.

The greatsword left a deep crack in the scales, and the sea beast, in pain, veered its massive jaws and bit into the side of the city wall.

Debris flew everywhere, tearing a huge gap in the city wall, but the main structure remained intact.

"Now!" Alec roared.

Jimmy has recently surged ahead.

Instead of attacking head-on, he climbed along the ruins of the city wall, leaping between the broken bricks and stones like a nimble cheetah.

The sea monster's attention was drawn to Alec, and it frantically shook its head, trying to shake off the annoying little worm.

Alex clung tightly to the gaps in the scales, his greatsword slashing down repeatedly. Although it couldn't inflict a fatal wound, it kept the sea monster from getting distracted.

Jimmy seized the opportunity.

He leaped onto the sea monster's back and ran swiftly along the dark red stripes.

Wings flapped on either side of him, and the gale almost blew him away, but he gritted his teeth and took steps closer to the base of the wings.

That's where the scales are thinnest.

"drink!"

Jimmy thrust his longsword with all his might, the blade piercing the base of the wing. Blood gushed out, and the sea monster let out a mournful cry. With a sudden flap of its wings, Jimmy was thrown out and crashed heavily onto the beach.

But that sword strike had already worked!

A huge wound split open at the base of the wing, and with each flap of the wings, more blood gushed out.

The sea monster's body began to tilt, and it tried to balance itself with its other wing, but its injuries were too severe.

"It won't last long!" Xavier shouted. "Crossbowmen, aim for the other wing!"

Arrows rained down, and although most were deflected by the scales, a few managed to hit the weak points of the wings. The wounds multiplied, and the sea monster's balance deteriorated further.

Vio knew the time had come.

"Gina, come with me!" He leaped up, stepping on the ruins of the city wall, and charged toward the back of the sea monster.

Gina followed closely behind, her broadsword dragging on the ground, carving a deep furrow.

The sea monster seemed to sense a deadly threat and frantically twisted its body, trying to throw the two off.

But Vio was too fast; his figure left afterimages on the scales, and each leap landed precisely in the gaps between the scales.

Finally, he reached the top of the sea monster's head.

"Prepare to die!"

The Demon Feather Sword, glowing with purple light, pierced straight into the sea beast's eye! As the blade sank in, blood gushed out, and the sea beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing wildly.

Vio gripped the sword hilt tightly, his whole body swinging wildly in the air, but he never let go.

Gina arrived, and with a whistling sound, her broadsword struck the sea monster's other eye.

"boom!"

With both eyes severely injured, the sea monster completely lost its sight. It flapped its wings frantically, but its injuries were too severe to maintain its balance. Its massive body tumbled through the air, plummeting towards the sea.

"Get out of the way!" Vio shouted, pulling Gina off the sea monster's back.

The two landed on the beach and staggered a few steps before regaining their balance.

Behind them, the sea monster crashed heavily into the sea, creating huge waves several meters high that capsized all the fishing boats on the shore.

As the waves receded, the sea creature's body floated motionless on the water's surface.

Blood stained a large area of ​​the sea, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

The winged insect dragon's eyes had lost their luster, and its six pairs of wings drooped limply in the water, swaying gently with the waves.

It's dead.

The battlefield was silent. Everyone stared intently at the massive corpse, afraid that it might move again.

But the body did not move.

"We...we won?" a young militiaman asked, trembling.

No one answered. Everyone was still waiting, waiting for the giant beast to stand up again and open its massive jaws once more.

But it didn't.

"We won!"

Jimmy was the first to yell out, then collapsed onto the beach, panting heavily.

"We won!" Ansquie shouted hoarsely, raising his longsword high.

"We won! We won! We won!" The cheers were like a landslide and a tsunami, echoing from the city walls to the docks, from the docks to the beach, and from the beach to every warship. Soldiers threw down their weapons, embraced each other, some cried, some laughed, and some knelt on the ground in prayer.

Xavier slumped on the city wall, the crossbow in his hand slipping to the ground. His face was full of exhaustion, but there was a smile on his lips.

Marcus leaned against the breach in the city wall, gazing at the enormous corpse, his eyes reddening.

"Old Earl...do you see? The Western Frontier is finally at peace."

Valentine, leaning on his staff, walked shakily down from the watchtower, a hint of relief flashing in his old eyes.

"That kid Vio certainly didn't disappoint me."

Vio stood on the beach, leaning on his Demon Feather Sword, panting heavily.

His robes were soaked in blood, indistinguishable as to whether it was his own or that of the sea monster. The black cracks on his face had completely faded, but exhaustion was clearly etched between his brows.

Gina stood beside him, her broadsword embedded in the sand, her arm trembling slightly. Her eyes were still red-rimmed, but a smile had already appeared on her lips.

Alec leaped down from the city wall, his greatsword slung over his back, his platinum armor covered in scratches and bloodstains, yet his steps remained steady.

He walked up to Vio and knelt on one knee.

"My Lord, Finn, the Pirate King of the West, has been eliminated."

Vio lowered his head, looking at the only great knight in the former Western Territory.

The moonlight shone on the two of them, casting their shadows long and thin on the beach.

"Get up." He reached out and helped Alec up. "It's not my achievement, it's everyone's."

He turned around and looked at the soldiers who were still cheering.

Their faces were etched with exhaustion, but their eyes burned with the light of victory.

They came from the South, from the West, from different lands, different families, different faiths. But at this moment, they had only one name.

Warriors under the Earl of the South.

Heroes of the West!

In the Westerlands, there are no more pirates, no more sea monsters, and no more Finn!

…………

Several days later, Eagle's Beak Castle, main hall.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, dispelling the chill of early autumn.

The long table was laden with wine and meat, the aroma filling the air, and the soldiers sat around it, their laughter echoing.

This is a feast that the Western Regions haven't seen in decades.

Vio sat in the main seat, holding a glass of fruit wine, a specialty of the Southern Territory, with a rare smile on his lips.

Gina stood behind him, her hand on the hilt of her sword, as always. Jimmy sat on his left, still wrapped in bandages, but he was already able to drink heavily.

Alec sat on the right, his greatsword leaning against the back of the chair, a wine glass in his hand, his expression still calm.

Ansquie, Xavier, Gertrude, Marcus, and the Sky-Top Knights, Whale Knights, and militia captains all sat around the long table.

Valentine was also invited. The old man sat by the fireplace, holding a cup of hot tea, and looked at the group of young people with a smile.

"My lord," Jimmy raised his glass, his face already flushed, "this toast is to you! Without you, the Western Territory would still be in the hands of pirates!"

"To the Earl!" the crowd responded in unison, and drank it all in one gulp.

Vio smiled, took a sip, and then put down his glass. "This isn't a toast to me, it's a toast to everyone. Without you all, I can't do anything."

"Your Excellency is too modest." Marcus stood up, raised his wine glass, and said, "I, Marcus, have never admired many people in my life, but you, I admire! We, the old knights of the West, all admire you!"

"We submit to the Earl!" the old knights from the Western Frontier shouted in unison.

Laughter echoed through the hall.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became even more lively.

Jimmy dragged Ansque into a drinking contest, and the two of them, one glass after another, soon became flushed.

Marcus pulled Alec aside and started talking about the old count; the two laughed and sighed at times.

Xavier sat in the corner, holding a notebook and seemingly writing something down, while Gina remained standing behind Vio, silent but with a faint smile on her lips.

"My lord," Jimmy suddenly put down his wine glass, the drunkenness on his face fading slightly, "the pirates in the west have been dealt with. Now, shouldn't we...?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

It concerns the capital.

The laughter in the hall gradually subsided, and everyone's eyes fell on Vio.

Vio paused for a moment, then picked up his wine glass, gazing at the swirling liquid within. "What's the situation in the capital right now?"

Cohen stood up, walked to the long table, and unfolded a piece of parchment.

"The Golden Griffin family is becoming increasingly aggressive, and the king's situation is precarious. Several major families are watching and waiting, but no one dares to make the first move."

"What are they waiting for?" Jimmy asked.

"Waiting for an excuse," Alec said, his voice steady. "Or, waiting for a trigger."

Vio nodded and downed his drink in one gulp. "Whatever they're waiting for, we must be prepared. The matter in the West is settled, now..."

He didn't finish speaking, but simply looked out the window. Moonlight shone on the sea, making it sparkle and stretch to the horizon.

The northern capital there is no longer the peaceful place it once was...

……

The capital city, the Emerald Palace.

Night had fallen, and only the wall lamps flickered in the corridor. A figure hurried through the long corridor, boots clicking rapidly on the stone slabs.

Harold.

The king's chief steward, who was also the most well-informed person in the capital, held a secret letter in his hand, his face full of solemnity.

He stopped in front of the king's study, took a deep breath, and then gently knocked on the door.

"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report."

"Come in," a weary voice came from inside.

Harold pushed open the door and entered. Only King Albert was in the study. He sat at his desk, holding a quill pen, with words written on the parchment in front of him, but his gaze was fixed on the window.

If Vio saw him now, he would probably be shocked. It had only been half a year since they last met, but the other man looked more than ten years older.

The young king was already exhausted by the threats from powerful families.

"Your Majesty, this is news from the Western Regions." Harold placed the secret letter on the table.

Albert didn't open it immediately; he just stared at the letter in silence for a long time.

"Just say it."

"Your Majesty, you should still remember Count Vio Ross of the Southern Territory."

"He joined the Western Frontier in the summer and has now quelled the pirates there. Philip, Derek, Ulysses, and Finn, the four pirate kings, have all been killed." Harold's voice was calm, but his hand holding the letter was trembling slightly.

Albert fell silent.

After a long silence, he spoke, his voice hoarse: "The pirates in the Western Frontier are as numerous as flies, and the kingdom couldn't pacify them in ten years. He only took a few months."

"Your Majesty...you can't say that. Back then, Finn was at his peak. Things are different now."

Harold lowered his head. "Moreover, he established his own knightly order in the West, called the 'Great Whale Knights.' The leader is Alec Stone, the former Grand Knight of the West, and the vice-leader is Marcus, a nobleman from the West."

Albert frowned. "He controls the southern and western borders all by himself... Knights, militia, navy... The actual military force under his command is probably comparable to any major family in the capital."

"Your Majesty, do you mean...?"

Albert stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the moonlight outside, feeling somewhat tired.

"How's the investigation into the Golden-Maned Griffin family going?"

"It's been confirmed. Not only recently, but also the previous internal strife was indeed orchestrated by them."

"The evidence is sufficient, but..." Harold paused, "they likely have more troops and connections than we anticipated. If we confront them head-on, the capital's defenses might not be enough."

"The other party can use their geographical advantage to directly threaten your life."

"So we need help." Albert turned around, his gaze falling on the secret letter, "a helper who can stand up to the Golden Griffin family."

Harold's pupils contracted slightly. "Your Majesty, you mean..."

"The Earl of the Southern Border..." Albert's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "Write a letter and have him come to the capital."

Outside the window, the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, plunging the capital into darkness. In the distance, flashes of lightning could be seen, a harbinger of a new storm.

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