And Raylo had no intention of getting involved in any of it.

To use a phrase from his past life, he would let the bullets fly for a while.

Arthur might be developing fast, but his own growth, Raylo’s growth, would surpass anyone’s imagination.

The so-called threat from the Crown Prince was, in his eyes, nothing more than a small pebble on his path—one he couldn’t even be bothered to kick aside.

What he truly cared about was something else entirely.

"Ed."

Raylo spoke.

Ed, who was organizing documents nearby, looked up.

"Lord."

"Where is today’s patrol report from the Pegasus Knights?"

"Right here."

Ed handed him a scroll of parchment.

Raylo unrolled the parchment.

Its contents confirmed his earlier worries.

"The number of Fire Demon Crows has increased again."

Ed’s finger tapped the map in the direction of the Black Stone Mountain Range.

"Over the past week, our Pegasus Knight Squads deployed on the outskirts of the mountain range have encountered Demon Fire Crow Groups three times more often. Moreover, the size of these groups is growing. They started at just over a dozen, but yesterday, a group of over a hundred was spotted."

"Have they crossed the perimeter?"

Raylo’s eyes turned cold.

"Most are still circling and scouting within the mountain range, but on a few occasions, small flocks tried to push deeper into our airspace. They were all driven off or annihilated by the Pegasus Knights."

Ed’s tone was heavy.

"The Black King... the overlord of the Black Stone Mountain Range... I’m afraid he’s already sensed something."

"It’s only normal for that Black Dragon to have noticed something."

Raylo rolled up the parchment, his gaze drifting toward the rolling, black silhouette of the Black Stone Mountain Range.

"It’s just not sure what exactly we have in our hands."

But given the Black Dragon’s greedy and brutal nature, this uncertainty wouldn’t last long.

A probing attack, or even a full-scale invasion, could come at any moment.

This was the fundamental reason Raylo was unwilling to leave Black Stone Territory.

Compared to the political storm brewing in Thunder Dragon City, the military threat from the Black Stone Mountain Range was far more lethal and pressing.

The next morning, Lillian prepared to depart for Thunder Dragon City.

Raylo placed a heavy, ornate box in her hands.

"This is a gift for Arthur."

Lillian opened it curiously and glanced inside. It contained a fist-sized piece of Thunderstruck Wood. The naturally formed lightning patterns on it were clearly visible, and it emanated a faint fluctuation of Magic Power.

For a Thunder Element Magical Beast or a Thunder Mage, this was a rare Treasure.

"You’re so thoughtful, Brother."

Lillian carefully closed the box.

"Be careful on your journey."

Raylo straightened a lock of her hair.

"Give my regards to Father."

The Golden Feathered Griffin let out a piercing cry, carrying Lillian up into the sky. Twenty Hawk Knights followed close behind, and they soon vanished over the horizon.

After seeing Lillian off, the warmth on Raylo’s face quickly faded, replaced by a grim, murderous intensity.

"Relay my orders! The Pegasus Knight Order will double its patrol range and double its reconnaissance frequency! Report immediately if you discover any large-scale gathering of Demon Fire Crow Groups!"

"The Moonlight Knight Order is to patrol the Northern Border. Alex will lead the force and annihilate all Demons from the Black Stone Mountain Range that intrude upon Black Stone Territory."

Ed acknowledged the order and departed in a hurry.

Raylo, in turn, fixed his gaze once more on the silent, dangerous black mountains.

’Black King...’

Raylo’s orders were relayed to every corner of Black Stone Territory.

On the training grounds outside the castle, the sound of Horns rose and fell, and the previous boisterous atmosphere was replaced with a deadly seriousness.

In the skies, the figures of Pegasus Knights appeared frequently.

They were no longer just on patrol; they had transformed into lethal hunters.

Any flying Demon that dared to poke its head out of the Black Stone Mountain Range was immediately surrounded and annihilated by several Pegasus Knight Squads.

Flying Spears rained down and lances formed a forest. Often, before an alarm could even be sounded, the Fire Demon Crow and Gargoyle Scouts were reduced to puffs of black smoke in the sky.

On the ground, the Moonlight Knight Order’s actions were even bloodier.

Alex led the Earth Dragon Knights and over a hundred other Knights, acting like a sharp, steel comb, sweeping back and forth along the border between the mountains and the plains.

Whether it was a lurking Demon Wolf or Jackal-Wolf Folk trying to build an outpost, all were crushed to a pulp beneath the heavy tread of the Earth Dragons and the Long Swords of the Knights.

Inside the council hall of Black Stone Castle, more and more red markers appeared on the sand table, each one representing a small-scale victory.

"Lord, this is the third day’s battle report."

Ed placed a stack of parchments in front of Raylo, his voice holding a trace of suppressed excitement.

"The Pegasus Knight Order has shot down a total of 317 Fire Demon Crows and 52 Gargoyles. The Moonlight Knight Order has wiped out three Kobold scout teams and two nests of Burrow Spiders."

Raylo nodded, but his gaze never left the sand table.

The situation on it was clear at a glance. He had mercilessly severed every one of the Black King’s tentacles that had reached out.

"The Black King’s patience must be wearing thin."

He lightly tapped the model of the Black Stone Mountain Range on the sand table.

"He’s sending more and more Scouts," Ed said.

"It seems the speed at which we’re cutting off his tentacles is making the Black Dragon anxious."

Raylo nodded.

"Yes, Lord."

Ed’s expression grew solemn.

"From the Fire Demon Crows, to the Gargoyles, and then the Burrow Spiders that appeared yesterday, the Level of the enemy’s probing attacks is constantly increasing. Although the Moonlight Knight Order can handle it, if this continues, I worry..."

"You’re worried it will launch an all-out assault?"

Raylo finished his sentence.

"Yes."

"That is precisely my goal."