Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 133 - 127: Heading to the Amber Territory

Several hours later, with every powerful beat of his enormous wings, the Storm Griffin King, Baofeng, sent the scenery below rushing backward.

The rugged gray-black of the Black Stone Mountain Range was gradually replaced by vast swathes of dense green.

The air lost the cold bite of mountain rock, gaining a dampness and the fragrance of vegetation.

Raylo gazed down at the winding Black Water River below. It looked like a dark ribbon flowing from north to south, nourishing the lands on either bank.

At the edge of his vision, a vast body of water shimmered with a peculiar light under the sun. That was Amber Lake.

The water wasn’t the usual azure but a warm, shifting shade of amber, as if it were molten gemstone flowing from deep within the earth.

That was how Amber Lake got its name.

A round castle stood quietly on the lakeshore. Its white walls and spires were striking in the sunlight. That was Amber Castle, the heart of Amber Territory.

To the north of Amber Lake lay a boundless, dense forest, a sea of trees teeming with primordial life.

To the south of the lake stretched a flat, open plain. Crisscrossing fields and scattered villages painted a scene of peace and tranquility.

"Descend, Baofeng."

Raylo said softly.

The Storm Griffin King let out a low cry, tucked in his wings, and began a steady descent, gliding toward Amber Castle.

Moonlight, who had taken the form of a large silver cat, lay lazily in front of Raylo. Its pale golden eyes curiously surveyed the scenery below, the tip of its tail twitching gently.

Soon, the silhouette of Amber Castle grew sharper.

In the castle courtyard, people had already noticed the giant beast in the sky.

As Baofeng landed steadily on the open ground before the castle, an agile young woman in hunting attire was already striding out to meet them, a few attendants in tow.

She had brilliant golden hair that shimmered like flowing honey in the sunlight, her face beaming with unconcealed joy.

"Brother!"

Lillian’s voice was bright and cheerful, filled with a childlike excitement.

She ran up to Raylo, tilting her head back to look at her brother as he leaped down from the Griffin’s back.

"Lillian."

A gentle smile touched Raylo’s lips as he reached out and ruffled his sister’s hair.

"Moonlight, you’re here too!"

Lillian’s face lit up with delight, and she tried to scoop up the large cat. But Moonlight deftly ducked its head, evading her arms and merely flicking the back of her hand with its tail in a haughty gesture.

Lillian wasn’t offended and just laughed, accustomed to the cat’s behavior. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Let’s talk inside."

Raylo said.

The siblings walked into the castle side by side.

The interior of Amber Castle was more refined and brighter than that of Black Stone Castle, showing a delicate touch characteristic of its female Lord in every detail.

In the parlor, a maidservant served juice and pastries.

Lillian dismissed the attendants and looked at Raylo, her expression curious.

"Brother, what brings you here so suddenly? Is something urgent going on?"

The smile on Raylo’s face faded, and his expression grew serious.

"Lillian, war is coming."

Lillian’s hand, holding her glass of juice, paused, and the smile on her face froze.

The Thunder Dragon Family had founded their Duchy on martial strength. She had been steeped in that tradition her whole life and knew the weight that single word carried.

"Is it... the Fiery Sun Kingdom?"

When she left the National Capital, Thunder Dragon City, she had heard rampant rumors about an impending war between the King of Fiery Sun and the Duchy.

"Yes."

Raylo nodded.

"The Duke has issued an order, calling upon all the Lords of the Northern Territory to form an Allied Army. We are to assemble at Red Leaf Territory in one month to resist the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s forces advancing from the south. Their vanguard is said to have already clashed with the armies of the Eastern Lords."

Lillian’s brow furrowed.

"So soon..."

she murmured, then looked up, her gaze resolute.

"Amber Territory will answer the Duke’s call. I will lead our forces myself."

Raylo nodded.

"I came here not only to tell you this, but also to discuss another important matter."

"What is it?"

Lillian asked immediately, knowing that if Raylo had made a special trip, the matter must be significant.

Raylo took a moment to organize his thoughts.

"A few days ago, while foraging deep in the Black Stone Mountain Range, Baofeng stumbled upon a migrating Mammoth Herd."

"Mammoths?"

Lillian’s eyes lit up.

Mammoths, large creatures unique to the Northern Territory, possessed immense strength and thick hides. They were an excellent choice for mounts or beasts of burden.

But Mammoths are Tier Three Magical Beasts. They are violent by nature, extremely difficult to tame, and typically live in the uninhabited, frozen lands of the far north, rarely migrating south in large numbers.

"How many are there?"

she pressed.

"According to Baofeng, there are about twenty of them, adults and calves."

Raylo attributed the discovery to Baofeng.

"Twenty!"

Lillian drew a sharp breath, her amber eyes shining with excitement.

"This is an incredible fortune! If we could capture all of them..."

She was already imagining the herd of Mammoths rampaging across a battlefield.

"It seems the Mammoth Herd ventured south due to a sudden climate shift and food shortages up north. Their migration route will take them right through the wilderness between our two territories."

Raylo continued, tossing out the lure.

"I’ve estimated that they’ll reach our lands in about three or four days."

"Brother, you mean..."

Bright as she was, Lillian immediately grasped Raylo’s intention.

"We join forces and keep this Mammoth Herd for ourselves."

"In wartime, these behemoths would be invaluable. Whether for charging enemy lines or transporting heavy supplies, their impact would be extraordinary."

Lillian shot to her feet, pacing back and forth in the parlor in her excitement.

"This is wonderful! It’s a godsend!"

she exclaimed, pumping a small fist in her excitement.

"Brother, just tell me what to do. Amber Territory will give you its full support!"

Raylo smiled.

"I already have a plan in mind."

"We’ll use the Storm Griffin Group to drive them into a canyon in the southern barrens. We’ll have boulders ready at both ends of the canyon. Once the Mammoth Herd enters, we seal both exits at once. It’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel."

"We’ll need to select our most elite Knights and prepare ropes and nets that are strong enough. The key will be coordination. We need to ensure a high capture rate while minimizing casualties."

He paused before adding,

"Most importantly, this must be kept secret. Mammoths are too valuable. If word gets out, it will undoubtedly attract unwanted attention."

"I understand!"

Lillian nodded firmly.

"And the timing? When do we move?"

"In three days. Our people will rendezvous at the designated location and start setting the trap."

Raylo said.

"You need to gather your people and supplies as quickly as possible."

"No problem!"

"I’ll have Lady Irina and her students help prepare the Magic Traps."

Lillian agreed without a moment’s hesitation, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

The gloom of the coming war seemed to dissipate in the face of this unexpected good fortune.

For her, the chance to fight alongside her brother and hunt such a valuable strategic resource together was enough to make her blood boil with excitement.

With the plan to hunt the Mammoths settled, Lillian’s mood lightened considerably.

She tugged on Raylo’s arm, chattering away about amusing incidents in her territory and complaining about some of the less-than-obedient minor nobles.

Raylo listened patiently, offering advice from time to time.

They had a pleasant lunch in a small dining room in the castle.

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, scattering colorful specks of light. The table was laid with specialties from Amber Territory: roasted fish, a rich wild mushroom soup, and fresh fruit wine.

"Brother, have some more of this," Lillian said, placing a piece of golden-brown roasted fish onto Raylo’s plate.

"This is a Golden-Scale Fish, unique to Amber Lake. The meat is exceptionally delicious."

Raylo took a bite. It was delicious.

Watching his sister bustle about, a warmth spread through his chest.

The clouds of war were gathering, but this moment of warmth was real and precious.

Meanwhile, Moonlight lay on a soft cushion by the fireplace, a plate set before it as well.

On the plate were three or four Golden-Scale Fish, pan-fried to a golden brown. The fish’s flesh was tender and had almost no fine bones. For once, Moonlight ate with a rare, slow elegance.

Raylo did not stay long after lunch.

Matters of war were pressing, and there was much for him to attend to back in Black Stone Territory.

"I should be heading back."

Raylo said as he rose to his feet.

Lillian looked reluctant to see him go.

"Brother, be careful on your way back. I’ll get everything ready for the Mammoths."

"Good."

Raylo walked out of the castle, where Baofeng was already waiting in the courtyard.

He swung himself onto Baofeng’s back and gave Lillian one last look.

"See you in three days."

"See you in three days, Brother!"

Lillian waved.

"Let’s go, Baofeng!"

Baofeng let out a shrill cry, powerfully beat his wings, and kicked up a fierce gust of wind. He carried Raylo and Moonlight skyward, and they soon vanished into the blue expanse, heading in the direction of Black Stone Territory.

Lillian stood in the courtyard, watching her brother’s figure recede until it was just a tiny black dot in the distance.