130: Stunning the audience

King Olai's voice reached everyone's ears.

"According to custom, rewards will be comprehensively assessed based on war service records, territorial contributions, and the number of kills." The King looked at the administrative official beside him, "Lord Aivik, begin reading the first list of meritorious deeds and the reward proposal."

The white-haired administrative official, Aivik, stepped forward and unfurled a gold-trimmed parchment. He first read out the achievements of nearly thirty counts and viscounts who had performed outstandingly on the front lines, granting them corresponding gold coin rewards, small amounts of land, and promises of rank promotion. These were just appetizers; the real main event was yet to come.

When he read the fifth proposal, Aivik's voice paused slightly.

"Storm Sea Region, Lord of Shattered Star Island, Viscount Lynn Star Sea." He read the name clearly.

Below the stage, Viscount Nocturne leaned forward slightly. Count Ellis's lips curled into a cold sneer. Marquis Golden Peacock calmly adjusted his cuffs. The two dukes looked calm, their emotions unreadable.

"At the Early Stage of the war, Viscount Lynn independently led his troops to defeat the coalition of boar-men and minotaur tribes, beheaded the enemy chieftains, expanded territory by approximately 30,000 square kilometers on the east coast of the Great Wilderness Forest, and began establishing strongholds and opening shipping routes, laying the foundation for the kingdom's subsequent control of the eastern coastal region. His achievements are outstanding." Aivik read from the record mechanically.

There was a slight commotion below the stage. 30,000 square kilometers! This was almost equivalent to the entire area of a marquis's territory! And it was conquered by a viscount?

"However," Aivik changed the subject—a twist not in the proposal but one everyone present knew well, "Given that Viscount Lynn's rank is only that of a viscount, according to the 'Kingdom Noble Law' and Appendix Three of the Wartime Temporary Regulations, the maximum autonomy a viscount-level noble can possess over newly expanded land is 5,000 to 6,000 square kilometers. The excess portion should be returned to the kingdom for direct administration or distributed by the kingdom to nobles with higher merits and more prestigious ranks to provide incentive and stabilize the new land."

He looked up at the King, awaiting final confirmation and specific distribution instructions. This was also one of the most important topics of today's meeting: how to divide this unconventional "unexpected windfall."

King Alaric nodded slightly and was about to speak.

Just then!

From the distant eastern Sky came a clear, long, and piercing bird cry that cut through the clouds!

The sound did not seem deafening at first, but it carried a peculiar piercing power, instantly drowning out all the subtle noise in the square and reaching everyone's ears clearly. Immediately after, a second, a third... ten bird cries rang out in succession, echoing each other, faintly carrying a certain rhythm and might.

Everyone in the square, including the King and the two Legendary figures on the high platform, could not help but look up at the eastern Sky.

Ten black dots were rapidly growing larger, breaking through the clouds and flying towards them at high speed. Their speed was extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, their silhouettes could be seen—they were ten magnificent griffons! Even more eye-catching were the knights on the griffons' backs; their deep sea-blue armor shimmered with the glow of magic in the sunlight, and they flew in perfect formation, like a blue blade slicing through the Sky.

"Griffon Knights?!" someone exclaimed.

The kingdom's marshal, Raymond, immediately ordered, "Prepare the magic crystal cannon!"

"It's the kingdom's flag! And the Star Sea Territory's flag! It's not the enemy!"

Everyone watched as Clay and Ocean Jack in the high distance each held a flag—one was the flag of the Aulai Kingdom, and the other was the flag of the Star Sea Territory.

"Look at the one in the lead! Such strong wind elemental fluctuations! It must be close to the Sky level!"

Under countless gazes, the ten griffons flew over Glory Fortress, but they did not land; instead, they began to circle the perimeter of the square. Their flight trajectory was precise and elegant, each wingbeat stirring up a strong airflow, and the knights in sea-blue armor sat steadily atop them, their eyes beneath their visors looking down calmly.

Just then, another change occurred.

In the eastern Sky, the clouds were suddenly pushed aside by an invisible force, as if a pair of invisible hands had torn open the Sky. Sunlight poured down through the gaps in the clouds, forming a dazzling pillar of light. Within the pillar of light, a silver figure slowly emerged, moving from afar to near; its speed seemed slow, yet it instantly crossed a distance of several thousand meters.

It was a Silver Dragon. The dragon's roar resounded through the clouds.

The slender, silver-white body was perfect and majestic, its wings seeming to cover a small half of the Sky when spread, and every scale reflected a cold and noble luster. The dragon's might, naturally exuding, slowly washed over the entire Glory Fortress like a tangible tide.

In the square, the warhorses of tens of thousands of soldiers began to neigh and pace uneasily, some even uncontrollably trying to retreat. The two Sky-level Flying Tigers crouching beside the throne now had their fur standing on end, emitting low, warning, and fearful whimpers from their throats, their massive bodies crouching slightly as if facing a formidable enemy.

On the high platform, King Alaric's pupils contracted slightly. "Silent One" Gordon's wooden staff, at its tip, an inconspicuous crystal silently lit up with a faint glow. "iron wall" Raymond gripped his sword hilt, his body slightly tensed.

All the nobles, whether counts, marquises, or dukes, held their breath at this moment, looking in disbelief at the silver figure descending from the Sky.

A Legendary Dragon!

The Silver Dragon hovered one hundred meters above Glory Fortress, its wings flapping slowly, the resulting wind pressure causing the flags in the square to rustle. Its gaze cast calmly toward the high platform, toward the King upon the throne.

Then, a figure leaped lightly from the dragon's back.

Without using any levitation Spells, he fell naturally from a hundred meters in the air, not even stirring up much dust upon landing. A dark gray cloak fluttered behind him, revealing simple yet exceptionally high-quality robes underneath.

Linn looked up, his gaze meeting the stares of the three Legendary figures on the high platform calmly, a faint, perfectly appropriate, polite smile even playing on the corners of his lips.

Destiny and the ten griffons remained motionless in the Sky above the square, having stopped their cries, while Elise, Clay, and Ocean Jack watched the young noble in the black robe below.

Linn walked forward slowly, bowed slightly, and performed a standard noble salute; Kingdom law stipulated that nobles did not need to kneel.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly carried across the silent square through magic elements:

"Storm Sea Region, Lord of Shattered Star Island, Viscount... Linn, here by decree to attend the meeting. I was delayed on the way; please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The entire Glory Fortress was deathly silent.

Only the sound of the airflow from the Silver Dragon and the ten griffons flapping their wings in the Sky remained.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the young viscount standing alone in front of the square, with a Legendary Dragon hovering behind him.

Count Ellis's face turned deathly pale in an instant. Marquis Golden Peacock's action of adjusting his cuffs froze. Viscount Nocturne let out a long, silent breath.

On the high platform, King Alaric was silent for a moment, his aged face revealing little emotion. He finally spoke slowly, his voice still steady:

"Viscount Lynn, you have come at just the right time."

"Your reward matters can be discussed in person right now. Take your seat!"