Raylo looked at the innocent-looking Coal Ball at his feet, then lifted his head to look at the proud Moonlight on the bed.

He couldn’t quite believe his own judgment. He tentatively pointed at Coal Ball, then at himself, asking with his eyes.

"Moonlight, does this mean... you agree?"

Moonlight lifted her head haughtily, a very faint purr rumbling in her throat.

Then, she turned her head away and pretended to be engrossed in licking her paw, as if the decision just made had nothing to do with her.

Her proud demeanor, which seemed to say, ’I can’t be bothered with this little tagalong anymore, so consider yourself lucky,’ sent a wave of ecstasy through Raylo.

The immense surprise went to his head, but he didn’t rush toward Coal Ball first.

He dashed to the bedside in a single bound and, ignoring Moonlight’s "protest," scooped her up and spun around three times.

"Hmph!"

When Moonlight came to her senses, she gave Raylo’s chest a light pat, as if scolding him for his rashness.

Raylo laughed heartily and set her back down on the bed.

As soon as she landed, Moonlight immediately turned her head, shot him a glare that seemed to say, ’You foolish human,’ and then began to primly groom her ruffled fur.

...

「Half an hour later,」 in the castle’s dining hall, warm sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows, falling upon a lavishly set table.

The atmosphere at this breakfast was completely different from the oppressive mood of last night.

Moonlight was elegantly sprawled on her exclusive soft cushion. Before her sat a large silver platter filled with a milky-white silverfish soup, which she was lapping up in small, delicate sips.

But the rapidly dropping level of the soup exposed her excellent appetite at that moment.

On the other side, Coal Ball had no regard for appearances whatsoever.

He clutched a honey-glazed roasted goose leg—bigger than his own body—with both front paws, gnawing on it until his mouth was slick with grease. His black fur was flecked with shimmering oil, and satisfied gurgles occasionally rumbled from his throat.

Raylo sat in the main seat, holding a cup of hot milk. He wasn’t eating, just watching with a smile as the two little ones devoured their food like a whirlwind.

Just a moment ago, the pact between him and Coal Ball had been successfully completed.

There was no complex ritual, just a drop of fresh blood and a tongue-twisting contract Spell.

When he dripped a drop of his blood, infused with his Magic Power, onto Coal Ball’s forehead, the little one just licked it curiously. A pale golden, extremely complex contract rune then flashed for an instant before vanishing, leaving no other trace.

But Raylo could clearly feel that a brand-new, invisible bond had connected him to this Space Young Dragon.

It was a strange feeling, different from the profound bond with Moonlight that was already so deep in his soul it felt as natural as breathing.

The connection to Coal Ball was more like a slender but extremely resilient thread, through which he could vaguely perceive the little one’s emotions.

Right now, Coal Ball’s emotions were very simple: ’Happy. Yummy. This goose leg is delicious!’

Raylo chuckled and shook his head.

He glanced at Coal Ball, who was happily munching away, and then at Moonlight, who had nearly finished the entire platter of fish soup.

’Very well.’

’Even though I’m technically Coal Ball’s contract partner now, in that carefree little guy’s heart, my own status probably still ranks below big sister Moonlight.’

’It seems the Minister of Logistics for Black Stone Territory is completely devoted to his ’big sister.’’

’Still, this isn’t so bad.’

The pleasant post-meal tranquility was always short-lived.

Just as Raylo was planning to take Moonlight and Coal Ball for a walk on the grassy slope behind the castle, the heavy oak doors of the dining hall were thrown open.

Personal Guard Captain Ed strode in, his expression urgent.

"My Lord!"

Ed’s voice was laced with urgency.

"There’s been an incident."

Raylo froze, the cup of hot milk in his hand.

He looked at Ed, his eyes telling him to continue.

Ed took a deep breath, organizing his words.

"Sun... he killed Baron Kailan of Silver Moon Territory’s new son-in-law, Anrust."

The warm air in the dining hall seemed to have been sucked out in an instant.

’Baron Kailan?’

Raylo’s brow furrowed immediately.

Ed added, "A blast of Dragon Breath. The man was burned to a crisp."

Raylo set down his cup.

He was silent for two seconds, his mind rapidly running through the implications of the situation.

’A Golden Dragon killing a noble’s son-in-law in public... this could be a minor incident or a major one.’

’If handled poorly, it won’t just affect Black Stone Territory’s reputation; it could even be exploited by those with ulterior motives and escalate into a conflict between the Giant Dragons and the Human Kingdom.’

However, Raylo already knew the reason from previous intelligence reports: this new son-in-law of the Silver Moon Territory’s baron was a Vampire’s Blood Servant. He just didn’t know how Sun had happened to run into him.

"Alright."

Raylo stood up without any hesitation.

"Ed, assemble the Griffin Guard. We head to Silver Moon Territory at once."

"Yes, my Lord!"

Ed acknowledged the order and turned to leave quickly.

Moonlight, who had been dozing on her soft cushion, also opened her pale golden eyes. She stood up, shook out her glistening silver fur, and silently expressed her intention to go with them.

Coal Ball, however, was a bit confused. He held half a goose leg bone in his mouth, looked at Raylo, then at Moonlight, and finally chose to scurry on his short little legs, following closely behind Moonlight.

「A moment later.」

Raylo swung himself onto the broad back of Baofeng, the Storm Griffin King.

The Giant Beast sensed its master’s will and let out a long, piercing cry that could shatter stone.

Moonlight leaped gracefully onto the saddle in front of Raylo. Coal Ball followed close behind, skillfully burrowing in beside Moonlight, leaving only a pair of shiny black eyes visible.

Behind them, Ed and the Personal Guard he led were also ready.

Ed’s mount was no longer an ordinary Griffin, but a Thunderboltous Griffin King of equally nimble and majestic stature.

This was the new partner Raylo had bestowed upon him after his promotion to Sky Knight.

At that moment, Ed was clad in a full suit of Knight Plate Armor, holding a Long Spear. He rode his Thunderboltous Griffin King, hovering in the air as arcs of electricity occasionally flashed between the Griffin’s wings, cutting an imposing figure.

"Let’s go!"

With Raylo’s command, the party of more than a dozen people turned into streaks of light, tearing through the clouds and flying rapidly toward Silver Moon Territory.

The wind howled in their ears.

Raylo knew that although Sun was proud, he was by no means a reckless or impulsive individual.

He had made Sun his Knight partner precisely because of the honor and justice inherent in him as a Golden Dragon.

He had to get there as quickly as possible to control the situation and prevent it from escalating and causing worse consequences.

The borders of Silver Moon Territory soon appeared in their field of vision.

Even before they neared the heart of the territory, a tense and oppressive atmosphere washed over them.

When Baofeng descended and flew over the Central Plaza of Silver Moon Territory, the scene below made Raylo’s pupils contract slightly.

In the center of the plaza, the hundred-meter-long body of the Golden Dragon Sun was coiled like a towering golden mountain.

His smooth, golden scales glistened under the sun, exuding a beauty full of Power and majesty.

Surrounding him, hundreds of Knights in Silver Armor had him completely encircled, their Long Spears and blades all pointed at him without exception.

Farther away, Archers had already drawn their Longbows, their glinting arrowheads poised and ready to be loosed.