Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 118 - 113: Magic Space Bag

"I need a sufficiently large Magic Space Bag."

Raylo said, recalling the time and effort it had taken to move those heavy Inheritance Stone Slabs.

"As you know, some things are just too inconvenient to carry around."

Gao Wen and Viscount Baker both gave him looks of understanding.

’Every Lord has their own hidden treasures or special trophies, after all.’

"Furthermore,"

Raylo continued.

"I also need some High Tier Magic Cores and Magic Stones. Specifically, Tier Four Magic Cores and above, and Tier Three Magic Stones and above."

’Those two big toys, the Soul Horn and the Giant’s Grip, are massive energy sinks just waiting to be fed.’

Viscount Baker was secretly astounded.

Gao Wen mulled it over for a moment.

"As one of the largest trading hubs in the Northern Territory, I should be able to gather these items for you, despite their rarity."

He nodded.

"However, if you’re trading decades of stable income from the Iron Ore Vein for this, Raylo... you need to be sure. The values are certainly not equivalent."

"I understand,"

Raylo said.

"In the long run, the Iron Ore Vein is obviously more profitable. But I’m more focused on an immediate boost to my strength."

"Alright!"

Gao Wen didn’t press the matter. As a young man himself, he admired Raylo’s decisiveness.

"I’ll have my men take inventory in the warehouse and prepare everything for you immediately."

He summoned an attendant and whispered a few instructions. The attendant acknowledged the order and hurried off.

The side hall fell silent once more, the only movement being the steam gently rising from their teacups.

"Speaking of which."

Gao Wen raised his teacup, his expression turning solemn.

"Although I only succeeded my father a few days ago, I already feel the heavy burden he carried. The northern part of the Red Leaf Territory borders the Jade Swamp, and lately, those Demon Serpents have been growing more rampant. Several border villages have already been attacked."

At these words, Viscount Baker’s smile vanished.

"I’ve heard about this as well. The threat of the Jade Swamp is like a great stone weighing on the hearts of all the Lords in the Northern Territory. Their raids used to be minor and insignificant, but ever since Count Barton’s Allied Army was defeated and disturbed their nests, those serpents have been acting like they’ve gone mad."

Raylo recalled the hushed whispers among the Lords at the banquet and the lonely figure of Count Barton.

Gao Wen sighed.

"The Allied Army’s defeat was certainly due to issues with command and coordination, but it also exposed our lack of knowledge about the powerful Demons deep within the Jade Swamp. Now, they’re unleashing their fury on the surrounding territories, and the Red Leaf Territory, being on the front line, is bearing the brunt of it. I’m already at my wit’s end."

"Gao Wen, what are your plans?" Raylo asked.

Gao Wen’s gaze swept over Raylo and Viscount Baker as he spoke with great solemnity.

"The threat from the Jade Swamp isn’t a problem for any single Lord. We’re all in this together. I propose that we, whose territories are geographically close and who already have a foundation for cooperation, form a defensive alliance."

"A defensive alliance?"

A flicker of interest appeared in Viscount Baker’s eyes.

"That’s right."

Gao Wen nodded.

"Within the alliance, if any member suffers a large-scale attack, the others must provide aid with all their strength. In times of peace, we could also jointly fund patrols to eliminate smaller groups of Demons that slip through and to fortify our border defenses."

Raylo grew thoughtful.

’Gao Wen’s proposal is actually a good strategy for dealing with the current situation.’

’If we fight alone, the Demons of the Jade Swamp could easily pick us off one by one.’

’But if we unite, our strength will increase significantly.’

’It’s just that after the disastrous defeat of the Allied Army organized by the Count of Giant Stone, the neighboring Lords have lost their appetite for another coalition.’

’But for the three of us—myself, Gao Wen, and Viscount Baker—who already have a good history of cooperation, it wouldn’t be difficult to implement.’

"That’s a good idea."

Viscount Baker was the first to voice his support.

"Although the Red Maple Territory doesn’t directly border the Jade Swamp, we’ve suffered from it all the same. If we can watch over and help one another, I’m more than willing to join."

Raylo also nodded.

"An alliance is certainly better than fighting alone. We can discuss the specific terms in more detail later."

"Hearing you both say that is a great relief."

A relaxed smile appeared on Gao Wen’s face.

Securing the support of two crucial allies like Raylo and Viscount Baker boosted his confidence considerably.

Just then, a soft knock came from the door. The attendant who had been sent to retrieve the items entered, followed by two guards who were carefully carrying an exquisite wooden box and a bulging bag.

The attendant respectfully placed the wooden box and the bag on the table before Raylo. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Gao Wen motioned for Raylo to inspect them.

Raylo opened the bag first. The moment his hand touched it, he felt the faint ripple of Space Magic.

The bag was crafted from tanned, special Magical Beasts Hide and inscribed with complex Space Magic Runes. Its capacity was even larger than he had anticipated, around ten cubic meters.

This Magic Space Bag alone was worth over thirty thousand Golden Dragons.

’If I wasn’t trading away unseen, intangible future assets, my own pockets aren’t deep enough to afford a Treasure of this value.’

He nodded with satisfaction and then opened the wooden box.

The wooden box was lined with a soft velvet cloth.

Two fist-sized Magic Cores lay within, quietly radiating powerful waves of energy.

One was a deep, abyssal blue, seeming to contain a Thunderbolt within. The other was a scorching, fiery red, giving off the faint Illusion of flowing lava.

They were, indeed, two Tier Four Magic Cores.

Beside the Magic Cores lay five crystal-clear, pigeon-egg-sized Magic Stones, each emitting pure and powerful Elemental Energy. They were Tier Four Magic Stones.

Beneath them were twenty neatly arranged, slightly smaller, but equally potent Tier Three Magic Stones.

These supplies had already exceeded Raylo’s expectations. While they certainly couldn’t compare to the total profit from a medium-sized Iron Ore Vein over several decades, for Raylo, who urgently needed to boost his immediate combat strength, it was a timely and much-needed gift.

Furthermore, the fact that Gao Wen could gather all this in such a short time was a testament to his sincerity.

"Thank you, Gao Wen."

Raylo put the items away.

Gao Wen waved his hand with a smile.

Raylo smiled faintly.

"To me, these items are exactly what I desperately need. An Iron Ore Vein is great, but it’s a distant solution to a pressing problem."

Viscount Baker also nodded in agreement.

"Count Gao Wen is generous, and Baron Raylo is noble. With our three houses now allied and watching out for one another, the security of the Northern Territory is that much more assured."

"Indeed."

The three of them chatted for a little longer, agreeing on how to stay in contact before Raylo and Viscount Baker took their leave.

Outside the castle, Raylo and Viscount Baker parted ways.

Viscount Baker and his followers returned to Red Maple Territory.

"My Lord."

The Pegasus Knights guarding the mounts saw Raylo and immediately stepped forward to salute.

"Mm."

Raylo nodded, his gaze falling upon the magnificent Storm Griffin King, Baofeng.

The Giant Beast was leisurely preening its tawny Iron Feathers. Upon seeing Raylo, it let out a low, affectionate cry.

Raylo vaulted onto Baofeng’s broad back and ordered the Knights.

"Return to Black Stone Castle ahead of me. There’s no need to wait."

"Yes, my Lord!"

Though puzzled, the Knights acknowledged the order. They mounted their Pegasi and disappeared over the horizon as several streaks of white.

Raylo gently patted Baofeng’s neck and whispered.

"Let’s take a different route back, my friend."

Baofeng let out a piercing cry. With a powerful beat of its wings that kicked up a gale, its massive body shot into the air and flew northwest.

Instead of flying straight back to Black Stone Castle as he had come, Raylo guided Baofeng along the border between the Red Leaf Territory and the Jade Swamp.

Baofeng rode the air currents, its speed immense. Below them, the dense forest spread out like a green carpet.