The next morning, the first rays of dawn pierced the morning mist, casting light upon the scorched and messy battlefield. The soldiers of Blackstone had been busy all night; the lingering scent of last night's slaughter still hung in the air. Most carried fatigue on their faces, but it was overshadowed by a sense of excitement. Overnight, the Blood Wolf Mercenaries—a malignant tumor that had plagued the Blackstone Mountains for years—had been utterly uprooted.
A few bold soldiers discussed the battle in low tones. "Tsk, that old dog Karl ran wild for over a decade, who would've thought he'd fall so fast?" "Lord Ed is the real deal. One thrust! Just one! Karl was an Earth Knight, wasn't he? Gone, just like that." "Heh, Ed's spear was faster than a lightning bolt!" Their voices were filled with awe for Leylo and worship for Ed's martial prowess. This clean victory had immensely boosted the army's morale.
[Daily Intelligence Refresh]
[Wild Boar King]: An exceptionally plump Wild Boar King is rampaging through the forest at the edge of the territory. Multiple hunters have failed to trap it, and it's been nicknamed the "Running Mountain of Meat."
[Alluvial Gold]: Small amounts of gold dust have been found upstream of the Blackwater River near Blackstone, but the content is extremely low and lacks mining value.
[Roaming Knight]: The wandering knight "Gale" Alex has appeared at the Blackstone Town tavern, reportedly searching for a sword named "Starbreaker."
[Ironclad Land Dragon]: An adult Ironclad Land Dragon has nested in the northern mountains. It is a Tier 3 magical beast with a violent temperament and a strong sense of territory. Its hide is excellent material for fine armor.
[Knight Seeds]: Following the great battle and the stimulation of bloodthirst, the apprentices at the Knight Training Camp have successfully activated their Knight Seeds. Within the coming week, a group of young knights, including Thor, will be born.
...
[Sulfur Hot Spring]: An intermittent sulfur hot spring has been discovered about fifty miles outside the northern border. The environment is harsh, but it has generated some associated rare minerals.
[Stone Crow Bandits]: Hades the "One-Eyed," leader of the Stone Crow bandits in the eastern hills, has received news of the Blood Wolf's demise. He has secretly dispatched small groups of bandits to infiltrate the power vacuum left behind.
[Storm Griffin]: An injured "Storm Griffin" has crashed in northern Blackstone. It lost a fight over "Dragon's Language" deep in the mountains and is heavily wounded. A Tier 3 beast, it is known for its incredible speed and agility among griffin species.
[Ironclad Rhino]: After daily feeding of Growth Potions, two Ironclad Rhino calves will pass their infancy in one week. One calf has yet to sign a contract with a knight; please choose a candidate soon, as the difficulty of contracting increases significantly after infancy.
Leylo did not immerse himself in the afterglow of victory.
"Bolin," Leylo called. The knight, whose enthusiasm had spiked recently, entered the room. "The Blood Wolf captives—how are they being handled?"
"As you ordered, we are screening them," Bolin reported clearly. "Thirty-seven die-hard criminals with blood on their hands have been isolated, awaiting your final command."
Leylo nodded. "Publicly execute them. Use their blood to atone for their sins."
"Understood. Furthermore, we identified over 120 locals who were recently coerced by the Blood Wolf. Their identities are verified."
"They are innocent. Give them enough rations and let them go home. Tell them if they ever side with bandits again, there will be no mercy," Leylo added.
"The remaining 200 are long-term members but aren't heavily stained with blood. Some have a conscience and resented Karl's cruelty. According to your plan..."
"These men still have value for reform," Leylo pondered. "Organize them into a 'Redemption Camp.' They will handle the hardest labor—mining and road construction—under strict supervision."
"Yes, My Lord. Finally, there are eighteen knights and two Great Knights who followed Karl. Their crimes do not warrant death."
"Incorporate them into the Knight Order as 'Atonement Knights.' They are not to leave the camp without orders. If they perform well, give them a chance to swear fealty later."
As Bolin left, Ed appeared. Having killed Karl in one blow, his fame had reached new heights, and his confidence had grown.
"Ed, take a Pegasus squad, capture nets, and ropes. We're heading to the northern border."
Leylo led twelve Pegasi into the northern mountains. Following the intelligence, they found a secluded ravine. There lay a massive Storm Griffin. It had the muscular body of a lion and the head and talons of an eagle, though one wing was twisted and a deep wound gored its belly. It was unconscious.
"Heavily wounded, just as expected," Leylo observed. "Follow the plan!"
Ten Pegasus knights spread out, casting heavy nets from different angles. The nets precision-wrapped the beast. "Tighten and secure!" Ed and the ground team carefully hoisted the heavy Tier 3 beast. The journey back was slow and steady, with the massive griffin suspended beneath the strength of several Pegasi, heading toward Blackstone Town.