It took over half an hour for Master Barnaby to let out a long breath and slowly straighten his back. He removed his magnifying glass, his eyes brimming with shock and exhilaration.
"Lord Baron, this legacy... it is truly a world-class treasure!" His voice was raspy but thick with emotion. "The secret arts recorded here can indeed allow humans to obtain the power of dragons. No wonder the ancient Dragon-Blood Knights could rival giants."
Leylo nodded, signaling him to continue.
Barnaby pondered for a moment before articulating his thoughts. "However, as powerful as it is, it is not perfect. Or rather, it is no longer suited for the current era."
"Oh? Why do you say that?" Leylo arched an eyebrow.
"Look here, My Lord," Barnaby pointed to a diagram of a Dragon-Blood Knight. "According to these records, the knights transformed through this method undergo significant 'draconic' mutations. Horns on the head, scales on the body, wings on the back, and even slit pupils."
He paused. "In my view, this isn't a perfect fusion; it's a deformity caused by bloodline pollution. Ancient humans accepted this price for survival, but in today's society, such an appearance would cause panic and lead to these knights being treated as monsters."
Leylo considered this. If his knights all grew horns and scales, the common folk of Blackstone might revolt before an enemy even arrived.
"More importantly," Barnaby said confidently, "we don't have to follow the ancients' path exactly. Knowledge develops. This legacy points the way, but we can optimize it."
"Optimize?" Leylo's interest was piqued.
"Yes! The core of this legacy is the safe absorption of dragon essence. The ancients used pure dragon blood—power that was too overbearing, hence the mutations. But dragons have many sub-species. Their blood is less pure, but it is milder and easier to obtain."
Barnaby began pacing excitedly. "We start with low-tier sub-dragons! We use alchemy to purify their blood, removing the impurities and violent factors while retaining the beneficial essence. Our goal shouldn't be to create half-human, half-dragon monsters, but powerful knights who wield dragon power while remaining entirely human!"
"We train a low-tier batch first to gather data. Once the technology matures, we move to higher-tier dragon beasts, and eventually, true dragon blood!"
Leylo's heart surged. This was innovation at its finest. "Master, your words are gold!"
Daily Intelligence Refresh
The morning sun dispelled the mist as the system updated:
Imperial Investigation: Duke Aiden has dispatched a squadron of Thunder Dragon Knights to the White Poplar Territory to investigate Augustus's unauthorized trial.
Total War: Full-scale war has erupted between the Kingdom of the Radiant Sun and the Grand Duchy of Thunder Dragon. Preparation orders have been issued to all lords.
Black Dragon Victory: The Black Dragon in the eastern Blackstone Mountains has defeated the "Blood-Throat" Warband; more monsters are flocking to its banner.
Assassination Plot: The "Shadow Blade" organization has accepted a contract from First Prince Elliot. Their third-ranked assassin, "Night Owl" (a Tier 4 Sky Knight), will arrive in Blackstone in seven days.
Refugee Crisis: Massive floods in western kingdoms have displaced hundreds of thousands; many are fleeing toward the Duchy and your territory.
Ominous Sign: Imperial Astrologers have observed a "Blood Moon," predicting major upheaval in the North.
Marsh Invasion: A Naga warband led by "Green-Eye," child of the Nine-Headed Serpent, has left the marsh to invade eastern kingdoms.
Natural Resource: 230km south of Blackstone, a beehive produces honey that can slowly increase mental energy.
Sub-Dragons: A pack of twenty "Iron-Back Dragon Lizards" (Tier 3) has migrated to the hills 300km east of Blackstone.
Political Instability: The King of the Bauhinia Kingdom is obsessed with "Wine of Immortality," leaving the court in chaos and princes vying for the throne.
Gathering Materials
"Lord Baron!" A Pegasus Knight returned with news. "We found a Land-Drake nest 30km away! There are at least seven or eight adults."
Land-Drakes were Tier 2 magic beasts—perfect for Barnaby's initial research.
"Excellent. Ed, take your men and handle it. Collect the blood in crystal bottles and deliver it to Master Barnaby immediately."
"Yes, My Lord!"
Leylo then looked at Thor, his talented young knight. "Thor, there's a beehive 230km to the south. Go bring back the honey. But be smart—those bees are dangerous."
By dusk, the results were in.
Ed returned with six Land-Drake carcasses and two shivering juveniles for research.
Then, Thor returned. He was a disaster. His armor was crooked, and every inch of exposed skin was covered in massive, red welts. Even his thick hair seemed to hide bee stings. His team followed behind, scratching themselves and groaning.
"M-m-my Lord..." Thor's voice was muffled by his swollen lips. "H-honey... got it..."
Leylo suppressed a laugh. "What happened? I told you to be careful."
"We tried smoke!" Thor grumbled. "But those bees were mad! I figured I'm tough enough, so I just grabbed the hive and ran..."
The result was a brutal "kissing" session from the angry swarm.
"Go see Karl for treatment," Leylo laughed. He turned to Ed. "Take the Drakes to the lab. Tell Barnaby the experiment begins tonight."