Dawn had just broken in the morning.
The excitement from discovering the wizard's journal last night had not yet fully faded away. That thick book made of beast hide seemed to still be emitting a strange magic in his embrace.
Raylo sat up and rubbed his slightly heavy temples. Last night, he had almost fallen asleep while holding the journal, his mind repeatedly going over the details of those potion recipes and magical beast - breeding methods until he finally drifted off into a deep sleep late at night.
[Daily Intelligence Refresh]
[1: Traces of the Magical Snake's Minions have been found at the edge of the Jade Swamp. Among the minion group, large - scale magical beast footprints have been discovered.]
[2: The Baron of nearby Silvermoon City has issued a public announcement, offering high salaries to recruit retired soldiers and mercenaries to expand his private guard.]
[3: A merchant caravan heading to Silverstream City, worried about the security situation in Blackstone Town and lacking goods for trade, has confirmed that it will change its route and bypass our town.]
[4: In recent days, many herders have found their livestock disappearing without reason. The patrol team has discovered some messy wolf paw prints, confirming the presence of wolf packs around Blackstone Town.]
[5: A merchant caravan from the valley is expected to arrive in Blackstone Town in three days. It is anticipated that the caravan will stay in Blackstone Town for one day. Please prepare the goods for trading with the caravan in advance.]
[6: On the ridge of the Blackstone Mountains, there is a stone pillar forest. A hunter has discovered multiple traces of griffin activities in this area.]
[7: ...]
[8: A group of refugees fleeing from the war - torn area in the west, consisting of about thirty people, is currently temporarily staying in an abandoned village forty - odd kilometers away from Blackstone Town. It is said that there are several craftsmen among them, including a blacksmith and a leatherworker, and their situation is pitiful.]
[9: The personal guard captain Ed has been stuck at the bottleneck of the second - stage Great Knight for many years. He is only one step away from breaking through to the third - stage Earth Knight. Preparing a precious breakthrough potion for him or rewarding him with an iron - armored rhino cub as a contracted magical beast both have a high probability of helping him break through the bottleneck.]
[10: Near the northern part of Blackstone Town, in the Blackstone Mountains, a group of bandits has established a stronghold in the mountain's strategic location. Currently, this group of bandits is preparing to come down the mountain to loot, and Blackstone Town, which is close to the Blackstone Mountains, will be the first to bear the brunt.]
Raylo had long intended to reward Ed with an iron - armored rhino cub as a magical pet.
After seeing the intelligence, he decided to put this matter on the agenda immediately.
With the bandits about to attack, having an Earth Knight in the territory would provide necessary protection for the territory's safety.
An Earth Knight is already a high - level combat force among knights.
In a small knightly order or a mercenary group, one could be the leader.
If Blackstone Town could have an Earth Knight sitting in town, whether it was to deter bandits or fight against magical beasts, its confidence would be completely different.
Thinking of this, Raylo didn't hesitate any longer.
He got up, tidied up his clothes, and strode out of the room.
Next to the stable, a temporary beast pen had been built.
Two iron - armored rhino cubs were being raised inside.
The enclosure was a bit simple, made of thick logs.
Inside, there were snorting sounds. The two half - person - tall gray - black little rhinos were chasing and playing around.
They were thick - skinned and tough. The horns on their heads were still very young, but when they ran, they already had quite an imposing manner, stamping the ground with a thudding sound.
When Raylo and Ed approached, the two little guys stopped their play and looked over curiously, their round eyes revealing a touch of simplicity.
In just a few days, under Ed's careful feeding, the two cubs had dispelled their hostility towards humans.
"Ed, how long have you been a Great Knight?" Raylo suddenly asked.
"My lord, it has been seven years."
"Seven years?" Raylo didn't ask for the reason. "The usual way to break through to the Earth Knight is to rely on a breakthrough potion. However, breakthrough potions are not cheap, and they are all in the hands of major families. I can't provide you with one for the time being."
"But as far as I know, there is an alternative method."
Raylo patted the big head of the iron - armored rhino cub that had come over.
"Contract a magical beast. Take advantage of the opportunity when the knight and the magical beast's souls merge during the contract, and their powers blend with each other to break through the bottleneck at one go."
"The iron - armored rhino is a third - stage magical beast, which is just right to help you break through to the Earth Knight." Raylo said.
Ed suddenly raised his head and looked at Raylo in shock.
His lips moved, but for a moment, he couldn't say a word.
An iron - armored rhino cub!
Its value was even higher than that of a third - stage breakthrough potion!
If the lord was willing to exchange the iron - armored rhino cub with other lords, he could definitely get back several times the value of a third - stage breakthrough potion.
The lord was actually... going to bestow it upon him?
This was not just a reward, but also a huge trust and expectation!
"My lord... this... this is too precious! Your subordinate..."
Ed, this taciturn tough guy, actually had his eyes redden slightly at this moment.
"Precious? Maybe."
Raylo patted Ed on the shoulder.
"Captain Ed, loyalty is the most precious thing in this world."
He said, "Go, don't let me down."
Ed took a deep breath, suddenly knelt down on one knee, placed his right hand over his chest, and said in a firm and powerful voice, "Your subordinate Ed swears to die for you, my lord! I will never fail your expectations!"
"Get up."
Raylo helped Ed up and handed him a magical beast contract scroll.
"Go, establish a contract with your new partner. I'll wait here for the good news of your breakthrough."
Ed nodded heavily, his eyes filled with gratitude and an unprecedented sense of determination.
He walked to the side of the enclosure, opened the gate, and slowly walked towards one of the iron - armored rhino cubs.
Ed reached out his hand.
The little rhino was a bit resistant at first, but soon, thanks to Ed's careful care these days, the little rhino, which had been fed many delicious treats by this human, no longer had any戒心 (suspicion).
It gradually calmed down, let out a low whimper, and took the initiative to rub its head against Ed's palm.
The scroll was torn open, and the light of the contract shone. An invisible bond connected the man and the beast.
At the moment the contract was completed, Ed's whole body shook violently!
A powerful and heavy aura burst out from his body!
"Roar!"
Ed let out a long - suppressed low roar towards the sky. The fighting spirit around him surged. It was no longer the previously condensed but slightly sluggish second - stage peak state. Instead, it became as thick and unrestrained as a substance!
A yellowish - brown light flowed around him, as if resonating with the earth beneath his feet.
The ground shook slightly, and the air seemed to become heavy.
The little rhino, which was still a bit clueless at first, seemed to be affected by its master's breakthrough. It excitedly pawed the ground with its short legs, let out a series of cheerful snorts, and then charged headfirst into the wooden fence next to it. With a "clang" sound, it actually cracked a thick log.
"..."
Ed felt the surging power in his body and looked at his magical pet, which had just caused trouble right after the contract, with a somewhat amused expression.
Raylo stood not far away, feeling the steady and mountain - like aura of the Earth Knight emanating from Ed. A sincere smile appeared on his face.
It worked!
A third - stage Earth Knight!
"Congratulations, Ed."
Raylo walked forward. "From today on, you are the first Earth Knight of Blackstone Manor."
Ed restrained his aura and turned to kneel down on one knee towards Raylo again.
"Thank you, my lord, for making this possible! Ed is willing to be your vanguard until death!"