The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 995 Dragon Blood as the Catalyst?

"Buzz!" Roland only touched the portal slightly, and an invisible wave began to spread from the point of contact.

“Hmm? Nothing…” Roland turned to Marquis Al-Tegran-Franz with a smile, but before he could speak, Roland vanished from Marquis Al-Tegran-Franz’s sight.

"..." Marquis Al-Tegran Franz twitched his eye, sighed helplessly, and followed.

……

"???" Roland, lying on the ground, was a little confused. He stared blankly at the magnificent and distant dome for a moment.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Marquis Al-Tegran Franz appeared beside Roland and extended his hand to him.

“Thank you! This is…” Roland said, turning his neck in disbelief. The magnificent building in front of him made Roland’s heart pound and he couldn’t help but stare in amazement at Marquis Al-Tegran Franz.

The massive golden pillars support the dome, and the spiral staircase winds upwards. All around are wooden cabinets with exquisite carvings, filled with antique books and old scrolls. The crystal chandeliers in the dome shimmer with soft light, casting illumination into every corner!
"This is the Imperial Library? How did it end up here?" Roland exclaimed in shock.

“He should have perished with the destruction of Lagrange!” Roland said, pointing to the magnificent building.

"Extinction? Are you joking?" Marquis Al-Tegran Franz shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"Do you have so little faith in the Empire? Isn't it normal to create a demiplane in the void? You don't actually think the Imperial Library is a building, do you?" Marquis Al-Tegran Franz grinned.

"You mean the Imperial Library is a demiplane floating in a spatial rift?" Roland's eyes lit up.

“Of course! The entrance to the temple back then was just a decoy. It was connected to the ordinary Imperial Library. The real Imperial Library is actually here!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said, raising his hand to point out to Roland.

“This place holds forbidden spells of sages throughout history! It holds the secret history of the empire! It records the traces of wild dragon nests and boundless knowledge! This is the true wealth of the empire! Now it is time to return it to its rightful owner!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz stepped forward and picked up a book on the platform in the center of the hall.

"The Book of Wisdom?" Roland asked instinctively.

"Isn't this an artifact for mages from the Empire?" Roland asked curiously.

"At the same time, he is also the key to unlocking this secret treasure! Only you can use him!" Marquis Al-Tegran Franz respectfully presented it with both hands.

"This thing recognizes bloodlines?" Roland wondered as he flipped through the heavy Book of Wisdom in his hand. The cover, made of some kind of leather, had a tear mark carved on it, like a dragon's claw. Looking at the standard Lagrange heraldic pattern, Roland immediately guessed that this thing was probably dragon skin!

“Actually, everyone who flatters him can use it, but right now, you are the most qualified!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said awkwardly but politely. After all, for many years, the Franz family has served as the key keeper, and at the same time, they are responsible for recording the court's internal history, making them royal historians! The various secrets collected over the years can naturally be stored here, and walking through it naturally requires the use of the Book of Wisdom.

“You cannot go up to the second floor without this book! Only the upper floors of this hall contain the true secrets; the first floor contains miscellaneous records that can be read at will. Anyone who can enter can look at these scrolls! But you need this book to go up!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz nodded to Roland.

"Isn't there any other way? What if the book is lost?" Roland suddenly asked, since any key could be lost.

"..." Roland could clearly see Marquis Al-Tegran Franz's eyelids and the corners of his mouth twitching involuntarily a few times. "Is it possible that the Franz family doesn't have just one key to enter here, and that this book wasn't taken out..." Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said somewhat awkwardly, covering his face.

“In fact, the royal family and several other court nobles all have keys to this place…” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said solemnly.

"You mean the Swift Hand also has it?" Roland raised an eyebrow as if he had discovered something interesting.

"You're overthinking it. You don't need to speculate about the loyalty of the Swift Hand family. They share the fate of the nation, they wouldn't..." Marquis Al-Tegran Franz realized he might have led Roland astray and quickly clarified, otherwise, if the Vladivostok family accused him of slandering them behind their backs, wouldn't that be a disaster!
“No, I have no doubt about the loyalty of the Swift Hand. Everyone has witnessed the Swift Hand’s loyalty to the Empire!” Roland stopped Marquis Al-Tegran Franz’s explanation and shook his head.

“The key must have been lost. After all, during the final collapse of the empire, everyone was scattered! So many traditions were broken!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said regretfully.

“That’s true!” Roland nodded in agreement with Marquis Al-Tegran-Franz’s conjecture.

"What a wonderful thing! It's a pity we can't use it now!" Roland looked around in awe, then walked up with the Book of Wisdom in his hands.

"Good heavens! These are all forbidden spell inheritances!"

"Tsk! This kind of dragon clan secret is also included? This is probably not just unofficial history, but just history, right?" Roland casually flipped through some books and scrolls and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Many things inside are not needed now, but they cannot be without them. These are the foundation of the empire!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz exclaimed.

"So you got the method for making that scroll from that pile of books and scrolls from downstairs?" Roland pointed to the messy pile of books and scrolls on the first floor.

“Yes, that thing isn’t qualified to go above the second floor!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said, embarrassed. How could a second-tier magic possibly go above the second floor, unless it was something truly groundbreaking!
"Alright, let's go! Don't tell anyone about this place. The kingdom needs to develop discreetly right now. Too many people talking will only cause trouble!" Roland instructed.

“I understand!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz nodded quickly.

Regarding the Imperial Library, Duke Joelster had actually guessed it long ago when he met Marquis Al-Tegran Franz. After all, they were both from families that possessed the key to the library, so it would be unreasonable for Duke Joelster not to know. However, he tacitly did not tell Roland about it and waited for Franz to confess to Roland.

"By the way, what materials are needed for such a powerful magic scroll? Will you come to me for approval? There's also the issue of manpower. The kingdom owes Duke Yunfeng a lot, and I'm too ashamed to trouble him with this matter. You can go to him yourself!" Roland shuddered at the thought of Yunfeng's expression as if he wanted to devour him.

“It’s not that Duke Yunfeng is the only one who can make it; in fact, any second-tier mage in the kingdom can do it!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said after a moment’s hesitation.

"Huh? The mage stole the alchemist's job?" Roland was taken aback and casually took out a glass of juice.

"The reason why this scroll is so powerful is that it requires the blood of the Light Dragon Clan. With the blood of the Light Dragon Clan, even an ordinary mage can seal this scroll..." Marquis Al-Tegran Franz gave an awkward laugh.

"Pfft!" Roland spat out a mouthful of water.

Please, kind sirs, I'm starving!