Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 381 The Magnificent City of Flashspear: Recruiting the Dragon Slayer and the Great 6th Ring Wizard

As the territory's army began to assemble, Su Li also arrived in Flashspear City with his high-ranking personal attendants.

This was Su Li's first inspection of the most central city in the western region of his territory since the city began construction.

The landscape here is completely different from that of Hessian City. Hessian City developed from scratch, so you can clearly feel the pastoral scenery that exists everywhere in that city. Many buildings are relatively simple and primitive, like a feudal city from the agricultural era.

However, Flashspear City was different. From the day its construction began, the Black Forest Territory provided it with tremendous support. Thousands of dwarven engineers, along with a large number of construction teams, propelled the city's development with unparalleled manpower and resources, maintaining an extremely high level of standards from the very beginning of its construction.

The numerous buildings possess the grand and imposing style of dwarven architecture, resplendent in gold and jewels. Skyscrapers and towers abound, and various mansions, exchanges, and cathedrals make the city resemble a showcase of the highest level of civilization in the territory. Its standard undoubtedly approaches the trend of major territories and commercial centers within the empire. It doesn't resemble a feudal city, but rather a modern city with a highly developed urban class after industrialization.

In particular, the various spires tens of meters high and the high-rise buildings with prismatic architectural styles stand on both sides of the commercial district. From the moment you enter the city, you can feel the city's extremely high level of technology and construction.

The densely packed buildings throughout the city of Flashspear clearly delineate the city's social classes and functional zones.

At the highest point, the dazzling Spear of Heaven undoubtedly stood. When the army entered the western plains and was still about 200 kilometers away from the city, they could already see the city standing on the high ground on the vast plains, and the gleaming spear tip piercing through the clouds.

This nascent city offers adventurers embarking on perilous journeys opportunities unlike any other in the old world. The chance to settle behind the city's high walls, the hidden wealth, and the fresh start attract residents from all corners of the world.

However, Flashspear City was not the paradise of dreams. The influx of merchants and the wealthy also brought gangs and assassins; the divine grace that lingered in the sky attracted mages and scholars seeking power, who longed to explore the blessings of the gods. Meanwhile, the corruption of Tzeentch and Selene had not left the city. Rumors of missing civilians, the rise of cults, and monsters lurking in the alleys filled the streets and alleys.

But even more numerous were the Chaos Warbands, Beastman tribes, and countless goblins who had converged from all directions of the wilderness. They flocked here like pilgrims, intending to completely seize this city.

This scene is somewhat similar to that of the Indians living below the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. They can see the plateau in the clouds from hundreds of miles away, and then countless dirty, filthy, and whimsical Indians, like goblins, begin to march towards this highland, intending to take it for themselves.

The city is now governed by Father Ronne, the Speaker of the Arbitration Tribunal, the Patriarch of the Church of the Sun Goddess, and a former chosen knight of the Church of Sharya.

Indeed, from its inception, this city was designed as a more developed cultural and religious city. Therefore, it has no ruler; instead, it is governed by the speaker of the Arbitration Tribunal.

The entire arbitration tribunal has 36 seats and is currently jointly composed of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun, the Church of Sharya, the Church of Verena, the Church of Mor, the Church of Tal, the Church of Rhea, the Church of Mannan, the Church of Ridema, and the Church of Yurik.

This group includes not only priests and priests from various churches, but also grandmasters from various knightly orders. For example, Freya is one of the 36 arbitrators.

In addition to the various churches, high-ranking craftsmen, guild leaders, wealthy merchants, and halfling clan chiefs also occupied certain positions.

Rong En walked with Su Li on the street and briefly introduced the current situation before continuing, "In order to develop the city, we are currently in contact with several other candidates for the Arbitration Committee, such as Stonehammer, son of the dwarf dragon butcher Sogard Barentin, and the 6th-circle wizard Thrall Acosta."

"Hiss~" Su Li took a deep breath and asked in amazement, "The Dragon Slayer? That's terrifying combat power at the God-Chosen level. Tell me about him."

Ron immediately explained in detail: "Sogard comes from the ancient Stonehammer clan, a clan renowned for upholding the oath of their ancestors and the secrets deep within the mines. In his youth, an ancient red dragon named Gorus the Rockbreaker attacked their main mining city, Karachik. Dragonfire engulfed Sogard's homeland, and his father—the clan lord at the time, Barendin—fought the dragon with the ancestral warhammer, the Rockbreaker, to cover the clan's retreat. Ultimately, he and the dragon plunged into the abyss of the collapsing mine tunnels, their fate unknown, leaving behind only blood-stained fragments of the warhammer."

"On that very day, young Sogard, before the shrine of his ancestor Grimnir, swore a blood oath with a fragment of his father's warhammer and his own blood—that he would never grow a beard or remove his armor until he had slain all the dragons of the world, until he had avenged his father, until he died or found his father (whether alive or dead). This is the heavy origin of the title 'Son of Barentin,' and the starting point of his path as a butcher."

"After taking the oath, Sogard did not inherit the lordship (his uncle temporarily took over), but instead left the mountain fortress alone, carrying the broken fragments of the 'Rockbreaker'. He became a dragon slayer, a solitary calamity. His footprints covered treacherous mountain peaks, dark ravines, and forgotten dragon nests."

"He spent decades honing his skills, studying the weaknesses of dragons, and tracking their tracks. He learned from the oldest rune blacksmith and incorporated fragments of his father's warhammer into a newly forged, massive two-handed warhammer engraved with dragon-slaying runes—which he named 'Gorusk,' both as a tribute and a declaration."

"In the years that followed, Sogard's kill list grew astonishingly long. At least five adult, fearsome dragons are known to have fallen beneath his warhammer:"
Frostwing Vasarag: A white dragon that dwells on the northern ice peaks, which once froze and destroyed several human villages. Sogard pursued it for three days and three nights through a blizzard, finally breaking its spine in its lair.

Nix, Lord of the Poison Swamp: A cunning green dragon that dwells in the stinking swamp, killing many adventurers with its poisonous fog and traps. Sogard used specially made antidotes and runic armor to withstand the poisonous fog, trading injury for life, and smashed its head with his warhammer.

Silas the Shadow: A elusive shadow dragon, skilled at attacking caravans at night. Sogard set a trap, using glowing runes as bait, and delivered a fatal blow as Silas swooped down. This was the dragon that came closest to his target of revenge; its scales were said to resemble those of the 'Rockburner,' but it was confirmed not to be Gorus.

There were also two dragons whose names were not recorded in detail, possibly a blue dragon and a black dragon. Their heads were taken back to Karachik Keep by Sogard and hung above the main gate as a symbol of the clan's honor and a warning to other dragons.

Good heavens, Su Li knew that the Dwarf Dragon Butcher was brave, but this was a bit too fierce!

It's important to understand that being a dragon slayer doesn't mean you can reliably kill dragons; it means you have the qualifications to do so.

In fact, this is a path to death; most butchers die while slaughtering monsters, thus finding release. Therefore, Gotrek is considered the most unsuccessful butcher in history because he never dies.

This Sogard looks like a failed dragon slayer!
Su Li exclaimed in shock, "Judging from his performance, his strength is already close to that of a high-level chosen god, right?"

“Yes.” Ron nodded and said, “Currently, he is a mid-level God-chosen Butcher, but he could break through to the high-level God-chosen at any time. Everyone agrees that he has a chance to become a legendary Butcher.”

"Of course, slaying a dragon is no easy feat. Sogard's legend was earned with countless scars. His most prominent mark is a huge, charred claw mark on his left cheek, running diagonally from his forehead to his chin, left by Frostwing Vasag. This scar nearly blinded him in one eye, but he refused to have it fully healed with magic, considering it a warrior's badge of honor."

"His armor, the Dragon Vengeance Plate Armor, was crafted by the best blacksmiths and rune masters of the Stonehammer Clan. It was covered with chisel marks from dragon teeth, scratches from dragon claws, and charred marks from dragon flames, each one a testament to a life-or-death battle. It is said that the armor itself gained a mysterious power from being soaked in so much dragon blood."

"Despite his illustrious achievements, Sogard has never forgotten the core of his oath: to find [Gorus the Rockburner], confirm his father's fate, and exact revenge. He has been gathering clues about Gorus. Rumors say that the red dragon is not dead, but rather severely wounded and lurking in some fiery corner of the world, or being used by dark forces. Sogard's journey is far from over."

"We invited him to join the arbitration panel not only because of his unparalleled personal prowess and dragon-slaying expertise, but also because he represents the values ​​most cherished by the dwarves: perseverance, keeping oaths, honor above all else, and absolute loyalty to ancestors and traditions. His very existence is a powerful symbol that can greatly unite the dwarven community and make Flashspear a city that dwarves and dwarven butchers aspire to."

"At the same time, he has slaughtered a large number of dragons and possesses a great deal of wealth. His involvement will greatly enhance the wealth level of our city and further increase the influence of the arbitration panel. I think you can understand that such a scale of wealth and power is itself an unparalleled influence, which will involve many interests and make the arbitration panel's intervention capabilities even stronger."

Of course, Su Li could understand this. Wealth represents enormous influence in any world, and behind it lies an untold web of vested interests.

Su Li asked eagerly, "What was Sogard's reply?"

Rong En didn't answer directly. Instead, he smiled and led Su Li through the city gate to the main street. Pointing to the wide stone street and steel-style buildings ahead, he said, "This is the Steel Road, the industrial center of Flashspear City. This vast city is home to countless Imperial engineers, dwarven blacksmiths, and families of free guilds. The wide roads facilitate the transport of supplies and large war machines. It can be said that this is the cradle of Blackforest's chosen-class equipment." "Crossing this street is the foundry, the location of the Imperial Engineering Academy's first gear workshop, and the birthplace of most of Flashspear City's industry. Since the founding of Flashspear City, the status of the foundry has steadily risen, and its real estate has become highly sought after as a home for wealthy merchants and artisans. The upper echelons of the dwarven blacksmiths also work and live in the foundry, and many merchants and traders have recently moved in as well."

"Therefore, there is also a dazzling market on the east side of the street, and the overwhelming number of shops, stalls and residences has turned this into a bustling, separate district."

"My lord, the implications of all this are self-evident! This is the place that can provide the dwarven butcher with the best equipment and intelligence. If he can settle here, Sogard can equip himself with better gear and gather intelligence on dragons at a much faster pace. We've already spoken three or four times, and I'm certain that if we can provide him with a set of Chosen or rare-grade equipment, he'll be willing to join our Flashspear City."

Upon hearing this news, Su Li felt greatly invigorated and laughed loudly, saying, "Great! Great! Great! If we can have a chosen dwarf butcher serving our territory, our military strength will surely increase significantly."

Before this, Su Li had never imagined that Black Forest Territory could attract the Dragon Butcher!

This is a being capable of slaying dragons! With his addition, Su Li's confidence will be greatly enhanced, whether facing Maleburg or the Nightwalker Corpses.

Ron quickly added, "My lord, there's something I need to tell you beforehand to avoid any misunderstanding. Dragon Butcher Sogard has repeatedly emphasized that he joined Flashspear City, not Blackwood Territory. In other words, he is a member of the city's Inquisition and is under its command, not your direct orders."

This isn't a big problem.

Su Li's initial willingness to designate Flashspear City as a city of faith and culture stemmed from his intention to minimize direct intervention in the city and grant it a degree of autonomy. He was not one to go back on his word; having agreed that the Court of Justice would govern the city, he would not interfere excessively.

This doesn't mean the city is beyond his control; he's simply handed it over to a professional manager. The city's tax revenue and governing power remain with him. At the very least, the elected speaker must be appointed by him before taking office.

This point was clearly stipulated before the establishment of Flashspear City. At that time, he also regarded the position of the Flashspear City Speaker as one of the most important means of winning over various churches.

Therefore, if the Speaker and Council of Flashspear City unanimously decide to send troops to fight alongside the army of Black Forest Territory, then Sogard will have to obey Su Li's orders.

The reason Su Li wanted to give this city a certain degree of autonomy was because all sorts of chaotic armies and evil war gangs would always swarm in from around the city, threatening its safety.

If every matter requires approval from the Black Forest Territory, then command and combat will become too rigid and sluggish. The city must be given the power to make its own decisions and engage in battle so that they can respond more flexibly to the threat of monster sieges.

Another reason they have a certain degree of autonomy is that their army is not recruited and trained by Su Li, but is managed by soldiers from a free guild.

These soldiers were recruited from the city's populace to support the existing legions and serve as the city's police force. Those who commit crimes in Flashspear City may be apprehended by the Free Guild's police and ultimately imprisoned or sent to the desolate village.

Soldiers of the Free Guild patrol the streets, help guard the city walls, and perform routine tasks that are insignificant to the main legions of the territory. Theoretically, guarding the city falls within their jurisdiction, but few Free Guild soldiers disobey the orders of the Lord of Blacksend. The Free Guild is not merely the city's watchdog; they are also called upon to protect the city from external threats when necessary. Sentinels are frequently stationed on the walls of Flashspear, ready to sound the alarm in the event of an attack.

The city is home to many free guilds, including the Light Watchers who guard the Hall of Radiance, the jailers who manage the prison, and the Crimson Shield under the command of the Arbitration Seat, Engineering Master Kurgan.

Of course, if Sogard joins the city's arbitration panel, Ron also plans to establish a "Blazing Butchers" force. Butchers who worship the dwarf Gmnir will serve as mercenaries, loyal to the highest bidder, and will only accept dwarven oath money as payment.

These mercenaries serve as city guards during wartime and accept missions from their employers during peacetime. Flashspear City is the perfect place to find mercenary work, whether joining a dangerous expedition to the Shining Mountains or exploring ancient ruins, castles, and wizard towers for adventurers, all for which there are substantial dwarven pledge gold rewards.

For some truly pure dwarven butchers, the mere pursuit of battle is enough to pay homage to Gromnir; fighting beneath the walls to protect the city from the invasion of Chaos demons is enough to excite and serve them.

Currently, Flashspear City boasts over 400 free guild soldiers, all of whom will undoubtedly participate in the upcoming war between Blackforest Territory and BlueMirror Territory. After all, Su Li's influence over Flashspear City is currently unparalleled!

Su Li had complete confidence in Flashspear City's heavy industry, and then he asked, "What's the deal with the 6th Ring Wizard Thrall?"

Ron, recovering from the shocking description of Sogard, spoke in a more pragmatic tone, even with a hint of admiration: "Ah, Lord Sal Acosta? He and Lord Sogard are completely different beings, Lord Su Li. If Sogard is a destructive force like a landslide, then Lord Acosta is more like... well... a combination of a river that nourishes all things and a furnace that forges all things. His strength lies not only in his power itself, but also in his extraordinary ability to transform profound sorcery into practical products, which is exactly what our city urgently needs for its development."

"His past achievements, especially in the field of production, are enough to make any lord or merchant leader flock to him: Lord Sal did not come from those ancient wizarding towers that only pursued pure knowledge or destructive power. In his early years, he traveled extensively and deeply felt that if witchcraft or magic could not effectively improve life, enhance defense, or promote production, it would be a huge waste. About thirty years ago, he established the [Weaving Workshop] near Middenheim, a famous city in the northern part of the Old World. This was not a simple laboratory, but more like a combination of laboratory and workshop."

“There he recruited and trained talented apprentices and craftsmen, breaking down the complex enchanting process into repeatable, collaborative steps. This was almost sacrilegious to traditional wizards, but the results were astonishing.”

"There he created the most well-known and in-demand product line, the Acosta Barrier Amulet."

"These amulets are not disposable items, but amulets that can be continuously charged by consuming psionic gems. The superior-grade amulets can provide strong protection, especially effective against arrows and sword strikes."

"By replacing or stacking different core rune stones, one can specifically enhance immunity to fire, ice, lightning, and even specific types of magical energy (such as necromancy and chaos corruption)."

"The key lies in cost control and reliability. His Excellency Thrall has used his profound knowledge of runes and his skills in elemental shaping to significantly reduce the cost of amulets. This allows them to be equipped by city guards, important artisans, caravan guards, and even wealthy commoners, greatly enhancing the overall defense of the city and the public's sense of security."

"He came to the border princely territory to provide more protection for the civilians and knights who were developing the border. Legend has it that he is seeking inspiration to create the rare-grade Wall of Fortitude amulet. When the champion knight or the chosen knight activates this amulet, it can provide protection for a squadron of soldiers around it. It is definitely a divine artifact on the battlefield."

No wonder Speaker Ron, a former Chosen Knight, spoke with admiration when discussing the wizard Sal. Su Li also held this powerful wizard in high esteem!
This is a truly noble wizard with ideals and aspirations, who has transcended vulgar interests and has grand ambitions!

It can be said that he was working for the sake of the people. He voluntarily left behind his comfortable, wealthy, and prosperous life and came to the dangerous and war-torn border princely territory.

Su Li said decisively, “It is absolutely right for Flashspear City to contact him. Please convey my respect to Lord Sal and tell him that Flashspear City needs a noble person like him to govern. There will always be a place for him on the arbitration panel in Flashspear City. We in Flashspear City are willing to provide him with a stage to benefit the people of the Empire and will never force him to do anything.”

Ron nodded emphatically, his spirits lifted, and said, "I believe that Lord Sal will be able to feel your sincerity, my lord. Flashspear City is indeed suitable for such a pure and noble wizard to carry out his grand ambition."

As the two were talking, a knight hurriedly came to the middle of the guards and reported a few words to Hilde.

Hilde's expression changed immediately, and she walked towards Su Li, clearly indicating that something urgent had happened!

(End of this chapter)