Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 500: Obtaining the Second Legend, Thunder Airship Joins the Fray
Faced with Su Li's amused expression, King Kadrin's breath seemed to freeze for a moment. The ease and inquiry on his weathered, rock-carved face vanished, replaced by an almost instinctive solemnity, deeply rooted in the dwarf's soul, and... a hint of barely perceptible panic.

Any topic involving the "Dwarven Oath Gold" is of utmost importance to the dwarves, as it concerns the oaths of their ancestors, the honor of their clan, and ancient laws that cannot be violated.

His broad hands gripped the handle of the legendary battle axe "Hate Terminator" almost involuntarily, his knuckles turning white from the force. His gaze sharpened, fixed on Su Li, as if trying to discern the most terrifying intentions beneath the other's calm smile. By Granny's grace, if this kid's vault held a certain amount of oath money… he didn't even dare to think what that meant. Did he covet "Hate Terminator" itself? Or some national treasure from the Gray Mountain Kingdom's treasury? Or worse… did he want to interfere in the dwarves' internal affairs? A series of terrifying thoughts churned within him like poisonous gas from the depths of the earth.

“Boy…” Kadlin’s voice turned unusually low and hoarse, filled with vigilance, “I swear by the forge of Gronney, you’d better state your demands directly. Don’t try to fool an old dwarf with oath money! You should know that every oath money recorded on the golden pages is heavier than a mountain, signifying the gaze of the ancestors and an inescapable responsibility! You… what exactly do you want?”

He even subconsciously turned slightly to the side, as if trying to use his body to block his beloved battle axe.

Su Li took in the old king's reaction and knew the time was right; he could no longer tease this serious ally. His smile faded slightly, replaced by utmost seriousness. Meeting Kadrin Iron Oath's tense and probing gaze, he spoke clearly and slowly:

“Your Majesty, you are overthinking it. I have no interest in your treasures or the internal affairs of Gray Mountain.” He first offered a reassuring remark, then revealed his true intentions: “What I want is a strategic weapon that can truly change the battlefield landscape in our fight against Chaos, and even any future threat.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle, before uttering, word by word, the term that made Calderin's pupils shrink:
“I want... the Grey Mountain Kingdom to deliver a legendary 'Thunder Airship' to my Black Forest Territory.”

"What?! Thunder Airship?!" King Kadrin exclaimed in shock, his voice even splitting into two. He almost instinctively took a half step back, as if he had been struck by the destructive energy contained in the word itself.

"Boy! Su Li! Do you know what you're asking for?! That's not a weapon, that's a moving mountain, a burning national treasury, the Engineers' Guild's most treasured possession!"

His shock was beyond words. Thunder Airships! Those were the pinnacle of dwarven engineering and runic magic, mobile fortresses soaring through the skies and sources of destruction! Each blueprint embodied the wisdom of countless generations of dwarven engineers, requiring an immense amount of extremely rare materials—from the core floating stone to the tough dragon hide, from the sophisticated steam core to the rune-encrusted heavy armor. Their value was immeasurable by ordinary gold coins, far exceeding that of ten or even a hundred so-called Chosen One weapons. It represented not just a piece of equipment, but the industrial foundation and strategic deterrent power of an entire nation!

Possessing a Thunder Airship means that the Blacksene commander instantly gains unparalleled strategic mobility, terrifying area suppression, and precise, devastating ground bombardment capabilities. Imagine that when the Greenskin army surges in like a tidal wave, they will no longer be forced to passively defend the city walls, but will be shrouded in a shadow of death, raining down deadly bombs and a storm of dense organ cannon shells;

When enemy behemoths or important war machines appear, airships can tear them apart with their absolute firepower and altitude; they can also ignore terrain, rapidly deploy elite forces, and scout vast areas, making the enemy's march and assembly extremely difficult.

This is indeed a request worthy of a "massive amount of dwarven covenant gold," and a request so astonishing that any dwarven king would need to gulp down a whole barrel of ale to calm down.

Meeting King Kadlin's shocked gaze, Su Li spoke in a calm yet unwavering tone: "Your Majesty, of course I know what this means. In fact, to some extent, I may have a more intuitive understanding of the Thunder Airship's power than you do."

After all, he had actually seen the Thunder Airship with his own eyes.

He calmly continued, "But I am equally aware that conventional forces are no longer sufficient in the face of our common and increasingly powerful enemy. The Black Forest needs eyes that can soar over the battlefield and iron fists that can unleash thunderous fury. This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a well-considered strategic necessity."

He gestured to the fertile, bountiful land beneath his feet: “And what I am willing to give is not merely the gold in the treasury that symbolizes ancient oaths. All the steel-bread produced in the future by the Black Forest Territory will be supplied to the Grey Mountain Kingdom with priority and on the most favorable terms. Your army will be stronger and more resilient than any enemy. This is not merely a transaction, Your Majesty; it is the foundation upon which we sharpen each other’s blades and make our alliance truly unbreakable.”

King Kadrin fell silent, his thick eyebrows furrowed tightly, his massive hands still gripping the warhammer handle. But the panic he had felt earlier was gradually replaced by an extremely complex emotion—shock, weighing the options, an instinctive resistance to such a huge promise, yet deep down he had to acknowledge the immense benefits that Su Li had described for the entire dwarven race, and… the unavoidable heavy responsibility brought about by that massive amount of pledge gold.

The shadow of the aerial fortress seems to have already loomed over this bountiful field.

King Kadrin remained silent for a long time, the only sounds being his heavy, slow breathing and the faint scraping of the handle of the "Hate Terminator" hammer, which he unconsciously rubbed. He gazed at the bountiful land before him, its surface shimmering with metallic light, but his eyes seemed to pierce through time and space, seeing the magnificent and arduous project deep within the Gray Mountains, and the even more colossal sky behemoth of the High Court.

Finally, he sighed heavily, his voice filled with a dwarf-like, complex mix of honesty and stubbornness.

“Lord Suli,” he began, his voice no longer loud but carrying a heavy sense of pragmatism, “you have made a request… for Granny’s beard, a request that could keep any dwarf king awake for ten years. But first, there is one thing I must clarify, lest you develop unrealistic expectations of me and the Grey Mountain Kingdom.”

He raised his head, staring intently at Su Li: "We, the Gray Mountain Kingdom, do not have any ready-made 'Legendary Thunder Airships' available for delivery."

Seeing Su Li raise an eyebrow, he immediately raised a hand and continued, "Listen to me! That kind of thing... that kind of aerial fortress that truly deserves the title 'legendary,' its design and construction are beyond your imagination. It requires not only a massive amount of rare materials and countless hours of craftsmanship, but also some... ancient knowledge and rune combinations that have long been lost, or only exist in the memories of a very few masters. As far as I know, currently, the entire dwarven race may only have two truly complete legendary airships preserved in the High King's court, as a trump card strategic deterrent, guarding the eternal skies of Karazar-a-Karak. Perhaps there are more, but that's a secret beyond my level to know."

He paused, observing Su Li's reaction, before slowly revealing the real solution: "So, if you really want one, I can't just ship one out of Gray Mountain's shipyard for you. What I can do is, in the name of the Gray Mountain Kingdom and all its allies, formally request the High Court—or more accurately, make a deal. Use that… astonishing amount of dwarven pledge gold you have to 'purchase' a construction quota and technical support for an airship."

The old king's voice carried a hint of helplessness, as well as a profound reverence for the rules themselves: "You must understand, young man. Possessing enough oath gold means you hold in your hands an irrefutable contract established by our ancestors. In theory, as long as your request doesn't directly destroy the Dwarven Kingdom, even the High King cannot easily refuse. This is an ironclad law etched deep within our blood and the very core of our laws."

King Cadlin's tone rose here, full of emphasis, and his thick fingers jabbed the air forcefully, as if trying to hammer the weight of each word into Su Li's heart.

"You must understand, Lord Su Li, this is not a simple bargain!" His voice was like thunder from the depths of a mine. "If it were anyone else—I mean any outsider, even if they were richer than a country and had mountains of oath gold—and they offered to buy a legendary airship, the result would be a predictable disaster!"

"Supreme King, faced with such a massive amount of gold that carries the oaths of our ancestors, he should have been unable to refuse. But the legendary airship... it is the backbone of our race, a mobile fortress in the sky, the ultimate crystallization of the blood and wisdom of countless ancestors! To hand it over, in the eyes of many stubborn old men, is tantamount to selling out our last dignity and defense."

The old king's breathing became heavy, his face showing a mixture of pain and resolve: "Then, the High King will face a terrible dilemma: uphold the oath, surrender the nation's most precious possessions, and bear the eternal infamy of 'selling out the dwarves' future'; or... defy that ancient law." He paused, his voice lowering, filled with tragedy: "If he chooses the latter—defying the oath—then, according to our oldest and harshest traditions, he, as the one directly responsible, will have no other choice. To salvage even the slightest bit of the clan's honor, utterly destroyed by his 'breach of the oath,' he must immediately swear an oath to become a butcher."

“Imagine that scene!” Kadrin’s voice trembled slightly. “The High King of the Dwarves, the nominal supreme ruler of all dwarves, the guardian of the Mountain of All Nations, unable to fulfill an ancient oath that was too heavy for him, shaved his head, tattooed his back, branded himself with shame, and embarked on a path to seek a glorious death! This would not just be his personal tragedy…”

His gaze grew distant and heavy, as if he could already foresee the catastrophic consequences: "This will be the heaviest, darkest page for the entire dwarven race since the opening of the 'Book of Hatred'! It means that the system of 'oaths and honors' that has sustained our society for thousands of years has suffered an irreparable rift. The morale of all dwarves will suffer a fatal blow. From the southernmost fortress to the northernmost outpost, every dwarf will feel bewilderment, shame, and unprecedented anger. Seeds of doubt will be sown: if even the High King cannot uphold his oaths, what is the meaning of everything we have upheld? This collapse of faith is more terrible than losing ten fortresses or losing a hundred thousand soldiers! The enemy's swords can only kill the body, but this internal collapse of honor will directly shatter the soul of our nation."

King Cadlin's tone rose here, full of emphasis, perfectly matching the dwarven stereotype that honor and prestige far outweigh life itself.

However, his expression immediately softened, the heavy gloom seemed to dissipate somewhat, and even a rare, rugged, and sincere smile appeared: "But you are different, Lord Suli. All these terrible hypotheticals will not happen because of you. You are the 'Returner of the Comb,' the hero who returned the golden comb that symbolized the legitimacy of the Supreme King and endless historical responsibility! Your name and deeds are written into our songs, sung in every smoky tavern and every brightly lit craftsman's shop. Your kindness to the entire dwarf race is a goodwill that is integrated into the long river of our history, and cannot be measured by ordinary values."

"Therefore, the nature of this request is entirely different when it comes from you. It is no longer a cold, potentially humiliating deal, but a strategic cooperation based on immense gratitude and deep friendship. We are exchanging a powerful weapon for a stronger commitment from a powerful and trustworthy ally, and precious rations that will make countless dwarven warriors' blood boil and their muscles grow stronger. This deal sounds more honorable than shameful. The old fogies of the Elders' Council and the Engineers' Guild will certainly argue fiercely, but in the end, they are more likely to sing a song of praise than draw their daggers to shave heads."

As Su Li listened to King Kadrin's words, the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter, a mixture of excitement at the imminent fulfillment of his immense ambition and boundless anticipation for the future battlefield. The outline of the aerial fortress in his mind was no longer a vague shadow, but gradually coalesced into a clear and powerful entity.

"Excellent, Your Majesty!" Su Li's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement. He nodded vigorously, as if he could already see the magnificent airship soaring through the azure skies of Black Forest Territory. "This means our deal is done! The Gray Mountain Kingdom will receive the much-needed food that will make its warriors as resilient as steel, and Black Forest Territory will welcome its guardian beast of the skies!"

His thoughts had already drifted to the battlefield of the future: "Imagine, as legendary Thunder Airships hover overhead, swarming the earth with their devastating organ cannons and bombs, the elite knightly orders led by the Saint Lily Knights will be able to charge forward with even greater impunity! Absolute dominance in the air and on the ground... this will completely change the nature of warfare! Any enemy will be utterly helpless before such power!"

Along with the excitement came a heavy, real pressure—but it was a happy pressure, an inevitable burden brought about by the rapid expansion of power.

Once the deal is finalized, the burden on Su Li's shoulders will undoubtedly be ten times heavier than before. This not only means maintaining stable trade with old clients such as the Redbeard Clan and the Grayrock Clan, but also means opening up the granaries of Black Forest Territory to the entire vast Gray Mountain Kingdom!

Only at this moment did the strategic position and profound potential of the Hessian Territory as a border granary and a pearl of the frontier truly come to be fully demonstrated!
Looking out over the vast expanse, the Black Forest Territory, a land blessed by the gods, a land of plenty, transcends the boundaries of its own territory. It is like a heart carefully nurtured by Mother Earth, powerfully pumping abundant blood—enough grain to feed thousands of troops—to the surrounding vast and thirsty regions through its extensive trade routes. Though it is only a territory, its output is enough to radiate and nourish a large area, even supporting the wartime needs of an ancient kingdom.

This small territory has become an indispensable giant granary for the entire Grey Mountain foothills region. The fertile soil, blessed by the holy waters of Lake Rhea and Lake Rhealy, seems to possess inexhaustible vitality, yielding astonishing harvests season after season. The golden waves of wheat and plump grains ultimately transform into a continuous stream of grain carts and supplies, crossing plains and mountain passes, flowing steadily in all directions, becoming a solid backing and strategic cornerstone for maintaining alliances, stabilizing the situation, and supporting the war effort.

Thinking of this, he immediately ordered the attendant behind him, "Go and fetch Minister Vandal immediately, right now!"

Not long after, Agriculture Minister Vandal arrived quickly, his clothes still covered in mud and wheat chaff from the fields, clearly having just been summoned from the busy autumn harvest.

“My lord, Your Majesty Cadlin,” Fandal bowed respectfully.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Su Li cut straight to the point, his tone urgent: "Fandar, His Majesty Kadrin and I have reached a crucial strategic agreement. We need to ensure that our territory has a sufficient and sustainable output of extraordinary grains, not only to meet our own growing needs, but also to provide a stable and abundant supply to the entire Grey Mountain Kingdom."

He stared intently at his minister: "Tell me the truth, given this year's unprecedented bumper harvest, just how full will our granaries be? How much surplus can we actually use to fulfill this promise concerning the future of the alliance?"

The pressure fell on Fandral's shoulders. He knew the weight of this issue, as it directly determined whether the lord's earth-shattering deal could truly be finalized. He straightened his back, quickly calculating various data in his mind, preparing to give a figure that would determine the future of Blacksene and even the entire alliance.

"My lord, during the summer planting season, we conducted a survey of the farmland. According to the taxes paid by our people, our territory extends from Lake Aissonde in the east to the Twilight Mountains in the west, from the foothills of Grey Mountain in the north to Blackwater Marsh in the south, with a total of 34500 hectares of fertile land. Of this, about 19800 hectares are farmland for growing staple crops, about 6500 hectares are vineyards, and about 10000 hectares are for cash crops, vegetables, and other crops."

Su Li remembered this number. He remembered that when he planted the summer crops, he was very excited because he finally had thousands of acres of fertile land.

According to the figures from the unified Eastern dynasty, we will have a bumper harvest of millions of bushels of grain!
And as expected, Fandral did not disappoint him. He devoutly drew a spiral pattern representing Rhea, the goddess of dawn, on his chest, his face radiating heartfelt gratitude and awe.

"This unparalleled harvest must first be attributed to the generous blessings and meticulous protection of the goddess Leia." His first words were a hymn to the goddess, his tone solemn and fervent. "The goddess's divine breath permeates every inch of our land, and her blessings have transformed into sunshine and rain, nourishing the growth of all things."

He went on to explain in detail, his finger involuntarily pointing towards Lake Leveline and the Ring of Maidens in the distance: "Especially the waters of the sacred Lake Leveline, through the irrigation network we've built, continuously deliver its life-giving sacred energy to the thousands of fertile fields of Bjorn Bay, making the soil far more fertile than usual. And the existence of the sacred site of the Ring of Maidens, with its divine fluctuations, greatly promotes the growth and transformation of the surrounding crops—a miracle that mortal techniques can hardly match."

“Furthermore,” Vandal continued, his tone equally earnest, “the Emerald Pools throughout the land, the sacred gardens tended by the devout nuns, and the spirits of nature who, inspired by divine intervention, manifested to silently assist the fertile land, all contributed indispensable strength to this bountiful harvest. Of course, the Dawn Sisters, working tirelessly day and night on the front lines, practicing the teachings of the goddess through prayer and ritual, are the most important bridge connecting divine grace with the bounty of the land.”

Having completed all this devout preparation, Fandral finally uttered that weighty number, his voice rising slightly with excitement:
"Under the supreme grace of the goddess, with the assistance of the holy land, the holy lake, and the spirits, and with the sweat of all the people and nuns, my lord, this autumn harvest of ordinary grains alone has yielded an astonishing total of 945 million imperial catties!"

The enormous figure echoed in the air, seemingly carrying the fragrance of wheat and the tangible feel of grains. Fandall, his face glowing, continued to elaborate: "Of this, over three million Imperial catties are extraordinary grains imbued with special power. These include Steel Wheat, Pearl Wheat, Moonlight Cabbage, and various other rare crops. Steel Wheat alone, as expected, yielded over four hundred thousand catties!"

He concluded confidently, “With our existing storage capacity and future farming plans, we are fully capable of meeting the daily needs, grain reserves, and strategic stocks of our soldiers and people, while also providing our dwarven allies with the agreed-upon quantities of steel wheat and other grains. The goddess’s generosity is more than enough to support your grand strategy, my lord.”

(End of this chapter)