The first light of dawn.
The sea surface was like a thin layer of satin, with ripples gently rising and falling in the breeze. On the eastern horizon, a golden hue gradually spread, as if a soft brushstroke from an artist, heralding the arrival of a new day. The waves gently lapped against the ship, creating a harmonious melody, the purest symphony of the sea.
On the horizon, a few seagulls flapped their wings and soared high. Their silhouettes reflected on the water, resembling spirits dancing on the sea. As the morning glow intensified, the outlines of the seagulls became clearer. They flew freely in the boundless sky, enjoying the peace and freshness of the morning.
The military cafeteria on the Blue Whale was located on the second deck of the ship. Through the transparent panoramic glass, the beautiful sea view could be seen in its entirety. However, the high-ranking officers gathered in the cafeteria had no interest in appreciating the scenery. Their attention was completely focused on a four-star knight.
This four-star knight had brought something unbelievable: those two hundred severely injured patients, who were originally destined to be abandoned, had all recovered!
Moreover, it wasn’t just recovery; their bodies had returned to normal, and even the lost limbs had regrown.
In the eyes of the knights, only a great bishop like Ethan Taylor could possibly understand the super-healing technique required to regenerate severed limbs. However, such an ability would undoubtedly consume a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. Why would a great bishop waste it on ordinary people when it could be used on transcendent knights?
"Must be the Grand Bishop, right? No one else could do it."
"Not the Grand Bishop. I heard it was... it was Lee En Moria himself who did it."
The four-star knight took another sip of water, as if this were the only way to calm his own astonishment.
"How is that possible? Lee En Moria is just a Silver Believer. How could he achieve limb regeneration?"
The cafeteria immediately erupted in a flurry of discussions. They couldn’t believe that Lee En Moria could make those two hundred disabled individuals whole again. This news was even more shocking than if the Grand Bishop had healed them. Compared to this, they would rather believe it was the Grand Bishop who saved those people.
"Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?"
"I can’t believe a Silver Believer could achieve such a level, especially since he never even studied at a divine academy. Maybe he doesn’t even understand healing arrays."
"Exactly, how did he do it?"
Facing the doubts of his companions, the four-star knight put down his water cup and said with a complex expression, "It’s not just that. Those two hundred people now have a physical constitution far superior to before. I think they are at least equivalent to three-star knights, surpassing ordinary people in both strength and speed."
The four-star knight’s words once again shocked all the officers in the cafeteria.
Who could cultivate over two hundred three-star knights in just one day? Even low-ranking knights were still knights, not some commoners! You couldn’t just mass-produce them.
"How is that possible?"
"Either I’m not awake, or you’re the one who’s not. You’re talking nonsense. Believe me, I’ll punch you if you keep this up."
"Think you’re funny, huh? Mocking us like this?"
Seeing that his companions were about to take action, the four-star knight decided to reveal the most shocking news of the day.
"I’m not lying! All of this is because Lee En Moria is a Blood Knight! He turned all of them into Blood Servants!"
Before coming to the cafeteria, the four-star knight had told Vice Admiral Mitis about the group training on the Galley. Mitis analyzed the possibilities and concluded that if Lee En Moria could save so many people and make them suddenly grow stronger, combined with his performance in the naval battle, there could only be one conclusion: Lee En Moria was a rare Blood Knight.
"Blood Knight? How can a Blood Knight exist in this world?"
A five-star Glory Knight looked at the four-star knight in disbelief.
"The Sacred Empire hasn’t seen a single Blood Knight in hundreds of years. Blood Knights are just legends."
"It’s said that only a human and vampire hybrid can reach the realm of a Blood Knight. Even if an ordinary person becomes a six-star Glory Knight, they can’t be a Blood Knight."
"Is Lee En Moria a human and vampire hybrid?"
"You’re really asking for a beating."
The many knights felt greatly provoked. These pieces of news were more shocking than the last, and if the four-star knight wasn’t teasing them, then he must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
"I’m not lying! If you don’t believe me, you can go to the Galley and see for yourselves."
The four-star knight raised his hands as he watched his companions, who were furious, ready to pounce on him.
"Fine, let’s go. We’ll see if Lee En Moria is really a Blood Knight."
A six-star Glory Knight from the Flame Knights Corps slapped the table and stood up. He was Franz Austen Frank, a descendant of the Frank family’s branch, chosen for his extraordinary talent and promoted to deputy commander.
"If I find out you’re lying, I’ll break your neck when I come back."
With a loud crack, the table Franz slapped had split into pieces. The other knights followed the deputy commander, deciding to meet this so-called Blood Knight, Lee En.
The four-star knight shrunk his neck and followed as well.
Over seventy knights left the Blue Whale and boarded the Galley.
Although the magic architects were working hard to connect the floating island, the project was massive and hadn’t been completed yet. So, most of the crew and navy still lived on the ships.
The Galley was an old, large sailboat, completely incomparable to the luxurious Blue Whale warship. The sailboat exuded an old, decayed feel.
On the deck, Freddy and the others had already begun their morning training under the dawn light. They wanted to survive and return home, so they couldn’t waste a single moment, even though they were now Blood Servants with extraordinary physical qualities.
Looking at the training scene, Franz Austen Frank and the others began to believe the four-star knight’s words. Freddy and the others were indeed different from before, whether in the power of their steps or their explosive speed, which far surpassed that of ordinary soldiers.
Unlike the Blood Servants training, Lee En lay on a comfortable chair on the deck, sunbathing. The beautiful and apathetic maid, Nina Owen, was massaging his shoulders and legs for him. He looked like a noble gentleman on a seaside vacation.
Hearing the sound of footsteps boarding the Galley, Lee En remained indifferent, continuing to enjoy the sun.
The morning sun over the sea wasn’t too intense, warm and gentle, perfect for sunbathing. Although Lee En couldn’t enjoy the pleasure of tanning, he had nothing better to do.
He could only seek people once the fleet truly found the Court of the Azure Dragon.
"Master, there are flies."
Nina Owen said indifferently.
Franz Austen Frank instinctively looked around. Where would flies come from? The sea in September had already begun to grow cold, not icy yet, but certainly not warm enough for flies or mosquitoes.
Realizing what Nina meant, Franz Austen Frank frowned and clenched his fists.
"Lee En Moria, I’ve heard you’re a Blood Knight. I really want to experience the power of a Blood Knight. It’s a good chance to see the difference between a Light Knight and a Blood Knight."
"Franz, don’t be impulsive. What if you cripple him? He’s from the Moria family."
"Franz, you’re the most talented six-star Light Knight. People will say you’re bullying him."
"Yeah, he’s just a blind man. How could he possibly win against you?"
The knights pretended to persuade Franz but were actually pressuring Lee En. They wanted to see this show-off kneel and beg for mercy after being beaten.
However, to their surprise, Lee En completely ignored Franz Austen Frank.
The surrounding knights began to jeer, some commenting on Lee En’s arrogance, others shamelessly pointing out his disdain for Franz.
"This damned blind man."
Franz Austen Frank cursed under his breath and raised his voice again.
"Lee En Moria, I challenge you to a duel."
If there was one thing a knight couldn’t refuse, it was a duel. Refusing a duel was equivalent to admitting one’s weakness, the mark of a coward.
"If I win, your maid will be mine."
Franz Austen Frank casually pointed at Nina Owen.
He couldn’t find a better excuse. Since it was a duel, there had to be a reason, and Nina Owen was the only woman present.
Even if Franz Austen Frank didn’t like Nina Owen, he could give her to his subordinates.
Nina Owen’s beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed as she cast a contemptuous glance at Franz Austen Frank.
Freddy and the other Blood Servants, who were training, sensed the malice of these knights and gathered around as well.
"If you want to duel Lord Lee En, you’ll have to defeat me first."
The young and spirited Freddy stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
Franz Austen Frank swung his fist and punched Freddy without warning.
Freddy’s body flew backward, crashing into the mast and breaking it. Freddy spat out blood, his throat burning. He felt several ribs break. If not for his Blood Servant body, that punch would have been fatal.
[End of Chapter]
When Freddy was seen lying on the ground, not yet dead, Franz Austen Frank looked at him with disdain and let out a cold snort through his nose.
The other knights also revealed mocking expressions.
"Do you really think you're superior to ordinary people just because you're a bit stronger, and thus worthy of being mentioned alongside us knights?" one of them sneered.
"He's not dead yet. I suppose Franz spared him."
The soldiers on the Gar noticed Freddy had been struck, and they felt both anger and fear towards Franz Austen Frank. They had thought that after becoming Blood Servants, their physical strength would be formidable, but they hadn't expected to still be no match for a single punch from a knight like Franz.
Someone helped Freddy up and asked about his condition. Other soldiers stood by Leon, forming a confrontational line against the seventy-plus knights.
Leon had not instilled a slave mentality in his Blood Servants. Otherwise, they might have acted like fierce guard dogs, rushing to protect their master the moment someone challenged him, regardless of the opponent's strength. He did this partly to protect the soldiers and partly because he simply had no interest in being a slave master.
Even so, if Leon gave the order, the soldiers of the Dawn Knights would still fight to the death for him. Leon had not intended to pay attention to these knights, as they were the elite of the Human Legion. If he defeated them here, there would be no one left to fight the monsters of the Azure Dragon Court. Leon did not want the three major knight orders to be rendered useless, forcing his own Dawn Knights to take the brunt of the battles.
But Franz Austen Frank showed no mercy, attacking a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy. If Freddy weren't a Blood Servant, he might have been killed on the spot.
"Master, let me kill these flies," Nina Owen said.
Although she was only a Five-Star Glory Knight, she was also a Five-Star Bloodthirsty Assassin and a 【Devourer】, possessing the power of a Sequence's Grace. She indeed had the ability to assassinate a Six-Star Radiant Knight.
But Leon saw Franz Austen Frank's position as the 【Vice Captain of the Flame Knights】. Killing him would be easy, but explaining it would be difficult. If these men were all dead, it might force Leon to send his own forces to the front lines, which would not be ideal for his plans.
Leon was still thinking while the knights began to mock Nina Owen.
"Ha! Did you hear what the little maid said?" one of them laughed.
"She called us flies and wants to kill us. What an insolent little maid!"
"Later, after Franz has had enough fun, have her sent to us."
"We must teach her the true power of a knight."
The men revealed wicked grins.
Nina Owen rolled her eyes. If not for the mental barriers constructed by the clergy, she could have slaughtered them in their dreams, ensuring they never saw the sun rise again.
Leon slowly stood up from his armchair, looking at these arrogant knights. He knew that if they weren't put in their place today, they would continue to cause trouble in the future. His only concern was that he couldn't simply treat them like sea monsters.
"What? Too afraid to accept a duel? Scared of losing badly? Don't worry, I won't kill you. You're someone the Emperor values, and we Franks will give the Emperor face."
Franz Austen Frank said.
The knights erupted in mocking laughter, though some were genuinely there to watch the spectacle. They remained silent, curious whether Leon was truly a Blood Knight.
"Damn it, Lord Leon would never lose to you, you bastard!" Freddy said, gritting his teeth through the pain in his abdomen.
Franz Austen Frank glanced at Freddy with disdain.
"Step back, Freddy."
Leon took off his coat and handed it to Nina Owen.
Nina Owen held Leon's coat, her mood less than pleasant because Leon had refused her request to kill these annoying flies.
The commotion on the Gar soon attracted the attention of others on nearby ships. Pak and Ruben, who had been training under General Cheryl Haus, also grew curious and began to disembark. However, they were quickly scolded by Cheryl.
"What are you staring at? Do you want to relive the humiliation of the Mirage Dragon Battle? A bunch of useless trash! If you don't focus on training, I'll have you all fed to the sharks!"
The old lady gave no quarter to the nobles, leaving Ruben on the verge of tears. Pak, on the other hand, bit down and submerged his head in the seawater of the wooden barrel in front of him.
They were undergoing daily breath-holding training to prepare for naval battles, ensuring they wouldn't lose the ability to act if thrown into the depths of the ocean. Only by gaining the ability to breathe underwater, like fish, could they survive and fight in sea battles.
Pak knew that while Cheryl Haus was strict, her training was helpful. She didn't want to see them die in the upcoming war.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth also went to the Gar with several clergymen to watch the commotion. The deck of the Gar was packed with people, and many sailors were pushed into the sea, only to swim back like wolves.
"Make way, make way."
Several officers cleared a path for General Tina. Her loyal admirer brought her a chair, and she sat boldly on the deck of the Gar, her coat fluttering in the sea breeze.
Tina lit a cigarette, and several officers immediately crouched down, using the Empire's latest friction-style lighters to ignite it. In this era, only the wealthy or noble could afford such luxury, as lighters had not yet entered mass production and were still a trendy new invention.
Tina exhaled smoke, her eyes fixed on the spirited young blond man in the sunlight. She looked at him with a mixture of admiration and curiosity. "Why did Leon Moria provoke the iron-plated Frank family?"
The Frank family, being part of the royal bloodline and notoriously cold and unfeeling, had earned the nickname "Iron Plate Family." Some even joked that they would rather kick a hedgehog than the Iron Plate Family, as the one who ended up hurt would always be them.
Of course, only in the Holy Empire, with its numerous nobles and multiple vassal states, would someone dare to mock the royal family in such a way.
"General, it's not that Leon Moria provoked Franz, the knight. It's that Franz wants Leon Moria's maid and challenged him to a duel."
An informant chimed in.
"Oh?"
Tina looked at Nina Owen, who stood beside Leon. She was indeed beautiful, but Franz Austen Frank was not a man driven by lust. He had risen to become the Vice Captain of the Flame Knights not just through talent but also through relentless effort, and he rarely wasted his time on women.
"It's actually to test whether Leon is truly a Blood Knight."
"Blood Knight?"
Tina paused, surprised. She had already been shocked when she learned Leon was a Supreme-level Believer. Now, someone was telling her that Leon was not only a Believer but also a Blood Knight!
Where had this monster come from? He must be a hidden witch. Other than a witch, was there any human who could match him?
General Mathis also appeared beside Tina, equally curious to see if his suspicions were correct.
Leon cracked his knuckles and gestured for Franz Austen Frank to come over. Franz's face surged with anger.
What did this guy mean? Did he not take him seriously at all?
Fine, let him see the true power of a Six-Star Radiant Knight!
Franz Austen Frank had no intention of holding back, even if it meant killing Leon Moria. It would be Leon's own fault if he died.
As Franz drew his sword, everyone held their breath. This meant he was serious.
"Franz's Radiant Sword is unstoppable, even within the Flame Knights. No one can match him except the Captain."
"This kid is too arrogant. He deserves a good lesson from Franz."
"If he's really a Blood Knight, he might not even be able to block this strike."
"Don't worry, even if Franz kills him, we can just say he died in battle. After all, this is an expedition."
A knight said, quickly gaining agreement from the others.
This made the members of the Dawn Knights anxious, worrying for their own Leon.
"Damn it, if I were stronger, Leon wouldn't have to fight himself."
Freddy said, clenching his teeth.
"You're useless, Freddy. You're not even on the same level as him."
Nina Owen shot back, dousing Freddy with cold water.
Franz Austen Frank charged with a powerful strike, his sword gleaming with dazzling white light. For an instant, everyone was blinded, the world filled with purifying radiance.
"Franz's speed is incredible. Leon doesn't even have time to draw his sword."
"It doesn't matter if he draws his sword or not. He's already lost."
Leon, however, simply smiled.
“Would Lord Franz spare him if he begged for mercy?”
“There’s no point talking about that now, he’s definitely going to die at Franz’s hands.”
The members of the Three Great Cavalry Units all believed that Li En was doomed and would pay with his life.
But when that dazzling white light faded, everyone saw a completely different scene.
They did not see Li En fall under Franz Austen Frank’s sword.
On the contrary, Franz Austen Frank’s chest had been pierced—by Li En’s hand, not his sword.
Li En had not even drawn his sword; he had used the most basic martial arts!
As Li En’s hand penetrated Franz Austen Frank’s chest, Franz’s life force began to weaken rapidly.
A circle of black mist swirled around Li En’s right hand, and this black mist was corroding Franz Austen Frank’s body.
“Damn it.”
Franz Austen Frank felt Li En’s hand clenching his heart. If Li En applied even a little more force, he would be dead.
Li En withdrew his hand just in time. Nina Owen handed him a white handkerchief.
Li En wiped the blood from his hand with the handkerchief, and the scene fell eerily silent.
Almost everyone present couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed, even Tina and Mathilda were stunned.
Elizabeth and the other priests were even more shocked.
Franz Austen Frank was a genuine Six-Star Radiant Knight! And he was a seasoned warrior, not some noble who relied on family resources to rise through the ranks. How could he be defeated so quickly?
Franz Austen Frank retreated rapidly, panting heavily.
As a Six-Star Radiant Knight, his body contained sacred blood that could quickly restore his physical condition. However, he discovered that even with his body healed, the fear in his heart lingered, haunting him like a shadow.
He didn’t even dare to look at Li En Molya’s harmless-looking face.
Some even suspected that Franz Austen Frank had intentionally held back.
With a loud crash, the old cargo ship, *Gale*, split in two from behind. Most of the soldiers on deck lost their balance and fell into the sea.
This was the aftermath of Franz Austen Frank’s sword strike, a display of power that proved he had not held back against Li En.
Tina sat steadily in her chair, using her strength to control the rudder. The high-ranking knights also maintained their balance with their agility, unlike the ordinary soldiers who fell into the sea.
“How is this possible?”
Someone finally exclaimed, and like ripples spreading from a stone, the crowd erupted in disbelief.
“This is the power of a Blood Knight!”
“He defeated a knight of the same rank in an instant!”
“Lord Franz lost! He lost to Li En Molya!”
“This has to be a dream, right?”
Li En’s speed had been so fast that even Tina and Mathilda hadn’t seen what happened.
Everything was over in just two seconds.
The members of the Dawn Knights erupted in cheers.
“Long live Lord Li En!”
“Long live our Captain!”
“Long live the Dawn Knights!”
The wave of voices drowned out the murmurs of disbelief and amazement.
Tina stood up and clapped her hands. “Very good, I finally understand why you refused to join the Flame Knights or the Rose Knights, Li En Molya. If you survive this expedition, you’re sure to become a legend of the Empire.”
Tina’s subordinates couldn’t help but feel envious that Li En had earned her recognition, but they could only envy him—such talent was beyond their reach.
Even the members of the Three Great Knights felt the terror of Li En through Franz Austen Frank.
If Li En had not spared his life, Franz Austen Frank might have died right there on the *Gale*.
Li En waved his hand, and the Dawn Knights finally stopped cheering.
“Lord Franz Austen Frank, I don’t know what I did to offend you, but I hope all of you knights remember this—I am not your enemy. The monsters of the Azure Dragon Court are the true enemies of humanity. Instead of fighting among yourselves, you should think about how to conquer the Azure Dragon Court.”
After Li En finished speaking, most of the knights from the Three Great Knights felt ashamed, their faces pale with guilt.
“Lord Franz Austen Frank, please leave the money to repair the *Gale*. The Dawn Knights don’t have many resources, and we still need to repair this ship ourselves.”
Li En extended his hand.
Franz Austen Frank’s subordinates immediately handed over the money, fearing to provoke Li En further. After all, he had just used brute force to demand compensation.
After receiving the bag of gold coins, Li En tossed it to Freddy.
“You’re in charge of finding someone to repair the *Gale*. The rest of the money is your medical fee.”
“Yes, Captain!” Freddy replied excitedly, his eyes moist. If he hadn’t held onto Nina Owen tightly earlier, he might have also fallen into the sea.
Nina Owen brushed off her clothes disdainfully, as if she had just been rubbed against by a stray cat or dog.
The Dawn Knights also rose to prominence in this battle.
The unique Blood Knight and his Dawn Knights had become an unstoppable force within the Empire’s fleet.
Tina hadn’t expected that the difficult task given to Li En by Count Holle would be solved so effortlessly, turning a group of discarded soldiers into elite warriors.
When Tina and Mathilda reported the incident to Count Holle, the count’s expression didn’t show any surprise. He simply said indifferently, “Oh.”
He had initially thought Li En wanted to deceive everyone by leading a group of misfits to avoid the front lines, but it seemed he had misjudged once again.
This Li En Molya was truly unpredictable.
After Tina and Mathilda left the captain’s quarters, Count Holle looked at his daughter, Paula, who was still intently studying a magic book, and asked, “Did you lend him your power to make him stronger?”
Paula slowly lifted her head, her long, narrow eyelashes fluttering slightly. “What?”
“Li En defeated Frank, the Vice Captain of the Flame Knights, in just two seconds. Even if he is a Six-Star Blood Knight, he shouldn’t have been able to do that.”
“Father, can you not interrupt me? Isn’t this the most normal thing? Li En is not just any ordinary knight—”
Paula continued studying, believing that by tonight, she would have the results to create a teleportation portal that only humans could use.
Count Holle was chased out of the captain’s quarters by Paula. As he turned around, he saw Tina and Mathilda staring at him. He coughed and said, “Are you two idle? What about the scouts I sent out? Have they returned?”
“They haven’t come back yet,” Mathilda replied, lowering her head.
“Are the Flame Knights bored? They love picking on people so much. Let them help the magic engineers build the base.”
Count Holle walked quickly, leaving Tina and Mathilda behind.
Tina jogged to catch up and said softly, “Count, actually, our knights are also participating, along with the Pioneer Knights.”
“Everyone present will be punished. Go and help build the base.”
“I didn’t do anything, so I shouldn’t be punished, right?”
Tina asked tentatively.
Count Holle glanced at her indifferently. “Since you two are so idle, go research the strategy. I want to see the plan by tonight.”
Mathilda couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Tina. Why did this woman always have to seek attention from the count?
“Yes, Count!”
The two accepted their orders and left quickly.
Count Holle arrived at the helm of the *Blue Whale*, looking at the busy magic engineers on the floating island with a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Li En had never disappointed him, always bringing unexpected surprises.
“The Dawn Knights?”
Count Holle stroked his handsome mustache and spotted the officer, Eaton Riley, who was admiring the view. He called out, “Eaton.”
Eaton Riley hurried to Count Holle’s side and bowed politely. “Yes, Count?”
“Raise the food standards for the Dawn Knights. Don’t treat those bloodthirsty warriors poorly.”
“Understood. Yes, but Count, the army only has three cavalry units, right? When did we get a Dawn Knights unit?”
“Li En Molya formed a new cavalry unit called the Dawn Knights.”
Count Holle said indifferently.
Officer Eaton Riley looked enlightened. “The new cavalry unit of the Molya family?”
“No, it doesn’t belong to the Molya family. It simply belongs to Li En Molya.”
Count Holle was displeased with Eaton Riley’s wording. When did his army become something the old Molya could interfere with?
“Also, arrange a new warship for the Dawn Knights, one that can hold 300 people.”
“We don’t have such a ship right now. We might need to build one.”
“That’s your job.”
Count Holle glanced at Eaton Riley coldly, and Eaton Riley immediately agreed, promising to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
The construction at sea progressed rapidly with the large number of knights contributing their labor.
The floating islands gradually merged to form an island covering an area of 10 square kilometers, large enough to serve as a temporary base for the Holy Empire at sea, easily accommodating hundreds of thousands of naval forces.
Pollys had also developed a long-lasting teleportation portal that could only be used by humans for transit.
The only downside to this portal was the massive amount of magic stones required to operate it, but its advantage was that it could remain active even without Pollys present.
This meant that the Holy Empire's subsequent reinforcements and supplies could be transported through the portal, eliminating the need to spend three to four months traveling via the new trade route.
With the successful establishment of this portal, Pollys' military contributions surpassed those of everyone except Count Hole.
However, she had no interest in these achievements and flatly refused the request to take a position in the military.
After explaining the rules for using the portal to Count Hole and General Tina, Pollys eagerly went to find Leon on the Galleon.
Generals Tina and Mcitis had vaguely sensed that Pollys' relationship with Leon was extraordinary, but as loyal subordinates of Count Hole, they naturally wouldn't spread word of such matters.
If anyone had previously doubted whether Leon Moria was worthy of Pollys, his recent performance had been more than enough to dispel such doubts.
As the youngest Special Class Devotee, the youngest Six-Star Knight, the one and only Blood Knight, and a descendant of the Moria family, the combined prestige of these titles made him unparalleled in the empire. Perhaps only the youngest emperor, Ogulas, could rival him in status.
However, the retainers of House Hole knew that the count, who cherished his daughter above all else, would never allow Pollys to become the queen of the Frank family.
The Galleon had not been repaired, but Leon had been given a brand-new Dawn, a warship capable of carrying over 300 people. This vessel was a one-of-a-kind creation, a scaled-down version of the Blue Whale, built by a military officer named Eaton Riley and a team of soldiers working alongside a magical architect.
In addition to its 10 standard cannons, the ship was equipped with a magical cannon located at the stern, designed for surprise attacks and quick retreats if necessary. The ship also featured four escape routes and 20 lifeboats.
This made Leon suspect that the magical architect who designed the ship shared his own cautious nature.
While the ship's design and equipment were cutting-edge, Leon had no desire to accept it. He knew it would mean Count Hole would inevitably deploy him to the front lines.
Leon understood the principle of "a craftsman being worthy of his tools," but it seemed his recent rise to prominence had led to him being entrusted with such a significant responsibility.
The members of the Dawn Knights were brimming with excitement, their faces filled with irrepressible joy as they boarded the Dawn. Some leaned against the sturdy railings, shouting toward the horizon to vent their pent-up passion; others ran freely around the deck, savoring the moment of unbridled freedom. A few even danced on the deck, performing traditional dances from their homeland.
Just days ago, they had been injured in the Mirage Dragon battle, their limbs broken, abandoned by the military. Now, they had joined the Dawn Knights and even had their own warship.
"My God, tell me I'm not dreaming. Is the Dawn really ours?"
"Yes, it's ours! She's ours! She was won for us by our captain!"
Freddie exclaimed excitedly.
Eaton Riley, the officer who had personally delivered the Dawn to Leon, smiled and said, "Captain Leon, it seems your crew is very pleased with the ship. I'm relieved. From today onward, your provisions and equipment will match those of the Pioneer Knights. Here's the document—please sign it."
Leon signed the document with mixed emotions. While he personally didn't need the supplies or equipment, as the captain, he had to consider his 300 crew members, especially their food. Blood servants couldn't survive solely on blood; they still required the necessities of human life.
"Take me to my quarters, Captain of the Dawn."
Pollys, who had accompanied Officer Eaton Riley, playfully winked at Leon and said, "Pollys, if this ship was built to persuade Count Hole to help me, let me refuse. I don't want to live off your charity."
Leon's words nearly startled Eaton Riley so much that his hat almost fell off. He had no desire for the ship to be returned, as it would surely lead to Count Hole blaming him for his failure.
"How could that be? Father wanted to give it to you himself. He's trying to curry favor with you, not me."
Pollys extended her hand and naturally linked her arm with Leon's. "Let's go take a look. We'll be spending a lot of time on the Dawn from now on."
Eaton Riley turned pale with fright and covered his ears, silently praying, "I didn't hear anything, I didn't see anything."
He had no wish to be sentenced to death by Emperor Ogulas for knowing about Pollys and Leon's intimate relationship.
