Evil Dragon: The young dragon I picked up keeps planning on becoming an empress

Would the Earl be willing to review the troops?

To bestow knighthood?

The members of the Bronze Bounty Guild all gathered behind the bunny girl Meredith, watching through a projection the dozens of knights clad in blue and gold armor, mounted on Earth Dragons.

They saw the Flying Dragons.

Knowing Lance as they did, they were certain he'd never be willing to spend the money on such an extravagant display; especially not for Land Dragon Knights and Flying Dragon Knights, whom you couldn't just hire with money.

And then there were those dozens of knights with their blue and gold armor, clearly not cheap at a first glance.

The old man Lance probably didn't have enough savings to afford that level of knightly armor.

Most importantly, the reverence in the eyes of the leading female knight towards the old man... it didn't seem fake; it came from the heart.

Just like their own regard for him.

Although sometimes they would complain about old man Lance, they respected him deeply too.

The Extraordinary Elixirs the old man formulated could sometimes be a rip-off, but they were potent, even if occasionally with outrageously strong side effects. Find your next adventure on empire

"Damn it!!! We've been duped by old man Lance! Come on, which one of you bastards suggested contacting the old man today? If we had picked a different day, we might've caught the old man running a stall with little Dragon Highness instead!

In that case, although I'd feel bad for the old man, it's far better than feeling envious... and sour!!"

"Louis, Dalton, Bazel, didn't you swear up and down that old man Lance's life was tough, that he was street vending to support Dragon Highness?

Come on, explain to us this situation, why has the old man suddenly turned into an Earl with a fief, subjects, and knights loyal to him?"

In the projection, Louis, Dalton, and Bazel looked stunned; how could they know that old man Lance would suddenly become an Earl?

Just a short time ago when they met, the old man was still street vending with the kid, hustling to support Dragon Highness.

Damn it.

Old man Lance had hidden it too well; they had never suspected he was a noble with a fief!

Having spent so much time with him before, there hadn't been the slightest clue.

Louis, Dalton, and Bazel wanted to explain but felt too wronged to speak while being grilled by the guild members.

"Brothers, I have a suggestion, why don't we have the guild master step down and let the old man take over as the head of our guild."

"Makes sense."

"I agree."

The head of the Bronze Guild was fuming with anger.

"Old man, you really kept us in the dark. Speaking of which, now that you're an Earl, all the money we owe you... we don't have to pay it back, right?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Tixia, did you see the one who just spoke? I'll give you an address later. Take the Blue Moon Knight Order and capture that deadbeat who won't pay his debts; lock him up in a dark cell, and flog him with a salt-soaked whip until he's half-dead.

If he's still stubborn, then grab a red-hot iron and brand him."

Louis, Dalton, and Bazel trembled; old man Lance was still the same old man... daring to default on a debt... wouldn't let you off until you were near death...

"Old man, we were just talking, why are you taking it seriously..."

Tixia and Leia stood up to the side, watching the extraordinary people projected in front of them.

Why did these extraordinary beings refer to the Viscount as old man?

Was the Viscount really that old?

Listening to the Viscount's conversation with them, his relationship with these people seemed... pretty good...

Like old friends.

They hadn't expected that inviting the Viscount to review the troops and bestow knighthood would coincide with catching a casual chat between the Viscount and his friends.

It seemed they had inadvertently revealed the Viscount's... identity.

The review and bestowal of knighthood were an idea she and Leia had come up with some days ago; since the founding of the Blue Moon Knight Order, the Viscount had never interfered much.

Now that the knights of the Blue Moon Knight Order had all contracted with Earth Dragons, having the Viscount personally confer knighthood upon them would fill the knights with honor.

"Meredith, I'm about to confer knighthood on the Blue Moon Knight Order, so close the projection for now; we'll contact you again later."

"No, old man, why don't you let us watch the ceremony? Also, old man... where exactly are you an Earl? At least tell us, so we can organize a group to visit you."

"And the adorable Dragon Highness, we've all prepared gifts."

The Bronze Guild was bustling with activity, all begging and pleading with Lance not to shut off the projection.

Alright, if these kids want to watch, let them watch.

If we can lure them to Saint Blue to open a branch of their guild, that'd be even better.

The members of the Bronze Bounty Guild were all decent folks.

As for the knighthood...

Tixia had mentioned it to him a few days ago.

Knight loyal to the nobility typically have their own flags and emblems.

And so does the Blue Moon Knight Order.

But the Blue Moon Knight Order's flag and emblem weren't designed by him, the Viscount, lacking a sense of ceremony and belonging.

Tixia hoped that he, as the Viscount, could personally design the flag and emblem for the Blue Moon Knight Order.

To be honest, he didn't really care about these things.

But since the knights loyal to Saint Blue and to him cared about it, he, as the Viscount, didn't mind obliging.

Lance rose and walked towards the courtyard outside.

Tixia and Leia followed him, one on each side.

Dozens of knights stood not far outside in the courtyard; seeing Lance, the knights touched their chests with their right hands, saluting Lance.

Two Flying Dragons lay prostrate on the ground.