#19 The Bandit Knights' Fortress (5)
Dragons could evolve.
Though the method differed by species, they all had the chance to transform into a higher existence.
If he used it on Grenville, there was no telling what this powerful variant would become.
'Why didn't Malton use it beforehand?'
Owen tilted his head, but he soon figured it out.
Malton's dragon was an old dimwit with low potential.
Malton had probably been saving it to use on a better dragon later.
No point wasting it on low-potential stock—evolution wouldn't yield much, and it could even fail.
'Heh, "hoard it and it'll turn to shit," they say. Spot on.'
Owen was the lucky one here.
He decided to make Malton a cautionary tale and use the dragon core on Grenville without hesitation.
Grenville had potential high enough to make it worthwhile.
The little guy was already impressive; one more step up? Just thinking about it was thrilling.
'Coming to this fortress was the right call.'
Grinning, Owen quickly gathered his loot: gold coins, jewels, ornate dagger, sealed documents, and the dragon core. He restored the safe to its original state.
One last job—no traces left behind.
To eliminate loose ends, Owen figured he'd deal with Audric too.
He asked if Audric knew anything about the raid on the Leire family.
"Who hired you? Who's the mastermind?"
"I-I don't know."
Audric truly didn't. He held out until two more fingers were severed, so Owen believed him.
"I'll give you credit for your manhood."
"You bastard! Graaaah!"
Audric thrashed, blood gushing from his hand.
Owen, no stranger to such scenes, didn't flinch.
'Tch. Magnus's tail won't be that easy to step on.'
Cursing inwardly, Owen smashed Audric's temple with his gauntleted fist.
Thwack!
A heavy thud, foam at the mouth, and Audric went down.
No pity here. This scum had killed and raped countless souls.
Bandit knights were villains like that.
"I said I'd think about it. Never said I'd let you live."
Owen hurled him out the window.
Splat!
A dull crunch, and Audric the villain was gone from the world.
"Let's go."
Owen pocketed the spoils and climbed to the rooftop.
Grenville, waiting as instructed, greeted him happily.
"Eung!"
Owen transferred the loot to the leather pouches on Grenville's saddle and scanned the area.
Perfect—the bandit knights' flag fluttered nearby.
Great for boasting merits.
A commander-type stood by it, so Owen charged.
"Lucky break!"
The man, yelling orders, spotted Grenville and fainted dead away.
"Gaaah! A dragon!"
Thwack!
Owen flat-struck the man's crown with his sword's flat and slung him over the saddle.
"Grenville, load this one up too."
He yanked the flag free and headed to the parapet.
The battle was as good as won.
The courtyard teemed with Drun Count's troops, binding and dragging bandit knights.
They were extinguishing the fire in the main building's first floor too.
The soldiers soon spotted Owen atop the roof, flag in hand.
"Look up there!"
"A dragon knight."
"Whoa!"
Just the sight of him brandishing their banner was cool enough, but then Grenville appeared at his side.
Bathed in sunlight, the pair looked like a scene from an epic war poem.
The onlookers couldn't help but cheer.
"Kid's got skills!"
"Age doesn't matter. Dragon knights are different."
"Cannons did jack, but he wraps it up in one go."
Owen raised the captured banner and shouted.
"Owen, son of Leire, first to seize the fortress!"
"Wooooah!"
Cheers erupted wildly.
Owen hadn't even enlisted under Surpuk Duke yet, but his name was already spreading.
"Owen! Owen!"
"Owen! Owen!"
The crowd chanted relentlessly.
It was no small feat.
Malton's bandit knights had been a chronic headache in the east.
A young dragon knight like Owen crushing them at the vanguard? Word would spread far.
Battle over, Owen rode Grenville down to the courtyard.
Everyone gawked as they slid down the wall like it was nothing.
"That's the power of a Tokay dragon."
"A red variant, no less."
"No walls can stop that..."
"Cheating..."
Drun Count had entered the fortress by then.
Owen dismounted and approached.
Soldiers parted like the Red Sea.
Countless eyes on him? Old hat—Owen strode confidently.
Drun Count beamed, clapping furiously.
"Outstanding work, Owen!"
Cheers and applause poured from all sides.
Owen saluted lightly with a hand and stood before the count.
"My lord, I've brought the enemy commander."
"What?"
Owen called Grenville, who shook the saddle to drop the commander, then tossed him forward with his jaws.
Roll, clank.
The armored man tumbled dirt-covered. Drun Count grinned ear to ear.
"Kahahaha! Merits overflowing, and you snag more! Leire's son through and through!"
"You're too kind."
"No empty words. Rewards await—count on it. But he's not dead, right? Arm's twisted weird."
Owen shrugged casually.
"Just unconscious. Splash water, he'll wake."
"Good! Bind him up. Hey, someone drag this scum away!"
Soldiers swarmed, trussing the limp commander tight.
"My lord, we should interrogate him. Seemed to know something."
"Naturally. After cleanup, we dive in. Join us. Hear anything beforehand?"
Owen baited the hook.
"Sounds like he knows who commissioned the Leire raid."
Pure ploy to gauge Luke nearby.
Audric knew zilch about the deal.
But Luke didn't know that—and bit hard.
Twitch!
His agitation was obvious.
Fidgeting, eyes glued to the dragged commander.
Suspicion hardened to certainty.
'Magnus, you punk. Lose a bet and sic bandit knights? Knew you were petty, but this...'
No doubt now: Magnus behind it all.
"What? For real?"
Owen backpedaled at Drun Count's question.
Bluff, after all.
"Not certain. But thorough questioning's warranted."
"Got it. Rest while we tidy up. Feed your dragon too."
"Thank you. I'll withdraw. Oh—one request."
"Shoot."
"Let Sir Luke join the interrogation. Word is he was searching the fortress. Might know something."
Drun Count nodded gullibly.
"Sir Luke! You're in too. You helped—makes sense. Let's shake this rat down together."
"Ah... Yes, my lord."
Luke panicked.
'Why's that damn Owen dragging me in? Does the captive really know? No, deals were outside...'
Doubt gnawed. Maybe Malton ambushed a subordinate.
Or moonlight revealed them from the walls.
Sweat beaded his neck.
'If they know, I'm screwed. Owen pulling me in? Trap!'
Just a probe from Owen, but cornered Luke's imagination ran wild—worst-case scenarios.
'If Owen exposes it... arrested on site. Drun's got jurisdiction here. Damn it!'
Dizziness hit. Luke started flailing spectacularly.
Couldn't strike Magnus yet.
Back in his tent, Owen reflected.
Enemy identified, but no hard proof.
Besides, Baron Magnus was too big for current Owen—just a dragon and no formal knighthood against an imperial baron?
Lay low, play smart for now.
'Under Surpuk Duke, it'll be tough for a while.'
This campaign just got crucial.
Grateful to Bobert Count for the intro letter.
Magnus's end would come someday.
'Time to check the spoils.'
About 200 gold coins. Serious cash—enough for a small house in any town.
Jewels matched that value.
The ornate dagger screamed magic.
'No clue on effects. Appraise with a mage later.'
Could be cursed—stash it for now.
Next, the mystery documents.
Sealed tight, but Owen ripped them open. And blinked in shock.
"This? Odessa land deed?"
It claimed vast ownership in Odessa region.
But the surprise? Odessa was orc territory now.
"Over 50 years old..."
Fertile Odessa, wheat-rich, fell to orcs half a century back.
Odessa count's line ended then.
Why surface now?
Owen couldn't confirm validity.
But it was private land rights—tradable.
Not imperial fief, but count family holdings bought/sold.
Mostly farmland.
If legit? Immense value.
"If we could just evict the squatting orcs."
Tuck it away safely. Might prove useful.
Oh—and the dagger bore the same crest as the deed.
'Odessa count's too. Dig deeper.'
Finally, the dragon core.
Owen rode out to a secluded spot, away from eyes.
Summoned Grenville.
"Eung!"
Grumpy tone. Why call when I'm resting?
"Sorry, quick check. Know what this is?"
"Euung?"
Grenville perked at the core—dragons craved them.
Owen held it high.
Text floated in the air.
Next Stage: Super Red Giant Solid Eye
Owen gaped in awe.
"By the gods! Tanares!"
His old partner's gift revealed all dragon secrets.
Clear yes/no on evolution viability.
No more wasting cores on duds like Malton fretted.
But it didn't stop there.
It named the result too.
Grenville was already Super Red variant.
That alone outclassed normal Tokays.
Now adding Giant and Solid Eye variants?
"Unreal! Grenville, you're insane! Two more variants?"
Even in past life, Owen had never seen a Tokay like this.
S-grade potential for a reason.
No clue how mighty Grenville would grow.