Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence

As the evening sun cast its final rays, Su Li and his group returned to Thistleburg, filled with the joy of their successful venture.

Knights are fond of hunting, as the spoils and trophies greatly enhance their sense of happiness and fulfillment.

This trip, though not a hunt in the traditional sense, brought the same kind of joy. Everyone was elated and full of hope for the future.

They had acquired 150 kilograms of vibranium and over 200 gold coins, along with five sets of masterfully crafted steel heavy armor. It was clear that the core team of the newly developed territory was taking shape and growing in strength.

In stark contrast to the elation of Su Li's group, the atmosphere within Thistleburg was heavy, with many faces etched with regret and sorrow.

Servants and maids had gathered near the stables, buzzing with intense interest, forming a dense, impenetrable crowd.

Schwartz asked in surprise, "What has happened here?"

Leif, being of the lowest status, quickly volunteered to inquire. She soon understood the situation and returned to report, "Young Master Su Li, I've learned that one of the demi-griffons in the stables has gone mad, resulting in one death and three injuries. The deceased was its knight."

"They say it's still out of control, eyes red, unable to calm down, violently attacking anything that approaches. The knights have managed to confine it to a cage. But if it can't be calmed, the Earl will have no choice but to order its execution."

Upon hearing this, Hildegard, like the others, expressed her regret, saying, "To execute a demi-griffon? That's such a pity. I've always loved listening to bards tell tales of legendary knights and griffons."

Leif, who spent most of her time in the barracks, asked curiously, "Hildegard, can you tell us about griffons?"

Seeing the interest of many, Hildegard gracefully began, "Griffons are known throughout the world for their magnificent appearance and legendary ferocity. The citizens of the Empire revere griffons as sacred beasts, and the griffon banner has flown before our armies for thousands of years. Only a few wealthy and powerful nobles choose griffons as their mounts. Many have paid with their lives, for there is no such thing as a 'tamed' griffon."

"Over the years, griffons have mostly been divided into the tiger-striped sky griffons and the land-based demi-griffons. It's rare to find a demi-griffon knight without scars from their mount. Though demi-griffons are noble creatures, their temperaments remain fierce and unpredictable. These knights proudly bear these scars as proof of their courage and skill, distinguishing them from their comrades who fight on horseback."

"But precisely because of this, whenever a story circulates about a knight dying at the claws of his griffon, another story equally arises about a loyal demi-griffon tracking down the victorious enemy to avenge its fallen rider."

"So, the Imperial army takes the death of a knight by his griffon in stride. If another knight can tame the demi-griffon, that's ideal. But in most cases, a noble griffon will not submit to another knight. Therefore, to prevent it from causing more deaths, execution is the most common solution."

As Hildegard spoke in her clear voice, Frederick was utterly shocked. His eyes widened as he looked at Su Li in disbelief.

He recalled what Young Master Su Li had said to him earlier: 'Sir Frederick, there's a chance you might acquire a demi-griffon mount today. Would you like to try?'

Young Master Su Li clearly didn't speak without purpose! His sudden purchase of a 'sexy' lioness, Frederick was convinced, was for this very moment!

Could Young Master Su Li be planning to use this lioness to appease the maddened demi-griffon?

It was hard to say if such a thing would succeed. As far as Frederick knew, lionesses were quite tolerant creatures, capable of mating with both lions and tigers. There was even a one in fifty thousand chance of successfully producing offspring, a liger.

So, what if? What if the griffon could also mate with it? Wouldn't that calm down the raging demi-griffon? After all, humans often don't understand why demi-griffons become agitated, simply attributing it to their capricious nature.

Frederick struggled to contain his excitement and said to Su Li, "Young Master Su Li, should we go take a look? We could try to control the demi-griffon."

Su Li would never do something so dangerous himself. Owning a griffon was a symbol of high-ranking nobles and kings, but taming one was extremely difficult. You could only find their eggs in the wild, as griffons rarely breed in captivity.

The most effective method was to be present when it hatched, preferably alone. That would be its first impression of you. But that was only half the battle. The rest involved training and nurturing a bond, which also required you to do alone, including hand-feeding and eye contact. They grew quickly, able to carry a rider by age three and reaching adulthood by five. Their lifespan, however, was unknown, as most griffons died in battles and wars.

Su Li said, "If Sir Frederick is interested, he can give it a try."

Frederick was certainly interested. He personally led the lioness into the crowd, causing an immediate uproar as people scattered, screaming and clearing a path.

Su Li then saw the massive beast within the cage. Even armored humans wielding war hammers and halberds looked like mere ornaments beside it. Its size and weight were equivalent to at least four warhorses. A heavy knight riding it would truly be an ultra-heavy cavalry.

It was also clad in crimson armor, complete with two spiked horns on its head, protecting its chest, body, and rear. The thick, well-made armor was engraved with the Thistle family's golden emblem.

Power, majesty, and ferocity radiated from it.

Seeing it, Su Li understood why most knights who challenged griffons ended up as meals.

As Frederick approached, the demi-griffon grew even more agitated. The cage that had barely contained it now shook violently under its assault. Its eyes were red as it frantically rammed the bars, clearly intending to break free.

The pressure from the beast caused Frederick to tense up. He held the trembling lioness, Serra, with his right hand and raised his left, showing that he carried no weapons, as he slowly approached the cage door.

This was extremely dangerous. Even an elite knight without weapons could easily be fatally attacked by a demi-griffon.

With Serra getting closer, the demi-griffon in the cage became increasingly agitated, pacing back and forth near the exit.

Under the tense gazes of everyone, Frederick slowly reached out with his left hand and placed it on the rope securing the cage door. If the griffon attacked at this moment, the knight wouldn't have time to react and could have his arm bitten off instantly.

The tense atmosphere caused everyone to hold their breath, watching intently. Timid maids even clutched their skirts, closing their eyes in fear.

Even Su Li couldn't remain indifferent. Although he had precognitive information, it didn't guarantee that he could tame the griffon.

If Frederick failed, Su Li would have to try himself.

Just as he was considering whether to wait for tomorrow's information update, a cry of surprise erupted from the crowd. This startled some of the more timid people, causing them to scream in terror.

Su Li immediately snapped back to attention, turning his gaze to Frederick.

Success! He had successfully reached the cage's rope, and the griffon hadn't attacked him.

Su Li smiled and said to Hildegard, "Let's go back. We'll leave the rest to Sir Frederick. He'll need time to hand-feed and care for the griffon, building a bond."

Of course, the griffon also needed some space to improve its relationship with the lioness Serra.

A noble griffon would never be a slave, unless the seductive allure of a despicable human was too much to resist.