CHAPTER 222: CHAPTER 220 BUYING A GRIFFON_1

After leaving Donna in Hibel’s charge for training, Yan Xing had not seen her again. The latest news was that Hibel had been transferred to Storm City, and she had gone to the frontline with the second daughter of the Theodore Family.

Yan Xing couldn’t offer Donna much help, but he sent her a specially made bulletproof vest, a steel sword, and numerous small items that might be useful in battle.

When Yan Xing heard news of Donna from Count Theodore, he couldn’t help but ask a few more questions about her.

However, the family letters from Count Theodore and his daughter couldn’t say much about Donna.

But Hibel mentioned that Donna was learning to read, write, and practice Magic, and believed that she would soon be able to write letters herself.

After talking about the situation in Storm City for a while, Yan Xing and Count Theodore discussed the fortress camp that their families were jointly building to defend against enemy infiltration.

Before Yan Xing entered the Thunderous Swamp, construction of the fortress, later named West Sentinel Fort, had already begun.

By the time Yan Xing returned from the Thunderous Swamp, the main structure of West Sentinel Fort was completed and put into use.

Count Theodore kept his promise and stationed three hundred Griffons at West Sentinel Fort, with seventy Gryphon Knights in command, responsible for air patrols over the northwest sector of the fortress cluster.

The Eternal Domain also sent two hundred of its warriors, led by Eddie, to be stationed there. They were equipped with bicycles and Chocobos to handle ground patrols.

But as the various battles in the Wildwind Highlands continued, many of the Griffons and their Gryphon Knights from West Sentinel Fort were gradually called away.

Although the number of Griffons remained at two hundred, the Gryphon Knights had been reduced to thirty.

Such a small number of knights to patrol such a vast airspace left all the Gryphon Knights completely exhausted.

Yan Xing had recently taken some time to inspect West Sentinel Fort.

He recounted the problems he found to Count Theodore, "Griffon patrols must be led by Gryphon Knights. With so many Gryphon Knights withdrawn from West Sentinel Fort, it’s impossible to assemble any combat-ready air force in an emergency.

"Moreover, the more desperate the situation becomes, the more risks the Elves and Orcs will take.

"I have already prepared to send reinforcements to West Sentinel Fort. You don’t need to add more Griffons, but you must replenish the Gryphon Knights to at least seventy for me."

As the war carried on, the entire Wildwind Highlands Legion was short on troops everywhere, yet not a single soldier was dispatched from the duchy itself.

Count Theodore, in charge of logistics, had to arrange for frontline supplies and scrape together forces wherever he could.

Most of Nuta City’s original garrison had already been sent to Marquis Anderson. The thirty Gryphon Knights and two hundred Griffons remaining at West Sentinel Fort were stationed there only due to the location’s strategic importance.

Yan Xing requested troops from Count Theodore.

But where did the Earl have troops to give?

"The Wildwind Highlands Legion is on the defensive on both the eastern and western fronts, and air superiority is especially important. Gryphon Knights are in short supply everywhere, and I truly have no other options," the Earl explained.

"I will not draw any more troops from West Sentinel Fort, but I also have no one to send as reinforcements.

"Doesn’t your Eternal Domain have soldiers in training in the Nuta City barracks?

"How about I train a group of Gryphon Knights for you, then sell you a batch of Griffons? You can upgrade the Griffons to Battle Griffins in the Nuta City Griffon Tower, but as for the cost... you’ll have to pay in full."

Seventh Order Griffons cannot be ridden. To make them mounts, they must be trained and promoted to Eighth Order Battle Griffins.

But while Battle Griffins are easy to train, knights adept in aerial combat are not easy to find.

Human Griffon units generally have one Gryphon Knight commanding several Griffons. This is mainly because suitable knights are so scarce.

Even a Seventh Order Cavalryman who has the talent for riding Griffons in combat can become a Gryphon Knight.

As the Wildwind Highlands Legion was currently fighting a defensive war, the demand for Gryphon Knights was high, while the need for Griffons themselves was not as pressing.

Therefore, Count Theodore thought of selling a batch of Griffons to Yan Xing. This, along with the costs of training Gryphon Knights and upgrading them to Battle Griffins, he hoped, would allow him to recoup some God-given gold coins.

Upon hearing that Count Theodore was willing to sell him Griffons and could even train them to become Battle Griffins, Yan Xing had no reason to disagree.

He eagerly asked, "How many Griffons are you prepared to sell me?"

Count Theodore thought for a moment and replied, "One hundred..."

Yan Xing immediately started calculating in his mind.

The recruitment cost for a Griffon was 260 God-given gold coins, so for one hundred Griffons, the cost would be 26,000 God-given gold coins.

However, that’s just the cost price. No matter how good his relationship with Count Theodore is, the Count is still in it to make a profit. Not to mention, his purpose in selling me Griffons is to recoup God-given gold coins to fill other financial gaps.

The cost of training a Griffon to become a Battle Griffin, in terms of God-given gold coins alone, was 130 gold, which came to another 13,000 gold.

In total, that’s 39,000 gold.

To acquire one hundred Battle Griffins, I might need to pay about 45,000 gold. Adding the corresponding Gryphon Knight training fees, the final amount could reach as high as 70,000 gold.

With the estimate in mind, Yan Xing’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

Goodness me... And that’s just for one hundred Gryphon Knights. Indeed, elite combat units are all built from piles of gold.

After calculating the costs, Yan Xing felt a sharp pang of regret. But as painful as it was, it had to be done; there was no skimping on air superiority.

"Alright!" Yan Xing made up his mind and responded to Count Theodore, "I’ll take all one hundred Griffons, and promote them all to Battle Griffins. As for the cost... Count, you’ll have to give me a discount."

Count Theodore, happy to get God-given gold coins from Yan Xing’s hand, agreed readily, "No problem, I’ll give you as much of a discount as possible. But... are you certain about promoting all one hundred Griffons to Battle Griffins? People are not all the same, and I can’t guarantee I can train one hundred Gryphon Knights for you."

Yan Xing said, "Just train one hundred Battle Griffins. If there are no knights, I’ll use them as ordinary Griffons. After all, with their size, Battle Griffins are definitely more formidable than ordinary Griffons."

Since Yan Xing was willing to spend the money, Theodore couldn’t stop him.

"Alright... arrange for your people to come to Nuta City to start training as soon as possible..."

Count Theodore and Yan Xing were having a private conversation in a secluded spot at the banquet when Lady Karol, holding a glass of wine, approached them with a smile.

"Lord of the City, Knight Yan Xing, what are you discussing? Are you talking about the lighting here?

"Ah!

"I never dreamed that Alchemy could create such beautiful magic lamps capable of keeping daylight in rooms at night.

"I think Silver Mane Duke would be very interested in these magic lamps. I can already picture how magnificent and splendid the Duke’s palace will look when lit up."

Lady Karol wore a water-pink evening dress with a deep V-back, exposing vast areas of her glowing, crystal-clear skin.

Occasional, very faint ripples of Magic flowed by, adding to her regal and luxurious aura.

Lady Karol had come to Nuta City in an official capacity as a war envoy, representing Duke Silvermane to inspect the war effort.

Therefore, Count Theodore was very polite to Lady Karol and, bowing, said, "The Thunderous Swamp has given us many surprises... I was just discussing with Knight Yan Xing the possibility of fitting my Lord’s Mansion with these magic lamps.

"Knight Yan Xing has agreed.

"As long as his Alchemists solve the final technical issues, they can start selling these magic lamps.

"The world will surely pursue the magic lamps from the Thunderous Swamp, just as they did the Ice Jade Porcelain."