Chapter 549: Valuable Intelligence

Roning had originally intended to merely observe the battle from on high, keeping his silence as he sought to discern the true depths of Elrond's explosive power.

He had not anticipated that Alfonso's fusion magic, combining the volatile elements of wind and water, would grant the man a sudden avenue of escape.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Roning had intervened, flashing across the sky to deliver a decisive kick.

Below, the ocean waves continued their violent churning, yet Alfonso no longer heard the roaring waters; at that precise moment, the mere sight and presence of Roning commanded the entirety of his attention.

Strong, impossibly and immovably strong!

This was Alfonso's singular, overwhelming realization, rendering any inquiry into his captor's identity entirely redundant; the answer was altogether obvious.

"Haha, to think that I, Alfonso, would one day warrant the personal intervention of a legendary powerhouse just to apprehend me. Duke Roning, you truly hold me in high regard!"

"Do not misunderstand. I was simply traveling to Torrent Island to find Elrond and happened to be passing through this area. I did not come for you."

Roning was not speaking out of spite. After bestowing upgrades upon McCain, he had set out with the remaining thirty thousand points of essence energy to elevate Elrond's strength, stumbling upon the naval engagement purely by chance.

Alfonso's expression darkened. "I am deeply curious to know, Your Grace, whom you bribed to chart my movements with such absolute precision?"

Roning turned his gaze toward the distant waters behind them, and Alfonso followed his eyes.

There, flying from the masts of two vessels, was the yellow crescent moon banner of the Hunter family, bearing none other than Viscount Partridge of Crescent Island.

Roning smiled faintly. "Viscount Partridge is actually quite loyal. It is just that your son, Myron, crossed the line entirely."

At the mention of his son, Alfonso's eyes flared with suppressed fury toward Roning, yet given the staggering disparity in their power, he possessed no strength to resist.

"There is no need for further idle talk. If you intend to kill me, do it quickly!"

"Grandfather..."

Facundo, clinging desperately to a floating wooden plank to keep from drowning, did not wish to die, though he could see no path to survival.

Roning cast a brief look at Facundo, who immediately averted his eyes upon meeting the Duke's gaze, not daring to look him in the face.

"Colloquing with foreign races is naturally unforgivable. For you, there is only the path of death."

Roning spoke coolly. "However, if you can provide me with valuable intelligence, out of consideration for the fact that your grandson is still human, I can spare Facundo's life."

Alfonso froze. "Truly?"

As the surface of the sea began to calm, Elrond flew over with an air of mild embarrassment. "My Lord, I did not expect you to arrive."

Roning gave a slight nod before turning his eyes back to Alfonso. "Of course. In the presence of so many of my followers, I naturally will not break my word."

Facundo, a bronze knight who had lost everything, posed absolutely no threat to him; whether the boy lived or died mattered little in the grand scheme of things.

"Very well!"

Alfonso said, his voice heavy.

He had risked returning this time solely to rescue his grandson, determined to ensure the Fleming family line did not end with him.

Since his own death was now certain, it was better to leave a glimmer of hope for his bloodline.

After a moment's reflection, Alfonso said gruffly, "Thranduil has constructed multiple arrays within the palace of Dragon City. At present, the authority to activate them rests in the hands of Flame Wing."

Thranduil was indeed a master of formations; the entrapment array used by Aruba and the others had previously caused Roning no small amount of trouble.

"What kind of arrays are they, and how potent is their might?"

Roning inquired, having previously entertained the notion of marching straight into the enemy's main stronghold alongside Ruidar.

Alfonso countered with a question of his own. "Is this piece of intelligence valuable enough?"

The man was clearly anxious that Roning might find an excuse to execute Facundo anyway after extracting the information.

The corner of Roning's mouth twitched into a slight smile as he looked at Facundo struggling in the water. "The eastern front is currently laying siege to the Principality of Vera. I will deploy him to the battlefield as a common soldier. If he can prove his worth, I do not mind leaving a path forward for the Fleming family."

Facundo's pupils contracted sharply, evidently shocked to learn that survival was still within his reach.

Roning looked at Alfonso and said, "Rest assured, your grandson does not possess the significance required to make me break my word."

"Good!"

Alfonso glanced at the warships closing in around them; with the keen hearing of those present, they could likely discern the contents of their conversation.

"Though the arrays are multifaceted, the vast majority are designed merely to prevent those taken inside for baptism from escaping. There are only two that require particular caution."

"The first is the Extreme Frost Strangling Array. It is a formation born from the fusion of wind and water attributes. Even a legendary figure, once inside, will be afflicted by the absolute chill within. A single careless step carries the risk of being frozen solid into a block of ice!"

At this, Alfonso spoke with a touch of pride. "I assisted Thranduil in setting up this very array, so do not doubt my assessment."

Roning nodded silently. The Fleming family was renowned for crafting magic cannons; as the patriarch, it was entirely expected that Alfonso possessed a mastery of formations.

"And the second?"

"The second is the 'Wind Guardian Barrier.' It can withstand two direct strikes from a legendary powerhouse."

Roning now had a clear understanding of the situation. The second barrier was of little consequence, but the Extreme Frost Strangling Array was certainly worthy of note.

"Your intelligence is indeed valuable."

Roning offered his critique. "I also hold your capabilities in high regard. It is a pity you accepted their so-called 'baptism' and abandoned your humanity."

Were it not for this singular transgression, Roning might truly have kept the man alive; after all, aside from Sophia, no one in his territory knew how to construct magic cannons.

As for arrays, Sophia was likely less adept than Alfonso.

Alfonso shrugged. "In truth, this baptism brings no harm to a human. I am still myself."

Roning shook his head. "But when you manifest those wings, you automatically exude the so-called fiendish nightmare energy, which is precisely the power required for the revival of the Demon God. If there are more men like you, the day the Demon God walks this earth once more will not be far off."

Alfonso was visibly stunned by Roning's revelation. "The Demon God? Fiendish nightmare energy?"

These were concepts Thranduil and the others had never mentioned; their only demand had been for the baptized to pledge their service.

Reflecting upon it deeply now, perhaps there truly were dark secrets hidden beneath the surface.

Alfonso's expression shifted through several complex emotions before he finally let out a helpless, weary sigh. The choice he had made in pursuit of greater power had, in the end, sealed his own ruin.

He turned his gaze toward his grandson, flying down to gently pat the youth's head. "Live on well, child. Do not end up like your grandfather and your father."

"Grandfather..." Facundo choked back a sob.

Alfonso looked back up at Roning and added, "I have one more piece of vital intelligence. I hope that after hearing it, Your Grace will guarantee that neither your subordinates nor your dragon will harm my grandson's life, nor strip Facundo of his strength."

Roning frowned slightly. The man had likely caught wind of how Garret's cultivation had been crippled, prompting this specific request.

That a dying man could care so intensely for his grandson moved Roning slightly.

"Speak."

Alfonso revealed, "Flame Wing once boasted that although he possesses only mid-tier legendary strength, he can summon a power that infinitely approaches the realm of a Sage by relying on the Blazing Emblem."

Roning's gaze narrowed instantly.

Mephisto possessed the Witch Soul Bead, Thranduil held the Heart of the Storm, and it stood to reason that Flame Wing would have a special artifact of his own.

This "Blazing Emblem" was highly likely to be that very item.

"Though the recent battles have caused Flame Wing to lose a significant portion of his top-tier fighting force, he is currently making amends. However, with the number of Silver Moon Knights being limited, it is impossible for him to manufacture more Scorching Sun-tier Flame-Branded Knights. Therefore, the noble coalition retains the upper hand."

Alfonso supplemented, "But if you wish to slay him ahead of schedule, I advise you to make ample preparations. Given Flame Wing's temperament, he will likely not step foot outside the Dragon Palace again."

Roning nodded slowly in assent.

His own knightly progression had already reached absolute completion; did this imply that he, too, was now infinitely close to the legendary rank of a Sage?

Though the Flame Sigil Alfonso mentioned truly warranted caution.

Fortunately, he hadn’t acted rashly, always advancing with steady steps.

"Your intelligence is of great value to me, Carlos. Take his grandson Faqundo to Macken."

Carlos grunted deeply, steam erupting from his nostrils in thick plumes.

"Grandfather, you—"

Faqundo’s heart was a storm of conflicting emotions. He wished to die alongside his grandfather, yet lacked the courage.

"Go!"

With a mere flick of Alfonso’s hand, a surge of waves lifted Faqundo into the air and dropped him onto Carlos’s back.

Annoyed, Carlos shook violently, tossing Faqundo aside before gripping him with clawed hands and soaring away into the sky.

Alfonso said nothing. As long as the boy survived, that was enough.

He turned toward Rowan, drew the longsword at his waist, and placed its edge against his own throat.

"Duke Rowan, I trust you will honor your word!"

Alfonso stared at Rowan for several seconds—then the sharp blade slid across his neck. Blood spilled, staining the sea crimson.

Rowan gazed at the body floating upon the water. Even suicide demanded immense courage.

Among nobles, few earned Rowan’s respect—but Alfonso was one of them.

Using his psychic force, Rowan levitated the corpse onto Calada’s ship. "Bury him on Shriek Island. And now—attack Shriek Island."

Calada and the others trembled with excitement.

First, because they had finally seen Rowan’s true form—legendary, awe-inspiring.

Second, because the moment had come: they would finally seize Shriek Island.

"As you command, my lord!" (End of Chapter)