Riding Rose, the Seven-Colored Whale, Liszt raced across the sea for an hour and a half, arriving at Flower Port.
He then switched to Loki, the Landwalker, and raced across the land for an hour, arriving at Tulip Castle.
Setting out at seven, Liszt appeared in Tulip Castle's drawing room after just three hours. There, he met the court envoy representing Grand Duke Sapphire, a middle-aged man.
"Liszt, let me introduce you. This is Jonas Evening Primrose, Count of Moonlight City. He has been appointed as the Grand Duke's court envoy and has come to Black Horse Island to inspect your territory," Count Leewilliam said by way of introduction.
Jonas had a thick head of hair and a full beard.
He looked somewhat unkempt.
Liszt knew of the man. He was one of the counts of the Blue Blood Alliance, an old-established Sword Saint of the Grand Duchy. Liszt had met Jonas's daughter, Joanna Evening Primrose, an ordinary-looking noble young lady. When Meiopal had married, Joanna had served as one of the princess's bridesmaids.
Back at Long-Yam Castle, Joanna had tossed Liszt no shortage of flirtatious looks.
"Welcome, Count Jonas."
Liszt greeted Jonas according to standard noble etiquette. Compared to the bearded Jonas, Liszt was the very image of a perfect nobleman, whether in appearance or bearing. Even when he had been nothing more than the lowly Baron of Flower Town, he had always stolen the spotlight at banquets and similar occasions.
Much less now, when he was a "half-step Dragon Rider." His confidence was all the more outstanding, and his bearing had naturally risen to another level.
At their very first meeting, Jonas was immediately overshadowed.
The bearded count could not help feeling that the young Liszt before him, young enough to inspire envy, was the true great noble,