Anthony Sapphire brought Liszt some bad news.
Liszt had proposed joining forces with the Sapphire Family to pull off something big, but the Sapphire Grand Duke tactfully declined. The reason was that friction had arisen between the Blast Furnace Kingdom and the Iron Ridge Kingdom, and this year's Pioneer Order might not be issued as hoped.
"No one knows how many benefits the Eagle Kingdom promised the Blast Furnace Kingdom, but they successfully provoked a confrontation between the Blast Furnace Kingdom and the Iron Ridge Kingdom. Six Dragon Riders have already assembled in the borderlands between the two kingdoms. This has abruptly eased the pressure on the Eagle Kingdom's borders, allowing it to free up its hands to defend its coastal heartland."
"What a pity." Liszt did not press the matter.
The Sapphire Grand Duchy called itself the overlord of the seas, but in truth it was merely a grand duchy. Seeing no opening to exploit, it had beaten a retreat.
As for Liszt, with the situation still unclear, he was not foolish enough to go alone to the Eagle Kingdom to plunder.
Whether it was himself, Little Fire Dragon Rio, or Invisible Dragon Bard, they all needed time to grow. Light Green Gem Dragon Isen had suffered grievous harm and had yet to fully recover. Such fighting strength was enough to bully ordinary knights, but against Dragon Riders, it lacked confidence. So he should focus on developing Flame Island instead.
He laid his cards on the table with Anthony. "The Sapphire Family should put more effort into the serf trade. You should already know about the Flame Archipelago. I am beginning its development and may leave Sapphire at any time."
Anthony nodded. "Yes, we already know. The movement of knights under you and Marquis Oxtail was not particularly concealed."