Chapter 152 - 147: Flying Magical Beast
’How to deal with Leonard?’
Velin already had an answer.
’Execute him on the spot?’
’That would be the simplest solution—and the most foolish.’
It would create a rift between him and his uncle that could never be healed.
’Let him off easy? That would be courting disaster.’
Being merciful to someone like Leonard was being cruel to oneself.
He wouldn’t be grateful. Instead, he would see you as weak and easy to bully, then wait like a venomous snake for the next chance to strike.
’So, I must give him a glimmer of hope—one he can see but never grasp.’
’I’ll give him a title of Knight.’
’I’ll send him off to a remote fief to manage it on his own.’
If Leonard learned to accept his reality, he could live out his days as a country Knight in the middle of nowhere.
But if he still caused trouble...
Well, many down-and-out nobles died in "accidents" every year.
Count Leman understood Velin’s meaning almost instantly. A genuine, even relieved smile spread across his face.
’Excellent.’
’This boy possesses a political mind far beyond his years and an admirably restrained heart.’
He knew how to balance interests and personal feelings, solving problems at the smallest cost.
’As for Leonard? Every member of the family who enjoys its glory must also be prepared to make sacrifices for it.’
"You’ve uncovered a veritable gold mine for the family. As the Clan Leader, I must give you a reward that reflects that."
Leman walked to Velin’s side and placed his left hand on his nephew’s shoulder.
"Tell me, what do you want?"
Velin raised his head.
He really did have something he wanted, something money alone couldn’t buy.
"Uncle, I want a Flying Magical Beast."
The smile on Leman’s face slowly faded, replaced by a look of surprise and scrutiny.
"A Flying Magical Beast?"
He slowly paced.
"Velin, do you understand what it means to own a Flying Magical Beast?"
"This isn’t like buying a horse. A Flying Magical Beast, even a Low Tier one, is a bottomless pit."
Leman began to detail the complexities.
"First, food. They only eat ingredients equivalent to or above Level 4 Magical Beasts. An adult Griffin eats thirty pounds of Level 4 Magical Beast meat a day, and that doubles if it flies frequently!"
"Second, a habitat. You need to build a special pen for it, one that is spacious and sturdy enough, and you even have to inscribe a Protective Array."
"Finally, taming. You’ll need to hire professional Beast Tamers, who command high salaries. Flying Magical Beasts are mostly wild and untamable, and casualties during the taming process are common."
Leman stopped pacing and looked directly at Velin.
"It’s a living luxury, a walking vault. You might be able to afford one, but that doesn’t mean you can afford to keep it. And even if you can keep it, that doesn’t mean you can afford to use it."
"For a Pioneer Baron, it might not be a help, but a burden that could drag you down."
Velin listened quietly, his expression unchanging.
He had already gone over these scenarios in his mind countless times.
"Uncle, I understand your concerns."
He spoke calmly. "But to me, a Flying Magical Beast isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity."
"My fief is in the Gray Sea Marsh. It’s too remote. A round trip by land to either Green Vein City or Zelheim takes nearly a month. If an emergency strikes, the lack of rapid communication would leave me far too vulnerable."
"With a Flying Magical Beast, I could reach any of the kingdom’s core cities within days. The mobility it provides has a strategic value that no amount of wealth can match."
"More importantly..."
"For a pioneer lord, air superiority means the initiative."
"Reconnaissance, deterrence, rapid support... The benefits it offers far outweigh the cost of its upkeep."
Every word he spoke was not born of youthful vanity or impulse, but of a careful analysis of costs and benefits.
Count Leman fell silent.
At first, he had thought Velin wanted a flying mount for the same reason as other young nobles—for the so-called "glory of a Knight"—but now he saw that Velin’s ambitions were far greater.
’Shortening his travel time to the Royal Capital?’
’That’s not something a frontier noble should even be thinking about. He has no intention of being content with his corner of the world!’
Besides, Leman suddenly realized that with the terrifying profits from the "Finale" series, a flying mount that an ordinary Baron couldn’t afford might truly be just a minor inconvenience for him.
Velin’s mercy toward Leonard had earned him points for political maturity.
And his words just now had fully demonstrated his immense value as a future core member of the family.
Leman let out a long breath and agreed.
"Alright, you’ve convinced me."
"Since you’ve thought it through so clearly, then this is a mount I can afford to give you!"
"However, don’t even think about a strategic-level Magical Beast like a Dragon-kin or a pure-blooded Griffin for now. Those are military assets of the Duchy, and I can’t get you one."
"I have a beast-taming ground under my name near the Royal Capital, and there happens to be a new batch of newly adult Level 4 Magical Beasts: Pegasi."
"They are close relatives of the Celestial Horse, have good endurance and speed, and their temperament is relatively gentle, making them very suitable as a beginner’s first flying mount."
Leman made his decision.
"Which one you can tame, and what kind of Pegasus you can get, will depend on your own ability."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Velin bowed slightly, his goal achieved.
「The next morning.」
A light carriage carried Velin out of the Royal Capital, heading toward the Wind Chanting Mountain Range outside the city.
The mountain road was rugged, and the air grew increasingly fresh.
Two hours later, a massive beast-taming ground built halfway up the mountain came into view.
Tall stone walls enclosed a vast field, and huge metal nests sat like fortresses on the cliff face. From time to time, giant dark figures would streak across the sky, letting out clear, piercing cries.
A thin but hale and hearty old man was already waiting at the gate. He was the manager here, Bach.
"Baron Velin."
Bach bowed respectfully.
"The Count has already given his instructions. Please, follow me."
He led Velin across the outer field and into the depths of the beast-taming ground.
Along the way, Velin saw all sorts of Magical Beasts locked in sturdy cages, but his gaze didn’t linger on any of them.
Soon, they stopped before an area sectioned off by a massive iron fence.
This was the Pegasus habitat.
A dozen or so magnificent creatures were lazily pacing or preening their wings inside.
Their coats were pure, without a single speck of another color. Their forms were sleek and graceful, like the most majestic warhorses fitted with enormous wings. They were a full size larger than even the most powerful warhorse, and every breath they took came out as a faint mist.
"My Lord Baron, the Pegasi here are all of the highest quality."
Bach pointed to one with a particularly glossy coat and said, "That one has the gentlest temperament. It has already completed preliminary riding training and is the first choice for many young nobles."
He then pointed to another that was exceptionally burly.
"That one is the strongest. Its short-burst power is second to none."
Velin didn’t rush to a decision.
His eyes swept across the entire enclosure as streams of data, invisible to others, silently unfolded before him.
His gaze was finally drawn to a solitary Pegasus in the corner, keeping its distance from the others.