Chapter 609 - 36: The First Hostile Territory of the Hesse Territory
After Su Li took to the sky riding the Griffin, 12 air cavalry members also took off from the spacious terrace. After circling once in front of the grand, snow-white castle, they gathered behind Su Li, officially beginning their journey to Marle Castle.
Fastrick proudly raised the Bauhinia family’s grand banner. Under the effect of this banner, the knights beneath it gave an illusion that they were extraordinarily large. Keep in mind, Griffins and Flying Horses are already massive flying beasts, and an even bigger air cavalry unit could frighten any powerful enemy. Even at thousands of meters high, they might be mistaken by the monsters below for a fleet of Giant Dragons passing by.
When they charge down from the sky fiercely, they can rely on the aura of fear to directly induce horror in the enemy army.
After the cavalry lifted off, the territory’s minister and female courtiers were much more at ease. With such a powerful unit and the Lord’s ability to avoid calamity and seek blessing, encountering a crisis would be too unreasonable.
Indeed, as the ministers of the territory imagined, Su Li, with his air cavalry, sped through swiftly without encountering any threats.
They traveled over the thick clouds, their traces completely undetectable by those below.
Most wild beasts never realized that thousands of meters high, a powerful fleet of knights silently flew past behind the clouds.
Only clusters of migratory birds occasionally sensed the presence of airborne predators. Yet when they turned their puzzled heads around, they couldn’t locate the source of this powerful aura.
Griffins and Flying Horses can soar above 4000 meters high, over the snowy peaks of the Gray Mountain Range, allowing them to fly higher than most birds. This enabled Su Li and his companions to quietly traverse hundreds of miles of territory.
Moreover, the air cavalry not only flies high but also with unparalleled speed, making it the fastest march Su Li has experienced since arriving in this realm.
It took only two hours for them to swiftly travel hundreds of miles, crossing the territory of Hesse and the border posts.
From the sky, they saw the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hartskline by the border’s water gate and the adjacent three-story garden cottage.
When not engaged in diplomatic tasks, she enjoys being there, sitting on the garden deck chair with a pipe in hand, leisurely watching the merchant and grain ships passing on the canal.
This also allows her to better fulfill her duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as when the territory has no diplomatic tasks, this is the front line for external communication. Many caravans and ships first enter the territory here.
She set up the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs here, which is very beneficial for handling various documents.
The Griffin continued its flight, leaving behind perfect arcs in the sky, only beginning to descend around noon.
It’s not because they were exhausted; on the contrary, their stamina was robust, able to soar for a whole day.
The Empire’s fine steeds can gallop for a day, let alone these powerful flying beasts. In fact, they can out-fly wild geese. Migrating geese can fly all day during migration season, and even short flights can last several hours. Regardless of whether they are clad in heavy horse armor weighing hundreds of pounds, carrying knights weighing with armor, Griffins still maintain their vigor.
If not engaged in combat, they can glide in the sky for a whole day and night under a burden of a thousand pounds.
However, while they and the Flying Horses can endure, other mounts cannot. Giant Eagles can only fly through the morning, never exceeding a single daylight period. Gray Swans, laden with the weight of Half-Elves, had long lost the ability to flap their heavy wings, having to stop for a rest by noon.
The rest location was beside a huge freshwater lake upstream of the Brionne River, the nearest lake to Hesse Territory. It is also the most magnificent lake in the northeastern direction of the Border Prince’s Territory.
Located in the canyon area upstream of the Brionne River, it is surrounded by towering mountains and dense virgin forests. The lake itself stretches about 50 kilometers long, varying in width, with the surface resembling a giant mirror reflecting the colors of the sky and the outlines of surrounding mountains. On clear days, the lake appears a deep blue, as if a gemstone had been cut from the sky.
Thus, it received a beautiful name, Blue Mirror Lake, now under the control of a Baron.
When Su Li lingered by the lake for a moment, a team of cavalry galloped over, shouting, "Who dares trespass the holy land of the Blue Mirror Baron’s Territory! Are you unaware this is the restricted zone designated by Baron Grant?"
They held aloft a blue and white noble banner, its deep blue brocade bearing a mysterious and profound quality. The silver-white vertical stripes resembled an arched reflection and moonlight at night, showcasing a cold yet elegant aura.
At the banner’s center was an eagle with spread wings, symbolizing the family’s authority and vast territory, clutching a small shield emblem in its talons. The background of the banner was made of wavy lines, representing the water surface of Blue Mirror Lake. The wavy lines transitioned from deep blue to silver-white, mimicking the lake’s appearance under different lighting conditions.
Such a meticulously designed banner suggests the force it represents is not merely a Border Development Territory reliant on family protection but rather a powerful noble deeply rooted in this land.
