Along with Marles came more than a dozen apprentices he personally trained, as well as a few newly recruited Winged Cavalry and Varangian Guards.

Losa instructed Marles to choose a location for building the Blacksmith Shop.

The water-powered hammer, mill, ore crusher, and blower tools required to be near a water source with a specific flow rate, and the Jordan River and its tributaries experience both dry and wet seasons.

The Winged Cavalry and Varangian Guards each returned to their units.

It is worth mentioning that Pepin has also transitioned into a Winged Cavalry, marking his entry into the group Losa can trust unreservedly.

"Bring Julia over."

Julia, a female Vampire with wheat-colored skin and long brown hair, has the softened facial features of a Dacian-Greek mix.

"Can you handle Stephanie? Can you do it?"

Julia showed a troubled expression: "That vile woman Stephanie has been wary of me for a long time. She always has Guards armed with Demon-blocking Gold Weapons around her. I'm afraid I can't manage it, Sir."

"You can't even assassinate a secular Lord?"

Losa frowned deeply.

This vampire is too embarrassing, isn't she?

Julia murmured: "I'm just a small Fifth Generation Blood Race, not that formidable. If Huaiya were still alive, I would have some confidence."

Mentioning Huaiya didn't evoke much pity from her.

Vampires don't harbor deep feelings; when danger comes, everyone fends for themselves. Moreover, because Huaiya "flew" earlier, she died under Jeanne's Holy Spear.

Despite Julia belittling her abilities verbally, she actually felt quite confident about killing Stephanie.

The original hesitation was due to the shoe-wearer fearing the barefooted.

Now it's different; since her territory has been revoked, it doesn't matter whether her vampire identity gets exposed.

Her reluctance stemmed purely from an unwillingness to do Losa's bidding.

"Fifth Generation?"

Losa frowned: "Explain to me how your vampires are ranked in detail."

Julia explained readily: "It's no secret; it's measured by the concentration of our inherited True Ancestor blood."

"Like us Fifth Generation vampires, we are the most numerous, often referring to young vampires who are adults but under three hundred years old."

"The Fourth Generation Blood Races have an average age over five hundred years, widely existing as Lords in Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia. Third Generation Blood Races are even titled 'Dukes' or 'Princes,' possessing vast territories, with many Fourth Generation Blood Races submitting to them. Beyond that is merely legend."

These three "Yas," aren't they the future Romanian territory?

Losa pondered: "What generation do you think Furinjira is?"

"Should be Third Generation, but I...I'm not sure. Her blood aura is completely unlike anything I know; she is more vibrant and full of life."

Losa contemplated for a moment, thinking that sending Paphlina Jilla alone to try and unify the vampire forces was too adventurous. However, once her power reaches Elite Two, it should be feasible to try.

"There's one more thing. Do you know which local power groups in Hebron are the largest and most notorious?"

Though referred to as local power groups, they actually possess estates and private armies, much like Lords. They lack legal backing and owe additional taxes to the Lords.

"Near Hernus Castle is Hussein. He's a cruel and miserly character who started out selling grain and salt, secretly funding multiple bandits. Tax Collectors in my territory once complained to me about him robbing their caravans, but Hussein astutely offered me tribute, so I stayed out of the matter."

"I see."

Losa pondered: "How many people does this Hussein have under him?"

"Officially, he has only a dozen Guards, but reportedly, the bandit gangs he funds number in the hundreds."

Losa couldn't help but say: "With armed forces numbering hundreds, and you as the Lord of Hernus don't intervene?"

Julia said indifferently: "I became a human noble to enjoy life, not to actually manage the territory. If he pushes me, I'll find a quiet night and kill his entire family."

Losa frowned and said: "Alright, I understand. Prepare yourself; leave immediately to assassinate Stephanie. Be swift and discreet, don't let anyone see through it."

Julia complained: "Sir, I've told you I can't do it!"

Losa frowned.

He said nothing, simply rising from the Lord's throne.

Blood Magic Power, like a blood-colored serpent, coiled around and rose from his body, forming a fierce silhouette of an Evil Beast behind him.

Pitch-black scales, lantern-like large eyes, and wings so massive they occupied the entire wall just by folding.

It is so towering, terrifying.

The rugged horns on its head, like an iron crown.

The mighty body looked as if it almost supported the entire dome of the castle—this was a dragon, lurking in the Ancient Dragon bloodline of Losa's Dragon Descendant.

Because the Blood Magic Power originated from the bloodline within itself, it naturally also bore the breath of a dragon.

Losa's eyes turned into the cold vertical pupils of a Giant Dragon, he intensified his tone and said again: "Set off immediately, if you can't do it, you have no value left in living."

Julia's face was pale, the fangs on her mouth unconsciously extended, piercing her lips, remaining in place, unable to speak for a long time.

Until the shadow of the Evil Dragon dissipated.

Julia finally sat heavily on the ground.

Her lips trembled.

Screaming madly in her heart.

"I, I am really foolish, truly, I only knew this guy got lucky, with the loyalty of a Witch, Werewolf, and Vampire, turns out this guy is the truly most terrifying monster."

Losa raised his tone: "Did you hear me?"

Julia hurriedly said: "Heard, heard, I will set off immediately, even if it costs my life, I will kill Stephanie—and also Reynard, if you need, I can handle him as well."

Losa waved his hand: "No need, just take her life, you are too weak, have limited use to me, if you can't do this, I will have Furinjira terminate your Blood Contract."

Julia probed by asking: "You want to set me free?"

Losa smiled, revealing two rows of white teeth: "What do you think?"

Julia instantly understood, Losa meant that if she had no use, she had no right to occupy a Blood Contract spot with Furinjira.

The outcome is naturally still "death."

...

After spending the first few days in a busy life receiving and sending off nobles, Losa relaxed again.

As a Lord, indulging daily in pleasure, taking Guards out to hunt in leisure, or robbing passing caravans, bullying obstinate commoners, playing with Persian female slaves, that's normal life.

How can there be so much government work to handle?

Even talking about being busy these days, it's busy accepting the visits and greetings of lower vassals.

A large pile of gifts was collected, truly needing him to handle matters were just a few.

For those below, as a Lord, just collecting taxes is enough, other matters like making laws, meddling city guilds, dispatching Patrol Officers to supervise illegal acts—aren't these just to fulfill one's idle time?

Marles's blacksmith shop has already started up in a manor on the Jordan Riverbank, but manpower is still tight, over a dozen apprentices deemed inadequate.

Once the production stabilized, it produced only a half-body plate armor set, three simple breastplates, ten swords per day.

The iron ore currently used by the blacksmith shop is mostly purchased from merchants within his subordinate vassal's territories.

Losa did not hastily go to slay the dragon because recently, he had many things on hand, he couldn't let vassals travel and find that the host was not present.

Moreover, dragon species are vast, but aside from a few disgraced Giant Dragons or dragons in juvenile stages, most are extremely powerful.

Many human nobles, if finding a Giant Dragon in their domain, either spend big money inviting a Witch or other Casters to drive it away.

Or issuing a bounty, have a batch of fearless Landless Knights embark on the dragon-slaying journey—the result often being that they annoy the dragon species until it couldn't sleep, just leaving in a rage.

But there are a few weaker dragon species that truly are tackled by knights, Dragon Slayers reap fame, and the dragon species corpse as trophies showcasing bravery.

At this time, the monetary reward is not as important.

Because for knights, reputation sometimes matters more than money.

Possessing Dragon Slayer repute might not only be taken in by the Lord as a vassal, stepping into the true aristocratic ranks but also possibly marrying a beautiful widow, directly inheriting her title, could be considered a leap to nobility.

In total, it's a great gain but a very low-success path to promotion.

In the past few decades, Losa hadn't heard of any truly renowned "Dragon Slayer" stories, of course, this is partly due to the era's slow information flow.

"A Dragon Slayer's reputation should scare off many sinister folks, right."

Losa murmured to himself.

Outside the Lord's Hall, the sounds of hooves rang.

Over a dozen Winged Cavalry were already ready, Losa decided to bring Jeanne, Prajna, and Furinjira, all to head out, leaving only Ulm and other Courtiers to handle Hebron's matters.

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