Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 736 41: Red Dragon Awakens

The red lightning is a Copper-Horned Red Dragon symbolizing extreme heat.

It possesses a pair of sharp brass horns and is a rare quadrupedal dragon among giant dragons, clearly more adept at melee combat compared to bipedal flying dragons.

When the red lightning was pushed into the camp on a massive wagon, Mahmud II had been waiting for some time.

His Three-headed Demon Dragon was by his side to prevent any accidents.

In terms of sheer size, the Three-headed Demon Dragon undoubtedly dwarfs the red lightning considerably, but the red lightning's body is evidently more robust, making the massive Three-headed Demon Dragon appear somewhat slender by comparison.

Regarding weight, they might be considered evenly matched.

But this doesn't mean the red lightning is cumbersome; its name origin already suggests its lightning-fast speed when flying through the sky. Its grandfather designated it while ending the chaotic Great Void period.

It's said that during the initial attempts to rule Rumelia by Suleiman, and Edirne by Musa, the dragons they had tamed were swiftly torn apart by the red lightning with its claws and teeth.

Illustrations of that battle are still preserved in the court, captivating him as a young boy for ages, as he argued with his father to go to the Dragon Garden to train dragons.

Standing before the giant Red Dragon, a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes, akin to reuniting with a young, unattainable white moonlight, causing the usually composed individual to temporarily fall into reminiscence.

Roar—

The Three-headed Demon Dragon's three heads let out dissatisfied growls, often arguing with each other over their sole giant dragon companion receiving more care than any new addition.

Moreover, no one from the Osmanoglu Family has ever been able to tame two dragons.

Even lesser dragons, like the Sharp Claw Dragon tamed by the Rebel, wouldn't accept a contract with someone from the Osman family who has already tamed a giant dragon.

Not even if the original dragon were to die.

Because their bond is a dual connection of blood and mind. Even if a dragon partner dies, the aura lingers, deeply rooted, for humans pale compared to dragons.

Coming back to his senses, Mahmud II hurriedly soothed his emotionally sensitive companion, his gaze towards the Red Dragon shifting from original admiration, expectation, and desire, into coldness.

Although somewhat reluctant, the plan had to proceed.

"Awaken it!"

The caster encircling the Copper-Horned Red Dragon stepped forward cautiously reminding: "Your Majesty, we deceived it into ingesting magic potion and have constantly used Sleep Spells on it. If it awakens, it will certainly rage; please be prepared in advance."

"No matter. There's already a magic array arranged targeting its weaknesses, and with me around, it won't be able to cause trouble."

Mahmud II was very confident even without these prepared contingencies; as Muhammad I's grandson, with pure blood, he felt assured in calming the Copper-Horned Red Dragon.

Worried about the red lightning's morning tantrum, Mahmud II added: "Wait, prepare some more cattle and sheep."

…

Constantinople.

The Hospital Knight Order was training the militia.

They had extensive experience battling heretics, previously having confronted the renowned "Broken Hero" Tamerlane but unfortunately were defeated. It's said Tamerlane built a tower for them according to the Tatars' tradition.

Since then, the Hospital Knight Order lost Tumena's last piece of land.

Losa inspected the city, focusing on key venues like the reservoir and granary.

The Ottomans hadn't stooped to launching corpses into the city to cause pestilence, possibly because they feared the plague themselves, but the water sources were uncertain.

Since the enemy began besieging, Losa had ordered halting consumption of subterranean river water, opting for reservoir supply.

Fortunately, the Aspal and Saint Moquis reservoirs, as well as the Basilica Basin, remained intact without conflict destruction.

Today, Constantinople held a large requiem mass, not only boosting morale but appeasing the dead to prevent the emergence of dreadful evil spirits from the sudden surge of deaths.

Viviana approached Saint Sophia Cathedral's entrance, heading toward soldiers distributing black scarves: "May I have a scarf?"

"Miss Viviana, are you attending the mass?"

"Shouldn't I?"

The soldier bashfully smiled: "I thought you'd be doing something more important now."

"I lack commander-in-chief capabilities and wouldn't know troop training tactics."

Though a titular deputy leader of the Rose Knight Order, she never underwent training nor led them in battle, revered like a mascot.

The Candle Knight sighed lightly: "If a Knight of Radiance were present, you likely would have won this war."

"Miss Viviana, I don't know who the Knight of Radiance is, but in everyone's eyes, you're the greatest knight in the world, bar none."

They simply didn't know the tales of her deeds.

Viviana smiled, her spirits lifted by the soldier's praise notwithstanding her thoughts.

The soldier suddenly straightened up, tension in his body: "Your Majesty."

"Carry on, soldier."

Losa handed Viviana a black scarf, joining the mass at the cathedral.

"Not visiting the library today? There are many precious texts, many are rare or fine copies. Historically, after Constantinople's fall, these books either got destroyed or were sold by fleeing Greek nobles."

"I spent last night finishing Emperor Maurice's 'Strategy'; I'm considering contributing to the defense."

After leaving Saint Sophia Cathedral, the Emperor and Candle Knight strolled together across Augusta Square.

"It has become devastated."

The Emperor expressed lament, walking on marble tiles sourced from the Aegean Sea, the tiles cracked and unrepaired since the Latin Pseudo-dynasty occupied Constantinople, officially named "Romania," with fiscal conditions equally matched by the subsequent Palaeologus Dynasty, true "Beggar Empire" with financial power seized by Latin merchants.

"I have visited Constantinople in our world, still flourishing, governed by a Ducas Family Empress. I even participated in a team competition against the German Emperor's Crown Prince in the Great Arena."

"How does your world differ from here? Another timeline?"