Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 182 - 182 181 Scholar Russell

Chapter 182: Chapter 181 Scholar Russell Chapter 182: Chapter 181 Scholar Russell Mature Glowing Mushrooms have a very clear sign of maturity, that is, the green luminescence disappears, becoming dim and lackluster.

In the Birch Forest, many of the earliest planted Glowing Mushrooms have already turned dim and lackluster.

The serfs of Magic Medicine Tun carry baskets searching the forest for these mature Glowing Mushrooms, which once harvested, can be sent to Fluorescent Castle to be made into Magic Elixirs.

“It’s a pity there are too few forests, and the new trees haven’t grown enough to be suitable hosts for the Glowing Mushrooms.” Charles, following behind Russell, said with a hint of regret, “We will need to wait at least another year before we can fully plant the shares of the Fluorescent Mushroom Magic Potion.”

“No matter, we will take it slowly.” Russell was not in a hurry at all now.

Holding two Little Sprites in hand, there was nothing to rush about, and besides, rushing was useless when the population of the estate was simply not enough.

Of course.

The most important thing was that Russell had found the method to devour the Ice Pellet Pearls and Ice Soul Pearls in Quiet Dreams, so the urgency of estate development started to decline.

Seeing that it was already noon,

Russell concluded his inspection of Magic Medicine Tun and beckoned everyone to return to the manor’s annex for lunch with him.

Even though Butler Morris had specifically instructed the kitchen to treat it like a festive banquet, the lunch menu was still not extensive, with less than twenty dishes in total.

But Russell ate with particular joy, for this was his own manor’s annex, and naturally, dining at one’s own house brought happiness. Furthermore, the delicacies prepared by Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Brown, following his guidance, increasingly suited his taste.

“Reward!” Russell ate to his satisfaction and immediately commanded Butler Morris, “Everyone in the kitchen, reward them ten copper coins each!”

“Does that include the kitchen maids?” Butler Morris asked.

“Of course.”

“You are truly generous, sir.”

However, as soon as Butler Morris had left to distribute the reward money to the kitchen staff, he hurried back with surprise and excitement, calling out, “Sir, good tidings, great good tidings, a messenger from the Grand Duke has come to bestow upon you an ennoblement!”

“Hmm?” Russell lifted his head from the meal in surprise.

It seemed he had not yet achieved any merit for the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, so why would Grand Duke Kunstan bestow an ennoblement upon him for no apparent reason?

Charles and the others already started to cheer, “Congratulations, Sir! Celebrations, Sir!”

“Stay calm.” Russell waved his hand.

“Sir, you really should go and see what the Grand Duke has honored you with,” his subordinates urged.

Russell nodded, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then stood up to go downstairs.

At the lower hall, he saw Knight Commander Kendall, accompanying several unfamiliar-faced Knights having tea.

“Mr. Russell.” Knight Commander Kendall smiled in greeting, “Lord Baron has commanded me to escort these Knights from the Grand Duke’s retinue to Wuyao Snake Manor to declare the Grand Duke’s ennoblement to you. Please allow me to introduce, this is Captain Lucas, leader of the envoy…”

There were four people in the delegation, with Captain Lucas being a Phantom Beast Knight, and the other three were Great Knights.

“Captain Lucas, and the three of you, welcome having come from afar. May I inquire as to what ennoblement the Grand Duke has for me?” Russell bowed in greeting, expressing his respect for the envoy.

Captain Lucas nodded slightly at Russell, then said, “Lord Russell, your invention of reading glasses has been officially approved by the Grand Scholar Roundtable for the qualification of a Grand Scholar. After being presented to the Grand Duke, it has received his recognition.”

“I see!” Russell realized then.

It turned out that he was not being rewarded for any military achievements, but rather, his previous invention of reading glasses had finally been recognized by the Grand Scholars.

He was not surprised at all.

Starting from when his grandmother Lady Ingrid wrote to Red Castle, he felt getting the Grand Scholar title was a sure thing.

It was just a matter of time, early or late.

Regardless, gaining the title of Grand Scholar was an honor, one that brought a radiant smile to his face, “Thank you to the Grand Scholars of the Roundtable for recognizing me, and to the Grand Duke for his trust in me.”

“Lord Russell, arrange a time, let’s make it this afternoon, gather all the manor’s folk to witness the Grand Duke’s conferring of your reward.”

“Alright, I will have someone notify the manor’s folk right away,” Russell responded.

In terms of status, the title of Grand Scholar could be compared with that of a lord, but of course, in the Supernatural World, martial prowess was definitely more valuable. Therefore, the title of Grand Scholar was merely a symbol of identity, lacking the practical benefits of a lord, and its significance was not a matter of comparison.

Nonetheless, it was an honor out of reach for the common man, hence the necessity of a certain ceremoniousness.

After confirming the ceremony for the reward would be in the afternoon, Russell summoned Captain Lucas, Knight Commander Kendall, and others to the feast, and the banquet recommenced.

With Charles’s enthusiastic hosting, the atmosphere at the banquet was excellent.

By the time afternoon arrived, the delegation came to the small marketplace, which by then was filled with young and old from the manor. Upon seeing Russell and the delegation, they bent at the waist, bowing, and loudly cheered and praised the manor lord.

Accompanying the delegation into the Temporary Office, Russell also took the chance to size up the small marketplace.

The small marketplace had transformed completely in the one and a half months since he had last seen it.

The primary change was that many dilapidated wooden shacks had been torn down, an action ordered by Russell after receiving the family’s investment of one thousand Gold Coins.

After the shacks were removed, it was possible to expand Charcoal Dust Road. It left enough room for a road wide enough for four wagons to travel abreast, with reserved space on both sides for footpaths, as well as green belts along the road planted with trees.

At this moment, Charcoal Dust Road had just been expanded into Charcoal Dust Boulevard.

For future development, a north-south street had been planned at the heart of the small marketplace, intersecting with the east-west Charcoal Dust Boulevard to form a crossroad.

At the northeast corner of the crossroads was the original farmers’ market, which had been expanded.

In the future, a commercial district would be constructed there. For now, a stone house next to the farmers’ market had been bought by the townsman Miler and turned into a grocery store after simple renovations, already open for business.

Besides, about one hundred meters away from the small marketplace, on the roadside, a public toilet was nearly completed and even opened to the public for use.

However, it seemed nobody was using it for its actual purpose.

The serfs were reluctant to use the toilet, as what they could produce there was not merely waste, but copper coins that could buy loaves of bread.

At the southeast corner of the crossroads was the original location of the bakery and blacksmith shop, along with the Temporary Office, which had been largely left as they were.

The future plan was to convert it into a residential area for commoners, but as it still required inhabitants, it remained unchanged for the time being.

At the southwest corner of the crossroads, a large area of wasteland remained after demolishing the houses, designated as the future small marketplace square.

In time, the office, courthouse, school, and transportation station would all be constructed around the square, creating the CBD of Wuyao Snake Manor.

At the northwest corner of the crossroads was the planned “affluent district.”

The plan also included building a park, a guest house, and other structures, but at that moment, only two rows of official residences had just been completed.

While the exteriors were not yet plastered, officials and their families had already moved in, eager to settle.

It’s worth noting that these two rows of employees’ quarters made use of slag earth bricks.

The Black Waist Snake Brick Kiln Factory had produced its first batch of slag earth bricks in that period, and a large portion was piled near the manor’s auxiliary courtyard, waiting for Russell’s return to be used for repairs. The remaining bricks were used to build the official residences.

The Temporary Office was a bit crowded, and Captain Lucas did not stay long, waiting for the officials to maintain order in the small marketplace.

“Lord Russell, you may begin reading the Grand Duke’s decree of rewards,” he said.

Russell gladly responded, “Very well!”