Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 188 - 188 187 White Dew Mist and Frost (Additional

Chapter 188: Chapter 187: White Dew, Mist and Frost (Additional update, asking for monthly passes) Chapter 188: Chapter 187: White Dew, Mist and Frost (Additional update, asking for monthly passes) In the manor’s separate courtyard, officials were riding on clouds and driving fog, smoking inferior cigars, and discussing the candidacy for the head of the cigar factory through the haze.

After a short discussion, they decided that Hans, the Court Chief, should take charge of the cigar factory.

Firstly, the work of the Court Chief was minimal, convening the manor’s court once a week to deal with trivial neighborhood disputes. Other than that, the manor’s court was seldom in session, sparing Hans from much work.

Secondly, Hans was an old smoker and had previously been arranged by Russell to lead the team in rolling the first Rain Dragon Cigars.

“Hans, once you’re at the cigar factory, you must pay close attention to the quality and craftsmanship,” Russell instructed. “Under no circumstance should any cigar be rolled with broken leaves; it must be a complete, unblemished tobacco leaf.”

“Rest assured, Sir, I will strictly uphold the quality!” Hans quickly responded.

“Additionally, only premium sun-cured tobacco is to be selected, and merely the finest parts of the tobacco leaf are to be used for cutting the strips. No trimmings are allowed for the tobacco strips. You must also hire a team of young girls as cigar rollers to produce the Rain Dragon Cigars.”

Destined to be a high-end luxury product, Russell’s strategy was simple: limit the sales and supply exclusively to distinguished guests.

Ordinary people couldn’t purchase them even with money.

Hans hesitated, “Sir, if we set the standards so high, I fear we won’t produce many Rain Dragon Cigars.”

“I know,” Russell nodded. “I’ve already thought this through. The Rain Dragon Cigars produced under current standards will each have a label… yes, the label will read ‘Rain Dragon Cigar · White Dew’. Next year, once we harvest the magic-powered tobacco, we will produce even higher-end Magic Power Rain Dragon Cigars.”

He continued, “We will divide the Magic Power Rain Dragon Cigars into two series: one bearing the ‘Rain Dragon Cigar · Wind Frost’ label, designated as exclusive supply cigars; the other with the ‘Rain Dragon Cigar · Cloud Mist’ label, designated as premium guest cigars.”

The exclusive supply cigars are complimentary, provided only to Grand Duke Kunstan, Earl Merlin, and Baron Roman, not for sale to the public.

The premium guest cigars are not settled with ordinary Gold Coins or Silver Coins but solely with Ice Pellet Pearls.

“Wind Frost is not for sale, Cloud Mist only trades for Ice Pellet Pearls. As for White Dew, there’s no need to restrict buyers—if they can afford it, anyone can buy,” Russell’s method was simple. He was adopting the strategy of Moutai, directly branding Rain Dragon Cigars as the “national cigar.”

Particularly with the Wind Frost and Cloud Mist series, this directly maxes out the prestige of the Rain Dragon Cigars—one couldn’t be bought with money, the other could only be purchased with Ice Pellet Pearls.

And who would possess Ice Pellet Pearls? Naturally, only Knights could acquire them.

This meant that only Knights were qualified to enjoy such Rain Dragon Cigars; no amount of money could buy them for a common person.

Of course.

Russell had a small wish of his own; he hoped to earn more Ice Pellet Pearls through the Cloud Mist series.

For one thing, it could serve as a snack for the Little Dream Dragon; for another, activating the Quiet Dream Gaze Skill consumed Ice Pellet Pearls.

He certainly did not think one could have too many Ice Pellet Pearls.

“Hans, did you get all that?”

“Yes, Sir!” On Hans’s wrinkled face, a spirited luster shone, “With your guidance, Sir, I will surely craft the highest quality Rain Dragon Cigars, and not a single poor-quality stick will enter the market!”

“Then make haste. We’ve already lost enough time due to the meddling of Sosko VII. We need to produce the White Dew series as soon as possible and introduce it to the world!” Russell ordered.

Not wanting to waste time, Hans hurriedly said, “Sir, I shall depart first thing tomorrow morning for the cigar factory.”

“Good.”

Charles exclaimed loudly, “Sir, your ingenious ideas are truly admirable. One can imagine that the three series—Wind Frost, Cloud Mist, and White Dew—of Rain Dragon Cigars will become highly sought-after commodities throughout the entire Shadowflame Grand Duchy!”

Russell had no doubts about this. The endorsement of Earl Merlin for the Rain Dragon Cigars meant that no one could rival their prestige.

Even if Red Castle wished to imitate, it likely couldn’t compete with the Rain Dragon Cigars.

The influence of Earl Merlin, who had been in power for ten years, was much greater than that of the newly adult Grand Duke Kunstan.

Of course.

Red Castle wouldn’t stoop to compete with the nobility for business—it would appear too gauche and cause the vassals to resist.

“May Sir’s Rain Dragon Cigars business spread throughout the entire Shadowflame Grand Duchy,” the Wildcat Sisters said, flattering him despite not being smokers themselves.

Russell gave a faint smile, “It’s only a matter of time.”

At that moment, Katie suddenly coughed, choked by the smoke. Her pale face grew even paler, her lips without a touch of color.

It goes without saying that those who lived in the dungeons long-term were as pale as ghosts.

“Alright, everyone, disperse,” Russell said, waving his hand at the sight and instructed the manservant, “Open the windows to clear the smoke—it’s truly choking.”

Even though knights have resilient constitutions, Russell still didn’t want to inhale too much secondhand smoke.

Therefore, as everyone was leaving the living room, he added, “These low-quality cigars were just to taste. From now on, in the workplace, especially at my manor’s annexe, smoking is not allowed. If you want to smoke, go outside.”

“Yes, Sir,” everyone responded in acknowledgment.

The Wildcat Sisters’ eyes gleamed at that moment, and after exchanging glances, they felt Russell made this policy entirely for their sake.

After all, Russell also smoked the low-quality cigars just now, indicating they weren’t unpleasant to him. It was only because Katie coughed that he prohibited smoking in the workplace.

“Sir is so gentle and considerate!” After leaving the manor’s annexe and riding on horseback, a flush of red tinged Catherine’s pallid face, “Sister, Sir is simply the most perfect man in the world, oh my!”

“How many times have I told you not to let your thoughts run wild, it’s disrespectful to Sir.”

“I’m just thinking, what’s disrespectful about that.”

“Don’t even think about it, our base origin from the caverns is already disrespectful to Sir,” Katie reproached softly.

“Hmph.” Catherine rolled her eyes, too lazy to continue the argument with her sister.

Instead, she said mockingly, “It’s a shame that Sir thinks you were just choked by the smoke, without knowing you dispersed your Battle Qi to start retraining. So risky, my sister, haven’t you thought about the chance that you might not regain your Battle Qi?”

Before Katie could reply, she quickly continued, “If you end up without Battle Qi, you’ll just be a useless person, and Sir certainly won’t let a useless person be an official!”

Katie’s expressionless pale face remained calm as she responded, “Don’t worry about me. If I can’t retrain my Battle Qi, I will resign on my own initiative to Sir and then become an ordinary serf on the land, tilling the soil for Sir.”

“Humph!” Catherine scoffed, “Such a foolish thought, such a foolish choice!”

“You just don’t understand,” Katie remarked.

“Where has my smart and ruthless sister gone? Back in the Echo Water River Cavern, you never acted so foolishly!”

“I didn’t act foolishly before because there was no cost to making mistakes,” Katie said, looking up at the sky where white clouds drifted leisurely. With bloodless lips curved into a smile, she added, “Every fall in the darkness is fatal, but lying on the ground under the sun is still warm.”

Seeing her sister looking as though she relished the situation,

Catherine couldn’t hold back her irritation and, after throwing out a “You won’t succeed,” spurred her horse and galloped away.