Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 210 - 210 209 First Meeting with Grand Duke Kunstan

Chapter 210: Chapter 209: First Meeting with Grand Duke Kunstan (Added Chapter, Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 210: Chapter 209: First Meeting with Grand Duke Kunstan (Added Chapter, Seeking Monthly Pass) The temperature around the Shadowflame Volcano was extremely high, so much so that the volcano itself and the vast lands at its base were devoid of any grass.

One hundred kilometers away from the base of the volcano was Furious Wind City, which also experienced high temperatures.

However, this climate was perfect for the growth of crops, so the Grand Duchy decided to establish its capital here, enjoying the blessings of the Great Dragon from up close.

Similarly, a little further away in the center of a lake as clear as a mirror, the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family had constructed the magnificent Grand Duke Yingyan’s Palace. This castle, primarily red in color, was itself like a mountain.

Most people referred to it as Red Castle, but some also called it Red Mountain.

As for the lake that was like a mirror and home to the Red Castle, it was named Mirror Lake, with a long, water-crossing bridge extending from each of its four cardinal directions.

At the end of the causeway was a huge archway, around which many buildings were constructed, forming a small town in itself.

Russell and Eric were currently in the town at the West Arch Gate, with a carriage following behind them, inside of which were one hundred boxes of Rain Dragon Snow Cigars.

“Name!” barked the Guard Knight at the West Arch Gate, blocking their way.

“Russell Fluorescent Fungus.” Russell took out his calling card, which served as an identity card with the emblem of the Fluorescent Fungi Family and Russell’s name on it, a luxury only the nobility could afford to show others.

“The Fluorescent Fungi Family, huh.” The leading Guard Knight was clearly a Phantom Beast Knight, as he came over riding the most common Nightmare Specter Horse.

Taking the calling card passed to him by his subordinates and glancing at it briefly, he asked, “What relation are you to Lord Roland Yingguangjun?”

“He’s my elder brother,” Russell replied.

Then he shook his coat a little to inadvertently reveal the Scholar Medal hanging on the inner chest lining of his garment.

“The brother of Lord Roland, and you’re a scholar too?” The Phantom Beast Knight immediately picked up on this detail.

Russell flashed a slight smile, “Indeed, I am a lord in Glowing Valley and also a scholar knighted by the Ducal court. I am here today for an audience with the Duke to offer a tribute… and this is my knight commander.”

Eric thumped his chest.

The Phantom Beast Knight nodded, handed back the calling card, and said with a smile, “Welcome, Lord Russell. I’m the Guardian Knight Commander of the West Arch Gate, Shanks.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Shanks,” Russell replied.

“The privilege is mine to meet a scion of the Fluorescent Fungi Family.” Once Russell’s identity was confirmed, Shanks’s demeanor became warm.

After the other Guard Knights finished inspecting the goods in the carriage, they allowed Russell to proceed.

Passing through the long bridge approach, they quickly reached the walls of Red Castle. The palace’s security was rather relaxed—in fact, it could even be described as lax, as no one came to verify Russell’s identity and hardly anyone gave him a second glance.

Not until he passed through the great entryway and entered the castle interior.

Only then did a court guard approach, verify his identity, and led him to a side room to wait.

Moments later,

Roland rushed over, “Russell, what brings you here? Haha, when I was first told, I couldn’t believe it!”

Saying so, he gave Russell a bear hug.

“Father asked me to accompany the trading caravan and to bring a gift to the Duke along the way,” Russell said, motioning to the carriage.

“The Rain Dragon Snow Cigars?” Roland’s eyes lit up.

“Yes.”

“Great, haha, I’ve boasted to the Duke several times about Rain Dragon Snow Cigars, and he has been looking forward to them!” Roland said excitedly, “We must fully establish the reputation of the Rain Dragon Snow Cigars this time!”

Russell planned to entrust most of the Rain Dragon Snow Cigars distribution rights in the Volcanic Oasis to Roland.

He was only responsible for boasting and advertising, then waiting to collect the profits.

“Oh yes, here are some letters mother and grandmother wrote for you, and Lola also wrote you one,” Russell said as he took out several letters and handed them to Roland.

“Let’s go; bring the gifts. I’ll take you to meet the Grand Duke!” Roland took several letters, tucked them straight into his bosom, and urged Russell to follow him quickly to deliver the gifts to the Grand Duke.

With Roland, the local expert, leading the way, their journey was smooth and unhindered.

Red Castle is divided into the Arch Gate, Outer Fort, and Inner Fort. The four arch gates serve not only as checkpoints but also as stations for various departments.

The Outer Fort is also an office facility where many nobles who assist the Grand Duke reside. Roland had a small courtyard in the Outer Fort, complete with a few servants and two close female friends.

“I’ll show you around the courtyard my grandfather lived in later; it’s almost as big as our family castle. But it’s empty now,” said Roland.

After passing through the swastika-shaped Outer Fort, they entered the Inner Fort.

The Inner Fort is divided into two parts; the front part is the great hall where the Grand Duke Kunstan deals with state affairs. The rear part is the residence of the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family, currently inhabited by Princess Anxia along with Grand Duke Kunstan and Princess Kunlaya.

Once inside, the security became much more stringent—guards every three steps and sentries every five. They were questioned at each checkpoint they passed.

Upon reaching the great hall, Eric could not follow any further. He stayed outside with the carriage, waiting for the castle servants to come and collect the gifts.

Russell took a box of Dewdrop Yulong Cigars and walked with Roland toward the great hall, casually mentioning, “This time, I brought one hundred boxes of Dewdrop Yulong Cigars for the Grand Duke and twenty for you, big brother. I hope you can help distribute them.”

“No problem!”

Meeting the Grand Duke did not involve cumbersome formalities. Guided by Roland, they soon met Grand Duke Kunstan in one of the side halls of the great hall.

Grand Duke Kunstan sat in a high chair, looking down somewhat arrogantly at Russell, who was bending to greet him, with a slightly shrill voice: “So you’re Russell Fluorescent Fungus, I’ve heard of you from Roland. You were only recently enfeoffed.”

A vassal’s vassal is not my vassal.

Russell was not a vassal of Grand Duke Kunstan, so naturally, he did not need to kneel before him.

“Yes, Your Highness, at my coming-of-age ceremony, my father ennobled me as a lord,” Russell replied, standing straight and looking at Grand Duke Kunstan.

His silver, slightly curly long hair, along with his somewhat delicate features, made his face seem somewhat feminine. However, his golden duke’s attire offset this, exuding a spirited and noble air.

Especially striking were his amber eyes, which seemed to have flames flickering within them, completely reversing his soft demeanor.

Russell had to admit that this Grand Duke of the same age did not look any less handsome than him.

In fact, in terms of handsomeness, he might even surpass him and Cousin Mel by a margin.

Of course, Russell had good reason to believe that his feeling of inferiority regarding the Grand Duke’s good looks was largely due to the low-profile way of living of the Fluorescent Fungi Family. After all, he was still the son of Mr. Luo Man.

“Not bad, a very courageous young man!” Grand Duke Kunstan stood up, his tone deliberately mature.

“Your Highness, my brother has also brought you a gift,” big brother Roland interjected.

“Oh? What gift?”

“It’s the Dew series of Yulong Cigars, a total of one hundred boxes, ten packs per box.” Russell stepped forward, opened a box of Dewdrop Yulong Cigars, and presented it before the Grand Duke, “This kind of Yulong Cigar is a new type of sun-cured tobacco that I invented, designed exclusively for nobility.”

“Ah, I know of this Yulong Cigar; Roland has told me about it,” the Grand Duke said curiously as he picked up a cigar. “Come to think of it, I just remembered you are a learned scholar, and I personally signed the reward document for you.”

As he spoke, he turned and called out, “Someone, light this for me.”

A servant immediately approached, bringing a lit tinder box, “Your Highness, here is the fire you requested.”

Russell narrowed his eyes, quickly taking the tinder from the servant’s hands.

He personally lit the Grand Duke’s cigar: “Your Highness, the Dew series of Yulong Cigars is ordinary compared to the Magic Power tobacco leaves that will be harvested from my domain. I will select the best tobacco to produce a special brand of cigars, the Frost series.”

After lighting the cigar for Grand Duke Kunstan, Russell continued, “The Frost series will only be available to you, Your Highness, along with Earl Merlin and my father, offering a hundred boxes per year. Beyond that, not a single one more will be produced.”

“Russell, not even me?” Roland pretended to be annoyed.

Russell shook his head resolutely: “Big brother, no, even I will not enjoy the Frost series. To smoke one is to have one less, and to be honest, we may not be able to produce even three hundred boxes a year… If there are not enough, even my father will have to refrain from enjoying them as much.”

Puffing on a Dewdrop Yulong Cigar, although not feeling much difference from a smoking pipe, Grand Duke Kunstan’s expression was one of contentment: “These cigars… are indeed very interesting; no wonder Earl Merlin speaks so highly of them.”