Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 213 - 213 212 The Sun is Already High in the Sky

Chapter 213: Chapter 212: The Sun is Already High in the Sky Chapter 213: Chapter 212: The Sun is Already High in the Sky In the room of the outer fort’s small courtyard, Russell lay in bed, finding it difficult to fall asleep for a while.

He couldn’t hear the whispers of the fantasy beasts anymore, and the M-shaped mark in his palm couldn’t be summoned. Ever since he got close to Shadowflame Volcano, it seemed like all special powers, except those originating from the Shadowflame Dragon, were being firmly suppressed.

Of course.

He was still able to summon the Sword Butterfly and Thorn, as the two amber worms were not afraid of the dragon’s suppressive power.

But whether they were born from the radiation of the dragon’s power or because of their exceptional uniqueness, Russell wasn’t clear.

“Sword Butterfly, do you feel like you’ve gotten a little bigger?” Russell raised his hand and drew circles in the air around the Sword Butterfly.

The Sword Butterfly danced gracefully. It couldn’t speak nor could it communicate clearly and effectively through the mind.

But indeed, it had grown a bit since it first revived from the amber, having absorbed quite a lot of nutrients from swordsmanship while following Russell.

Not only had the Sword Butterfly grown a little, but Thorn had also improved. The five-meter-long thorny whip could now be as flexible as a finger, even able to curl up an embroidery needle, serving as Russell’s third hand when necessary.

“Return, Sword Butterfly.”

At Russell’s command, the Sword Butterfly quietly disappeared into the palm of his hand. At that moment, the M-shaped mark left no trace, only a sesame seed-sized Sword Butterfly Mark, circulating slowly around a nearly identical-sized Thorn Mark.

Withdrawing his arm and turning over, Russell closed his eyes.

In his mind suddenly flashed the delicate figure of Princess Kunlaya, fairy-like in her finesse, but soon it was obscured by other miscellaneous thoughts.

He didn’t know how long it took for him to finally drift into a drowsy sleep.

This night, like the previous ones, Gloomy Dreamland did not descend. Under the watch of the Shadowflame Dragon, the Little Dream Dragon kept a low profile.

So that night Russell had many dreams.

By morning, he couldn’t remember most of them, except that he dreamt a beautiful dream where he rode a bipedal flying dragon.

“It seems when I was riding the dragon, I brought a girl with me…” Russell shook his head, vaguely recalling that the girl he brought seemed to be Princess Kunlaya, but the dream was blurred, and he wasn’t sure if it was true.

“Mr. Russell.” The maids pushed the door and came in.

They were responsible not only for tidying the room but also for helping Russell dress, which surprised him: “Aren’t there any male servants in the yard?”

The leading maid, with a pair of sexy red lips, answered with a playful laugh, “The lord’s private courtyard has only one manservant, the butler. It’s us maids who regularly attend to the lord. When entertaining guests, the guests will bring their own manservants.”

Russell had only brought Eric with him on this trip.

Halls and Big Dumb Bear Grof were with the merchant caravan trading for serfs.

“Hmm, Roland… knows how to enjoy himself.” Russell was no longer surprised by his elder brother’s behavior.

This place isn’t Fluorescent Castle but Roland’s private space, beyond the reach of outsiders, so naturally there was no need to abide by the rule that male nobles must be attended by male servants. Guests invited by Roland, obviously, were of the same mind.

“Mr. Russell, you can enjoy it too,” said the head maid as she casually stroked Russell’s chest with her hand.

A pair of eyes, tender with emotion.

But Russell was hardly interested in her, pushing her hand away dismissively, “Where is Roland?”

“The lord has not yet risen.”

“Doesn’t he have to attend the morning meeting?” Russell asked again.

On this visit to Red Castle to assist Grand Duke Kunstan, Roland naturally had a formal official position, which was as an assistant to the Lord Seal Minister.

Lord Seal Minister is one of the nine senior state ministers of the Grand Duchy, in charge of the duke’s private seal. He could meddle in anything, but also could choose not to meddle in anything. He mainly obeyed the duke, coordinating the affairs between departments.

During the rule of the Council of Elders, the Lord Seal Minister was merely a figurehead; everything was decided by Count Merlin.

Now that Grand Duke Kunstan has ascended to rule, the Lord Seal Minister has also become invigorated, wanting to stick his finger in every pie. As an assistant to the Lord Seal Minister, and with the support from the duke, Roland naturally could meddle in everything as well.

The position wasn’t high-ranking, but the power was substantial.

“The master sleeps until he wakes naturally every day,” the head maid replied. “As for the morning meeting, it seems that the duke doesn’t like to have meetings in the morning, so the ministers have grown accustomed to holding meetings in the afternoon.”

“Afternoon morning meetings?” Russell was somewhat confused.

It wasn’t until he went to wake Roland that he learned from him that Grand Duke Kunstan loved to sleep in even more; he rarely made an appearance in the great hall in the morning. The Lord Seal Minister, a Phantom Beast Knight from the distant Shadowflame bloodline, was sophisticated in this as well and didn’t come to the office in the morning either.

Therefore, all Roland had to do was attend a meeting in the afternoon every day.

Once Russell had clarified this, he suddenly felt that Grand Duke Kunstan was truly an enlightened monarch. Were it not for his grand ambitions, he himself would have wanted to come and assist Grand Duke Kunstan just like Roland—after all, who wouldn’t love a job that allows one to sleep until waking up naturally?

No wonder Roland was loath to leave his life in Red Castle.

Back in Fluorescent Castle, he had to get up promptly at seven-thirty every day. How could that compare to the comfort of staying at Red Castle with maids to attend to him, sleeping until the sun was high in the sky?

“Tsk tsk… they say Grand Duke Kunstan has lofty aspirations and wants to establish great accomplishments…” Russell mumbled to himself in disdain.

Then he said, “Big brother, I’m preparing to go to Furious Wind City. After buying the serfs, I will follow the caravan and leave, so I won’t be staying over anymore.”

“Is that so.” Roland was still a bit groggy and hadn’t fully awoken, lying on the bed and waving his hand casually. “Okay, send my regards to father and mother. I’ll diligently assist the duke here in Red Castle and endeavor to make great achievements at the earliest opportunity.”

He freshened up his appearance and called for Eric, who was already practicing Prime Breath in the courtyard, and brought along Jerry the Red-eyed Rat King and Kevin the Gold and Silver Wolfhound.

The two quickly left Red Castle.

Riding on the long bridge highway, Russell looked back at the majestic towering castle and saw not the vibrancy of a new duke taking the throne, but laziness everywhere.

“To think I assumed Grand Duke Kunstan was really going to make a big move after driving grandfather away. It turns out, just as Mel said, he’s all form and no substance,” he said in his heart.

A sudden recollection of a fairy-like figure crossed his mind: “But Grand Duke Kunstan and his sister, Princess Kunlaya, are indeed very beautiful. Such great family genes… I wonder what kind of splendor Princess Anxia possesses.”

Leaving Red Castle, he headed straight for Furious Wind City.

Russell quickly found the resting place of the caravan, a small manor on the outskirts of the city, which was also the property of the Fluorescent Fungi Family.

The Thunderbeast-drawn carriages were resting there.

By evening, Halls and Grof returned with the caravan manager and immediately reported to Russell on the serf trade situation.

“Sir, we have negotiated with the nearby serf commerce guild. An adult male serf is 25 silver coins, an adult female serf is 50 silver coins. Craftsmen like carpenters and stonemasons, as well as serfs that are boys under ten years old, all cost 80 silver coins each. Artisan serfs like gemcutters, goldsmiths, and blacksmiths cost 100 silver coins each. As for high-level craftsmen like alchemists, there are none for sale.”

“Is there a discount for bulk purchases?”

“No, that’s the base price.”

“Then let’s buy five hundred adult male and female serfs first, then a hundred children, and with the remaining money, pick a few serf craftsmen.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Once you get to the caves in the Volcanic Oasis, continue to recruit Freemen with Grof. When the caravan comes for trade next time, take any Freemen who have come to join us back.”

“Yes.”