Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 239 - 239 238 Please Everyone Have a Cigarette

Chapter 239: Chapter 238 Please Everyone Have a Cigarette Chapter 239: Chapter 238 Please Everyone Have a Cigarette Majesty, searing heat, and a body as imposing as a mountain, with patterns like flowing magma—the complete form of the Shadowflame Dragon, like the cold indifference flickering in its vertical pupils, instilled a primal fear in all who beheld it.

But beyond that fear, one might feel an awe rising spontaneously in the soul, a sense of beauty that overwhelmed.

It wasn’t for the aesthetic beauty of the Shadowflame Dragon’s form that one would marvel, but rather for the magnificence of its surging, powerful essence that left one astonished.

“A Great Dragon!”

Russell reigned in his gaze, not daring to peer carelessly at the Shadowflame Dragon’s form again, but even that brief glimpse had left an indelible impression in his mind—an incarnation of the most formidable force in the Supernatural World.

It was also the ultimate embodiment of the earth’s power.

He had been so captivated by the Shadowflame Dragon’s demeanor that he didn’t even notice the large flock of bipedal flying dragons and fantasy beasts that descended in its wake.

“Greetings, Your Highness Shadowflame!” Lord Kunbifu Yanyan’s voice was the first to rise, breaking the silence of the moment.

It was only then that Earl Osclo Shuiliu realized what was happening and belatedly called out in a booming voice, “Osclo, greetings, Your Highness Shadowflame!”

“Greetings, Your Highness Shadowflame!”

“Greetings, Your Highness Shadowflame!”

The nobles shouted one after the other, their cries growing like waves, one higher than the last.

The Shadowflame Dragon offered no response to this ritual of human subjugation; such gestures were of no concern to it.

However, by the Shadowflame Dragon’s side, the Grand Duke Kunstan Yingyan, whom Russell had completely overlooked, dismounted from the back of a hawk-like fantasy beast and strode forward until he stood in line with the dragon’s head.

Earl Osclo then clearly saw Grand Duke Kunstan and promptly called out with a booming voice, “Osclo, greetings, Your Grace!”

“Greetings, Your Grace!”

“Greetings, Your Grace!”

Another round of thunderous salutations followed.

Unlike the indifferent Shadowflame Dragon, the young, delicate, and handsome Grand Duke Kunstan greatly enjoyed the greetings from knights kneeling before him.

A smug smile spread across his face as he raised his hand and gestured, “Rise, everyone, there’s no need for such formalities.”

“Thank you, Your Grace!” responded Earl Osclo, as he stood up.

Russell also got to his feet, then his gaze shifted past Grand Duke Kunstan to his grandfather, Count Merlin, and another large group of noble knights. These knights, either Flying Dragon Knights or Phantom Beast Knights, were the elite of the Grand Duchy.

But in the presence of the Shadowflame Dragon, they seemed inconsequential; even the currently self-satisfied Grand Duke Kunstan paled in the brilliance of the Shadowflame Dragon.

The reverence of the Grand Duchy’s nobility and knights was not for Grand Duke Kunstan or the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family.

The sole object of their reverence was the Shadowflame Dragon.

After casting a glance over the assembled knights, the Shadowflame Dragon raised its head high, gazing northwestward.

It seemed to see beyond the distance of over a hundred kilometers, to its mortal enemy—the Snow Giant Da.

At this moment.

The only thing that could catch its attention was the Snow Giant Da.

“My lords, you are the backbone of our Grand Duchy,” Grand Duke Kunstan spoke under the shadow of the Shadowflame Dragon, enduring the intense heat as he improvised a wartime motivational speech, “Defending the frontier goes hand in hand with the fate of our nation!”

“Twenty-one years ago, the Battle of the Fallen on the snowfields had profound effects on our Shadowflame Grand Duchy, forcing His Highness Shadowflame to recuperate for twenty years.”

Grand Duke Kunstan paced back and forth, hand on the hilt of his sword, eyes sweeping across those present: “How could a twenty-year grudge simply dissipate… Now, with the awakening of the Snow Giant Da who once again invades our Grand Duchy’s borders, we face a crisis, but also an opportunity!”

“What kind of opportunity? The opportunity to exact revenge, to utterly clear the path for our Grand Duchy’s expansion!”

Clang.

Grand Duke Kunstan drew his sword, its hilt studded with several gems of different colors: “At this moment, from His Highness Shadowflame himself to me, you, and every knight of the Grand Duchy, we must all be prepared to put our utmost effort into a decisive battle to completely slay the Snow Giant Da!”

He paused.

Then, changing his tone, he spoke with seriousness, “In this battle, you, me, he, we all may die; but the will and courage of a knight will ignite in us an unprecedented fighting strength, and ultimately, under the leadership of his highness Shadowflame, we shall win this war!”

He raised his longsword high, and the gemstones shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.

Grand Duke Kunstan roared, “In this war, I, Kunstan Shadowflame, vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”

Whir!

The longsword slashed down from above, its bright trail carving a deep ravine in the cracked earth: “Knights, lend me your strength!”

It was Earl Osclo who first responded, “I am willing to follow the Grand Duke and vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”

With a leader initiating, everyone started shouting loudly, “Following the Grand Duke, we vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”

Russell, his face stern, joined in the loud shouting, “Vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”

Such oaths, such a scene, finally made the Shadowflame Dragon lower its head to carefully glance at the knights, but it was just a fleeting look before it raised its head again, looking towards the northwest.

Grand Duke Kunstan, proud and pleased, felt that he had greatly boosted the morale of the Knight Regiment and wanted to say more.

However, Count Merlin had already approached, “Your Highness, it is time to discuss the strategy for this great battle.”

“Good, follow me into the command tent to discuss how this war shall proceed,” Grand Duke Kunstan strode into the command tent.

He had just wanted to say a few more words to boost the morale.

But then he saw Count Merlin, with no hint of courtesy, taking the main seat in the command tent; he surveyed everyone in a circle and spoke in a grave voice, “Twenty-one years ago, I followed the former Grand Duke in battle against the Snow Giant Da for three days and nights, the events of that day still vivid in my mind.”

Grand Duke Kunstan felt a bit embarrassed, shooting a glare at Count Merlin, tempted to scold and send him away, but in the end, he refrained.

Having just ascended the throne less than half a year ago, his authority was not yet strong enough to command respect from everyone, especially since he had forced Count Merlin to step back through dishonorable means—though this had won him the opportunity to rule directly, it had not shaken Count Merlin’s popularity.

Once Count Merlin started speaking, everyone listened with the same solemnity they had during the period when the Council of Elders held governance.

Even Earl Osclo, who often disagreed with Count Merlin, had no objections.

Russell silently observed all this, quickly understanding the reason—faced with a battle of life and death, compared to the green Grand Duke Kunstan, everyone felt they were more likely to survive under Count Merlin’s command.

“We must sever the connection between the Snow Demon Legion and Snow Giant Da, leaving sufficient space for His Highness Shadowflame to battle… Meanwhile, the Flying Dragon Knights must ensure ample mobility to support His Highness anytime, containing Snow Giant Da,” instructed Count Merlin as he meticulously examined the sand table, repeatedly asking about the battlefield situation: “How many Knight Regiments have been assembled so far?”

“Twenty Knight Regiments, including the Dragon Blood Knights to which I belong,” spoke Lord Raub, the Knight Commander of the Dragon Blood Knights—a regiment composed entirely of Great Knights.

One third of its members were Phantom Beast Knights.

It could be said that the Dragon Blood Knights were the most elite Knight Regiment of the entire Grand Duchy.

“It’s fewer than twenty-one years ago, but the Snow Demon Legion’s numbers have also greatly diminished… In this way, each Knight Regiment shall take their positions, striving to drive the Snow Demon Legion outward…” Count Merlin continued, “His Highness Shadowflame will focus on another direction, keeping an eye on Snow Giant Da… In this battle, we must prevail!”

Speaking thus,

Count Merlin smoothed out the sand table with a sweep of his hand, then signaled the knight at his side to hand out a box of cigars, “These are the Rain Dragon cigars my grandson invented for me; you ought to have heard of them. Please, each of you take one. By the time we finish these cigars, the Knight Regiments should be well organized.”

The Rain Dragon cigars from the White Dew series were distributed one by one.

Count Merlin also acknowledged the presence of Russell in the corner with a slight nod, and then spoke sternly, “After one cigar, I want to see every Knight Regiment charging fearlessly into battle, like a sharp sword thrust into the heart of the Snow Demon Legion!”

Everyone responded solemnly, “Understood!”

Lighting their cigars, the commanders of various Knight Regiments left one after another.

Russell also followed Baron Roman back to the Glowing Valley Knight Regiment’s encampment, beginning to organize the regiment and set off toward the snowfields.

In the command tent, only Count Merlin and Grand Duke Kunstan were left.

The elder and the younger did not exchange glances, sinking into a silent silence.