Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 258 - 258 257 Low Profile

Chapter 258: Chapter 257 Low Profile Chapter 258: Chapter 257 Low Profile Eric sat quietly on the side, shoveling food into his mouth, while the brothers, Russell and Roland, sipped red wine and discussed the war on the snowfields.

The little woman, Bar, clung to Roland’s side, occasionally serving him food and pouring his wine.

When the conversation became animated, Roland couldn’t help but slap the table, “I just wish I could be on the battlefield myself, to behead the Snow Demon!”

“Big brother, don’t you plan to contract with a Fantasy Beast? Cousin Mel has already contracted one,” Russell asked.

“Sigh,” Roland sighed, “Russell, do you really think I have no chance of gaining Mr. Ross’s approval?”

Russell raised an eyebrow.

It appeared that Grand Duke Kunstan’s death had truly shaken Roland; he used to be brimming with confidence, always treating Mr. Ross as a surefire prize and would never express such pessimistic thoughts about dragon-riding.

Like Grand Duke Kunstan, he also wanted to earn a dragon’s respect as a “virgin.”

But before a dragon could recognize him, Grand Duke Kunstan had died.

If Grand Duke Kunstan had contracted with a Fantasy Beast and became a Phantom Beast Knight, the outcome would definitely not have been so abrupt.

“Big brother…” Russell thought for a moment, saw that Eric had finished eating, and then said, “Mr. Eric, why don’t you go for a walk first? I want to discuss something private with my brother… And madam, you should step out as well.”

After he sent everyone away, he spoke to Roland, “Big brother, father, Uncle Rosen, and I, we all suspect that Mr. Ross might have been scared witless by the Snow Giant Da. In the Second Fall War, it was obvious Mr. Ross did not obey orders to harass Snow Giant Da, to support the Shadowflame Dragon.”

“Ah!” Roland’s eyes widened.

Russell continued, “So, if you want to gain Mr. Ross’s approval, you might need to start by resolving the issues weighing on his heart.”

“Really, is that so?” Roland couldn’t sit still, he stood up and paced back and forth, taking a while before he sat down again.

He then sincerely thanked Russell, “Thanks, little brother. If I succeed in becoming a dragon rider, I’ll never forget your words today.”

“There’s no need for thanks between brothers,” Russell said with a smile.

Perhaps this stepbrother was somewhat unscrupulous and self-centered, but Russell still hoped he would succeed in becoming a dragon rider, to revive the Fluorescent Fungi Family.

After all, they were brothers.

…

Two days later.

Russell returned to the familiar Glowing Valley. He had left as a Great Knight, but he came back as a Phantom Beast Knight.

The nighttime banquet at Fluorescent Castle was attended by Lady Ingrid, his mother Lady Meryl, his sister Lola, and his Uncle Rosen’s family.

“The Great Dragon watches, your father wrote that the Great Dragon truly set its gaze upon you, Russell, I’m proud of you,” said Lady Meryl, overjoyed by her son’s safe return. His advancement to Phantom Beast Knight was secondary.

Russell responded with a candid smile, “I’ve helped the Shadowflame Dragon, so naturally it would take a good look at me.”

“What an outstanding little spark of our Ghostfire Family!” said Lady Ingrid, brimming with pride as well.

Uncle Rosen spoke up, “I also helped the Shadowflame Dragon, but why doesn’t the Shadowflame Dragon wish to lay eyes on me?”

“Maybe you helped in a place unseen by the dragon. With so many knights, how can the dragon notice everyone?” Lady Ingrid teased, “Only a newcomer like Russell could draw the dragon’s attention.”

Lady Meryl laughed, “Maybe it’s because Russell is handsome, which earned him some extra attention from the dragon.”

“I agree with that,” said Rosen, “Brother always says that our Fluorescent Fungi Family survives by being low-profile, and I firmly believe this. Russell apparently did not inherit that trait; he’s not low-profile enough in his actions.”

Russell smiled and said, “I’m learning.”

“That will be difficult; your Fantasy Beast is too conspicuous. When everyone rides black horses, and you ride a white one, it’s impossible to be low-key,” Rosen remarked, envying Russell’s Unicorn like all the other knights.

If before the Nightmare Specter Horse was the favorite among knights, now the Unicorn has become the object of everyone’s envy.

Unfortunately, there is only one Unicorn in the entire Shadowflame Duchy.

The family had a harmonious dinner together.

After dinner, they drank a cup of milk tea. Uncle Rosen’s family then left Fluorescent Castle with Lady Ingrid, taking advantage of the moonlight.

Russell stayed the night within Fluorescent Castle.

“Your father has become the Finance Minister, and your elder brother is going over to assist him. Now, Fluorescent Castle has become a bit more deserted,” said Lady Meryl as she entered Russell’s room. “After you return to your territory, you should visit me and your sister regularly.”

“I will, Mother,” he said.

“You have grown up,” Lady Meryl sighed. “I fear one day you will follow the new duke and leave me.”

“Mother, there is no new duke, at least not for the foreseeable future,” Russell reassured her. “And I promise you, whether I continue to be a Lord in Glowing Valley or pursue other developments, I will not leave you.”

“Silly child, I don’t need your promise. You have your own future to follow; how could I tie you down by my side?”

“I’m telling the truth.”

After thinking for a while, Russell straightforwardly took out a dragon egg, the size of a glass marble, from his pocket: “Look at this.”

“What is this?” asked Lady Meryl.

“It’s a dragon egg, the egg of a Bipedal Flying Dragon.”

“Ah?”

“You needn’t be surprised, Mother. Haven’t I said it before? The Shadowflame Dragon holds me in high regard, so this dragon egg is a gift from the Shadowflame Dragon when we met,” Russell explained with a smile. “Once I’ve raised it to maturity, I’ll plant it near Glowing Valley and open a new Warm Enclave.”

Russell had already made plans.

He intended to establish his own Warm Enclave to the west of Curved Blade Mountain.

First, it would facilitate communication with Glowing Valley, and second, it was also to distance himself from the Volcanic Oasis—neither he nor the Little Dream Dragon wanted to get too close to the Shadowflame Dragon, even with its protection.

There was a third reason: this was the southernmost point of the Shadowflame Duchy, where Russell could explore further south, hunt Snow Demons, and raise the Little Dream Dragon.

Too close to the Volcanic Oasis, and it wouldn’t be easy to find Snow Demons.

“Is this for real?” Lady Meryl was astonished. “Russell, you’re not kidding me, are you? Is this really a dragon egg given to you by the Shadowflame Dragon?”

“It’s real,” Russell nodded.

He did not regret being honest with his mother. Furthermore, when he saw Baron Roman, he would also be honest with him.

Apart from the secret of the Little Dream Dragon, there was nothing he couldn’t tell his parents.

Even revealing the Black Oil Dragon Egg to the public now wouldn’t be a big deal; after all, it was a gift from the Shadowflane Dragon—who would dare to covet it?

However, Russell did not want to cause unnecessary complications before the Black Oil Dragon was nurtured.

After all, living discreetly was the survival strategy of the Fluorescent Fungi Family, so before riding dragons, he chose to keep a low profile.

“The Shadowflame Dragon shed too much blood on the battlefield. Although it has recovered most of its essence, there is still a lot of Dragon Blood that could not be reclaimed. So, it decided to gather this blood and ferment it into a dragon egg, which it then gave to me,” Russell explained.

“Great Dragon’s gaze, Glowing light’s blessing!” Lady Meryl immediately prayed to the sky. “This is really… truly a momentous joy!”

“Now that you know, just keep it in mind. It’s best to keep this secret before things are set in stone,” he advised.

“I understand, I understand,” Lady Meryl’s eyes twinkled with relief. “This is the survival strategy of our family.”