Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 282 - 282 281 Arrival

Chapter 282: Chapter 281 Arrival Chapter 282: Chapter 281 Arrival The Council of Elders governed in the great hall.

Ros the Clay Dragon squatted in the middle of the great hall, the vertical pupils in his dragon eyes unfocused, his head held high, unwilling to bow to any human.

Baron Roman stood by Mr. Ross’ side, loudly pleading, “It was me, I was the one who asked Mr. Ross to stay with the Knight Regiment because I faced an attack by a mounted blue-skin and several other blue-skins, and the Knight Regiment was in imminent danger!”

“Upon the sound of the Dragon Horn, all bipedal flying dragons must comply with the command, unconditionally.” Count Merlin, at the head of the great hall, spoke expressionlessly, his white hair coiled and braided at the back of his head, “Roman, as a noble of the Grand Duchy, have you forgotten your oath?”

Baron Roman stiffened his neck, “I haven’t forgotten, but there are matters of urgency…”

“Impertinence!” Earl Osclo shouted, “Roman, within the entire Grand Duchy, only the affairs of His Highness Shadowflame are of the utmost importance. You must not make excuses!”

“The fault lies with me, and I am willing to apologize to His Highness Shadowflame!” Baron Roman was ready to face the consequences, throwing his sword to the ground, “I am to blame. It is I who could not bear the thought of sacrificing knights… I hereby resign from my position as Finance Minister. Whether you impose labor punishment or strip my title, it is your decision.”

“Mr. Roman, there is no need for this, no need for this,” Lord Kunbei, the Chief Steward, intervened to mediate, “We just summoned Mr. Ross to clarify the situation. There is absolutely no need for you to be so agitated.”

“I have already explained the situation very clearly, there is no need for further questions. Please, have the Council of Elders exercise the Grand Duke’s power and punish me!”

Among the nine governing officials of the Council of Elders, Marquis Arno Sunfire and Princess Anxia were not present.

Therefore, only six of the Elder officials and three attending heir candidates were present to make a joint decision.

Of course, Count Merlin, as the Chief Executive, had the right to exercise a veto.

The discussion began among the six Elder officials, with Earl Osclo, the Chief Judge, insisting on a severe punishment for Mr. Ross as a deterrent; Baron Kunbifu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, suggested merely reprimanding Mr. Ross would suffice.

Lord Kunbei, the Chief Steward, and Lord Kunqiao, the Lord Seal Minister, believed that since it was Baron Roman who had prevented Mr. Ross from heeding the Dragon Horn, penalizing one year’s salary would be enough, and there was no need to strip Baron Roman of his position as Finance Minister.

Volcanic Minister Kontekai, already advanced in years, sat nodding off in his chair, not taking part in the discussion at all.

The three heir candidates had no governing power and were only present to learn.

In the end, everyone’s gaze converged on Count Merlin, waiting for him to make the final decision.

Count Merlin glanced at Mr. Ross with his head held high, and then at Baron Roman standing rigidly.

His face showed no extra expression as he simply stated, “Roman Youguangxun, for obstructing Ros the Clay Dragon from responding to the Dragon Horn, though it did not affect the outcome of the battle, the nature of the deed is severe. Therefore, you are stripped of your position as Finance Minister and sentenced to three years of labor in battle.”

Labor punishment is a means by which the Shadowflame Grand Duchy punishes its nobility. It could be arduous labor similar to that of serfs working the fields, prolonged combat duty stationed on the snowfields, or other types of labor with special job characteristics.

Once the judgment was pronounced, no one had any further objections.

Even Earl Osclo, who had clamored for a punishment for Mr. Ross, had no objections. After all, the goal was achieved—Baron Roman was stripped of his position as Finance Minister, which meant one less ally for Mel Yujiuhua.

And for his son, Augustus Water Willow, it meant a better chance of winning the election.

“Roman, you may take Ross and go back now. The three years of combat labor will begin from the moment you return to your territory,” Count Merlin spoke calmly.

Though he had anticipated all this, losing his position as Finance Minister and being sentenced to three years of combat labor still left Baron Roman tasting bitterness in his mouth. He had thought he would make his mark at Red Castle, but he hadn’t even lasted a month.

But with things having reached this point, Baron Roman had nothing to regret, having at least preserved Mr. Ross’ pride.

Otherwise, had Mr. Ross been found guilty of desertion, it was unimaginable how he would have raged.

“Mr. Ross, let’s go,” he said with a sigh as he turned around.

Finally, the Clay Dragon lowered its head. Reflected in its narrow, elongated pupils was the image of Baron Roman’s defeated figure. Then, with a low roar, it leaped from the Red Castle’s great hall and flew high into the sky, heading south towards home.

Baron Roman returned to his independent tower residence.

“Father!” Roland immediately rushed over to greet Baron Roman, “How did it go? Have the Council of Elders reached a decision on the punishment?”

“I’ve been stripped of my position as Finance Minister and sentenced to three years of combat labor,” Baron Roman sighed.

“How could grandfather be so heartless!”

“Actually, it’s not so bad. Three years of battle is just fine. I can lead the Knight Regiment to the snowfields and have a good fight against the Snow Ghosts, helping Rossay to hatch,” Baron Roman had come to terms with it on his way back, “I can’t stay here any longer, I must leave immediately.”

“Father, I—I will go back with you,” Roland said, filled with grievance.

“Not go back with me? Do you intend to stay at Red Castle and continue disgracing yourself? Have you chosen the Fantasy Beast I asked you to? As soon as you have, start nurturing your bond and seal the contract quickly, then go visit Baron Gevedas in Populus Gobi.”

“Father, wouldn’t it be a little…” Russell said feeling embarrassed and awkward about his status.

After all, since Baron Roman’s position as Finance Minister was lost, his job as an assistant was naturally gone too.

“That’s why I told you to hurry up and contract with a magical creature. If you delay any further, Baron Gevedas’ daughter will become old and may not wait for you!”

“Yes, Father,” Roland said, his head down.

Russell then spoke, “Father, I don’t have much to pack and can return to the estate with you at any time.”

“Good, then go and say farewell to Mel first.”

“All right.”

Mel was waiting in the small independent castle for Russell. Upon seeing Russell, he awkwardly said, “I’m really sorry, Russell, grandfather has…”

“I understand all of it, cousin,” Russell smiled, “Grandfather Duke is selfless, which is good for the Shadowflame Grand Duchy… You must work hard, cousin. Even though my father has stepped down, our family will still only support you.”

“Don’t worry, I will do well,” Mel said. “Also, could you apologize to my uncle on my behalf?”

“Sure.”

After saying goodbye, Russell returned to the independent tower.

Baron Roman had already packed his luggage, and Roland had brought back the Phantom Beast he had picked from the Fantastical Beast Park—a common Nightmare Specter Horse.

“As for other fantasy beasts, I’m not sure I can contract with them quickly, but this Nightmare Specter Horse, I’ve ridden it a few times before, it’s very gentle, and we are fated,” Roland explained. The Fantastical Beast Park was a place in Red Castle where fantasy beasts were raised.

There, many wild and domesticated magical creatures were bred.

It not only trained Phantom Beast Knights for the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family, but also sold fantasy beasts to outsiders. Of course, only a few were qualified to purchase such creatures—the Grand Duchy’s nobility, and even then, it was limited.

“The Nightmare Specter Horse is good, its mind is easy to synchronize with, which allows for a quicker advancement to 2nd tier. You can choose another fantasy beast when the time comes,” Baron Roman didn’t think his son would fail to become a High-ranking Mythical Beast Knight.

Roland nodded, “Yes.”

Thus, the father and sons left Red Castle—after all, they were sentenced to three years of punitive service in battle, and with the Red Castle under a ban on festivities, there was no one to see them off.

Looking back at the towering Red Castle, Baron Roman said with emotion, “We leave in disgrace today, but one day, we three will return in glory!”

“Cheep, cheep!”

As soon as the three of them had left Mirror Lake, they met Mr. Ross on the midway road, who had been waiting for them.

“Mr. Ross, were you waiting for us? Haha, I’m so happy to see you,” Roland laughed as he approached, attempting to butter up the dragon.

However, Mr. Ross didn’t spare him a glance, his eyes were fixed firmly on Baron Roman.

In that instant, Baron Roman felt his heart skip a beat, an indescribable feeling washing over him.

He quickly suppressed this strange sensation and calmly approached Mr. Ross, “I apologize for the discomfort, Mr. Ross.”

Ignored, Roland gave an awkward laugh.

Russell, on the other hand, squinted his eyes, seemingly aware of something as well.

The next moment, Mr. Ross suddenly lowered his head and nuzzled Baron Roman’s arm lightly, then let out a faint cry, “Cheep.”

This behavior was unprecedented.

Suppressing a shudder, Baron Roman swallowed and nodded slightly, “I understand, Ross.”

He refrained from addressing him with formalities.

With a light leap, he mounted Ross’s back as if riding a horse, where the wings and neck bones crossed, forming a groove just suitable for riding, steadying and lifting Baron Roman.

“Cheep, cheep!” Mr. Ross raised his head and roared, his legs pounding on the ground, kicking up a gust of wind, and he shot into the sky.

As dust swirled, by the time Roland and Russell cleared their eyes of the dirt, there was no trace of Mr. Ross and Baron Roman.

Only Baron Roman’s voice echoed in their ears, “Roland, Russell, I go on ahead, hahahahahahaha…”