Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 303 - 303 302 Your Big Brother Is Still Your Big

Chapter 303: Chapter 302: Your Big Brother Is Still Your Big Brother Chapter 303: Chapter 302: Your Big Brother Is Still Your Big Brother At night, Russell stayed in his cousin Mel’s private little castle and complained to Mel about Marquis Arno’s greed.

“An eighty percent profit margin!” Russell gnashed his teeth, “To tell you the truth, if it wasn’t to alleviate the burden of the Grand Duchy, and to prevent the Scorching Torrent Kingdom from plundering food resources from the Grand Duchy, I wouldn’t have considered this business at all!”

He would indeed like to sell the Rain Dragon cigars abroad, but if the profit margin was too low, it would be better to sell them within the Shadowflame Duchy itself.

After all, the production of these cigars in the territory was enough to meet the internal demand of the Grand Duchy.

However, Count Merlin suggested that he send one hundred boxes of Frost cigars to Marquis Arno and add the Rain Dragon cigars to the trade list between the two countries, with a very clear purpose. Selling more Rain Dragon cigars abroad meant selling less food.

So, even with only a twenty percent profit left, Russell agreed.

“This is the price of weakness,” Mel said with a sigh, “Grandfather is using Marquis Arno to teach you a lesson.”

“This lesson is well worth it, and I’ll remember it day and night,” Russell said, “Marquis Arno is the one bullying me, but in the future, I will make the entire Scorching Torrent Kingdom pay for Marquis Arno’s greed!”

“Good, you have ambition, worthy of being my brother, Mel!” Mel said, slapping Russell’s shoulder heavily, “When you have time, go to the Tributary River Mouth and get close to Lord Medikalun, strive to ride Lord Medikalun soon!”

After a pause, Mel said spiritedly, “At that time, the two of us brothers, united as two Flying Dragon Knights, must properly reorganize the Shadowflame Duchy, help His Highness Shadowflame recover his health, and restore his glory at the earliest!”

Russell glanced at Mel, “Cousin, what will you ride once I mount Lord Medikalun?”

“I will ride Lord Mercedes, of course!”

“Isn’t that decades away?”

“Eh…” Mel’s face froze, “In principle, yes, but grandfather has made it clear that after choosing the successor, he will step down and break the contract with Lord Mercedes… He feels he owes Kunstan…”

“In my opinion, you better court Lord Medikalun yourself,” Russell smiled, “My dragon riding is none of your concern!”

“You’re quite confident, to think so little of Lord Medikalun.”

“It’s not that I think little of him, I’m confident I can ride another Bipedal Flying Dragon.”

“Sure, don’t come crying to me when you can’t ride Lord Medikalun,” Mel said with a chuckle, “Of course, who else but your brother to help you? When the time comes, I’ll let you pick a Bipedal Flying Dragon from Draco-breed Gardens.”

“That’s what brothers are for!” Russell laughed heartily.

Although they were just bantering, Russell was quite moved that his cousin Mel genuinely hoped he could become a dragon rider.

“By the way, cousin, do you now feel confident about beating Kunsley and Augustus?” Russell inquired.

“Of course, I’m confident,” Mel said full of self-assurance, “Kunsley is now busy currying favor with the side branches of the Shadowflame Family, while Augustus is trying to win over Baron Davis, but neither can beat the influence of our uncle being promoted to Flying Dragon Knight!”

The uncle he mentioned was Mr. Luo Man.

Thanks to a stroke of misfortune, Mr. Luo Man had become a Flying Dragon Knight, which had truly shocked the Council of Elders’ nobles. After all, Mr. Luo Man had been known as a genius during his youth in Red Castle, but had become obscure in recent years due to not being able to ride a dragon.

Once successful in dragon riding, his strength would make great advances, and among the eleven Flying Dragon Knights, he would definitely rank near the top.

His influence naturally increased tremendously.

“Augustus is trying to win over Baron Davis?” Russell frowned, “Are you sure he can win him over?”

Baron Davis had been appointed the new Finance Minister and joined the Council of Elders.

“In theory, Baron Davis is your uncle, but the situation in Golden Prairie is rather complicated, especially since there’s no direct heir…” Mel said hesitantly, “It’s indeed possible that Augustus could win him over.”

“Why?”

“You know that Baron Davis has a brother, Lord Decabi, right?”

“I know.”

“Lord Decabi’s daughter, Davin, is Augustus’s wife. And Lord Decabi’s son, her brother Daison, is the most likely candidate to inherit Golden Prairie,” Mel shrugged.

Russell’s uncle, Davis Golden Cap, had no sons, only a daughter.

Even as a Flying Dragon Knight, the absence of a son was a significant drawback. For the sake of the family’s legacy, the best course of action was to choose his nephew, Daison, to inherit everything in the Golden Prairie.

For the future of the domain, there was no doubt that Baron Davis was very likely to support Augustus.

“I don’t necessarily agree,” said Russell. “Baron Davis is in the prime of his life and doesn’t need to worry about a successor so soon. If it were me, I would definitely hope for my daughter to have a good future. Perhaps Baron Davis thinks the same and might lean towards us!”

“I think it’s unlikely.”

“Why?”

“Territory, ah, territory is simply too important to the nobility. For the sake of the Golden Cap Family’s legacy, Baron Davis would certainly not act on impulse,” said Mel, and then there was another point he did not explicitly state.

All the nobility in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy basically knew of Baron Davis’s amorous exploits outside.

A plethora of lovers.

It was just that he hadn’t fathered a son. If he had, Russell’s aunt Roby, the Baroness, might not sit so securely in her position.

“Forget it, no need to worry about such vexing matters.” Russell did not fancy these messes and casually waved his hand, “When I soar to great heights, I will undoubtedly support you, cousin. This Grand Duchy’s seat is yours, I mean it!”

“Haha, agreed!” Mel laughed heartily.

…

Russell did not linger at Red Castle for long. He and Roland were preparing to set off for the dominion of the Populus Gobi in the north.

“Yawn.” In the early morning when they were departing, Roland appeared groggy, with deep dark circles under his eyes.

Russell could not help but frown: “Big brother, we’re about to go to the Populus Gobi and meet your future sister-in-law. Can’t you try to look a bit more presentable?”

Roland was stunned, then sheepishly smiled after a while: “What do you mean? I just met with a few friends and drank a little too late, that’s all.”

“Do you think I’ll believe that?” Russell was speechless.

Walking unsteadily, pale-faced, with lifeless eyes, and slow to respond, all of this showed that Roland had been drained, and not just from drinking late into the night.

Roland also knew that Russell did not believe him, but still forced himself to assert, “Don’t worry, we still have a few days before reaching the Populus Gobi. I’ll get a good night’s sleep today. I promise to be as vigorous as a dragon tomorrow. No problems at all. Now, I am a Phantom Beast Knight!”

“Speaking of which,” Russell suddenly narrowed his eyes, “Big brother, it’s been many years since we had a bout.”

“Yes, it’s been a long time,” Roland also said sentimentally.

When Russell first started to learn Battle Qi, Roland could often take advantage of sparring excuses to put Russell in his place. But as Roland advanced to a Great Knight and the gap between them widened, those excuses became harder to justify.

“How about a match at the inn?”

“Let’s wait a couple of days,” Roland said somewhat sheepishly, “I’ve been slightly under the weather these past few days. After I’ve rejuvenated, I’ll spar with you.”

“Alright.”

“You also better practice. Don’t say your big brother didn’t warn you. I have never fallen behind in Battle Qi and martial skills!” While speaking, Roland exuded a youthful spirit, having become a Great Knight before coming of age himself—he too was once a prodigious young man!

Though he had not bound a contract with a Phantom Beast Knight in recent years, his dedication to polishing his Battle Qi and martial skills had never ceased.

He was confident he wouldn’t lose to Russell.

Even though his time bonded with a Phantom Beast was shorter than Russell’s.

Moreover, Russell was about to ride a dragon. So he also wanted to prove something to Russell before that—your big brother is still your big brother, don’t think you can be overly confident in front of me just because you’ve mounted a little Flying Dragon!

“A contract is a matter of fate; cultivation depends on talent!”