Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 309 - 309 308 The Calculations of the Hundred Vein

Chapter 309: Chapter 308: The Calculations of the Hundred Vein Root Chapter 309: Chapter 308: The Calculations of the Hundred Vein Root “Father, is it really necessary to offend the Ghostfire Family so severely?” In the study of Fort Poplar, Grongo Bainroot asked with some incomprehension, “Glontan has always been reckless; it might not necessarily be Russell’s deliberate humiliation.”

“That embarrassing disgrace, why bring him up!” Baron Gevedas, still seething with anger, exclaimed, “Both are second sons of their families, but who is of higher nobility, eagerly becoming someone else’s follower! Truly a disgrace to our Rootline Family!”

After berating his disappointing second son, Baron Gevedas continued, “Not offending the Ghostfire Family, and yet how could we allow Baron Roman to retreat without difficulty… Since our family has decided to stand with Kunsley, we shouldn’t be double-minded.”

Grongo didn’t agree with this: “Father, we should not put all our eggs in one basket!”

He thought for a while and added, “Moreover, Gwyn obviously favors Roland, and to be honest, there’s really no need to break them apart… No matter what, if Baron Roman can ride a dragon successfully, there’s a chance for Roland to ride one in the future.”

“Ride dragons in the future, how many years will that take? Baron Roman is in his prime; does their family have only one dragon to take turns riding?”

“But that boy Drella, it’s uncertain whether he can truly ride a Bipedal Flying Dragon or not.”

“With our support, and the Sunflower Family’s support, if he still cannot ride one from the Draco-breed Gardens, then I must be blind. In any case, Drella will become a strong force for the family and play an important role in the selection of the heir apparent.”

After finishing, Baron Gevedas sighed, “With the Shadowflame Dragon in slumber, the Council of Elders has already split into three factions. Even Old Earl Merlin, with all his power, had to bow down in the matter of choosing the heir apparent, since his grandson is also a candidate.”

“Is the Grand Duchy truly beyond saving?” Grongo, his head lowered, having served in the Dragon Blood Knights since his youth, always maintained loyalty to the Shadowflame Duchy and Red Castle.

“Independent or not, annexed or not, doesn’t prevent our hereditary succession from continuing… only now with the Shadowflame Dragon being consecutively dealt heavy blows, we must find a large tree to lean on… The Fiery Torrent Kingdom behind Baron Kunbiff and Marquis Arno is the most suitable choice.”

“But I still feel it’s difficult, the Shadowflame Dragon might not bow down so easily.”

“Whether it wants to bow down or not, it won’t be for the Shadowflame Dragon to choose…” Baron Gevedas sighed, saying, “Grongo, my son, don’t think your father enjoys doing this… If the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family were flourishing in descendants, if the Shadowflame Dragon were to regain its majesty…”

Baron Gevedas didn’t continue the rest of his words.

Grongo nodded and sighed, “I know, Father, your choice is also made with heartfelt intentions.”

Baron Gevedas smiled with relief, “May the Shadowflame Duchy always bask in warmth, may the Shadowflame Dragon live a life without harm. As long as we can eliminate the Snow Giant Da, what does it matter whether we’re independent? With the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family by name and not in power, why not sacrifice some interests of the Red Castle.”

“Yes, the priority is to deal with the Snow Giant Da. Relying solely on the Shadowflame Dragon’s power, it’s going to be quite difficult.”

Grongo agreed with this.

However, he also had concerns: “If the Scorching Torrent Kingdom truly annexes the Shadowflame Duchy, I wonder if they will plunder too much.”

“Plunder they will, but that would be a headache for Kunsley after becoming the Duke. Regardless of who manages Red Castle, whether Kunsley aligned with Shadowflame or that Flying Dragon Knight King, they will all need us to help govern their lands.”

After a pause, Baron Gevedas spoke seriously to Grongo, “I might not gain the approval of His Excellency Grungo in this lifetime, but you are different, you must persistently court His Excellency Grungo, you understand!”

His Excellency Grungo was the Bipedal Flying Dragon of the Rootline Family, a Bismuth Dragon.

“Yes, Father.”

“Only when you become a Flying Dragon Knight will you have a voice in the upcoming competition for the heir apparent, and might even contribute to the fighting strength.”

“Father, do you really think that in the future the struggle for the heir apparent will come to blows?” Grongo asked with some doubt, “With the Scorching and Torrential Flood Great Dragons pressing in, as long as the Shadowflame Dragon bows their head, how could the other two dare to make a move?”

“Don’t be so naive. Even if the Shadowflame Dragon is willing to bow, it won’t easily hand over authority. In the end, there will still be a battle, a test of strength between the parties. This is also why I’m reluctant to form a marital alliance with the Ghostfire Family. Gwyn… she’s too meek to lead the Ghostfire Family.”

The father and son chatted to themselves about the situation under the heavens.

As for the minor conflict between Russell and Glontan, it was no longer a concern to them—just trivial squabbles between second sons of families of no importance.

It was only after Russell had been directly acknowledged by the Shadowflame Dragon.

Otherwise, in the grand game of selecting a son, he wouldn’t even count as a pawn on the edge.

…

Time flew by in a hurry.

At the beginning of June, brothers Roland and Russell returned to Red Castle once again.

Despite both brothers having sworn to return to Fort Poplar in glory, this did not prevent them from being busy at Red Castle, each with their own agendas.

Roland was busy networking with old friends, attending balls, and soothing his former lovers. Meanwhile, Russell dragged Cousin Mel into ramping up promotions for Rain Dragon Cigars and discussed how many cigars to sell annually to the Fiery Torrent Duchy.

One was making friends, the other making money; both were busy to their heart’s content, tossing aside the slight they had felt at Fort Poplar.

Of course.

That was only on the surface, for deep inside, Russell’s determination never wavered—he sold the Mist and Rain Dragon Cigars in exchange for Ice Pellet Pearls.

These collected Ice Pellet Pearls were immediately fed to the Black Oil Dragon Egg.

Making money was not the goal; rearing dragons was key.

Thankfully, only the Bipedal Flying Dragon eggs required Ice Pellet Pearls for sustenance; once hatched, the Bipedal Flying Dragons could no longer consume the pearls. Otherwise, the great nobles would certainly be unwilling to trade them away, preferring to keep them to feed their own dragons.

Of course.

This was also related to the policy of Red Castle—Red Castle only pegged Ice Pellet Pearls to Gold Coins, not linking them to merits like the Ice Soul Pearls.

Once linked to merits, Russell wouldn’t dream of earning a single Ice Pellet Pearl from the market.

“Now the whole of Red Castle, and Furious Wind City, have established the fashion of smoking cigars,” Cousin Mel remarked in the small castle, puffing on his cigar and musing, “Russell, you’re going to make a fortune!”

“Cousin, you should put in more effort too. The orders from Tributary River Mouth are not ideal; clearly, your promotion is not in place,” Russell said while also smoking a cigar.

“Don’t be in a rush. Everything starts from Red Castle, from Furious Wind City, then the rural nobles and Knights will follow suit,” Mel laughed. “But the cigars you gifted to Marquis Arno really did the trick; the promotion effect at Evernight Castle is too good.”

Evernight Castle was now the fashion center of the entire Shadowflame Duchy.

After Marquis Arno smoked Rain Dragon Cigars a few times at balls and banquets in Evernight Castle, it quickly sparked a trend throughout Furious Wind City.

Much bigger than the trend started by Count Merlin.

After all, in the eyes of the common people, Marquis Arno, who arrived with a Torrential Flood Dragon, was a benefactor of the Shadowflame Duchy, saving the Shadowflame Dragon in a crucial moment, and keeping the Duchy from collapsing. His influence was indeed tremendous.

Marquis Arno held high status, wielded great influence, and had a love for arts; every move he made was more dazzling than that of a Dragon Knight.

Of course, Marquis Arno was a Dragon Knight himself.

“The promotional effect is good, but the endorsement fee I gave wasn’t small either,” Russell sighed, “Marquis Arno is really greedy. He took away eighty percent of the profits from the Rain Dragon Cigars added to the trade list. I could only taste a bit of the soup!”

Mel narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Greedy is one thing, but it’s worse if his greed isn’t satisfied, and he ends up wanting even more.”