Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 310 - 310 309 The Commendation of Red Castle

Chapter 310: Chapter 309: The Commendation of Red Castle Chapter 310: Chapter 309: The Commendation of Red Castle Russell didn’t return with Roland but stayed in Red Castle, preparing to fill up on Rain Dragon cigar orders before heading back.

The one thousand and five hundred acres of Magic Medicine Tobacco of Wuyao Snake Manor, along with the ordinary tobacco grown in Glowing Valley, he had a good estimate of the yield in his heart, so he was clear about how many orders he could take on.

That day.

He had just woken from the large bed in the castle when he heard the maid coming in to clean the room say, “Lord Russell, your follower Lady Katie is waiting for you in the living room, and she has brought Jerry Sir with her.”

“Is that so,” Russell raised his eyebrows, seemingly sensing something.

After washing up, he went downstairs and met Katie and the Red-eyed Rat King Jerry. One glance was all it took to notice something out of the ordinary.

It was an intuition, stemming from the intuition of a Phantom Beast Knight.

“Katie, have you contracted with Jerry?” he walked straight over, sat on the sofa, and patted Jerry’s head.

Jerry still revered him as his former master, but one could feel that it wasn’t the close-knit feeling it used to be.

“Yes, Sir!” Katie replied calmly, but her excitement and thrill could not be hidden under her calm words, “Just last night, I completed the contract with Jerry and advanced to Phantom Beast Knight… Sir, you were already asleep, so I didn’t disturb you.”

“Good!” Russell laughed heartily, “Congratulations on advancing to Phantom Beast Knight.”

“It is all thanks to the opportunities Sir provided!” Katie pounded her chest with her right hand, thumping her breastbone solemnly as she performed a Knight’s salute.

“I provided the opportunity, but you achieved all this through your own efforts,” Russell didn’t take too much credit. If Katie hadn’t had the willpower and talent, he wouldn’t have invested in her. It was a mutual choice.

Just like his three retainer knights, they were not young, but not one of them had advanced to Great Knight.

Russell didn’t bother investing too much in them either, letting them serve as minor officials in his territory, leading a mundane life was quite fine too.

“Now that you and Jerry have officially contracted, you must not slack off in the training of the Treasure Hunting Rats and Sentinel Rats,” Russell said, always valuing the identity of Jerry the Rat King. If Jerry hadn’t been so ugly, he would have been ready to contract with him himself.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Alright, go get used to your new status. Also, pack your things, we’re heading back tomorrow.”

“Acknowledge!”

After a buffet breakfast, Russell was just looking for an opportunity to say farewell to cousin Mel when he saw the butler coming over, “Lord Russell.”

“What is it?”

“Knight Commander Buskuk from the Grand Scholar Roundtable has come to visit, and he has specifically asked to see you.”

“Buskuk?” Russell nodded, “Please let him in.”

It was Buskuk who had previously escorted the two Grand Scholars to Wuyao Snake Manor for an inspection.

“Lord Russell,” Buskuk bowed in salutation upon arrival.

“Hello, Sir Buskuk, please take a seat.”

“Having heard that you are in Red Castle, the Grand Scholar Roundtable has specifically sent me to notify you to go to the Great Scholar Tower to receive a Scholar Medal… This is an award given in recognition of those scholars who have made distinguished contributions to scholarly fields.”

As expected, after the Retting Fertilization Skill was verified, it quickly received accolades from the Grand Scholar Roundtable.

They decided to award the Scholar Medal to Russell.

“Can I receive it today? I’m planning to return to my domain tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Alright, let’s go there now then,” Russell wasn’t particularly concerned about a Scholar Medal; he just wanted to get it quickly and then head home.

It wasn’t until he arrived at the Great Scholar Tower and actually had the Scholar Medal in hand that he realized he had underestimated this award.

It was a magical creation, made of metal inlaid with sapphires.

The sapphire’s effect was to concentrate the mind, enabling one to focus better, and it was an extremely precious gemstone. Wearing the Scholar Medal could help scholars calm down quickly and focus more intently on their studies and work.

Compared to the ordinary medals previously distributed to distinguish one’s status, this was undoubtedly several notches higher.

“Over the years, not many scholars have obtained the Scholar Medal,” said Robert, the Grand Scholar who was handing out the award and an old acquaintance of Russell. “Basically, those who get this medal all go on to become Grand Scholars. Let me extend my congratulations to you in advance.”

“I’ll take your good words to heart,” Russell smiled.

Scholar or Grand Scholar, for him, it was all just icing on the cake—a business card, nothing more.

To the common folk, Scholar and Grand Scholar were pathways to ascend to nobility and enter high society. But for Russell, born in Rome, he was already a member of high society, with no need for such a path.

Of course.

If one could wear a Scholar Medal, whether at a dance or visiting a castle, one would receive a grand reception.

Especially when everyone present was nobility, wearing such a medal would instantly highlight one’s status and create a clear distinction from others.

“Our Grand Scholar Roundtable is merely an academic institution, so the only reward we can give you is this Scholar Medal,” Robert said. “However, the Retting Fertilization Skill has been reported to the Red Castle Elders’ Council, and perhaps they will have additional rewards.”

“Indeed, that is something to look forward to.”

“You deserve it; your Retting Fertilization Skill will surely promote the advancement of the Grand Duchy’s power, and Red Castle will not be stingy with rewards.”

After chatting for a while, Russell took his leave.

He had no plans to stay on in Red Castle to wait for the Council’s rewards, but the rewards from the Council of Elders came surprisingly quickly.

Moreover, the reward was more generous than Russell had expected.

“This is a Wheat Little Sprite from Fairy Paradise; it hasn’t been named yet. Lord Russell, please contract it now,” said the messenger who came to announce the award, handing over a jade box to Russell. “After contracting, I will need a receipt to take back with me to complete my task.”

“Wow, a Little Sprite!” Mel exclaimed in surprise from the side.

The surprise came too suddenly; Russell had never imagined that the Council of Elders would be willing to reward him with a Little Sprite.

Taking a deep breath, he quickly pricked his finger and then stuffed the jade powder-coated finger into the mouth of the Wheat Little Sprite.

“Mew mew…” The Wheat Little Sprite was taken aback for a moment and had not had the chance to react before it felt a telepathic bond forming. The detestable human who was poking its mouth with a finger suddenly felt much closer.

“Little guy, from now on, we are partners,” Russell said, withdrawing his finger and wiping it with a handkerchief.

“Purrji?” The Wheat Little Sprite cocked its head, eyeing Russell carefully.

“Alright, Lord Russell, the cordyceps has been taken back by the Wheat Little Sprite. You can plant it in a wheat field on your own territory,” the messenger said, bringing out a document. “Please sign your name on the receipt.”

“Okay,” Russell quickly signed his name and pressed his seal.

Mel had already signaled his butler to give a few gold coins to the messengers as a tip, without Russell needing to prepare anything.

The messengers from Red Castle left joyfully.

Only then did Mel say, “Actually, the outcome discussed by the Council of Elders was not a Little Sprite, but rather a piece of undeveloped wasteland in the Volcanic Oasis—to get it over with. In particular, Earl Oskolo had the audacity to say that the Retting Fertilization Skill was against noble decorum and not worthy of reward or promotion.”

“Is he brain-damaged? This is a technology that enhances national power,” Russell said in surprise.

“He was just opposing for the sake of opposing. Fortunately, after the Regent Lady reviewed the reward proposal, she personally stepped in to provide a Little Sprite, changing the form of the reward,” Mel said, winking. “You’re really something now, even the Regent Lady wants to curry favor with you.”

After a pause, he added sarcastically, “Just one look from a Great Dragon and you’re truly set apart, eh?”