Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 351 - 351 350 Conversation Under the Stars (Part 2)

Chapter 351: Chapter 350: Conversation Under the Stars (Part 2) Chapter 351: Chapter 350: Conversation Under the Stars (Part 2) Russell chatted with his grandfather, Count Merlin, for a long time in the corridor under the starry sky, with no one coming to disturb them.

“Russell, do you think my decade-long rule has meant anything to the Grand Duchy at all?”

“Grandfather, why do you ask such a question?”

“I feel ashamed towards the two previous Grand Dukes,” Count Merlin sighed, his silver hair trembling under the light. “The former Duke was assassinated by Snow Giant Da, and Grand Duke Kunstan was killed in an ambush by the horse-riding blue skins — twice now, I’ve failed to learn any lessons.”

“This… can only be attributed to Snow Giant Da becoming increasingly cunning,” Russell consoled.

Legendary creatures like the Snow Giants and Great Dragons are so powerful that when they battle each other, they no longer need to employ any strategies.

Or rather, the impact of any strategy is far less direct and sensational than an outright confrontation.

Moreover, humans have been battling Snow Demons for five thousand years, and have grown accustomed to the brainless Snow Ghosts, the foolish Snow Demons, and the straightforward Snow Giants. Who could have anticipated that the Snow Giants would start employing military tactics, dealing Shadowflame Duchy such a significant blow with a mere two moves?

But in reality.

Snow Giant Da’s ruse had not significantly weakened human fighting strength. Had it not been for Scorching Torrent Kingdom plotting against Shadowflame Duchy, they would have already allowed the Torrential Flood Dragon and Shadowflame Dragon to join forces and kill Snow Giant Da.

“Now that Snow Giant Da has hidden all the Snow Demons, the recovery time for the Shadowflame Dragon will be further prolonged… Unseen, it’s already teamed up with Scorching Torrent Kingdom to suppress the development of my Shadowflame Duchy.”

“Grandfather, what exactly is the Dragon Knight of Scorching Torrent Kingdom up to? Do they insist on swallowing up Shadowflame Duchy?”

The Dragon Sleep Continent is currently polarized between ice and fire.

The main theme of human civilization is obviously unity against outsiders, hunting Snow Demons, pushing back the Snowfield, and restoring a warm world.

So essentially, the many kingdoms and grand duchies should be allies.

Communicating and trading with each other, enhancing prosperity, and strengthening the power of dragons are what should be done, not merging with each other and waging wars.

At least, that’s what Russell believes.

“How could I know what the Dragon Knight is thinking?” Count Merlin shook his head. “I thought once the hope of the Shadowflame Dragon was lost, Scorching Torrent Kingdom would back off, but evidently, that is not the case — their meddling has only increased.”

“I fear several nobles have already pledged their allegiance to Marquis Arno in secret.”

“Haha,” Count Merlin scoffed coldly. “They dream in vain, really thinking that Scorching Torrent Kingdom would offer them much support. They only want us to fight amongst ourselves for Scorching Torrent Kingdom to profit.”

“It’s the fisherman who benefits from the quarrel between the snipe and the clam.” Russell summarized.

Count Merlin nodded: “Exactly, that’s the principle. But I…”

He hesitated to speak but then glanced at Russell who, though young, had always been quite mature in his behavior and eventually said, “I worry that Scorching Torrent Kingdom might be transferring a catastrophe, trying to sacrifice our Grand Duchy.”

“Ah, what do you mean, grandfather?”

“Alas, it’s not something I should burden you young people with, but you’ve become a Flying Dragon Knight now, and you must bear the responsibility,” Count Merlin sighed. “There’s been a rumor that Dragon Sleep Continent is a hunting ground for Snow Giants, who come from another world solely to hunt dragons.”

Subsequently, Count Merlin explained the basis of this rumor.

It was that the Snow Demons pierced through the Portal to Another World and froze Dragon Sleep Continent, but they neither exploited Dragon Sleep Continent’s resources nor colonized it for profit; instead, they simply slaughtered humans and battled with dragons.

“Consider it, if you were granted a piece of land, would you do nothing with it, just freeze it and leave it be?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s the basis of the rumors, you see. What the Snow Demons want from Dragon Sleep Continent isn’t our land, minerals, population, or wealth… They seem to encapsulate Dragon Sleep Continent in ice, as if to…” Count Merlin gestured downwards.

He sighed deeply, “If the rumors are true, what they’re actually after is draining the earth’s power from our Dragon Sleep Continent!”

“Hiss,” Russell took in a sharp breath.

Feeling somewhat shocked, he began to believe the authenticity of the rumor.

The invasion from another world and the wars between human kingdoms clearly operate on different levels. After all, judging by the attributes of magic power, Dragon Sleep Continent and the Snow Demons’ world are evidently dissimilar. Everything on Dragon Sleep Continent might be deemed useless in the Snow Demons’ world.

The only thing worth coveting would be the earth’s power.

Or to put it another way.

The earth’s power is Dragon Sleep Continent’s origin, much like the Origin Dragon’s Breath of the Bipedal Flying Dragon, the Original Dragon Flame of the Great Dragon.

The Snow Demons are likely eyeing the origin of Dragon Sleep Continent.

But how to extract this origin?

“Freezing the world… nurturing dragons… the world’s origin converging into the Original Dragon Flame of dragons, then Snow Giants come to hunt, to harvest…” In a moment, Russell thought of many things, though they may not necessarily be the true answer.

But at least there was that possibility.

“Grandpa…”

“Alright, you brat, don’t be so scared, looking like you’ve seen a ghost.” Count Merlin took a puff of his weathered snow cigar and regained his nonchalance, “Even if the sky falls, there will be Great Dragon Knights to hold it up. What’s there for you, a mere Flying Dragon Knight, to be afraid of?”

“I’m just a bit shocked, Grandpa,” Russell said with a wry smile.

But inwardly, he was complaining—he was not just any Flying Dragon Knight; he was the future Great Dragon Knight!

If the rumors were true, then Snow Demons’ prey in their world would be Great Dragon Knights like him.

When the sky falls, others might not need to hold it up.

But he would have to, along with Little Dream Dragon.

At this very moment,

Russell could only look up at the night sky at a forty-five-degree angle, silently muttering in his heart, “In the end, it all comes down to me alone.”

…

The ball had ended, and after a few guests prepared to gamble all night, most guests had already gone back to their rooms to rest.

Lady Meryl, Princess Anxia, Lady Kuna, and Madam Quenly also prepared to stay up all night playing cards.

Of course.

Currently, gambling had not commercialized, and was more of a social interaction among the nobility, popular in higher society. But there was a trend for gambling to spread to lower society. The nobility liked playing cards, while the commoners preferred rolling dice.

Baron Roman didn’t like gambling.

He only enjoyed tasting red wine.

So, after his wife went to play cards, he refused the card game invitations from his noble colleagues and went alone to drink some wine in his study.

From his study, he could see several towers across the way.

Many Bipedal Flying Dragons were perched atop the castle towers. For some reason, Bipedal Flying Dragons didn’t like fixed nests, especially favored steep and high places; towers were their most favored spots.

Squinting his eyes.

Baron Roman saw Ross the Clay Dragon, constantly keeping an eye on that newly born Black Oil Dragon Rossay.

“Ross, why are you paying such special attention to Rossay?” Baron Roman asked while sipping his wine and communicating with Ross the Clay Dragon in his mind.

Ross withdrew his gaze, looking directly at the study in the castle, “Essence.”

“Essence?” Baron Roman inquired, “Are you talking about that essence on Russell which you find unusually distinct?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think this essence is?”

“Don’t know.” Ross responded indifferently, “But unicorns and owls have a similar essence, especially the unicorns… it’s particularly strong… I don’t like this essence, it triggers me…”

“Well, but you don’t have to worry at all. Russell will not hurt you; you are the guardian dragon of our family,” Baron Roman soothed.

“Don’t like.”

“Maybe it’s Essence left by the Shadowflame Dragon. You dislike the Shadowflame Dragon as well, don’t you?”

“Don’t know.”

“So relax, buddy.” Baron Roman continued to soothe, “Russell is my son, and even if he has caught the attention of the Shadowflame Dragon, it doesn’t mean he will hurt us… We are the united and loving Fluorescent Fungi Family, with a kind father, loving mother, and respectful siblings.”

Ross rolled his eyes.

There might be kindness and love from the parents, but who would believe this talk of respectful siblings—Ross had been watching Roland and Russell grow up since they were young and had not witnessed any deep brotherly love between them.

But to give Baron Roman some face, he didn’t communicate this thought through their mental link.

The mental link didn’t mean all psychological activities would be shared.

It was more like a means of communication.

Seeing Ross silent, Baron Roman lifted his wine glass with a smile, “To the ever-prospering Fluorescent Fungi Family!”