Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 360 - 360 359 Demon Subduing Order

Chapter 360: Chapter 359: Demon Subduing Order Chapter 360: Chapter 359: Demon Subduing Order This year’s family banquet at Fluorescent Castle would have one more person than usual, Gwyn Baimaigen, Roland’s new wife.

Roland, now married, had obviously matured and become much steadier.

And little sister Lola was growing up day by day; now thirteen years old, she was fast approaching the age suitable for an arranged marriage.

“How is the expansion of Blackflame Plains going?” Baron Roman asked as he sipped his red wine, “I’ve just returned from the trade route and haven’t had the chance to see Blackflame Plains yet.”

He had cleared obstacles from the trade route once more, fulfilling his three-year obligation of arduous service.

“It has already expanded into a rough shape, like a sloping triangle. If I estimate simply, it should be around three thousand five hundred square kilometers,” Russell said, as signs of the borders of Blackflame Plains were appearing.

Although not entirely melted, the ice cap was already fractured, just waiting for the next Warm Season to come for it to settle into a definitive shape.

And the Black Oil Dragon Ross had already begun to sense the boundaries of his domain.

“Three thousand five hundred square kilometers, that really is quite large,” Baron Roman commented with mixed feelings, “Glowing Valley is only two thousand six hundred square kilometers, nearly a thousand square kilometers smaller than your Blackflame Plains.”

Russell chuckled and replied, “It’s still not big enough. My grandfather’s Tributary River Mouth is more than thirty thousand square kilometers.”

“The Tributary River Mouth was also fortunate; three Bipedal Flying Dragons were born nearby in succession. Their territories reflected each other’s glory, blowing their domains bigger like competing resonances until they merged,” said Baron Roman.

In the beginning, the Rainflower Family only owned one piece of that land.

As the territories connected and the Rainflower Family continued to establish their merits, Red Castle eventually granted them the entire Tributary River Mouth.

Uncle Rosen laughed, “Big brother, Russell, if another Bipedal Flying Dragon is born nearby, perhaps Glowing Valley and Blackflame Plains could be merged into a larger Warm Enclave. Then, my Fluorescent Fungi Family could stand on equal footing with Tributary River Mouth and Gravel Domain.”

“We’re not far off now,” Lady Ingrid chuckled, “The Little Ghost Fires just need to work a bit harder, and sooner or later they’ll forge an even larger Warm Enclave.”

Baron Roman was somewhat skeptical, “The size of the territory isn’t important; having enough hands to develop it is key. I’m worried about how Russell will get enough serfs to cultivate the land in Blackflame Plains in the future.”

Glowing Valley, after seventy years of development, had only just over eighty thousand inhabitants, which included the ten thousand population of Wuyao Snake Manor.

Once Russell took away the ten thousand from Wuyao Snake Manor, Glowing Valley would be left with only sixty or seventy thousand people.

“Buy them,” Russell suggested.

“With your grandfather in office, I’m afraid the serf trade policy may become even stricter next year,” Baron Roman shook his head.

Lady Meryl comforted him, “Russell is still young, waiting a bit is okay. He will surely be able to buy enough serfs in time.”

“We’ve planted too much Magic Potion, causing a large number of serfs to cultivate Magic Potion, thus reducing the production of food,” Russell put forward his perspective, “If we can appropriately cede some of the benefits of Magic Potion to the serf class, we could support a larger population.”

Roland said, “But we need enough Magic Potions to train Knights; without enough Knights to protect the territory, we can’t maintain its safety… every year, a large number of Knights die on the Snowfield.”

This was a fact that could not be ignored.

Uncle Rosen said, “Russell, I remember that Red Castle commended you for your Retting Fertilization Skill, and this year, Glowing Valley also began to promote it, indeed there’s been an increase in the harvest. The Volcanic Oasis should yield even more.”

“It’s indeed a good technique, but, gentlemen, please let’s not discuss topics related to dung at the dinner table,” Lady Ingrid teased.

So the family changed the subject and happily chatted about other things.

When the banquet ended, Lady Ingrid, Lady Meryl, Aunt Clara, and sister-in-law Gwyn began to play cards. Baron Roman went to the study with Uncle Rosen, Roland, and Russell to continue enjoying the red wine.

Women had their pleasures, and men had theirs.

Russell always felt as if someone was missing.

It took him quite a while to remember that it was his sister, Lola, who was absent.

However, Lola was not lonely tonight, for her two little cousins, Royer and Royal, were playing with her. At the moment, she and Royer were combing the hair and applying lipstick to seven-year-old Royal, dressing him up as a little girl.

“It’s not fun at all,” Royal complained.

“Indeed, you look really ugly,” said twelve-year-old Royer, who cast a disdainful glance at his brother before turning to Lola with a sheepish grin, “Lola, how about lending me a Gold Coin? I want to buy something fun from town!”

“You should focus on cultivation, not on having fun,” Lola retorted.

“It’s Dragon Birth Festival. I’ll just play for one day,” he pleaded.

“Still no, and I don’t have any Gold Coins,” Lola clutched her purse tightly—it was her future dowry.

She envied her mother the most for having so many dowries to squander, not needing to look at anyone’s face when she wanted to spend money.

Therefore, she had started saving for her dowry early, so that she could achieve what her second brother called “financial independence” in the future.

…

After the Dragon Birth Festival, heavy snow arrived, and the entire Glowing Valley as well as the Blackflame Plains were covered in a silvery-white blanket.

Russell was not in a hurry to go hunting outside.

In the past month, he had ventured into the Snowfield five or six times, hunting a total of eleven Snow Demons. The abundant Ice Soul Pearls were enough for Little Dream Dragon to comfortably develop for a while. As a result, the form of Little Dream Dragon’s Primordial Spirit in the Gloomy Dreamland grew increasingly strong.

However, the appearance of Little Dream Dragon had not changed.

Its speed had increased to one hundred and twenty kilometers per hour, and the Gloomy Dreamland had expanded to a thousand acres. Moreover, with an overabundance of Ice Soul Pearls, the benefits brought by each pearl had drastically diminished.

“Ice Cream, how many more Ice Soul Pearls do you need to eat before you can be born?” Russell lifted his left hand, calling forth the M-shaped mark in his palm.

The mark flickered briefly but then went silent.

Little Dream Dragon had no idea either, as it was its first time being a dragon and lacked experience—it couldn’t explain.

“Alright, I’ll go hunt more Snow Demons so you can have your fill!” Russell laughed. In the past, Little Dream Dragon had supported him by breeding Spirit Insects and little sprites for him; now it was his turn to help Little Dream Dragon, to provide for its birth.

But before Russell could set off, a Phantom Beast Knight rushed through the blizzard towards Wuyao Snake Manor.

“Lord Russell!”

The Phantom Beast Knight arrived in the Cigar Courtyard, paying respects to Russell, “I am Mozart, the Red Castle Messenger Knight, commanded by the Council of Elders to deliver this Demon Subduing Order to you, Lord Russell!”

“Demon Subduing Order?” Russell was puzzled, never having heard of it before.

“The Demon Subduing Order is the latest decree issued by the Council of Elders. Every Flying Dragon Knight is required to supply Red Castle with twenty Ice Soul Pearls annually. There is no upper limit to the supply, and during the Demon Subduing Order period, the merit of a single Ice Soul Pearl counts as twice that of previous years,” explained Mozart.

Mozart detailed the Demon Subduing Order, a command specifically targeted at Flying Dragon Knights, urging them to hunt Snow Demons in the Snowfield and even abroad.

They were to supply Ice Soul Pearls to aid in the recovery of the Shadowflame Dragon.

Of course, if you want the horse to run, you have to let it graze, hence the doubled merits for Ice Soul Pearls during the Demon Subduing Order period.

After some thought, Russell agreed, “I understand completely. Please assure Red Castle and the Council of Elders that I will gather the twenty Ice Soul Pearls as soon as possible.”