Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 376 - 376 375 Bad News

Chapter 376: Chapter 375 Bad News Chapter 376: Chapter 375 Bad News What reward should I seek? Russell found himself deep in thought.

Count Merlin said, “The title of Baron is definitely going to be approved. I hereby offer my early congratulations to our Grand Duchy’s newly promoted Baron, Russell Fluorescent Fungus… Of course, as a hereditary noble of the highest rank who is founding a new house, you may change your noble surname.”

Mel looked on enviously and said, “I really envy you, Russell, you’re going to become a hereditary Baron.”

Russell was about to modestly deflect.

Then Mel teased, “Not like me, who can only be your lord, becoming the new Grand Duke of Shadowflame Duchy.”

Russell quickly rolled his eyes, “Grandfather, I’m ready to take sides with Kunsley.”

Count Merlin stroked his beard and smiled, “Enough, you two lads, stop this banter… tell me, Russell, what reward do you want? Within my authority, I will fulfill your needs as much as possible.”

“Population,” Russell pondered for a while before finally giving his answer, “Grandfather, I hope to get a sufficient population.”

“Very well, I will try my best to negotiate for serfs as your reward.”

With Count Merlin’s assurance, Russell also breathed a sigh of relief; as long as he could get a reward in the form of population, the pressure to develop the Blackflame Plains and Leize would be greatly reduced. Moreover, if Russell were to establish his own independent nation in the future, he would need a large population.

After all, one can never have too much population.

A moment later, the topic shifted back to the Demon Subduing Order. Count Merlin still couldn’t decide whether to retract the order or not.

This made Russell reflect.

In the past, he always thought of Grandfather Merlin, Count Merlin, as a manipulative and unfathomable figure, if not brilliant and valiant, then at least decisive. But after the filter of status was removed, in looking at Count Merlin again, he seemed to be just an ordinary man.

He had his hesitations, and his actions were also filled with caution and concern.

“Indeed, circumstances make heroes… It’s the same person, but placed in different circumstances, they can create different situations…” Russell contemplated within. On this point, he had a clear personal understanding.

Now within the entire Shadowflame Grand Duchy, there was no one who didn’t praise him, imagining him as a sort of youthful prodigy, a hero of infinite wisdom.

But in reality, without the Golden Finger, he was just an ordinary person.

Or to put it another way, if others had such a Golden Finger, they surely could make a great success: “Back on Earth, the talent from a single district under Liu Bang was enough to govern a country… Zhu Yuanzhang similarly relied on his hometown folks to conquer the lands…”

It shows that there was no lack of talent; what was lacking was the environment to nurture that talent.

Even Russell harbored some disrespectful thoughts toward his elder: “If Charles had the title of Count Flo Pot, his actions surely wouldn’t fall far short of those of Grandfather… Of course, given Charles’s personality, the likelihood of him becoming a degenerate second-generation ancestor is greater.”

Lost in thought for a brief moment, Russell quickly gathered his thoughts.

All he heard was Cousin Mel clamoring, “Grandfather, in my opinion, there’s no need to recall the Demon Subduing Order. Snow Giant Da has already been severely injured by His Highness Shadowflame and Russell, and he may well not dare to show his face again. After all, the Torrential Flood Dragon stands ready to assist!”

Then he glanced at Russell.

Reluctantly, he sighed and said, “Snow Giant Da’s assault on Russell was likely because of His Highness Shadowflame’s appreciation for Russell… It too fears that His Highness Shadowflame might choose a new knight and that would signal its doom.”

Russell lacked the blood of the Shadowflame Family, which greatly restricted his potential to ride dragons.

But if the Shadowflame Dragon were willing, the contract wouldn’t truly constrain its choice. It could still bypass the previous contract and choose to contract with Russell once again.

Just like humans contracting elves.

The contract remains the same, but if the human’s power is stronger, their choices are broader. They can completely sever the contract, trading or passing on the elf.

With the immense power of a dragon, a contract could never stop it.

The only thing that could stop a dragon was the dragon’s own pride.

Just like the lost dragon depicted in “Song of the Volcano,” it was a dragon of a kingdom, bonded to the Queen by a contract. Yet it was ultimately corrupted by Sigruft’s hatred, severing the bond of the contract and choosing Sigruft.

Since then, it became a lost dragon born for revenge, and only a knight burdened with a deep-seated vendetta could summon it forth from the grasp of hatred.

The truth of the story was unclear.

But at least it demonstrated one thing, in the eyes of people, the contract between a dragon and the Dragonblood family was certainly not immutable.

That was why Mel believed that Snow Giant Da was risking his life by infiltrating their territory to assassinate Russell, a potential future Shadowflame Dragon Knight.

“Now that Russell has been promoted to Dragon Domain Lord, Snow Giant Da knows he can’t kill Russell and has likely already fled deep into the snowfields,” Mel said, “In any case, the Demon Subduing Order can be carried out as planned, but grandfather, you might want to amend it to let Flying Dragon Knights hunt the Snow Demons in groups.”

Count Merlin pondered.

Russell also nodded in agreement, “Cousin is right. If we act out of fear, hesitating every step of the way, we might as well just surrender to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom… But I’m afraid that, on the contrary, the Scorching Torrent Kingdom might just sacrifice our Grand Duchy instead.”

Previously, Russell had been somewhat skeptical about the “hunting ground rumor” Count Merlin had mentioned, that the Scorching Torrent Kingdom might be planning to sacrifice the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

He didn’t believe that the Scorching Torrent Kingdom would go to such lengths just to sacrifice the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

However, from what the Shadowflame Dragon had said, it could sacrifice a Warm Enclave and then eradicate Snow Giant Da.

This made Russell consider some possibilities.

If the Scorching Torrent Kingdom wanted to kill a powerful Snow Giant without sacrificing any of its warm lands, then the Shadowflame Grand Duchy would be an excellent alternative. By the time of sacrifice, all the wealth and population of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy could be plundered, and then the land could be sacrificed.

If sacrificing a Warm Enclave could kill a Snow Giant, then sacrificing a volcano might even kill the legendary Frost Titan.

To trade a dragon for a Frost Titan was a good deal!

Persuaded by both Russell and Mel, Count Merlin made up his mind, “Indeed, I have been too timid. If Snow Giant Da couldn’t even assassinate Russell, how could it possibly hunt the Flying Dragon Knights of my Grand Duchy!”

He took a fierce draw from his cigar and said, “Not only will we continue the Demon Subduing Order, but we should also form an Expeditionary Knight Regiment to venture deep into the snowfields to hunt the Snow…”

Before he could finish his sentence.

The study door was pushed open, and the castle’s steward stood at the doorway, bowing as he spoke, “My lord, I’m terribly sorry to disturb you, but there is urgent news from the messenger of Golden Top Castle, Baron Davis of Golden Top has been slain on the snowfield, ambushed by Snow Giant Da.”

“What?” Count Merlin stood up abruptly.

Russell and Mel were also taken aback, each of them rising in shock. They had just been rallying their spirits, ready to take on a major campaign on the snowfield, when the dreadful news arrived first.

“Where’s the messenger, bring him in!” Count Merlin demanded, clenching his fists and his face instantly darkened.

It was only after the messenger was brought in and carefully questioned that they knew the full sequence of events.

Baron Davis was bored staying at Red Castle, so he returned to his domain to make preparations. He then went to the snowfield to hunt Snow Demons, fulfilling this year’s Demon Subduing Order requirements. Only his Peat Dragon returned severely wounded, and after being fed a heap of magic potion, it barely recovered.

After some communication, the people of Golden Top Castle learned what had happened.

Snow Giant Da repeated his old trick, ambushing Davis and killing him on the spot, with only the Peat Dragon escaping.

“Da!” Count Merlin took a deep breath, “Which means, yesterday it ambushed you, Russell, and today it ambushed Baron Davis… Two consecutive ambushes, it hasn’t hidden at all but is still killing Flying Dragon Knights without any fear!”