Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 392 - 392 391 Siblings Reunited

Chapter 392: Chapter 391: Siblings Reunited Chapter 392: Chapter 391: Siblings Reunited The ennoblement ceremony was grand yet succinct; after swearing allegiance to the statue of Quentin Shadowflame, Russell officially became the sixth Baron of Shadowflame Duchy.

Baron Thunderflame.

The Council of Elders then announced the reward for Baron Russell Fluorescent Fungus, which included two parcels of Warm Enclave in Blackflame Plains and Leize – a predictable award. Moreover, it permitted Russell to bear a noble surname – although Russell already had one and had no intention of changing it.

Thus, on the golden seal edict of the Grand Duchy, Baron Thunderflame’s noble surname remained “Fluorescent Fungus.”

The highlight of the reward followed.

“In recognition of Baron Thunderflame’s significant contributions to the nation, unanimously passed by the Council of Elders and approved by the Regent Lady, we specially grant Russell Fluorescent Fungus 65,000 serfs, as well as 300 oxen and 500 Dragonblood Warhorses!”

As the reward was announced, the guests were shocked.

This effectively saved Russell time in developing his lands, placing him on par with many other barons at once.

Just like Glowing Valley, which took over seventy years to accumulate a population of only 80,000.

Now, Russell instantly received 65,000 serfs, equating to several decades of development.

While the guests were incredibly envious, none dared to raise any objections.

The glorious victory of ‘slaying three dragons with a single sword’ had spread across the entire Shadowflame Duchy during Baron Davis’ funeral. Russell had now replaced Count Merlin as the foremost figure in the Shadowflame Duchy, beyond any doubt.

Moreover, Russell was not yet eighteen, meaning that for the decades to come, all knights of the Grand Duchy would live in Russell’s shadow.

Who would dare to question such a powerhouse?

“He’s really taken off, he’s really taken off!” Charles, as one of Russell’s followers, barely managed to stand inside the Grand Hall; hearing such generous rewards, he couldn’t help but smack his palms together in excitement, barely able to contain himself.

Eric, standing beside him, clapped his hands just as vigorously.

His wife, shyly clinging to his arm, felt very nervous in such a grand setting. But both knew that a promising future was beckoning them. Once Baron Thunderflame returned to his domain, it would be their moment to ascend to nobility.

Grove and his wife Fanny similarly dreamed of the future.

The Wildcat sisters, with Katie leading her younger sister, stood among the crowd, gazing at the lord who had undoubtedly become the focus of everyone’s attention, their chests puffed out involuntarily. From being Cavern Free People to followers of a baron, they had undergone a splendid transformation.

The granting of rewards concluded.

Only then did the ennoblement ceremony truly come to an end, followed by a celebration dinner held at the Red Castle.

The dinner was buffet style, the best choice given the large number of attendees.

“Lord Russell, congratulations, haha, a Baron of the Grand Duchy!” Marquis Arno Sunfire, holding a glass of wine, approached Russell who was eagerly filling his stomach with food. “Even in Scorching Torrent Kingdom, you are a paragon of your generation!”

Russell narrowed his eyes and raised his glass, “Marquis.”

Throughout this time, Marquis Arno had seemingly become too comfortable; as a Flying Dragon Knight, he was notably starting to put on weight and lose shape.

Sensing Russell’s coolness, Marquis Arno’s smile never altered, “I would like to invite you, tomorrow, to Evernight Castle, not only to congratulate you on your baronage but also to revisit our discussion on the profit distribution of the cigar trade.”

“Is that so,” Russell stirred his glass, “that would be good, I also wanted to discuss cigar matters with Marquis.”

Marquis Arno eyed Russell, laughed and said, “Very well then, I shall await your presence at Evernight Castle tomorrow.”

With no personal bond, after securing plans to visit Evernight Castle tomorrow, Marquis Arno quietly left to mingle with other nobles.

“What did Marquis Arno want with you?” Roland, also holding a wine glass, came up to ask.

“Discussing the profits from the cigar trade.”

Roland’s eyes lit up, “This old man, planning to cough up some of the profits?”

“A fraction isn’t enough,” Russell spoke indifferently, “things have changed, his status as a marquis isn’t sufficient in my view anymore.”

“Good, he should cough up all his profits,” Roland said resentfully.

The profits swallowed by Marquis Arno affected not only Russell but also the Fluorescent Fungi Family; previously, they couldn’t do anything about the Marquis, but now, things needed to be rediscussed.

“Where are Father and Mother?”

“Father and the other high nobles went to the rooms to chat, while Mother is accompanying Princess Anxia with a few noble ladies.”

Rolin paused and then continued, “I came to find you as there are some colleagues from the Dragon Blood Knight Regiment asking if you need any followers. As you know, they are all Great Knights, but they have not had the chance to contract a Phantom Beast.”

“To be honest, I haven’t decided yet,” Russell said. “There are too many knights wanting to become my followers through connections.”

“That’s natural, you’re a newly appointed Baron!” Rolin said enviously. “With the Blackflame Plains and Thunderflame awaiting development, who wouldn’t want to follow you, hoping to enjoy a title of nobility in the future?”

A warm enclave can comfortably sustain three or four lords, and the key was that Russell could recommend a batch of the Duchy’s Lords to Red Castle in his capacity as a high noble.

That is to say, among Russell’s followers, at least a dozen could become lords.

This was outright temptation, no Great Knight could resist such allure.

“Here’s what we’ll do.” It was necessary to give his brother face, Russell said, “Invite some colleagues who want to follow me to first visit Blackflame Plains and Thunderflame. Consider it temporarily accepting my hire, and if suitable, I will take them on as followers.”

Rolin laughed heartily, “Good, I will go and talk to them.”

“Brother, make sure you tell them. I am quite stringent about accepting followers. If they lack ambition, it’s better not to come at all to avoid the embarrassment of being dismissed later,” Russell said, who could now afford to be selective about his followers.

Encountering another laid-back knight like Cooper would likely test his patience too much to bother training them again.

“Of course,” Rolin said with a smile. “The fact that you are willing to give them a chance is already enough, being eliminated merely shows their lack of capability.”

“Rolin, Russell!” While they were speaking, their sister Katie, hand in hand with her husband Cooper Thistlegrass, came over, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You guys have been hiding here whispering… Hi, my Baron brother!”

Katie was still her carefree self.

Even though her child was almost a year old, she still hadn’t adopted any aristocratic ladylike finesse, with her attire and manner lacking somewhat in elegance.

“Sister, Brother-in-law,” Russell greeted with a smile.

“When are you returning to Glowing Valley?” Katie asked.

“I’m leaving with Father tomorrow morning,” Rolin said. “Father’s three years of arduous duty aren’t over yet, it’s not appropriate to stay long in Red Castle.”

“I’ll stay a couple more days,” Russell said. “I need to properly transport the serfs awarded by Red Castle back to my estate, and there are some other matters to handle as well.”

“I thought you could stay a few more days,” Katie said, somewhat disappointed.

Cooper then said, “How about we follow Rolin to Glowing Valley and stay there for a while, since there’s nothing much to deal with at home anyway.”

Katie’s eyes lit up, “That sounds good!”

Now that her father was a Flying Dragon Knight and her brother was a Flying Dragon Knight and a Lord of the Dragon Domain, her mother-in-law, Quinty Sunflower, could no longer put much pressure on her, so naturally, she wanted to return to her parental home at will.

Immediately, she slapped Russell on the shoulder like she used to when she was a child, “Cooper and I will follow Rolin back to Glowing Valley first. Hurry back once you’re done with your stuff. Then, you and I will have a duel, and let me see how much strength the Lord of the Dragon Domain really has.”

“Sister, are you sure?”

“Absolutely sure.”

“Well, I’m actually looking forward to that moment,” Russell smiled.

But Rolin laughed and scolded, “Katie, you’re grown up now, already a mother. Why do you still act like a child making a fuss?”

“Big brother, ever since you became a Phantom Beast Knight, your tone has become increasingly annoying,” Katie glared, “Cooper doesn’t try to control me, what gives you the right? And if it weren’t for the occasion being inappropriate, I would challenge you to a duel right here.”

Rolin ignored Katie’s playful complaints and sympathetically said to Cooper, “You really have it tough.”

Cooper just smiled gently, “Don’t you think such a Katie very charming?”

Immediately, Katie acted demure, leaning on Cooper’s shoulder and said in a voice that could give one goosebumps, “Only my Cooper truly understands me.”

Russell turned his head away, rolling his eyes.

Rolin even started to gag.