Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 395 - 395 394 This Time I Want 80 of the Profits

Chapter 395: Chapter 394: This Time I Want 80% of the Profits Chapter 395: Chapter 394: This Time I Want 80% of the Profits Having bid farewell to the Fluorescent Fungi Family, Russell parted ways with his cousin Mel. He was off to visit Marquis Arno Sunfire at Evernight Castle.

Evernight Castle was tranquil today, devoid of its usual bustle.

All banquets, salons, and balls had been declined by Marquis Arno, all in preparation for Russell’s imminent arrival.

A mere baron, of course, wouldn’t warrant such extensive efforts from Marquis Arno.

But if said baron was the foremost figure of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, renowned for his brilliant feat of slaying three dragons with a single sword stroke, and also known as the Dragon Domain Lord who had survived an ambush by Snow Giant Da unscathed, then all these efforts were absolutely justified.

“Haha, Lord Russell has finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for quite a while,” Marquis Arno greeted at the castle’s grand entrance.

His contract with the bipedal flying dragon had long been returned to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom. Deprived of enduring Dragon Breath supply, his level now equaled that of a mere Phantom Beast Knight, and not even among the more powerful ones; he was merely a level 2.

Luckily, his esteemed status and the backing of the Scorching Torrent Kingdom fortified his exceptional standing in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

The last time Russell paid a visit, he had to look up to Marquis Arno.

Now, his second visit brought a wholly different sentiment; Marquis Arno no longer imposed any pressure on him.

“Since my ascension as the Dragon Domain Lord, I’ve been longing to visit Evernight Castle. Today, my wish is finally fulfilled,” said Russell, who showed no arrogance from increased strength but radiated confidence from within.

“Haha, the honor is all mine,”

Looking directly at each other, Marquis Arno could feel the powerful aura emanating from Russell along with his intense confidence.

This was not overweening arrogance, but a conviction, steady and strong.

“Having eluded Snow Giant Da’s assassination and ascended to become the Dragon Domain Lord, this young man has a clear grasp of his own strength… I fear he won’t be easily fooled today,” thought Marquis Arno as his mind raced.

Subsequently, the two walked side by side into Evernight Castle.

Once in the dining room, after the guest and host were seated, the servants presented one dish after another, many of which Russell had never encountered.

“Come, Lord Russell, taste the delicacies of the Scorching Torrent Kingdom. With the ice blocking the roads, it took the efforts of Phantom Beast Knights to transport these ingredients just so we could enjoy an authentic spread of the kingdom’s cuisine,” invited Marquis Arno.

The table was laden with plates; the exotic food indeed whetted Russell’s appetite, and he feasted heartily.

Savouring fine wine, indulging in exquisite food.

The banquet for two was served by a dozen attendants bustling to and fro—an indulgence of luxury indeed.

Even the usually austere Russell had to admit this feeling was exhilarating.

“No wonder everyone dreams of being a noble, a grand noble at that!” he mused silently. Being the center of attention could satisfy anyone’s vanity.

However.

No matter how enticing the wine and food were, they could not sway Russell’s intent. When the banquet was at its peak, he broached the subject: “Marquis Arno, we’re nearing April. According to the Scholars’ Roundtable Council, the Warm Season is approaching.”

“Indeed, the Warm Season is coming… Had you not mentioned it, I would’ve all but forgotten, the ice age still lingers,” genuinely exclaimed Marquis Arno.

Bordering Shadowflame Volcano, Evernight Castle never experienced a single day of cold throughout the year.

Living here in perpetual pleasure, one could truly forget the existence of the cold snowfields, dulling a knight’s battle spirit.

“With the Warm Season’s arrival, trade between our two nations will resume,” Russell circulated his fighting spirit to dispel the fuzziness from the wine, “but I believe the terms of this year’s cigar trade warrant renegotiation of the profit distribution.”

“Indeed, that is true,” Marquis Arno laughed, “Inviting you to this feast was intended precisely to discuss this matter.”

He squinted his eyes, appraising Russell for what seemed like the umpteenth time—this young, almost youthful face, still so glaring and radiant.

After a moment’s pause, suppressing a flicker of discomfort, he maintained a smile and said, “I still remember your first visit, proposing a fifty-fifty split for the cigar trade. But now, like a volcano erupting, you have risen to become both a Flying Dragon Knight and a Dragon Domain Lord—an achievement even for a kingdom to mark only in its history.”

“You flatter me.” Russell replied with a measured, yet self-satisfied smile.

“How about this? Let’s stick to your initial proposal for the cigar trade and split the profits fifty-fifty!” Marquis Arno gritted his teeth and went all in, putting his sincerity on the table, “Let’s work together and make a killing on this one!”

Russell’s smile gradually faded, “Marquis Arno.”

“Just call me Lord Arno, and leave out the empty title of Marquis.”

“Alright, Lord Arno,” Russell began, “Times have changed. If you had accepted a fifty-fifty split from the beginning, I would have been willing to maintain that ratio regardless of my status. But now, I don’t accept a fifty-fifty split.”

Russell wasn’t a negotiation expert, so he didn’t play games, and said sternly, “This time, it’s my turn to demand eighty percent of the profits!”

“What!” Marquis Arno’s eyes bulged as the aura of a Dragon Knight instantly unfurled, “Lord Russell, are you joking with me?”

“This is no joke.” Russell stood unafraid, his presence as a Dragon Knight and Dragon Domain Lord expanding, directly suppressing Marquis Arno’s aura, “And I don’t just want eighty percent of the profits, I also want to increase the trade share of cigars between our two nations.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible,” Russell said with a light smile, “When I first came to negotiate the cigar trade, would you have imagined that I could ascend to become a Dragon Knight and Lord of the Dragon Domain? This time I’ve left you twenty percent of the profits. Next time, I might bypass you altogether.”

“Hahaha, you’re indeed brash and youthful,” Marquis Arno laughed in exasperation, “but you’re oversimplifying things. Without the protection of the Scorching Torrent Kingdom, Shadowflame Duchy is bound to become fodder for the Snow Giant Da, and that’s the very essence of the trade between our two nations!”

He looked at Russell and said unceremoniously, “If you don’t agree to a fifty-fifty profit split, then the cigar trade stops here. That’s the will of the Scorching Torrent Kingdom.”

“Fodder for Snow Giant Da?” Russell chuckled, “When I pierced Snow Giant Da’s forehead and severely wounded him, I never thought I would become his prey. On the contrary, I was thinking about eating Snow Giant Da!”

“Ridiculous!” Marquis Arno roared with laughter, “You were lucky to escape Snow Giant Da’s assassination attempt. You really think that by teaming up with the Shadowflame Dragon, you can defeat Snow Giant Da? You can deceive others, but don’t deceive yourself.”

Clang!

The Sword Butterfly Mark suddenly transformed into the Meteor Butterfly Sword, and Russell launched his Dragon Breath, unleashing Fighting Spirit Dragon Warrior through a large hand that reached out for Marquis Arno.

Marquis Arno’s Dragon Breath could not match Russell’s without the replenishment from his Bipedal Flying Dragon, and it clearly couldn’t resist Russell’s grasp.

“Russell, what do you think you’re doing!”

“Don’t rush, don’t rush.” Russell grabbed hold of Marquis Arno and flew out of Evernight Castle, then contacted Unicorn Polly and entered battle mode in an instant.

Turning into the three-meter tall Master of Thunder.

He held the three-meter long Meteor Butterfly Sword and aimed it at the ground around Evernight Castle before unleashing the Secret Technique: Sword of Thunder with a charged strike.

Crackle!

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

As if countless birds were screeching, the Sword of Thunder struck like thunder from the heavens, piercing the ground and causing the whole land to tremble.

Evernight Castle nearby was shaking violently, its magic-power reinforced walls cracking from the vibrations.

In the distance, Furious Wind City was in panic, countless people running into the streets, thinking an earthquake had occurred.

As the thunder dissipated and the electric light still flickered, a deep, bottomless, terrifying sword scar remained in the earth, and from it radiated charred, spiderweb-like fissures that extended for several kilometers.

“Arno, take a good look and see if I’m capable enough to severely wound Snow Giant Da!” Russell appeared instantly before Marquis Arno like a bolt of lightning and asked with gravity.

Marquis Arno involuntarily swallowed and his body, weakened by indulgence, started to tremble. It took him a while to control the shaking.

Then he took a deep breath and answered, “Not enough.”

“Hmm?” Russell glared, his killing intent thick in the air.

Marquis Arno hurriedly added, “But enough for eighty percent of the profits. I’m willing to continue the cigar trade with you, you take eighty percent, and I’ll take the remaining twenty percent.”