Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 425 - 425 424 Vocational School

Chapter 425: Chapter 424 Vocational School Chapter 425: Chapter 424 Vocational School Early August.

The peak of the hot summer had arrived, and the land clearing of Blackfire Plains was in full swing. The accumulated water in Leize had also completely receded, and the fragmented ice caps between the three Warm Enclaves were melting rapidly.

The melting speed far exceeded expectations.

This was clearly due to the influence of the Torrent Scale Tower; the Torrential Flood Dragon could indeed use it to peek into Russell’s secrets.

However, the power of the Torrential Flood Dragon inevitably radiated around Leize, thus accelerating the resonance between the Warm Enclaves.

“At this rate, by next year, the three Warm Enclaves will completely merge into one,” said Roland, riding on the Nightmare Specter Horse, excitedly. “Thanks to the Torrential Flood Dragon, once the territories are fully integrated, land reclamation will be even easier.”

“We really should thank the Torrential Flood Dragon,” Russell chuckled. “Of course, you’ve also worked hard during this period, big brother.”

“Haha, we’re family, what’s hard or not hard?” Roland had matured significantly after his marriage.

Perhaps having endured too many setbacks, he had now fully accepted his role.

No longer longing to ride dragons or embark on grand ventures, he simply focused on improving the family’s three territories, aspiring to establish a millennium-old foundation for the Fluorescent Fungi Family.

One could say the current Roland had become a qualified noble successor.

“This year’s serf trade must continue, big brother. I’ll leave half of my cigar trade profits to maintain the land reclamation, and the rest you use to buy serfs,” said Russell, whose cigar trade was exceedingly profitable.

He was not a miser, so he reinvested his earnings into the serf trade.

“Don’t worry, Marcus is fully responsible for the serf trade now. Thunder Beasts pull the carts day and night without rest, having already bought a large number of serfs,” Roland said. “Glowing Valley has continuously acquired over seven thousand serfs, and your Blackfire Plains have also continuously acquired over five thousand.”

He paused.

Roland continued, “You shouldn’t immerse yourself in cultivation all the time. You’re already the top person in Shadowflame Grand Duchy, you should relax a bit. Take the chance to meet with the knights who have come to serve you, accept a few as followers, and inspire them.”

“Sure, I will,” Russell nodded.

The land had been reclaimed for nearly half a year, and indeed, it was time to give the knights who had flocked to his side a taste of sweetness. After all, to make a horse run fast, one must feed it plenty of grass.

“Going to visit Leize?” asked Roland.

Russell, riding on Unicorn Polly, looked up at the lush Leize and shook his head. “Never mind, there’s no land to be reclaimed in Leize, nothing much to see.”

“Thinking of reclaiming Leize will have to wait, we’ve only just begun on Blackfire Plains,” said Roland. “We’ve already reclaimed the fields and channels around the castle, especially the Magic Potion Field, which is essentially complete.”

Russell didn’t have many sprites.

Two little sprites, Tobacco Sprite Niko and Wheat Elf Hewitt; one Mushroom Bird, Fluorescent Fungus Mushroom Bird Luo Xi.

Seven elf insects: Rainflower Elf Insect, Dill Elf Insect, Birch Tree Elf Insect, Dandelion Elf Bug, Bamboo Elf Bug, Hops Elf Insect, and Fir Parasitic Elf Bug; plus two Mushroom Bugs, Glowing Mushroom Bug and Bloodfang Fungus Insect.

Additionally, one more Glowing Mushroom Bug was being nurtured.

The number was not large, the Magical Medicine Field was easy to establish, but after its establishment, only ordinary crops were planted.

It would have to wait until the new castle began operations, and the serfs who could plant magic potions were moved over there before the cordyceps could be transplanted one by one.

“Let’s head back, big brother,” said Russell.

Unicorn Polly gently stepped on air, elegantly moving through the void, while the Nightmare Specter Horse had to tread through the swampy wetlands.

“Russell, aren’t you going back to Fluorescent Castle?”

“No, I’m going to check out the Black Oil Mine. You go back and reunite with your wife, and give me a nephew soon,” Russell waved his hand, then, like a bolt of lightning, disappeared onto the snowfield in the blink of an eye.

Watching the direction of Russell’s departure, Roland sighed deeply. “Naimo, when can we become lords of the Dragon Domain?”

The Nightmare Specter Horse Naimo, snorted loudly, clearly wanting to roll its eyes.

Becoming a lord of the Dragon Domain was not so easy. It was just an ordinary Nightmare Specter Horse, the most common Phantom Beast in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

“Haha,” Roland laughed bitterly. “Just joking… Let’s hurry, even with the protection of the Torrent Scale Tower, I still feel chilly on the snowfield. I always feel like the Snow Giant Da might emerge from somewhere and ambush me.”

Nemo truly rolled his eyes then.

If the Snow Giant Da was going to launch a sneak attack, he would at least target a Flying Dragon Knight, not a modest Phantom Beast Knight.

That would be like lowering his own standards.

“Nemo, you don’t understand,” Roland said in self-mockery, “Your knight, me, Roland Yingguangjun, will also be a Flying Dragon Knight! If the Snow Giant Da were to sneak attack me, it would be like nipping a Flying Dragon Knight in the bud.”

“Hmph.” Nemo snorted through his nose and started to run.

Meanwhile, Russell had already arrived at the Black Oil Mine, and looking at the ever-expanding scale of the mine, he was in high spirits.

Especially the thick smoke billowing from the chimney stacks delivered a strong romantic impact reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution.

The chimney that was the tallest and emitted the thickest black smoke belonged to the newly built and operational Blackfire Brick Kiln.

“Sir, you, you’ve come!” The person in charge of the Blackfire Brick Kiln was none other than William, the former head of the Black Waist Snake Brick Kiln Factory.

Russell also saw William’s father, Crooked Hat William.

“Lord Russell!” Upon seeing Russell, Crooked Hat William’s legs trembled, “Crooked Hat William has, has met Lord Russell, sends, sends his regards to Lord Russell.”

Russell remembered Crooked Hat William, who was a master potter he had poached from the Fluorescent Fungi Family’s pottery factory.

Back then, Crooked Hat William had the pride of a master craftsman, and he had helped his son William set up the Black Waist Snake Brick Kiln Factory to support him.

Now upon meeting again, Crooked Hat William was overwhelmed by Russell’s baronial authority and could hardly speak clearly.

He was becoming similar to his somewhat stammering son.

“Crooked Hat William, what brings you here?” Russell asked casually. “Came to see your son?”

William explained on his behalf, “Sir, I invited my father over… After the kiln started using black oil, I was afraid I couldn’t manage it well, so I asked my father for help. It’s not a formal job, no pay, sir.”

“Not a formal job?” Russell frowned. “Although I despise the practice of wantonly stuffing people into factories and having them freeload, since your father is a master of his craft, how can he help without being paid.”

Thereupon, Russell directly said, “In the future, such masters of crafts like your father should be hired in the name of the kiln factory and be paid a salary.”

Knowledge is value.

Crooked Hat William had provided his value, so Russell chose to compensate him.

“Lord Russell, thank you for your generosity, but… but I live in Glowing Valley and can’t always come here to work…” Crooked Hat William replied, already old, he was willing to lend a hand but hesitant to live here.

After all, the Blackfire Plains were still being cultivated, and the living conditions were too harsh.

Russell did not insist, but rather offered another suggestion, “Indeed, you are older now, and it’s no longer feasible for you to work on the front lines, and the Blackfire Plains are indeed difficult. However, have you thought about teaching a group of students?”

“Teaching students?” Crooked Hat William hesitated, “Lord Russell, do you mean apprentices, like the many I’ve mentored in the town’s pottery factory?”

“I’m referring to teaching students in a school.”

“A school?” Crooked Hat William was even more baffled, “Can the crafts of pottery and brick-making be taught in a school?”

Russell smiled, “Of course they can. I plan to establish a vocational school in Glowing Valley, similar to a Knight Academy, where masters of crafts like you would teach various skills to young serfs.”

“Oh, can I really do that?” Crooked Hat William was somewhat moved, “Lord Russell, I’m just an ordinary potter.”

The title of master craftsman was just a nominal honor.

In Glowing Valley, Crooked Hat William was just a retired potter too old for physical work.

“Why wouldn’t you be able to? You have pottery skills, you can teach brick-making, pottery, even ceramics; you can definitely teach others,” Russell affirmed with a smile, “Once the vocational school is set up, I will have someone send you an official offer.”

Seeing Russell had made up his mind, Crooked Hat William no longer hesitated.

He just chuckled, his face beaming as he inquired, “Lord Russell, teaching students at the vocational school, that, will I receive compensation?”

Russell promised, “Certainly, and it won’t be less than what you were paid as a potter.”