Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 427 - 427 426 Followers

Chapter 427: Chapter 426 Followers Chapter 427: Chapter 426 Followers Evening, the stars shone brilliantly.

In front of the yet-to-be-completed main castle of Cigar Castle, a bonfire burned on the lawn and gem-laden lamps glowed on the surrounding racks.

They illuminated the entire area as if it were daytime.

The knights sat on the ground, comfortably chatting around the bonfire.

Not far away, a dozen male and female servants from Cigar Courtyard were busily preparing a barbecue self-service dinner.

Mrs. Moore, clad in an apron, suppressed her voice and quietly scolded the clumsy movement of a kitchen maid: “Move quicker, be more careful, don’t rush around, this is the first time the master is holding a barbecue dinner in the new castle!”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Moore,” the kitchen maid apologized with her head down, not daring to argue.

She was new and had been recruited to adapt to the future work at Cigar Castle.

And Barbara, the old-timer, had been promoted from a kitchen maid to head kitchen maid.

She walked over with a stack of plates to set them up and quietly comforted the newcomer: “Mrs. Moore’s mouth is like a knife, but believe me, she’s a good person. She’s just too afraid of messing up the dinner.”

“Really, Barbara? I thought Mrs. Moore hated me.”

“That’s not wrong either; Mrs. Moore despises any kitchen servant, including Mrs. Brown who works in the same kitchen. I used to be scolded by Mrs. Moore just like you,” said Barbara sympathetically, “In any case, if you get through this period…”

“If I get through this period, Mrs. Moore won’t scold me anymore?”

“No, after you get through this period, you’ll be used to being scolded and it won’t make you sad or scared anymore.”

“What are you whispering about!” Mrs. Moore’s voice rang out, like a hippo whose neck was being clutched, “Stop gossiping and get back to work already! Barbara, you just became the head kitchen maid and think you can touch the sky now, do you!”

“I’m sorry, I’ll get back to work now.” Barbara turned and quickly left the barbecue stand, leaving Mrs. Moore to continue berating the new kitchen maid.

Suddenly,

a dragon’s roar came from the sky, and the dark Black Oil Dragon, Rossay, fiercely tore through the darkness to appear under the light.

It was Russell riding a Bipedal Flying Dragon, rushing to Cigar Castle.

“Sir!”

The knights all got up and saluted Russell.

“Please, no need for such formalities,” Russell dismounted from the dragon’s back with a leap, and his forehead’s Mark of the Thunder Lord shone brightly, “My lords, take your seats. Tonight, I host you for the first time; there’s plenty of beer and barbecue, so enjoy to your heart’s content.”

“Praise be to Sir!” the knights joked.

Russell smiled faintly, “Of course, before we enjoy the barbecue dinner, there is one more procedure everyone is looking forward to.”

The Sword Butterfly Mark flashed and transformed into a standard knight’s sword.

Russell grabbed the Meteor Butterfly Sword and, looking around at the knights who had retaken their seats, said aloud, “I, Baron Thunderflame, Russell Fluorescent Fungus, will tonight accept the fealty of the knights who have performed excellently during this period!”

At these words,

the breaths of the knights all became rapid.

Someone brought a chair for Russell, who promptly sat down and then spoke, “My followers, please come and sit by my side.”

Eric, with Kevin the Gold and Silver Wolfhound by his side, was the first to come and sit to Russell’s right; then Charles also came over and sat to Russell’s left; followed by Grove with his Stormblade Brown Bear, Bill, and Katie with the Red-eyed Mouse King, Jerry.

Then came Russell’s three Escort Knights, Tom, Jack, and James, as well as his fervent admirer, Glontan Bainroot.

There were only these eight knights as formal followers.

Baron Marcus’s son, Mask, although Russell had already agreed, was still young and studying at the Knight Academy.

The eight knights and their Phantom Beasts sat cross-legged on both sides of Russell.

The more than sixty other knights opposite them all looked eagerly at these eight, wishing they could replace them.

Eric, Grove and Katie could be let off since they were Phantom Beast Knights; Charles as well, being the Chancellor of Records with more of a civilian role than that of a knight; Glontan Bainroot too, as his status as the second son of a powerful noble was different.

But Tom, Jack, and James, they filled the other knights with envy.

The three of them had wasted much of their lives and were still only Armed Knights, but it was precisely because they had chosen the right lord to follow that they were now thriving.

“If I had followed Lord Russell in my earlier years, I would have become a Phantom Beast Knight by now!” Many knights lamented in their hearts.

Regrettably, they had not followed Russell earlier and could only hope to catch his eye at this moment.

“The castle is still under construction, the lands still require development, and merits still need to be earned. All of this requires that I, as your lord, and you, as my knights, strive together to make it a reality,” Russell’s gaze swept over the knights’ faces, one by one.

Feeling his gaze upon them, the knights puffed out their chests, trying to appear more spirited.

There were no excessive words.

Russell began to call out names directly, “Mikael!”

“Present!” Great Knight Mikael stood up; he was Baron Marcus’s son-in-law, the husband of Malena.

“Come to me.”

“Yes!” Mikael’s expression was excited; even though he had been promised earlier that he would be taken in as a follower by Russell, he was still thrilled now that the moment had truly arrived—following Russell earlier meant attaining a title sooner!

“Samel!” Russell continued to call names.

Samel, the grandson of Lord Sally, sprang up eagerly, “Present!”

“Come to me.”

“Yes!”

“Eddock.”

Eddock, the nephew of Lord Utreras, rose steadily, “Present.”

“Come to me.”

“Yes!”

These three Great Knights were all connected by relations and were among those Russell had long promised to take in as his followers.

Particularly Samel and Eddock had a good relationship with Russell. During the second downfall, they had been part of the Knight Regiment’s support formation, under Russell’s command, and had rowed through the battle with him, making them his old subordinates.

After these three names.

Russell called out three more names, all of them Great Knights. Among them, Cain and Netavis were retired Great Knights from the Dragon Blood Knights; the other, Frank, had been recommended by Baron Roman, being the son of a former colleague.

Six men stood before Russell.

With the Meteor Butterfly Sword grounded before him, Russell’s expression was not austere, and his tone casual, but the atmosphere at the scene was exceedingly solemn, “Do you six wish to become the sharp swords in my hand, offering me your loyalty and courage?”

Clink! Clink! Clink!

All six knights knelt on one knee in unison, “We are willing!”

“Very good, I accept your loyalty and courage,” Russell lifted the Meteor Butterfly Sword and touched each of the six Great Knights on the shoulder, first on the left and then on the right.

The simple ceremony for taking followers was thus accomplished.

But though the ceremony was simple, the significance it represented was supremely solemn; it was a binding promise akin to a contract.

Those who break their oath would be scorned by dragons.

And Russell was indeed regarded by the Shadowflame Dragon, a person watched over by a discerning eye; as his followers, there was no doubt they would be under the dragon’s scrutiny.

Those who dared defy the oath to Russell would unquestionably be cursed by the dragon.

Afterwards, Russell named twelve outstanding Armed Knights and took them in as his followers as well.

And so, the ceremony of taking followers came to an end.

However, Russell watched as the knights who had become his followers beamed with joy, while those who had not yet become followers clenched their fists in silence.

Suddenly struck by a thought.

He raised his hand to silence the clamor of the knights, turned his head towards Eric who was sitting cross-legged beside him, and said in a clear voice, “Eric, come to me!”