Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 501 - 501 499 Pushing the Dragon Forward

Chapter 501: Chapter 499: Pushing the Dragon Forward Chapter 501: Chapter 499: Pushing the Dragon Forward By the end of April, news of Russell being promoted to Earl and his slaying of the Frost Giant Ge had reached the entire Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

Nobles and commoners alike had discussed it countless times.

Yet, the public’s enthusiasm for this matter was still soaring. Due to the relatively closed living environment and the lack of necessary entertainment, the public spared no detail about Russell’s news, whether rumored or fabricated.

“The Dragonriding Youth” and “Thunder in Dragon Domain”, two plays, once again became hot favorites across all major estates.

As long as the lord invited the troupe to perform, they would receive sincere praises from the residents.

In the estates, market towns, castles, and even in the halls, every little bit about Russell quietly flowed from every corner. Streams turned into a river and gradually formed a certain outcry.

From south to north, from the lowest to the highest.

The outcry kept growing, and the enthusiasm kept surging so much that even the senior officials seated in the Elders’ Hall could not ignore it.

“Let’s discuss it,”

Count Merlin leaned back in his chair, his expression calm. No one could discern his thoughts from his face.

“What is there to discuss? A bunch of serfs shouting a couple of slogans is just a joke to be laughed at, do we really need to hold a formal debate over it?” Earl Oskolo, his face sullen, said.

Ever since being humiliated by Russell, he had been feeling out of sorts, always feeling as if everyone looked at him strangely.

On the surface, it seemed alright, but maybe behind his back, they were all laughing at him.

With this mindset, it had been a long time since a smile graced Earl Oskolo’s face, wearing an expression like everyone owed him money.

“Lord Oskolo, that’s not the way to talk about it,” Lord Volcanic Minister Welchi immediately retorted, “A dragon and its territory are closely linked, the will of the residents is as good as the dragon’s will. We cannot overemphasize it.

Earl Oskolo sneered, “Don’t think that just because you’re a volcanic minister you can always speak on behalf of dragons… The absurdity that the will of the residents represents the will of a dragon, what a joke!”

“This is no joke,” Lord Welchi said sternly, “The most important duty of the Volcanic Minister is to fathom the will of the dragon and convey the dragon’s decree.”

His gaze swept across the three Chosen Sons and several senior Council of Elders, then passed over Foreign Minister Baron Quimby.

He earnestly said, “The reason I suggest convening the Council is because I feel that a turning point in the future of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy has emerged. In other words, the rising public sentiment across the nation presents an opportunity.”

“Absurd!” Earl Oskolo rebuked.

“It might not be absurd,” Chief Steward Lord Kunbei said with a chuckle, “After all, it’s a possibility. Matters of state are crucial, concerning the future development of the Grand Duchy. It indeed requires careful deliberation.”

“I agree,” said Lord Seal Minister Kunqiao, supporting the notion.

Baron Quimby coughed slightly and said, “Discussing it is fine. Consider it a simulation, there’s no need to make such a big fuss. The Chosen Son system is sanctioned by the Shadowflame Dragon, and all we need to do is firmly support it.”

“Times change,” Lord Kunbei laughed, “Once there were disagreements between the two nations, now facing the potential threat of the Frost Giants, the two nations cooperate sincerely. Even King Ares has visited several times; how can our country not have a spokesperson?”

Baron Quimby stroked his beard and responded indifferently, “Isn’t Lord Merlin a spokesperson? Can’t our Council of Elders preside over the national affairs?”

Lord Kunbei’s smile persisted, “But after all, hearts aren’t united. A small matter causes prolonged arguments. What if the Frost Giants really attack? It would either end in tragedy or turn into a farce.”

Earl Oskolo snorted, “What Frost Giants? That Shuang Ge made it sound terrible, but wasn’t it resolved by a mere flying dragon knight? Even if there were Frost Giants, they’re nothing more than bigger Snow Giants.”

“A mere flying dragon knight?” Lord Welchi looked astonished, “Lord Oskolo, are you misunderstanding something about flying dragon knights?”

With those words,

The sullen expression on Earl Oskolo’s face immediately turned into one of anger out of humiliation: “You!”

Back in the day, his three-headed bipedal flying dragon was severely injured by a single strike from Russell. By now, Russell’s prowess had improved even further, far surpassing that of a flying dragon knight.

Undoubtedly, the foremost person below a bona fide Dragon Knight.

Even King Ares had personally come to congratulate him, and Russell’s fame had reached its peak.

For a moment, Earl Oskolo couldn’t find words to retort, only managing to shout loudly, “Welchi, have you become Russell’s dog now? Completely siding with Russell, does he know how loyal you are!”

“Oskolo!” Lord Welchi, slamming his hand down and standing up, his gaze cold as he stared at the other, “Russell dared to step on your face, do you think I won’t dare?”

“You!” Earl Oskolo was so angry he almost couldn’t catch his breath.

But seeing Lord Welchi’s contained yet palpable anger, he truly didn’t dare bet on whether the latter would enact a face-stepping scene right then and there.

After all,

Lord Welchi was also a flying dragon knight, while he was just a Phantom Beast Knight!

While having three bipedal flying dragons at home, they were utterly useless—after all, it wasn’t every day that the dragons were supposed to help him wipe his butt. Overuse would inevitably lead to rebellion, given the pride of bipedal flying dragons.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became awkward.

Once more, Earl Osclo experienced the exquisite torment of social death, the more complex his thoughts, the more he dared not make a move on the surface.

He even dared not shift his gaze, knowing that the surrounding Elders and Chosen Sons were definitely mocking him with their looks, even his own son, Chosen Son Augustus, was probably despising this father of his.

After a long while, the voice of Earl Merlin, like gentle rain descending from heaven, dissolved Earl Osclo’s fear of social death.

“Enough!”

Earl Merlin’s expression remained unchanged, “The Council of Elders is not a kitchen, constant arguing is unseemly.”

“Chief Executive, what do you think?” asked Lord of the Treasury Gerard, who was usually reticent.

“Since it is the will of the territory, then we have a duty to make His Highness Shadowflame aware,” Earl Merlin said calmly, “Let’s discuss and bring forward a plan that lives up to the responsibility of the Council of Elders; the rest will naturally be decided by His Highness Shadowflame.”

“Blindly discussing matters and presenting them to His Highness Shadowflame will only lead him to blame our incompetence,” said Baron Quimby.

Lord Kunbei gave him a look and chuckled, “Dragons and humans complement each other. His Highness Shadowflame is concerned with matters of life and death—major issues. Our role, on the other hand, is to assist His Highness Shadowflame by managing all mundane affairs and resolving any concerns he might have.”

“What concerns could His Highness Shadowflame possibly have! With two countries forming an alliance and three titanic dragons watching over each other, that should be sufficient!”

“The concern is the lack of a Knight; if the dragons had Knights, my Shadowflame Grand Duchy would need no one else’s protection!”

“After the Chosen Son concludes, new Knights will naturally emerge!”

“Should we wait ten years, or a hundred? Do we have that much time now? With Lord Russell right here available yet not chosen, do we want to repeat the mistake of Former Grand Duke Kunstan who waited twenty years only to see his efforts go in vain?”

“You, Russell’s lackey, should go kneel and pledge loyalty to Russell!”

“Once Lord Russell and His Highness Shadowflame break the last barrier, you just wait to be exiled three thousand miles away, dying in the Snowfield!”

“I’ll drag you down with me, Welchi, let’s become Snow Ghosts together!”

“Osclo, do you think you qualify? If I die, at least I’ll start as a Snow Demon, and with some luck, might even ride a Snow Beast. You, at best, will end up as a mere big blue skin!”

“Welchi, show some respect to my father!” could not help but rebuke Chosen Son Augustus.

Seeing this, another Chosen Son, Kunslai, also spoke up, “Father-in-law, must you personally trample on the Chosen Son system?”

Having married Welchi’s daughter Veraley, he thought this would be a significant boost to his rise, only for his father-in-law to turn against him halfway through.

It made his teeth itch with frustration.

Mel, in a sarcastic tone from the side, “Chosen Sons lack the right to speak in the Council of Elders, and it’s not the first time this has been disregarded; there’s no need to make a big deal out of it. Moreover, the Chosen Son system is a laughable temporary arrangement anyway.”

Of the three Chosen Sons, Mel was probably the most indifferent, only wanting to elope with Annie of the Ade Family as soon as possible.

Lord Kunqiao shouted, “Chosen Sons, please hold your tongues!”

Earl Osclo glared, “Rules have long become nonsense; why shouldn’t my son speak? Augustus, watch and learn well, this is the nonsense Council of Elders! What state councilors, nothing but a bunch of sycophants!”

“Earl Osclo, do not harm the innocent!” Lord Gerard frowned.

As people started arguing again, and more fiercely, the whole Council of Elders turned into a chaos akin to a marketplace, almost coming to blows.

Earl Merlin slammed the table hard, “Everyone shut up, now listen to me!”

With the authority of over a decade as Chief Executive and being the former first man of Shadowflame, Earl Merlin’s outburst immediately shocked the Elders and Chosen Sons into silence, and they eventually quieted down.

Glancing around at everyone.

Earl Merlin coldly said, “Since everything has been laid out, whether supporting or not is no longer important. Gentlemen, follow me to visit Shadowflame Volcano and ask His Highness Shadowflame directly to his face for clarity!”

“Chief Executive, there’s no need to be so hasty, is there?” Baron Quimby immediately said, “Isn’t this putting pressure on His Highness Shadowflame?”

Earl Merlin stood up, took resolute steps outward, “You are all senior councilors of the Council of Elders, remember one thing, humans and dragons complement each other; we are not the dragons’ slaves. We, while carrying out the dragons’ will also…”

As he passed through the grand doors of the Council of Elders.

Earl Merlin raised his hand and Chosen Son Mel immediately handed him a cigar, which he lit and took a leisurely puff from.

Then turning back to look at the senior councilors following behind him, he exhaled a cloud of smoke, “Must also learn to drive the dragon forward!”