Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 551 - 551 549 Clarifying the Relationship

Chapter 551: Chapter 549 Clarifying the Relationship Chapter 551: Chapter 549 Clarifying the Relationship Inside the Shadowflame Volcano.

The passage door slowly closed, and only Russell stood on the platform, his forehead shimmering with the Double Folding Lightning Mark and the Tornado Mark.

“Russell, you have finally arrived!”

The bubbling magic dragon language sounded, and the head of the Shadowflame Dragon was level with the platform, its eyes on both sides simultaneously looking forward.

Staring at Russell, examining him in detail: “The power of the Phantom Dragon is truly interesting, such a little phantom beast actually mastering such immense Power of Thunder. Why doesn’t this little one named Polly come out for a walk?”

Russell smiled slightly and said, “Sure!”

The next moment, the Double Folding Lightning Mark on his forehead transformed into Sacred Unicorn Polly; Polly nodded to the Shadowflame Dragon as a greeting.

“So this is the Phantom Dragon-Sacred Unicorn? A very beautiful horse,” the Shadowflame Dragon said. “With your advancement, Shadowflame’s power has been fully restored, now as strong as it was decades ago.”

“It’s our honor to assist His Highness Shadowflame,” Russell said.

Polly didn’t like facing the Shadowflame Dragon, as the oppressive feeling made it uncomfortable, so it soon transformed back into the Mark of the Thunder God—a single fold had been the Mark of the Thunder Lord, and after upgrading to a double fold, Russell renamed it the Mark of the Thunder God.

A dragon is a divine spirit.

As Polly also wielded the authority of dragons, it could naturally be called a god.

“Shadowflame wants to reward you, Russell!” the Shadowflame Dragon kept a tight gaze on Russell, its pupils filled with Russell’s reflection.

Russell accepted with a gracious smile: “Thank you, Your Highness!”

“What reward do you want, a phantom beast, an elf, a Bipedal Flying Dragon, or a title, land, population? Or perhaps, you want to further collaborate with Shadowflame?” The Shadowflame Dragon’s tone seemed full of temptation.

Russell’s heartbeat quickened a bit: “How can we further collaborate?”

The Shadowflame Dragon did not reply.

Russell narrowed his eyes and fell silent as well.

After a while, the bubbling magic dragon language finally resumed: “The Grand Duchy of Shadowflame is about to enter a new era. Russell, Shadowflame intends for you to govern, allowing your creative ideas to flourish across the entire Grand Duchy!”

“To govern?” Russell was surprised but not overjoyed, “Is this what you mean by further collaboration?”

The Shadowflame Dragon blinked: “Then, in what way do you think we could collaborate further?”

Exhaling, Russell felt that the Shadowflame Dragon seemed to be “teasing” him, or perhaps, it was waiting for him to speak first.

Perhaps, just by speaking up, the event that countless people anticipated would come to pass.

However, after some reflection, Russell chose not to take the initiative. If the Shadowflame Dragon wouldn’t initiate, neither would he—he wasn’t in a hurry. Besides, he already had Little Dream Dragon, and he could not let it down no matter what.

“I don’t need the position of Chief Executive. I think my grandfather is doing quite well governing, I’ll just continue to peacefully develop my Cloud Dream Marsh Oasis.”

This answer.

Caused the Shadowflame Dragon’s brow to furrow, and anger flickered in its pupils, but quickly, the Shadowflame Dragon suppressed this anger.

In a light tone, it said, “Everyone in the nation is looking forward to your governance, and Shadowflame, too, needs you to properly manage this country. Only then, can the allied Ice Cream and Shadowflame defeat the Scorching and Bandit Flood!”

“I lack experience in governing territories, my territory is actually managed by my brother Roland; I just provide some inspiration and guide the development of the territory,” said Russell, indeed lacking the capacity to govern a nation.

But one sentence from the Shadowflame Dragon changed his mind: “You need to accumulate experience because you will eventually become a monarch!”

“You are right!” Russell nodded, “I truly need to gain experience!”

Since his brother Roland had been managing the territory for him, he had gradually learned how to be lazy, enjoying the feeling of being hands-off.

Just as the Shadowflame Dragon said, one day he would follow Little Dream Dragon to create a new nation and become the head of a country. Perhaps the head of a country does not need to concern himself with all of humanity as King Ares does, but many things must not be left to others.

He had to make a personal judgment.

As the ruler of Shadowflame Duchy, he just so happened to accumulate experience in this area.

“Grant a dukedom,” said the Shadowflame Dragon, “hereditary and unchanging. But do your human systems support a Grand Duke creating a duke?”

“Clearly not.”

“Then confer a marquisate.”

“As you wish,” Russell joyfully accepted.

Their cooperation was thus further established, and as the Shadowflame Dragon no longer spoke, Russell prepared to rise and take his leave.

He turned and walked toward the corridor’s grand doorway.

Just then, a gurgling voice in the language of dragon magic suddenly sounded, “Russell, I offer you one more choice: are you willing to deepen your partnership with Shadowflame further?”

Russell’s steps halted.

But he did not turn back. After a silence of three seconds, without looking back, he said, “Your Highness Shadowflame, let’s be clear. Ice Cream will be my first Contracted Dragon… and you, Your Highness, will have plenty of time to consider becoming my second!”

“How dare you!” The Shadowflame Dragon roared in rage.

Russell quietly prepared Unicorn Polly in his heart to flee into Gloomy Dreamland at a moment’s notice, yet outwardly he stood unmovable as a mountain.

Standing before the great door, with his back to the Shadowflame Dragon, he said, “You have ample time to consider. Perhaps you view it as a disgrace, or perhaps you will be grateful for this choice. In the future, I, Russell Fluorescent Fungus, am destined to forge a brand-new grand era!”

After these words,

He pushed open the firmly closed door directly, taking large strides out of Shadowflame Volcano, while the Shadowflame Dragon did neither roar nor attack.

He silently watched Russell leave, then the guards outside the corridor once again slowly closed the door.

In the eyes of the Shadowflame Dragon, a strange glimmer flickered.

Once the door was entirely shut, the Shadowflame Dragon also closed its eyes, then slowly sank into the magma.

Outside,

Lord Volcanic Minister Welchi respectfully followed Russell along the passageway toward Red Castle and said softly, “Chief Executive, Sir, the Council of Elders has already assembled the important ministers in the Elders’ Hall awaiting your arrival.”

“There’s not much to talk about, really. My promotion to Phantom Dragon Knight isn’t something that can be explained in a few words, and finding Shuang Da, who has now fled, probably won’t be easy.”

“In fact, the ministers of the Council of Elders are not inquiring about how you became a Phantom Dragon Knight or where Shuang Da has gone,” explained Lord Volcanic Minister Welchi. “What we are more eager to understand is your relationship with His Highness Shadowflame and whether your current strength can rival that of a Dragon Knight.”

Russell’s rise to the rank of Phantom Dragon Knight signified that the Shadowflame Duchy had birthed another entity on par with a dragon, which held profound significance.

Only by understanding Russell’s strength and his relationship with the Shadowflame Dragon could the Council adjust its policies.

“Alright, I’ll make a visit to the Council of Elders.”

The two quickly passed through the lengthy underground passageway, arriving at Red Castle, and from there they entered the Elders’ Hall along the long corridor.

The sound of clapping filled the air.

Count Merlin took the lead, and several important ministers of the Council of Elders rose and applauded to welcome the arrival of the one and only Phantom Dragon Knight on Dragon Sleep Continent.

Russell smiled and nodded in response before finally turning to look at Count Merlin.

Count Merlin, too, looked at Russell, numb to the surprise that his grandson brought, just like everyone else. Dragon Domain Lord, High Dragon Domain Lord, Phantom Dragon Knight… there was no doubt that the title of Dragon Knight would come next.

Count Merlin harbored no doubt about this.

He faced Russell, slowly extended his right hand, and firmly struck his left chest, performing a standard Knight’s salute, “Count Thunderflame, on behalf of all the citizens of Shadowflame Duchy, as Chief Executive, I offer you the most enthusiastic congratulations!”