Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 554 - 554 552 Grand Duke Against My Will

Chapter 554: Chapter 552: Grand Duke Against My Will Chapter 554: Chapter 552: Grand Duke Against My Will Count Merlin walked with his aged steps back to his independent small castle, his heart heavy and somewhat bewildered.

The last time he left the power center of Red Castle, it was due to slanderous rumors, yet he had calmly handed over power to Grand Duke Kunstan. But this time, it was the Shadowflame Dragon itself that had ordered the dissolution of the Council of Elders and supported Russell’s rise.

For Count Merlin, this undoubtedly marked the end of his political life, with no chance of redemption.

Dragons are divine spirits!

The will of the divine spirit cannot be shaken!

“Master, you’re back. Mr. Russell has come and is waiting for you,” the butler came forward to greet Count Merlin and reported softly.

“Russell is here?” Count Merlin’s eyes lit up, but his brows soon furrowed then relaxed again, oscillating several times, his expression changing rapidly in just a moment before he finally nodded calmly, “Where is he?”

“In the backyard, admiring the flowers.”

“Um,” Count Merlin stepped forward.

The butler followed him, “Master, would you like to change your clothes first?”

Normally, even if a guest arrived, Count Merlin would first change his clothes and wash his face to groom himself before meeting the guest.

However, this time, Count Merlin simply waved his hand, “You may go.”

“Yes, Master,” the butler bowed and turned to leave.

Count Merlin then walked alone to the backyard. Because it was a small castle, the backyard wasn’t very large, but it was filled with brightly colored flowers.

Among the flowers, Russell’s figure appeared tall and upright, and even from a distance, Count Merlin could still feel the powerful aura emanating continuously from Russell, an aura that made him feel as if he was facing the Shadowflame Dragon.

No.

More accurately, it felt more like facing King Ares.

Dragons are so massive that their sheer size creates an indescribable sense of oppression, a physical and mental dual burden. And the impact of a Dragon Knight, or the Phantom Dragon Knight Russell in front of him, was of a different kind.

Russell stood among the flowers, not looking at them but staring at a small bee that looked like a hornet.

“Russell,” called Count Merlin.

Russell immediately waved at the small bee then turned around, looked at Count Merlin, and responded with a smile, “Grandfather.”

The small bee landed in his palm and the next moment, turned into a light and entered his hand.

On his palm, there was now a sesame seed-sized bee imprint.

“Is this… amber?” Count Merlin recognized it immediately, “I didn’t expect you to have an Amber Spirit Insect as well.”

“Do you have one as well?” Russell stepped out of the flowers; just now, he had released his Amber Bee to let this little bee collect nectar—the ability of this Amber Bee was to seek nectar in flowers then continuously collect nectar.

Originally, it seemed like a useless ability, but soon Russell discovered that seeking nectar in flowers was not so simple.

When the Amber Bee collected nectar, the fighting spirit inside it would continuously emerge, as if he had taken a potion of Magic Power.

If he were a Phantom Beast Knight, relying on the Amber Bee’s ability to seek nectar in flowers, he could fight for three days and nights without exhausting his Prime Breath. Unfortunately, since Russell was already a Phantom Dragon Knight, the Amber Bee’s half-day of nectar feeding could not sustain a single move of his expenditure.

Thus, Russell hoped the Amber Bee would continue to collect nectar and grow, and perhaps one day it might evolve into an Amber Bee Sprite.

Maybe then it could truly be of help to him.

“I have one too,” Count Merlin nodded, “But it’s a termite that eats metal instead of nectar, capable of extracting the essence from metals and infusing it into my Swordsmanship, enhancing the sharpness of my techniques.”

“Wow, that’s cool!” Russell exclaimed.

The effect of this Termite Amber Insect matched the function of his Sword Butterfly Amber Spirit.

Both represented a form of conceptual effect.

“An old man’s Swordsmanship allowed him to rise to prominence in Shadowflame Grand Duchy, and it was all thanks to this Termite Amber Insect until you, young man, appeared.” Earl Merlin, the once foremost figure of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, expressed with a laugh, already completely overshadowed by Russell’s brilliance.

Russell burst into laughter, “Grandfather, truth be told, my Swordsmanship also improved thanks to the Amber Insect. Of course, the true comprehension of Swordsmanship came mostly during my Pseudo-Dragon’s ascension.”

Earl Merlin was astonished.

Then, the two of them looked at each other and laughed, sharing an unspoken understanding—the truth was that most knights on Dragon Sleep Continent relied on external objects to arm themselves, their own bodies more like a lever, wielding external powers.

Phantom Beast Knights relied on Phantom Beasts, Flying Dragon Knights depended on Bipedal Flying Dragons, Dragon Knights relied on Dragons…

Of course.

Being able to control such external objects was a power in its own right.

“Your adventure, even I am envied by it,” said Earl Merlin as they strolled in the backyard, conversing leisurely. “In one’s lifetime, it’s essential to stumble upon one or two such fortunes, though sadly, not everyone grasps them.”

Russell replied, “Dragon’s gaze, the glow of their blessing, I just happened to seize the biggest opportunity, and that’s why I stand where I am today.”

He owed that gratitude to the garbage truck.

Had it not rushed over him at speed, how could he have crossed over to Dragon Sleep Continent?

Of course, he should also thank the Dream Dragon Ice Cream. Without licking that ice cream at the time, he might never have gained the ‘Golden Finger’ of Little Dream Dragon. Without this golden finger, in this extraordinary world where great powers are centralized, he would probably still be an obscure rural noble.

He might have ended up marrying Malena and spending his life at Wuyao Snake Manor.

Where then would he have experienced his current glory?

Earl Merlin narrowed his eyes, taking a sidelong glance at Russell, unaware of what Russell considered his greatest fortune.

But he guessed it must involve the Shadowflame Dragon.

Thus hinting pointedly, he said, “Dragon’s gaze, a phrase I have heard countless times daily, but how many knights truly have such good fortune to be noticed by a dragon? To seize such an opportunity and walk to the end of the Way of the Knight, and even beyond, that’s truly an ability.”

Hearing this, Russell deeply agreed; having the Little Dream Dragon was indeed good fortune, but his journey up to this day was inseparable from his own effort.

He nodded and said, “Indeed, a dragon’s gaze is just a starting point, not the outcome.”

“In my view, it is both the starting point and the outcome,” Earl Merlin suddenly changed his tone, saying, “Today, the Council of Elders met with His Highness Shadowflame, who made a decision to appoint you as the new Grand Duke.”

“Ah?” Russell was stunned, “Appoint me as the new Grand Duke?”

“That’s right.”

“But I haven’t yet agreed to a pact with the Shadowflame Dragon,” Russell couldn’t comprehend, “Why appoint me as Grand Duke so swiftly? I thought I would first be granted the title of a Marquis to transition for a while.”

He had planned to pull a few more stunts with the Shadowflame Dragon.

Never did he imagine that the Shadowflame Dragon would put on such a show—it was practically no different from surrendering and nearly revealed its intentions, that it had set its sights on Russell, waiting to form a pact with him—after the Little Dream Dragon, no less!

“Being ennobled as a Marquis has no meaning,” Earl Merlin slowly shook his head. “It’s merely a smokescreen. Since His Highness Shadowflame has made up his mind, why would he care about human opinions? By directly revealing his intentions, we know what to do next.”

“Phew,” Russell exhaled a breath of relief, calming his emotions.

Yet in his heart, he was bragging to Polly, “Our charm as an advancing Phantom Dragon Knight is too great, even the Shadowflame Dragon can’t resist!”

“The Shadowflame Dragon is very decisive,” Polly softly responded, “If it continued to wait, perhaps it wouldn’t even secure the second agreement. The Torrential Flood Dragon surely also deeply desires you.”

“Tsk!” Russell gloated.

Yet his face remained as calm as still water, even slightly frowning.

To Earl Merlin, he said, “Grandfather, honestly, I never had an interest in the position of Grand Duke. I’d rather establish a kingdom entirely my own… So, about this Grand Ducal title, I’m unsure whether I should accept it.”

“Establishing outside?” Earl Merlin caught the loophole, his pupils dilating, exclaiming, “You know other dragons, ownerless dragons?”

“Not ownerless dragons.” Russell shook his head.

“Then, it must be the Kingdom’s dragons,” Earl Merlin misunderstood, “The Torrential Flood Dragon indeed isn’t bad, but still, I think the Grand Duchy of Shadowflame suits you better… This country indeed needs a strong Grand Duke to take charge.”