Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 568 - 568 566 Hapes Outward Training

Chapter 568: Chapter 566: Hape’s Outward Training Chapter 568: Chapter 566: Hape’s Outward Training The Cabinet was formed swiftly, following extensive communication, with the most crucial dialogue being between Russell and Marquis Merlin, ultimately leading to the confirmation of the candidates.

A total of seven Cabinet Ministers were appointed.

Chief Executive—Marquis Mel Rain-Longflower;

Chief Steward—Lord Kunbei, a Flying Dragon Knight;

Chief Justice—Baron of Blackgarden Curis Tian Zi Cao;

Lord Seal Minister—Lord Kunqiao;

Finance Minister—Baron Bullhorn, Gevedas Bainroot;

Industry Minister—Lord Roland Glowingmushroom;

Foreign Minister—Count Flo Pot Mel Yujiuhua, a Flying Dragon Knight.

Among these positions, the role of Volcanic Minister was abolished and replaced by the newly established Industry Minister.

The reason was simple: as national affairs could now be decided by Russell alone, there was no longer a need for a Volcanic Minister to liaise with the Shadowflame Dragon. The establishment of the Volcanic Minister had naturally been intended to industrialize the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

Of the seven Cabinet Ministers, only two were Flying Dragon Knights.

Lord Kunbei had been chosen because he was too old to need glowing and heating-up on the snowfields; it was sufficient for him to stay safe and sound at Red Castle. Cousin Mel, on the other hand, was necessary for Russell as a Dragon Knight to serve as the Foreign Minister, to facilitate communication with the Scorching Torrent Kingdom and to travel back and forth across the snowfields.

In the future, it might even be necessary to delve deeper into the snowfields to communicate with more nations, and without riding a dragon, the security of the Foreign Minister would be difficult to guarantee.

Moreover, Cousin Mel’s title as Count Flo Pot and his identity as Foreign Minister would be more solidified.

Following the completion of the Cabinet, the Flying Dragon Military Advisory Group was also established, known informally as the “Flying Dragon Group.”

The Flying Dragon Military Advisory Group was composed entirely of Flying Dragon Knights, held the authority to dispatch all the Grand Duchy’s bipedal flying dragons, and was responsible for directing large-scale battles on the snowfields, including the annual Knight Regiment operations to clear the snowfields.

Baron Youguang, the Clay Dragon Knight Roman Glowingmushroom, was appointed as the group leader, and the Footprint Dragon Knight, Lord Welchi, served as the deputy leader.

The Silver Dragon Knight Lord Sandra, Ruby Dragon Knight Lord Gerard, Golden Dragon Knight Lord Labour, Steel Dragon Knight Lord Croia, Black Coal Dragon Knight Lord Hancock, and Emerald Dragon Knight Lord Drella were each selected to join the Flying Dragon Group.

Additionally, the Swan Baron, Bronze Dragon Knight Lord Kunbifu of Shadowflame, was also invited to join the Flying Dragon Military Advisory Group.

However, Baron Kunbifu refused the invitation, citing the recurrence of an old injury and limited time left as excuses.

Russell did not press the matter.

“Father, from now on, all of the Grand Duchy’s bipedal flying dragons will be under your command, under the Flying Dragon Group,” Russell stated in the Red Fort Hall during his audience with Mr. Luo Man, “Please take good care of the three dragons of the Gravel Domain.”

“I understand,” Mr. Luo Man replied with a beaming smile.

Even though he hadn’t entered the Cabinet, following Russell’s election as Grand Duke, there was a clear separation of military and political affairs. Marquis Merlin became the leading figure in political affairs, while he became the head of military affairs, a position of equal standing, which pleased him greatly.

He smiled and said, “These three-headed bipedal flying dragons have committed not a few sins by interfering in the internal affairs of other domains; they ought to serve a few more years on the snowfields!”

At the inception of the Cabinet.

The first agenda item was the redefinition of the territorial map of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.

“Your Highness, after discussion in the Cabinet, it’s been formally decided to divide the territory of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy into seven Warm Enclave Provinces and eleven Oasis Provinces,” reported Chief Steward Lord Kunbei to Russell, presenting the results of the Cabinet’s deliberations.

The seven Warm Enclave Provinces were the previous seven warm enclaves, just renamed.

These were Sui Shi Province, Tributary River Mouth Province, Fire Ant Swamp Province, Golden Prairie Province, Youguang Province, Huyang Gobi Province, and Blackgarden Mountain Province.

Among the eleven Oasis Provinces, eight had previously been Volcanic Oasis Provinces.

These were Furywind Province, Plain Province, Forestland Province, Sandy Province, Mist Marsh Province, Mountainous Province, and Thousand Lakes Province—of which, Mist Marsh Province was originally called Cloud Marsh Province but was renamed by Russell to avoid confusion with the small Green Oasis of Cloud Dream Marsh.

The remaining three provinces were provinces of the small Green Oases.

Namely, Blackfire Province, Leize Province, and Qinqiu Province.

“Order the Cabinet to nominate eleven candidates for the governorship of the Oasis Province,” Russell decreed. “The governors’ duty is to manage the province’s civilian affairs in peace time and to accept leadership from the Cabinet; during war, to lead the Knight Regiment into battle, under the jurisdiction of the Flying Dragon Group.”

After the Cabinet’s nomination and Russell’s approval,

the eleven candidates for the governorships of the Oasis Province swiftly changed, although, temporarily, they all remained as acting governors.

Among them, for Torrent Province, Lord Rosen Glowingmushroom was appointed; for Blackfire Province, Lord Eric took up the post…

Leize Province and Qinqiu Province had only administrative divisions for now, without established governorships—these were carrot and stick positions left by Russell, planned to support his followers Grontan Bainroot and Grove, to be recognized in due time.

Moreover,

within Red Castle, Russell also made personnel changes to the guards and servants.

Katie was appointed as the chief of the Red Castle court guards, and her Contracted Phantom Beast, Red-Eyed Mouse King Jerry, was also named the officer of Red Castle’s mice—responsible for managing all the rodents in the fort, establishing squads such as the Treasure-Hunting Rat Squad, Sentinel Rat Squad, and the Rodent Extermination Squad, to name a few.

Originally, Russell had intended to have Butler Morris come and oversee the butler’s duties at Red Castle, but alas, Butler Morris, holding a bottle of red wine, cried to Russell one evening.

His abilities were limited; he truly couldn’t handle such a large estate as Red Castle.

So, Russell could only lament letting him return to Cigar Manor, to continue his role as the chief steward there.

He selected from among the elder servants of Red Castle one with many years, appointing him as the butler, and reassigned Leona to take on the role of housekeeper.

“Morris was intimidated by the grandeur of Red Castle; what about you, Leona?” Russell inquired.

Leona, approaching her thirties, bore a self-assured smile upon her attractive face: “My lord, the years of experience at Cigar Manor have greatly improved me. After learning from the old housekeeper of Red Castle for a few more years, I believe I will be able to shoulder everything this castle requires!”

“Ha ha, excellent!” Russell was very pleased. “You have much more responsibility than Morris. Study hard for a few years, and once Princess Anxia and her daughter leave the Inner Fort, I’ll entrust the entire management of Red Castle to you!”

“Thank you for your trust and high regard, my lord. Leona will not let you down!” Leona spoke earnestly.

“Work hard. Also, I would like you to observe the servants of Red Castle more closely and cultivate a group of trustworthy servants.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Alright, go on with your duties,” said Russell, waving his hand. Although he had given Princess Anxia the Inner Fort to live in, it did not mean he would give up control over it. Assigning Katie and Leona there was his way of preparing to gradually take over everything.

This Red Castle could only carry out the will of one man, and that was him.

Fortunately,

he was the true Grand Duke, with a will that could be easily implemented, and no one could stop him.

“Russell.” At that moment, the voice of Harpies Hape rang out in his mind.

“What is it, Hape?”

“I wish to travel abroad for some time.” Hape materialized from the mark of Master of the Storm and revealed a harpy’s figure. “I have completely assimilated His Highness Shadowflame’s Original Dragon Flame, and this power has made me strong, but it is not enough!”

It glanced at Russell’s forehead.

There, the mark of God of Thunder shone brightly, in the shape of a bifurcated lightning bolt.

“Before, I thought the position of Dragon Domain Lord was the ultimate goal of the Way of the Knight, and Pseudo-Dragons were the limit for us Phantom Beasts. But… Princess Polly has proven that there’s a path beyond Pseudo-Dragons, so… I want to venture out!”

“There’s no need to wander alone; we are partners and should adventure together,” Russell said.

“Following you, I won’t gain the experience I need.” Hape stated a fact. The strength of Russell and Polly left little room for it to excel. “Just like Uroboros and Senbula, they do not gain the experience they need by staying by your side.”

Thus the Ouroboros Snake Uroboros and the Pseudo-Nightmare Beast Dragon Senbula paired up to fight and gain experience on the Snowfield.

Seldom following Russell.

Hearing this, Russell sighed: “The logic is sound, and as much as I’m reluctant, for your progress, I can only agree.”

“Thank you, Russell, I will be successful!” Hape took a deep look at Russell. “I am not weaker than Princess Polly!”

“Of course, of course, I’ve always believed so.”

“Then I’m off,” Hape nodded, then soared into the sky, flying out of Red Fort Hall like a gust of wind, vanishing into the horizon.