Elf Contract

"Dragon's Gaze is upon you, Russell! I told you, the Grand Duke's Shadowflame Dragon is watching over you at every moment!"

Charles shouted excitedly, even swaying beneath the birch tree as he broke into a classic solo cha-cha.

"Not bad luck." Russell flashed a charming smile.

"Congratulations, my lord," Eric said gruffly.

Butler Morris beamed from ear to ear. "My lord, you are a nobleman born! Dragon's Gaze, Radiant Light Blessing. The moment you arrived in your own territory, a Spirit Worm was born. This is the finest blessing, just like those described in knightly novels!"

"It truly is a wonderful blessing." Russell calmly accepted everyone's congratulations.

The value of a Spirit Worm was difficult to measure in ordinary wealth, because it could cultivate magic potions and magical materials. It was something extraordinary.

Yet beneath his smile, a trace of worry still lingered in Russell's eyes.

The joy of obtaining a wild Spirit Worm could not ease his concern for Little Dream Dragon. That was the true foundation upon which he depended.

Besides, he truly liked that adorable, foolish little pocket dragon.

"Russell, it seems you'll have to keep watch beneath the birch tree for another night, to make sure you can contract the Spirit Worm the moment it is born," Charles suggested.

"Of course."

Russell replied.

Although everything produced within the territory belonged to the lord, a Spirit Worm was simply too valuable. If anything went wrong, no one could bear the responsibility.

"Teacher Charles, go supervise the construction of Windmill Mill. You don't need to stay here with me." Russell dispersed the gathered crowd. "Teacher Eric, you don't need to be too nervous either. No one at Wuyou Snake Manor should dare cause trouble."

Eric replied, "I'm not worried about within the territory, but we must guard against Xiangshui River Cave. We absolutely cannot give the freemen an opening."

"Would the freemen of Xiangshui River Cave dare cross the border?"

"When Knight Captain Kendall patrolled the territory, the freemen of Xiangshui River Cave behaved themselves. But now Wuyou Snake Manor is no longer within Knight Captain Kendall's patrol range, so it is hard to say," Eric explained truthfully.

Kendall was the Patrol Knight Captain of Guangguang River Valley, a Phantom Beast Knight with formidable strength who could deter petty scoundrels.

But Eric was only a Great Knight and did not possess such overwhelming deterrence.

"Very well. Teacher Eric, I'll have to trouble you with the Spirit Worm's protection." Russell smiled and did not act overconfident.

Eric nodded heavily.

All day long, he led four Knight Retainers in rotating patrols. Whenever a serf came close, they immediately drove them away, refusing to let any outsider set foot in the birch grove.

Meals were delivered by servants from the manor annex.

At night, several bonfires were lit to ensure the area around the birch tree was fully illuminated.

Lying in his sleeping bag, Russell quickly fell into a deep sleep with anticipation in his heart. Unfortunately, it was another night without Little Dream Dragon appearing.

Near dawn, Eric woke him. "My lord, the Spirit Worm has hatched!"

"It hatched?" Russell swiftly scrambled up and rushed beneath the birch tree in a few strides. Just in time, he saw the bud on a branch split open, and a snow-white Spirit Worm like a silkworm crawl out, lazily sprawled against the trunk.

Hugging the trunk, Russell gave a light leap and sprang more than three meters up. Then, with a gentle pinch, he caught the Spirit Worm in his hand.

After landing, he examined it carefully.

The Birch Worm was not entirely snow-white. Like the trunk of a birch tree, its white body was streaked with faint black stripes.

But no matter what, it was beautiful.

Having left its mother body—the thick birch Worm Grass—the Birch Worm was visibly agitated. It twisted about in Russell's palm, trying to escape.

But when Russell took out the prepared Jade Powder and sprinkled it over his fingers, the Birch Worm seemed to smell delicious food. It crawled toward the Jade Powder and began nibbling at it in tiny bites.

Russell seized the opportunity and extended his finger directly toward it as the Birch Worm opened its mouth.

Then came a slight pain.

The Birch Worm's tiny, sharp teeth bit through the skin of his fingertip, squeezing out a bead of blood that seeped into its mouthparts.

A moment later, an indescribably mysterious feeling washed over him. Russell had already formed a spiritual connection with the Birch Worm.

An Elf Contract was that simple. With blood as the medium and magic as the driving force, it could be formed with ease.

A Spirit Worm could only be contracted once per year.

That was why Spirit Worms were difficult to trade frequently.

"Congratulations, my lord!" Tom and the other Knight Retainers congratulated Russell in turn.

"All right, the Birch Worm has been contracted. We can leave this place now. Go back to the manor annex, have a good bath, and catch up on sleep." Russell made his decision at once. "We'll hold a banquet at noon. The malt beer will flow freely!"

"Radiant Light Blessing! Glory belongs to my lord!" the Knight Retainers cheered.

Eric also curled his lips into a grin, but quickly suppressed it and resumed his usual stern demeanor.

Just as Russell finished breakfast, Charles came downstairs with his hair hanging loose. "I just heard from the manservant William that you've already contracted the Birch Worm, Russell. Oh heavens, a Spirit Worm really was born! Praise the dragon! We must drink to our hearts' content tonight, especially Black Pearl Wine!"

"You should still take it easy, Teacher Charles. There isn't much Black Pearl Wine left."

"Haha, you should immediately send someone to report the good news to Baron Lord. Perhaps Baron Lord will send over a fresh batch of Black Pearl Wine to congratulate you." Charles's eyes rolled as he immediately thought of a way to mooch some wine.

After exchanging a few jokes, they returned to the main topic.

Russell said, "Now that we have the Birch Worm, will that birch grove evolve into a magic potion plant, or perhaps magical material?"

"It should evolve into magical material. And with the Birch Worm, expanding the birch grove will become much easier. But you'll have to wait until the grove has evolved before collecting seeds and using the new magical material tree seeds to expand its scale."

"The Fluorite Mushroom is currently planted on the birch trees. Teacher Charles, will there be any problem planting these magical potion plants and magical materials together?"

"Well..." Charles shook his head. "I truly don't know. You should go to Fluorite Castle and ask Baron Lord."

"Fine. After the noon banquet, I'll return to Fluorite Castle. I'll stay there overnight, so you and Teacher Eric should watch over the territory."

"Leave it to us!" Charles patted his chest in assurance.

"After drinking at noon, you are not allowed to drink again tonight."

"Of course, of course, my Lord Russell. I, Charles, am not some drunken sot. I merely enjoy savoring fine food and wine."

Russell neither agreed nor disagreed. Turning his head, he said, "Butler Morris, remember to lock the wine cellar tonight."

Butler Morris answered, "As you wish, my lord."

Charles immediately clutched his head with both hands and cried out indignantly, "Oh! Heavens, Russell! Can there not be even a little trust between people?"