Ross's Greeting

Russell ultimately did not have Butler Morris lock up the wine cellar in the manor annex. He could afford to spare a little red wine.

Besides, the house Charles and Eric had picked out in Small Market Town had already begun renovations. They would soon be moving out of the manor annex.

After the jubilant celebration banquet at noon, Russell immediately refined the alcohol with Battle Aura and was completely sober before setting out that afternoon.

As a lord of a barony, he still traveled with four Knight Retainers and a manservant.

"Chirp, chirp..."

Before they reached town, chirping cries sounded overhead. It was Lord Ross's dragon roar—lacking a dragon's majesty and instead sounding somewhat comical.

Seemingly noticing Russell's party, Lord Ross, who had been wandering through the skies, suddenly dived down.

"My lord, it's Lord Ross!" Tom shouted.

"It's fine. Lord Ross is only coming over to say hello." Russell reined in his black horse and looked up at the sky.

Clay Dragon Ross folded his wings and hurtled down like a meteor, seemingly heading straight for Russell.

Yet Russell remained unmoved. He gripped the reins and clamped his legs around the horse's belly to keep his mount from bolting in fright, his blazing gaze fixed on Lord Ross.

One man and one dragon.

Their gazes seemed to clash in the air, sparks flashing between them.

Just as Lord Ross was about to pounce before him, he suddenly spread his wings, came to a beautiful abrupt stop with a flick of his tail, and soared back into the sky.

Whoosh!

The gale from his beating wings swept up dust from Charcoal Ash Avenue like a miniature sandstorm, leaving Russell and the Knight Retainers unable to open their eyes.

Neigh, neigh! The horse ridden by the manservant Ram was so frightened that it collapsed to the ground, throwing Ram aside as he groaned in pain.

"Phew... Pah, pah!"

Russell let out a breath and hurriedly spat out the charcoal ash that had splashed into his mouth.

His eyes followed the departing Clay Dragon Ross. A savage glint flashed through them, anger hidden deep within his heart.

A mere Wyvern dared to get carried away: You wretched dragon! Just wait until my Little Dream Dragon returns... I'll ride you to death!

His pleasant mood was ruined because of it.

Russell wished he could slaughter this Clay Dragon immediately and spill its blood across his manor lands, creating a large Clay Ore deposit.

Of course, that was only wishful thinking.

"My lord, Lord Ross's way of greeting people was a little too enthusiastic." Knight Retainer Tom gave an awkward smile.

"Yes, overly enthusiastic." Russell did not wish to say more. He glanced at Ram on the ground and said, "Go check whether Ram is hurt."

"N-no need, sir. I'm fine." Ram struggled to get up, but his legs trembled so badly that he could not stand steady and fell back onto the ground on his backside.

"He was scared witless, my lord." Knight Retainer John directly lifted Ram up and placed him on horseback. "Fortunately, the horse didn't crush his legs, or one of them would have been broken... All right, calm your horse down."

Ram caught his breath. "Th-thank you, Sir John."

Russell asked, "Ram, check yourself carefully. Are you sure you aren't hurt?"

"I'm not hurt, truly, sir."

"Can you keep riding?"

"Yes, yes!" Ram seized the reins and tried to straighten his back. "Please don't worry about me, sir. I can keep up."

Seeing that Ram's legs were still trembling, Russell simply said, "Then brush off the dust and rest here for five minutes. We'll continue afterward."

Lord Ross's greeting was merely an interlude.

Just as the clouds in the west were lit up, the party of six riders arrived at Fluorite Castle. Passing through the stone archway, they immediately encountered a patrol of knights within the castle.

The silver-armored knight at the head of the group rode a beast resembling a black horse. Its muscles were knotted, its body tall and imposing, and black flame-like shapes seemed to burn along its neck, hooves, and tail. Yet they were not real flames, but a kind of special mane.

Russell immediately recognized it as a Nightmare Ghost Horse, a Phantom Beast evolved from an equine animal. It was incredibly fast and left no tracks in snow.

Clang.

Mounted on the Nightmare Ghost Horse, the silver-armored knight struck his chest with his right fist and gave a Knight's Salute. "Young Master Russell, it has been a long time."

Russell likewise struck his chest with his right fist and returned the salute. "It has indeed been quite some time, Knight Captain Chris. Are you personally guarding the castle today?"

"Today, we need to proclaim Baron Lord's majesty," Knight Captain Chris replied. As Baron Roman's captain of the guard, he led the Knight Order on two patrols through town every month, ensuring the subjects did not forget the lord's rule.

"Then carry on. Come to Wuyou Snake Manor another day, and I'll treat you to wine."

"With pleasure."

After a brief exchange of greetings, the Knight Order left the castle to proclaim the baron's majesty in town. Russell did not linger either and went straight through the castle gates.

"Father, Mother, I came to tell you some good news." Russell took an exquisite Jade Box from his robes. "While I was settling the Fluorite Mushroom Bugs, I unexpectedly discovered that a birch tree had actually nurtured a wild Spirit Worm."

When he opened the Jade Box, the Birch Worm, entirely white with fine black markings, came into the baron and baroness's view.

"It really is a Spirit Worm, Russell, my handsome and lucky son!" Meryl happily kissed Russell on the cheek.

It was an entirely ordinary gesture, but Russell's body stiffened slightly.

Fortunately, the baron and baroness did not notice. Their attention was drawn to the Birch Worm in the Jade Box, especially the baron, who was greatly surprised. "A wild Spirit Worm... Hmm, how many years has it been since Guangguang River Valley last discovered a wild Spirit Worm?"

Meryl smiled. "Darling, now one has been discovered, hasn't it?"

The baron laughed. "True enough."

He then patted Russell on the shoulder. "You lucky lad, it seems sending you to Wuyou Snake Manor was a wise choice."

"I have Father to thank for trusting me."

"If you want to thank someone, thank your mother. If she hadn't been whispering in my ear every day, I would not have wanted to grant you a fief so early, especially when you have not earned the slightest military merit or even hunted a single Snow Ghost on the snowfields."

Russell went along with it. "Mother, thank you."

Seeing her second son become increasingly sensible and sweet-tongued, Meryl took Russell's hand and smiled endlessly. "We are family. There is no need to fuss over those old noble traditions. What does it matter whether you have killed a Snow Ghost or not? My son was born a noble."

The baron said helplessly, "Once Russell advances to Great Knight, he must still go hunt Snow Ghosts. Only one who has fought on the snowfields is a qualified lord."

"Father, I will."

"Very good."

"By the way, Father, I would like to ask your advice about something." Russell brought up the purpose of this visit. "There are not many trees in my territory. Only one birch grove is suitable for planting Fluorite Mushrooms, but now that grove has nurtured a Birch Worm, I do not know whether it is suitable to grow them alongside the Fluorite Mushrooms."

"You need not worry about that. In fact, not only is it harmless, it is even more beneficial." The baron was highly experienced in this matter. "Although Fluorite Mushrooms parasitize tree trunks, they are a symbiotic variety of mushroom. The two can benefit one another and promote each other's growth."

Russell said gladly, "Is that so? Then that is wonderful."