Katie

After doing the math, the Gold Coins and supplies were enough to keep the manor's annex running for half a year. By then, the potions and crops should be ready for harvest, neatly filling the gap.

Besides.

Russell could also drop by Fluorite Castle from time to time to mooch a little. All in all, there was no need to worry too much about the carefree life of a lord.

"Cheers, Morris."

"Cheers, my lord."

After finishing a glass of red wine, Morris tactfully took the bottle and left.

Russell washed up and went to bed as well. Perhaps Lord Ertlas's boastful stories that afternoon had stirred his longing, because he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

His thoughts kept drifting to dragons, Wyverns, Snow Giants, Snow Demons, Snow Ghosts, and the like.

"Even the weakest Snow Demon has combat strength comparable to a Phantom Beast Knight. I'm still far from that... Let's set a small goal first: open up the meridians in my hands as soon as possible!"

Then he turned over.

Another thought came to him. They say that once you contract with a dragon, you can advance directly to Dragon Knight. Why do I ride Snowcake every day without seeing Snowcake lend me a hand, use dragon flame to cover my Battle Aura, and send me soaring in one step?

He finally reached a conclusion. Looks like Snowcake is still too weak. This Little Dream Dragon just isn't working hard enough!

To help the Little Dream Dragon grow, he decided that whenever he had the chance, he would hunt Snow Ghosts and gather enough Hail Beads to feed it.

With that thought, drowsiness finally washed over Russell.

But before he could fall asleep, there came a knock at the door. "My lord, have you gone to bed? A Miss Katie is downstairs looking for you. She said you had an appointment."

"Miss Katie?" Russell frowned and thought for a moment before suddenly understanding. "Yes, Butler Morris. Let her in."

By the time Russell had dressed and gone downstairs, he saw a woman who resembled the assassin Catherine sitting in a chair, flipping through a knight novel he had brought from Fluorite Castle, titled The Story After the Smoke Dragon's Death.

"Does Lady Katie enjoy knight novels too?" Russell studied the woman with an intense gaze.

Compared with her younger sister Catherine, Katie looked somewhat younger, since the lines around her mouth were not very deep.

Her facial features were also gentler, giving her an innocuous, girl-next-door sort of air.

But Russell would not naively assume she was harmless. To earn the title of the Wildcat Sisters in an environment like the caves was no easy feat. In places unseen beneath the earth, she had likely been stained with quite a bit of human blood.

Hearing Russell's question, Katie quickly rose to her feet.

She closed the knight novel in her hand and gave a slight bow. "I was merely browsing through it, to see what sort of novels my lord likes to read."

"It's about a Smoke Dragon that died, attached itself to a knight named List, carried him through the sky, and helped him save the world," Russell explained casually. "Just a novel to pass the time. Nothing worth studying."

"Men, especially knights like my lord, must all have dreamed of saving the world, right?"

"Not necessarily. Take me, for example. I only want to protect my own territory." Russell gestured. "Sit down and talk. No need to stand."

Katie waited until Russell had taken his seat before sitting down as well. She said softly, "First, on behalf of my younger sister Catherine, I would like to apologize to you, Lord Ertlas, for her discourtesy that day. I regret that you had to learn our sisters' names in such a manner."

"It was indeed rather discourteous." Russell raised an eyebrow. "For a time, I wondered whether my manor's annex even had a front gate."

"Uh..." Katie was left speechless.

Russell made that barbed remark to dampen Katie's momentum before turning serious. "Lady Katie, if you have something to say, you might as well get straight to the point. I'm a straightforward person, and I hope my friends will be straightforward with me too."

"Your Excellency is willing to make friends with the lowborn people of the caves?" Katie narrowed her eyes.

"Why not? So long as they are upright in character and share my interests, unless they are a Snow Ghost, I have no reason to mind."

"You truly are an outstanding lord with a broad mind."

"Your sister seemed to say the same thing." Russell accepted the praise calmly. In his own estimation, no one was more outstanding than he was.

Katie flattered him at just the right moment. "Because it is plain for all to see, especially after you slew the Snow Ghost brought in by the Lone Wolf Boss."

Russell smiled.

But he did not lose himself in the praise, and asked again, "So, what is the purpose of your visit?"

"My main purpose has already been stated: to apologize for my sister's discourteous behavior," Katie replied. "Of course, there is another matter as well. There is a Half Ghost Beast in Xiangshui River Cave, and I would like to ask Your Excellency to treat it."

"A Half Ghost Beast? What's that?"

"It is a Phantom Beast that failed to evolve, my lord." The one who answered was not Katie, but Charles, who had just gotten dressed and come downstairs.

As for Great Knight Eric, he had somehow already silently appeared in a corner of the living room, clutching his steel longsword and staring fixedly at Katie.

After Charles took his seat, he continued explaining, "During a beast's evolution, if Earth Power takes the lead, it can evolve into a Phantom Beast. But some Phantom Beasts are unlucky enough to evolve on the snowfields, where they are disturbed by the power of Snow Demons and fall into Half Ghost Beasts."

Katie continued, "Yes. The two powers clash within a Half Ghost Beast, and the result is terrible... That is why I wish to ask Your Excellency for help."

A Half Ghost Beast generally had only one fate: to degenerate into a Ghost Beast.

Charles rolled his eyes. "Just kill it. Why go through all this trouble?"

Russell could not understand it either. If it were a Phantom Beast, it might be worth saving. But a Half Ghost Beast that had failed to evolve had no value in keeping.

A trace of anger flashed through Katie's eyes, but she quickly calmed herself. "This Half Ghost Beast has been our companion since Catherine and I were children. It would not be an exaggeration to call it family. That is why Catherine and I are unwilling to give up on it."

"Perhaps this sounds cruel, but the Half Ghost Beast's fate has already been decided... If you Wildcat Sisters cannot bear to do it, you can bring it here and let me help." Charles spoke solemnly, believing his offer of assistance to be quite gentlemanly.

At those words, Katie's face darkened as she looked at Russell. "Lord Ertlas, if you are unwilling, then forget it. There is no need to say such things."

Charles looked innocent. "I merely spoke the truth."

Seeing this, Russell tried to soothe her. "Teacher Charles means well too, Lady Katie. Don't be hasty."

"Perhaps coming here today was simply a desperate attempt to seek help anywhere I could."

"Since you are already here, why not give it a try?"

"Your Excellency means?"

"You can send the Half Ghost Beast over first. Whether I succeed or fail, I will certainly give you an answer after doing everything I can," Russell said frankly.

Katie considered it for a moment.

Then she rose to her feet, looked deeply at Russell, and slowly nodded. "All right. I believe the lord is an upright man. In the latter half of the night, I will bring the Half Ghost Beast to the entrance of the underground stretch of the Glimmering River. Your Excellency may send someone to receive it."

Russell smiled. "No problem."

"Whether it succeeds or not, so long as my lord does his best, the Wildcat Sisters will owe you a favor." Katie bowed. "If my lord saves the Half Ghost Beast, then... the Wildcat Sisters will be at your command."

Having said that, she did not linger.

She turned and left the manor's annex, disappearing into the night.

Watching her figure vanish into the distance, Russell returned to the living room and instructed, "Teacher Eric, arrange for the retainer knights to wait at the underground river entrance in the latter half of the night."

"Yes." Eric answered gruffly.