Mushroom Bug News

The oath of allegiance was a type of contract, and contracts were part of the power rules of the Dragon Sleep Continent.

"The dragon watches over you."

People of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy loved to use this blessing, and it was not merely a simple blessing. It could actually become a real event.

The reason was simple.

The entire Shadowflame Grand Duchy had carved out warm, springlike oases amid ice and snow through the radiating power of the Shadowflame Dragon.

Even beings like Clay Dragon Ross had originated from the Shadowflame Dragon's power.

The Shadowflame Dragon sheltered every corner of the nation. Contracts sworn in its name would naturally be influenced by the Shadowflame Dragon's power.

That influence might not manifest in the short term, but it would certainly manifest over time.

Followers could, of course, break their oaths of allegiance without any heavenly punishment descending upon them. But someday in the future, they would suffer a backlash from the Shadowflame Dragon's power and pay a sufficient price through unseen rules.

Perhaps they would suffer a cultivation deviation during training, perhaps their loved ones would die one after another, or perhaps they would lose their way in a blizzard.

Therefore.

An oath of allegiance could never be made lightly. Once made, no one dared to break it.

Perhaps noble lords deliberately used dragons as a gimmick to frighten their followers and stabilize their rule. After taking in the Wildcat Sisters, Russell thought this somewhat boredly, since he had not sensed any mysterious effect.

A knight's oath of allegiance was merely an ordinary ritual.

Still, he certainly would not reveal that thought. The dragon's gaze was an extremely sacred faith to the natives of the Dragon Sleep Continent.

In any case, subduing the Wildcat Sisters had happened naturally. Russell knew himself well enough to understand that he did not truly possess some kingly aura that made people bow at his feet.

In truth, so long as a lord was willing to accept them, many Cave Freemen were willing to swear allegiance and live beneath the sunlight from then on. As for pursuing freedom, aside from a few people, most merely used it to make themselves look better and conceal their origins.

"My lord, the Wildcat Sisters' background is fairly clean. They may be descendants of serfs who escaped in the past. In Guangguang River Valley and the manor territories of several barons, there are no records of them as fugitives, nor could we find any criminal records."

Tom, the Knight Retainer whom Russell had dispatched early on to investigate the Wildcat Sisters' criminal records, delivered his report.

That put Russell even more at ease.

Half of all freemen were descendants of serfs who had fled noble territories. Since most serfs had no freedom in marriage and could only marry within their own manors, they had to pay exorbitant marriage taxes if they wished to marry outsiders.

They could not afford it, yet still wanted to be together.

So they could only flee to the caves. They could not even flee to local caves—they had to follow merchant caravans and blend into caves near other territories.

For reasons unknown, noble lords mostly turned a blind eye to serfs escaping.

"Very good, Tom. You've worked hard on the road. Go get some rest."

"Yes."

After dismissing Tom, Russell entered the dining room with Charles.

The Wildcat Sisters were wolfing down their dinner. The staples in the caves were mushrooms, moss, snakes, rats, and the like. How could those compare with the various delicacies prepared in the manor villa's kitchen—though Russell did not consider them delicacies at all?

"My lord."

"No need to stand. Keep eating. We can talk while we eat." Russell sat down.

He had already planned how to arrange the Wildcat Sisters. "I have kept secret both the news of your allegiance to me and the news of Eric's advancement to Phantom Beast Knight. I believe you have already guessed the reason."

"Are you going after Lone Wolf Lisbon?" Katie asked.

Russell smiled. "Going after Lone Wolf Lisbon is only the first-stage objective. The true goal is to open up the entire Xiangshui River Cave."

Charles added, "Beyond Wuyou Snake Manor lies the boundary of Guangguang River Valley. But my lord is not satisfied with the land of Wuyou Snake Manor alone. He hopes to expand his territory to encompass the entire Xiangshui River Cave."

"My lord is interested in Xiangshui River Cave too? Frankly, it is very barren. It cannot bring you much profit at all," Katie said doubtfully.

"Even barren land has value. In short, I want Xiangshui River Cave, as well as the cave's freemen labor force."

"Yes, I understand, my lord." Katie nodded. "What do you need us sisters to do? Please give your orders."

"First, I need Lone Wolf Lisbon's whereabouts. It would be best if you can lure him out of Xiangshui River Cave. Second, I need to recruit freemen. Skilled craftsmen can run businesses in my territory, while those with strength can sell themselves into serfdom... Of course, anyone with blood on their hands or an unruly nature must be excluded."

Katie frowned and said hesitantly, "My lord, in that kind of environment, it is difficult to keep one's hands free of blood. I would not dare conceal it from you—my sister and I have killed people too. At the time, someone tried to violate us, and we killed them in the end."

"They wanted to take my sister... and me." Catherine added, though she lacked confidence on the final words, "and me."

"Taking a life proactively and taking one in self-defense are two different things. Since I have taken you in, I will naturally not pursue what happened before," Russell said.

If this had been a peaceful age, Russell would certainly have kept his distance from killers.

But this world was different, so Russell's moral standards naturally had to adapt to the rules of this world.

"Thank you for your understanding, my lord."

"Mm."

"Please rest assured, my lord. Once we finish this dinner, we sisters will return to the caves and pretend to defect to Lone Wolf Lisbon. Then we will find an opportunity to lure him out. Once you eliminate Lisbon, we sisters will be able to unite Xiangshui River Cave and offer you its land and population."

"Good. Here's to our success. When that time comes, you will be able to walk freely beneath the sunlight." Russell raised his wineglass.

Charles also said cheerfully, "Pretty girls ought to walk proudly through the streets."

His eyes kept wandering over Katie and Catherine.

Russell cast Charles a strange glance. He truly could not understand how Charles thought the Wildcat Sisters were pretty.

Was it because of their deep nasolabial folds, their pale white skin, or their sunken eye sockets?

Or was it because, though only in their twenties, they looked like women in their thirties or forties and possessed a mature feminine charm?

The four raised their glasses and drank together.

Then Katie said hesitantly, "My lord, there is some news whose truth I do not know. Perhaps I should tell you."

"Go on."

"There is a rumor circulating in Xiangshui River Cave that Lone Wolf Lisbon once found a Mushroom Bug. They say he relied on that Mushroom Bug to obtain enough cultivation resources to advance to Great Ranger."

"Oh!" Russell became interested. "How likely do you think that is?"

"I think it is very likely. Lisbon used to be an ordinary ranger, but he suddenly advanced to Great Ranger over the past few years!" Catherine said with certainty. "Without the help of a Mushroom Bug, he could not possibly have gathered a group of people and monopolized the caves."

Charles said excitedly, "My lord, now we have yet another reason why we must clear out Xiangshui River Cave!"

"Indeed. Whether it is true or not, we must catch Lisbon and interrogate him." Russell had already regarded Xiangshui River Cave as his own territory.

Since it was his territory, every miraculous creation within it naturally belonged to him.

Lone Wolf Lisbon was committing theft—robbery!

"Katie, Catherine, after you return, remember to gather more information about the Mushroom Bug. If you need to send messages, have Kevin do it. I will have Eric cooperate with you."

"Yes, my lord!"