Glimmering Town

"The fish soup is missing a lot of flavor, bland, too bland," Charles voiced a different opinion at the dinner banquet.

"It seems the cuisine at the manor's annex doesn't suit your taste, Teacher Charles, but I hope you find a cook who satisfies you soon," Russell didn't care about Charles's opinion; he just wanted to taste the flavors of his hometown.

As for Charles, he would be moving out of the manor's annex soon.

"Heavens, I really wish this day would come later. You know, my Lord, I love those wines you have cellared so much."

"When you move, I'll give you a bottle of Black Pearl Wine."

"Living in the small market town, I'll miss you, my Lord," Charles said glumly. The housing in the small market town had already been renovated, and he had no reason to continue staying at the manor's annex, which was, after all, Lord Russell's private residence.

As for Eric, he would also be moving to the small market town.

However, Eric's contracted Phantom Beast, the Gold-Silver Wolfdog, would remain at the manor's annex to stand guard and protect Russell's safety.

The Gold-Silver Wolfdog was the wolfdog Kevin, and its Phantom Beast name was given by Russell as Gold-Silver Wolfdog.

This was because one of its eyes was gold and the other was silver.

On this day, as per custom, Russell would go to Fluorite Castle for a meal. He would spend one day each week returning to Fluorite Castle.

"You mean Eric has been promoted to Phantom Beast Knight?" Before lunch, the Baron was chatting with Russell in the study again and was very surprised to hear the news. "Your territory discovered a Phantom Beast, or did he find one on the snowfield?"

Phantom Beasts were rare strategic resources.

There were many Great Knights in the Guangguang River Valley territory, but very few had the opportunity to contract a Phantom Beast. Moreover, sometimes a Phantom Beast and a Knight were incompatible, and no matter how much they tried to bond, they couldn't form a contract, causing many Great Knights to waste half their lives without being promoted.

"The Wildcat Sisters sent over a Half Ghost Beast. I originally just intended to earn some goodwill, but I didn't expect the wolfdog Kevin to make it through on its own."

"This is truly... Praise the Dragon! It must be the power of the Shadowflame Dragon that has given this wolfdog new life," Baron Roman couldn't understand it and could only attribute all the miracles to the Grand Duchy's Shadowflame Dragon.

In everyone's hearts, Dragons were omnipotent.

"Yes, praise the Dragon," Russell echoed, though in his heart he was praising his own Dragon—the Little Dream Dragon.

"Next, you plan to consolidate the Xiangshui River Cave?" The Baron paused to compose himself and immediately guessed Russell's next move.

"Yes." Russell had nothing to hide from his father. "I plan to lure and kill Lisbon first, then consolidate the Xiangshui River Cave, expanding the Wuyou Snake Manor to cover the entire cave system, allowing us to monitor the situation on the snowfield at all times."

"It's good that you have ideas and are willing to try, but the cave is full of corruption. You need to maintain a proper balance; don't let annexing the cave make your own territory a mess."

"I will handle it, Father."

"Also, don't think you can rest easy just because Eric has been promoted to Phantom Beast Knight. Remember, your own strength is the most reliable reliance."

"I understand."

"Let's go, time for lunch."

Father and son put down their wine glasses and left the spacious study. During the meal, his mother, Meryl, brought up another matter.

"In a few days, June 4th, is your grandmother's birthday. Your father and I plan to hold a banquet at Fluorite Castle. Remember to come back the day before to stay... Sigh, I wonder if your sister's family will come back. June 13th is Rowena's birthday."

Baron Roman said, "We'll know soon enough if they'll come. Every June, a merchant caravan comes for trade. Rowena and Cooper's letters should arrive with the caravan."

Russell's sister, Rowena, was married to the heir of the Black Court Baron, Nobleman Cooper Tianzicai.

Basically, the two Earls and five Barons of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy intermarried. The eldest sons would marry daughters of other noble families. As for second sons like Russell, it didn't matter as much; marriage was fine, but so was falling in love freely.

"I'll come over on June 3rd," Russell said.

"Have you thought about what gift to prepare for Grandmother? You are a feudal lord now, you can't just get away with a pot of flowers like in previous years."

"I really haven't thought about it."

"If you don't have a gift, just pick one from the castle. A Magic Power Bracelet or a Gem Necklace would be fine," Meryl said casually. "We can't have people gossiping and thinking we don't know the rules."

Baron Roman glanced at his wife but said nothing.

Russell also pretended not to understand the implied meaning and smiled, "If possible, I will prepare a special gift for Grandmother. Of course, if the gift isn't ready in time, I'll have to rely on Mother to lend me a Gem Necklace as a backup."

"I'll have Meigan get one for you right now," Meryl said. Meigan was her personal maid.

"Do you need to be in such a hurry?" Baron Roman was speechless.

The wealth of Fluorite Castle had been accumulated with difficulty, and it was about to be depleted by the second son. Every time he visited, he took a little bit away.

Russell smiled, "Thank you, Mother."

Seeing Russell's lack of politeness, Baron Roman said with a dark expression, "You're managing your fiefdom well now. You need to gradually learn to be self-reliant. Self-reliance is an excellent quality for a noble. Your uncle does it well; ask him for advice when you have time."

"I will, Father."

"Brother, when are you going to take me to Wuyou Snake Manor to play?" Laura interjected. She wasn't covering her mouth anymore.

Firstly, she had adapted to her toothless appearance, and secondly, her new teeth had already started to emerge.

"Next time, for sure," Russell replied calmly.

Leaving Fluorite Castle, it was still early. Russell suddenly felt an urge to visit the town. The town was called Glimmering Town, but this name was rarely mentioned by locals; they simply referred to it as "the town." It was the center of the entire Guangguang River Valley.

A long street along the banks of the Glimmering River and three short streets crossing the Glimmering River formed the main structure of Glimmering Town.

The town was surrounded by a tall city wall; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a city, except that the population was a bit small, less than ten thousand.

The entire Guangguang River Valley territory had just over sixty thousand people.

Riding his black horse, Russell, accompanied by his Knight Retainers, weaved through the crowd. He didn't reveal his identity, so no one bowed to him.

Even though his father was the lord of this territory and the master of this town, not many people knew him.

"What a strong stench! No wonder nobles never live in town. Just like Wuyou Snake Manor, the manor is a bit far from the small market town." Russell silently endured the mixed smell of feces and urine in the town, which came not only from humans but also from livestock and poultry.

Although there were toilets in the town, not every household had one, and the phenomenon of dumping chamber pots anywhere was common.

The only thing worth praising was that no one dumped their chamber pots into the Glimmering River.

Getting caught meant a heavy fine and a whipping.

After all, the river delicacies from the Glimmering River were delicious and supplied Fluorite Castle in large quantities. No one dared to pollute the Baron Lord's food.

Of course.

As Russell walked onto the long bridge of the cross street, he saw someone urinating by the river. Further away, it seemed someone was squatting in the grass by the river to defecate.

"Damn it!"

Russell immediately ordered his Knight Retainer, James, "Go, arrest the person defecating by the river and hand them over to the town's security officer!"