White Crystal

Life at the manor was actually quite dull. Especially now that Russell had passed the initial novelty, he began to miss life on Earth endlessly.

"Other than the scenery, this place... has almost nothing." And now, even the scenery of Wuyou Snake Manor had grown tiresome to Russell.

One river, two mountains, vast stretches of farmland and wasteland. That was all.

"Red-nosed Rudy has been doing quite well. All four magic potions in Magic Potion Tunic have entered a healthy growing state, and he has the serfs properly organized." Charles rode behind Russell, reporting on the manor's affairs.

Red-nosed Rudy was a serf technician who had cultivated magic potions for the baron for many years. After the baron gifted him to Russell, he had become the Tunic Chief of Magic Potion Tunic.

"That's good. The Fluorite Mushroom and birch forest operations need to expand steadily. Remind Rudy not to expand blindly."

"Rest assured, my lord. I'll make sure to tell Rudy."

"What about the manor court?"

"They were all minor disputes. I personally presided over the manor court and mediated among the serfs. There are no more conflicts at present." Charles proudly claimed credit. "Old Hans simply doesn't understand the art of mediation. You can't be too indulgent with serfs."

Wuyou Snake Manor was Russell's territory. Strictly speaking, Russell himself was the law, and every dispute within the territory required his judgment.

Therefore.

Lords would establish manor courts within their territories, either presiding over them personally or assigning trusted subordinates to do so.

"It would be best for the supervisors of each tunic to settle disputes first. Hold a manor court once a week, and I'll also go personally to render judgment." Russell would not hand the authority of the manor court entirely to his subordinates, not because he was power-hungry.

It was because he did not quite trust Charles's judgments.

Although Charles was more knowledgeable than anyone else in the territory, he looked down too much on serfs. That was not a good thing.

"Of course, as you wish." Charles smiled.

Perhaps Eric's promotion to Phantom Beast Knight had dealt him a tremendous blow. He was now far more conscientious than before.

Unlike in the past, when he seemed to have come to Russell's side merely to freeload, he now felt far more invested in Wuyou Snake Manor.

Perhaps he did not want Eric to leave him too far behind, or perhaps he was convinced that Russell could truly accomplish something.

"By the way, my lord, did you know that merchant caravans have already arrived in town this year? The serfs who went to the mill to grind flour said the town is already packed with people." Charles suddenly thought of something. "Why don't we go take a look?"

"The merchant caravans are here?" Russell was immediately interested.

With the arrival of the warm season and the Snow Demon's power weakening, trade routes between different regions reopened, and merchant caravans gradually became active again.

Turning his horse around, Russell immediately decided, "Let's go into town and take a look. If possible, invite some merchants to sell goods at the Small Market Town in Wuyou Snake Manor, so the serfs won't have to travel all the way to town."

"You are truly benevolent, my lord."

Bringing along his Knight Retainers and personal manservants, Russell hurried to Glimmering Town. Compared to the scene when he had strolled through it two days ago, it was indeed more than ten times livelier now.

One long street and three cross streets were all packed with people.

At least half the people of the territory had come into town.

"Come on, come on, take a look at Fire Ant Pills! A specialty of Fire Ant Swamp! Eat one and you'll be strong as an ox, and your wife will smile with delight!"

"Smoked rat meat! Smoked rat meat! Authentic Furious Wind City smoked rat meat!"

"Qi and Blood Paste! Three Silver Coins for one serving of Qi and Blood Paste! Not a magic potion, yet better than one! If you want you and your children to develop a Battle Aura Seed, don't miss out on Qi and Blood Paste!"

"The Phantom Beast show is about to begin! Audience members who haven't bought tickets, hurry to the large tent by the bridge on Third Cross Street! The Dreamy Rainbow Sable will bring you a magical experience!"

"More than a dozen kinds of gemstones for you to choose from! Welcome to the Moray Gemstones stall!"

"Big wolfhounds, little wolfhounds, big hunting dogs, little hunting dogs, guard dogs, mongrels—we have them all! Boss, want to buy one?"

"Umbrella repairs, shoe repairs, furniture repairs..."

The newly arrived merchant caravans lined several streets. Their cries rose and fell, and their stalls displayed a dazzling array of goods, greatly stirring the people's enthusiasm.

It was impossible to proceed on horseback, so Russell had no choice but to leave the horses outside town and have the Knight Retainer James watch them.

Then he took Charles and the others into the crowd.

"My lord, there is truly no need for you to lower yourself like this, squeezing in with these stinking serfs. You could simply have Tom and the others clear a path ahead." Charles had to raise his voice to be heard over the surrounding clamor.

"Even my father would not choose a day like this to spoil his subjects' enjoyment." Russell neither agreed nor disagreed.

Of course, he could reveal his identity as the baron's second son and have the people make way for him.

But there was no need.

Nor did he enjoy the pomp of having a clear path opened before him. Instead, the bustling scene gave him a familiar sense of nostalgia—though it would have been better if there were a little less stink around him.

A moment later, Russell and his group arrived before a gemstone stall.

"Shopkeeper, are all of these gemstones produced by dragons?" Russell asked, looking at the varied assortment of gemstones on display.

"Of course, my lord." The stall owner had a keen eye and immediately recognized Russell's noble status. "Please take a look. This is emerald, which can draw in Battle Aura and is an excellent material for weapon inlays. This is Dan Quan Stone, which can speed up wound healing..."

There were more than a dozen kinds of gemstones in all sorts of colors.

But Russell's eyes fell upon a colorless, transparent gemstone among them. "Is this White Crystal?"

"My lord truly has sharp eyes. It is indeed White Crystal, perfectly transparent crystal and a specialty of the Gravel Earl's White Crystal Dragon. When we passed through Gravel Territory, we paid a high price to acquire this batch of White Crystal."

The Gravel Earl was one of the two earls of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, a man of high position and authority who had always been the Grand Duke's trusted right hand.

"What does White Crystal do?"

"It purifies the mind, my lord. After wearing a piece of White Crystal, you will be able to focus more keenly when cultivating and meditating on Battle Aura."

"How much for these two?" Russell selected two slightly larger pieces of White Crystal.

"Thirteen Gold Coins, sir. This larger piece is seven Gold Coins, and the smaller one is six." The stall owner's eyes lit up. A major customer had finally arrived. "Of course, if you have Hail Beads, you may also pay with Hail Beads."

"Too expensive." Russell shook his head.

"Ah, that is already a very fair price, my lord. You are a noble gentleman, so you know that dragon products have always been so costly. After all, only someone of your status is worthy of using them."

"It is precisely because I am a noble that I know it is overpriced." Russell was not some thin-skinned young man who would be too embarrassed to haggle after a few compliments. "Seven Gold Coins for both pieces. Agree, and I'll take them. Refuse, and forget it."

"Heavens!" The stall owner clutched his head with both hands. "My lord, you might as well kill me!"

Watching the stall owner's exaggerated performance, Russell turned and walked away without another word. "Teacher Charles, let's go. We'll look elsewhere."

"Ah, no, no... My lord, my lord, please wait! Ten Gold Coins, ten Gold Coins! For just ten Gold Coins, take them!" the stall owner hurriedly shouted.

The packed serfs and free citizens in town were not his target customers. Only someone like Russell could afford gemstones and be willing to buy them.

Letting even one such customer go was an enormous loss.

Russell stopped, a satisfied smile appearing on his face before quickly fading. He turned back and said firmly, "Eight Gold Coins at most. That is my bottom line."

"Nine, how about nine?" The stall owner pressed his palms together as if begging for mercy. "These are premium White Crystals, regular in shape and clear within. They had to gestate in the mineral vein for at least ten years to attain such quality!"

Russell held firm. "Eight!"

In the end, with the stall owner looking as though his parents had died, they agreed on a price of eight Gold Coins.

But when the stall owner swiftly wrapped the White Crystals and handed them over as though afraid Russell might change his mind, Russell knew he was still too young.

The stall owner had made at least two Gold Coins in profit through tears—perhaps even more!