Russell did not return with Roland. Instead, he remained at Red Castle, intending to fill up his Rain Dragon Cigar orders before heading back.
He had a good grasp of the approximate yields of the 1,500 acres of magical tobacco at Wuyou Snake Manor, as well as the ordinary tobacco grown in Guangguang River Valley, so he naturally knew how many orders he could accept.
That day.
He had just woken up in the castle's large bed when the maid who entered to clean the room said, "Lord Russell, your follower, Lady Katie, is waiting for you in the sitting room. She has also brought Lord Jerry with her."
"Is that so?" Russell raised an eyebrow, seeming to sense something.
After washing up, he went downstairs and found Katie and Red-eyed Rat King Jerry. With a single glance, he noticed something unusual.
It was an instinct, one that came from being a Phantom Beast Knight.
"Katie, have you contracted with Jerry?" He walked straight over, sat on the sofa, and stroked Jerry's head.
Jerry still respected him as his former master, but Russell could sense that the intimacy they had once shared was gone.
"Yes, my lord!" Katie replied calmly, though she could not conceal the excitement and exhilaration beneath her composed words. "Last night, Jerry and I completed our contract, and I advanced to Phantom Beast Knight... You had already gone to sleep, my lord, so I did not disturb you."
"Good!" Russell laughed heartily. "Congratulations on becoming a Phantom Beast Knight."
"My lord gave me everything!" Katie pounded her right fist against her chest, making it thump loudly, then solemnly performed a Knight's Salute.
"I gave you an opportunity. What you achieved came through your own effort." Russell did not take too much credit. If Katie had not