This year's Fluorite Castle family banquet had one more guest than usual: Roland's newlywed wife, Gewen Baimai Gen.
Married now, Roland had clearly become much more mature and steady.
Their little sister Laura was also growing up day by day. She was already thirteen, nearing the age when she could enter into a political marriage.
"How is the expansion of Blackfire Land progressing?" Baron Roman asked Russell as he sipped red wine. "I just returned from the trade route and haven't had time to visit Blackfire Land yet."
He had gone to clear the trade route once more, fulfilling his three years of Combat Hard Labor.
"It has roughly taken shape now. It will probably be a slanted triangle. By a simple estimate, it should cover around 3,500 square kilometers," Russell said. Signs of Blackfire Land's borders had already appeared.
Although it had not completely melted yet, the Ice Cap had shattered. Once next year's warm season arrived, it would probably take its final form.
Moreover, Black Oil Dragon Rosai could already sense the territory's boundaries.
"3,500 square kilometers? That is quite large." Baron Roman sighed, his feelings somewhat complicated. "Guangguang River Valley is only 2,600 square kilometers, nearly a thousand square kilometers smaller than your Blackfire Land."
Russell smiled. "It is still not big enough. My maternal grandfather's Sancha River Mouth covers more than 30,000 square kilometers."
"Sancha River Mouth was fortunate as well. Three Wyverns were born nearby one after another, and their territories reflected and amplified one another. Like Battle Aura resonance, they kept blowing the territories larger until they eventually connected into one." Baron Roman said.
At first, the Monochoria Family possessed only one of those territories.
As the territories connected, coupled with the Monochoria Family's continued accumulation of merit, Red Castle eventually enfeoffed the entire