The Torrent Dragon had been without a knight for centuries. Its original knight had also been a member of the Blazing Sun Royal Family.
But the Blazing Sun Royal Family now had countless branches, and after centuries without reinforcement, the bonds of contractual power had long since become nominal.
It would not have been surprising for the Torrent Dragon to take a fancy to any knight and form a contract with them.
King Ares was now the ruler of the Scorching Torrent Kingdom.
If the Torrent Dragon wished to choose a knight, it would certainly need King Ares's approval—though if the Torrent Dragon truly favored a knight from another family, King Ares would not directly object. He would only find a way to turn that outsider into one of his own.
If the Torrent Dragon truly took a liking to Russell, King Ares would undoubtedly have him marry into the Blazing Sun Royal Family.
The two dragons were the foundation upon which the Scorching Torrent Kingdom stood. That foundation could not be shaken.
"Hmm, it doesn't seem impossible for the Torrent Dragon to take a liking to you..." Cousin Mel actually believed Russell's teasing.
"Stop overthinking it, Cousin." Russell patted his shoulder. "Wuyou Snake Manor is being relocated, so there's nothing left to see. Let's take a walk around Blackfire Land. I'll show you what the Industrial Age is."
"The Industrial Age?"
Mel's confusion was soon given a preliminary answer.
Distillation towers, kilns, scholarly towers, processing plants—one factory after another had risen around the Black Oil Mine. Chimneys of varying heights spewed thick black, gray, or white smoke depending on the fuel they used.
No one knew how much greenhouse gas was slowly being released into the atmosphere of the Dragon Sleep Continent.
Perhaps this small amount of greenhouse gas