Recaps

Gelontan and Welim parted, while Russell’s officials organized a large serf transfer and vied for his favor. At Shadowflame Volcano, the Shadowflame Dragon acknowledged that it needed a knight but did not say whether it would choose Russell.

• Welim left Gelontan to search the snowfields for a Pseudo-Dragon Horn, planning to return in a year, and Gelontan resolved to train with Antelope before their reunion.
• Charles sent Gelontan to select a thousand serfs, with a target ratio of three women to every four men, then went to meet Roland for a family trade meeting and reception.
• The Fluorite Mushroom Family’s steward knights discussed Charles’s rise and became more serious about their work in hopes of earning Russell’s notice.
• The Shadowflame Dragon asked the Elder Council ministers about rumors surrounding its relationship with Russell, and Count Merlin said the Grand Duchy would respect its decision.
• The Shadowflame Dragon warned that more Frost Trolls would come and that an era of change had begun, then confirmed it needed a knight but left its choice of Russell unanswered.

Baron Kunbif pressed Marquis Arno for the king’s intentions as the Shadowflame Dragon delayed choosing a knight, but Arno urged him to wait and adapt to changing circumstances. In Green Hill, Russell stayed calm about the possibility of becoming a Dragon Knight, while Mel welcomed the prospect of Russell becoming Grand Duke so he could escape the succession struggle.

• Baron Kunbif threatened Marquis Arno with a duel until Arno agreed to speak candidly about the king’s position.
• Baron Kunbif explained that the Shadowflame Dragon had neither accepted nor rejected a contract, while Marquis Arno said the king’s gentler dealings suggested he acknowledged that the dragon might soon gain a knight.
• Marquis Arno advised Baron Kunbif to leave matters unchanged and wait, noting that the Sunflower Family could afford to advance or retreat.
• Young Master Mel inspected Green Hill Territory with Russell and urged him to pursue a contract with the Shadowflame Dragon so Mel could end his Young Master selection ordeal.
• Russell suggested that Count Merlin now wanted to secure the Grand Duchy for his family, and Mel agreed that Russell becoming Grand Duke would be acceptable to them all.

Russell showed Mel the changes in his territory, including pearl cultivation, and explained that he planned to spread the technology for humanity’s benefit. Mel left convinced that Russell secretly expected to ride the Shadowflame Dragon, while Russell joked that the Torrent Dragon might choose him instead.

• Russell told Mel he had never expected to ride the Shadowflame Dragon or wanted to become Grand Duke, and Mel teased him about seeking a royal marriage instead.
• Russell brought Mel to Wuyou Snake Manor, where Ribs Jimmy was collecting Pearl Clams before the manor’s relocation.
• Russell stopped the serfs from filling in the pond and explained that pearl cultivation could continue to benefit Knight Captain Kendall.
• Russell offered Mel the pearl-cultivation materials and said Blackfire Scholarly Tower would organize and promote the technology across the country.
• Mel praised Russell’s broad outlook and accused him of secretly getting together with the Shadowflame Dragon.
• Russell joked that the Torrent Dragon might be a better match for him since they were both without partners.

Russell showed Mel the factories and research laboratories around Black Oil Mine, explaining his plan to build an Industrial Age by combining technology with magic. The Steam Engine was nearing its first prototype, while the Internal Combustion Engine remained at the design stage, and Russell vowed to use industrial power to help humanity defeat the Frost Trolls.

• Russell took Mel on a tour of the factories around Black Oil Mine and explained that they were only the beginning of the Industrial Age.
• Russell and Mel visited the Steam Engine Project Team, where Scholar Kirov reported that a prototype could be completed in about a month but warned that handmade components would hinder mass production.
• Russell and Mel visited the Internal Combustion Engine Project Team, where Dunn explained that the project still lacked a workable design and skilled craftsmen.
• Russell told Mel that he intended to combine magic with technology and declared that he would lead humanity against the Frost Trolls.
• Mel laughed at Russell's ambition and challenged him to get a dragon to ride first.

Russell showed Mel the products of the Black Oil Mine refinery and Glass Kiln Factory, including a telescope and his plans to study the stars. He then took Mel to the Cigar Factory and treated him to rare foods at Cigar Castle.

• Malena guided Russell and Mel through the refinery and explained its black oil products and plans for future fuel uses.
• Russell showed Mel a telescope at the Glass Kiln Factory, and Mel suggested using one on a Wyvern while Russell explained that he hoped to observe the stars.
• Russell took Mel to the Cigar Factory, where Mel watched young women rolling cigars without realizing that other workshops employed older women.
• Russell and Mel returned to Cigar Castle, where Mel sampled roasted Wujin Pig and rare royal jelly from Bear Bees.

Russell discovered magical Jade Salmon in the Blackwater River and ordered their protection and spread throughout the territory. He then visited Wuyou Snake Manor, now Kendall’s fief, and left with Polly for their new home.

• Mel left the Blackfire Land, and Charles told Russell that serfs had caught magical salmon in the Blackwater River.
• Russell named the fish Jade Salmon, ordered an investigation, and directed Charles to protect them and try raising them in other rivers and Yunmeng Lake.
• Charles reported that Jade Salmon were plentiful in the Blackwater River and likely native to it.
• Russell and Polly quietly visited Wuyou Snake Manor, where Kendall had moved into Cigar Courtyard after receiving the manor as his fief.
• Russell reflected on leaving his old home, then set off with Polly for Cigar Castle.

Earl Thunderflame Russell Fluorite Mushroom inspected Redwater Town as newly arrived serfs were registered and assigned estates. He ordered officials to explain the territory’s rules, abolish kneeling, and provide medical care, then set out with several sprites to inspect the tobacco fields.

• Uncle Tor drove serfs past the territory’s fish ponds and tobacco estates, explaining their products and telling them about Russell’s deeds.
• The serfs noticed the new flag flying over Cigar Castle, which Uncle Tor identified as Russell’s earl’s flag.
• At Redwater Town, a steward organized the newcomers for registration and estate assignments while Russell inspected the square with Provincial Governor Charles.
• Russell told Charles to abolish kneeling ceremonies and ensure newcomers received suitable housing and medical care, including Magic Potions when necessary.
• Russell returned to Cigar Castle, then took Tobacco Elf Nicole, Fluorite Mushroom Bird Rosie, and Wheat Sprite Whitt to inspect the tobacco planting and Nicole’s Worm Grass.

Russell discovered a tobacco Worm Grass nurturing a Spirit Worm, and Nicole insisted on guarding it, raising the possibility that she might evolve into a Great Elf. That night, Russell and Ouroboros achieved Perfect Synchronization as they shared faith in the future.

• Nicole led Russell to a tobacco plant, where he sensed a Spirit Worm being nurtured and ordered it protected and cultivated with Dragon Dung.
• Nicole chose to stay beside the Worm Grass, so Russell assigned Katie to guard her and keep others from disturbing her.
• Katie reflected on how her and Catherine’s lives had improved under Russell’s rule and prayed for his rise to Grand Duke.
• Russell asked his companions whether Nicole could become a Great Elf, and Ouroboros declared that Nicole would succeed.
• Russell and Ouroboros understood each other’s convictions and achieved Perfect Synchronization.

Public attention shifted from Russell’s rise to the Grand Duke succession crisis, while Mel traveled toward the Scorching Torrent Kingdom to find Annie. In the Warm Enclave, Nicole’s Tobacco Worm Grass produced a Spirit Worm, and she flew to tell Russell.

• Mel left for the Scorching Torrent Kingdom to trade and seek Annie, but struggled to write her a love poem.
• Kunsley grieved losing his chance at the Grand Duke’s throne, while Kunspe resented him for reclaiming the expected Swan Baron title.
• Baron Kunbif tried to enlist Count Oscro against Russell, but Oscro remained convinced Augustus would inherit the Grand Duke’s position.
• Nicole discovered that the Tobacco Worm Grass had nurtured a Tobacco Spirit Worm and hurried toward Cigar Castle to share the news with Russell.

Russell learned that Nico’s chance to evolve depended on more people enjoying magic cigars, so he sought help expanding production. After confirming her wishes, he devoted all of this year’s magic tobacco leaves to making cigars.

• Nico returned with a newly born Spirit Worm, and Russell contracted it while wondering whether Nico was nearing evolution.
• Nico gestured that she wanted more people to enjoy magic cigars, and Russell decided to expand their reach to neighboring nations.
• Russell asked Count Merlin to use the Grand Duchy’s diplomatic channels to open foreign markets for Rain Dragon Cigars.
• Count Merlin explained that Nico wanted more people to smoke Cloud Mist and Frost cigars, and Red Castle agreed to buy all expanded Frost production.
• Russell confirmed Nico’s wishes, then ordered Old Hans to use every magic tobacco leaf harvested that year to produce cigars.

Russell celebrated Roland’s birthday, discussed his growing family and the future of Thunder Flame Territory, and revealed that he might reach his fourth transformation before Baron Roman. After his return, Russell celebrated the completion of an Astronomical Telescope and recruited Sullivan to lead a new observatory.

• Russell congratulated Roland on Gewen Baimai Gen’s pregnancy, and Roland said he would join Thunder Flame Territory as Deputy Advisor after finishing his work at Yunmeng Lake, Yunmeng Canal, and Yunmeng Great Pasture.
• Russell told Baron Roman that he might achieve Perfect Synchronization with Ouroboros before Roman found a fourth Phantom Beast, while Roman resolved to choose an intelligent partner.
• Russell returned to his territory and learned that the Glass Kiln Factory and Blackfire Scholarly Tower had successfully built an Astronomical Telescope.
• Russell and the others viewed the moon through the telescope, and Sullivan explained that it was a barren rocky planet.
• Russell invited Sullivan to oversee a new observatory and promised him comparable compensation and a recommendation for promotion to Grand Scholar if he achieved research results; Sullivan accepted.

Russell chose a peak in the Dagger Mountain Range for the Dagger Mountain Observatory and appointed Uncle Rosen as Thunder Flame Territory’s diplomat. By the end of August, Thunder Marsh’s transformation was complete, and Russell suggested Baron Roman consider waiting for a Harpy Dragon if no Pseudo-Unicorn Dragon appeared.

• Russell inspected Fox Mountain but agreed with Charles that Dagger Mountain offered a taller, more accessible site for the observatory.
• Russell cleared and leveled a peak near the asphalt road, naming the planned building Dagger Mountain Observatory.
• Russell asked Uncle Rosen to supervise construction and officially appointed him Thunder Flame Territory’s diplomat, with Royal expected to work for Russell after his squire training.
• By the end of August, Thunder Marsh’s reclamation was complete, including Yunmeng Lake, Yunmeng Canal, and half of Yunmeng Great Pasture, where warhorses had begun grazing.
• Russell told Baron Roman that he could wait for a Harpy Dragon instead of a Pseudo-Unicorn Dragon, pointing to the Owl Dragons from Green Capital Garden Cold Spring Point.

Russell, Baron Roman, and Roland inspected Yunmeng Lake and discussed plans to preserve marshland and expand the territory’s waterways. After returning to Cigar Castle, Madam Meryl’s strict standards for the servants remained in force.

• Russell explained that Harpie likely descended from owls, while Baron Roman reflected on the Phantom Beasts he and Russell hoped to acquire.
• Roland reported that a thousand warhorses had been released and that most of the marshland had hardened; Russell told him to leave some marshes untouched for Phantom Beasts.
• At Yunmeng Lake, Baron Roman proposed digging another lake, and Roland outlined plans to connect rivers and waterways; Russell trusted him to carry out the work.
• Baron Roman, Russell, and Roland returned late to Cigar Castle, where Madam Meryl and Old Madam Ingrid teased Roman about the delay.
• Russell reassured Butler Morris, while Meigan continued reprimanding the castle servants on Madam Meryl’s behalf.

Russell visited Blackfire Scholarly Tower in October and witnessed the first successful road test of the Steam Car, then drove it himself. He declared that steam power had begun a new era, while the Fluorite Mushroom Bug had also hatched in the Birch Woods.

• At Cigar Castle, Madam Meryl and Aunt Clara talked about the peaceful warm season, while Russell read Nicholas's new Suluo-series book and heard that his stories remained popular.
• In October, Russell inspected the second-season Tobacco Magic Potion Field with Nico and learned that Cloud Mist Cigars were selling well.
• Rosy brought Russell a Fluorite Mushroom Bug from the Birch Woods, prompting the Worm Grass Guard Squad to retrieve it and return it to Cigar Castle.
• Russell arrived at Blackfire Scholarly Tower, where Kirov and Lightley showed him the completed Steam Car.
• Lightley’s team tested the Steam Car at over forty kilometers per hour, and Russell drove it along the Blackwater River main road before returning to the experimental base.
• Russell praised the Steam Car as the start of a new era and predicted that steam power would soon astonish the world.

Russell rewarded the Steam Engine team, set them to developing trains and other Steam Cars, and proposed founding Blackfire University. After training with Polly and Harpie, he visited Yunmeng Great Pasture, where he and Roland discovered that only white warhorses had developed bumps resembling unicorn horns.

• Russell rewarded the researchers and craftsmen, then tasked Lightley and the Steam Car team with developing steam trains, trucks, and passenger cars.
• Russell promised rewards for research and teaching, and the scholars accepted posts at the planned Blackfire University.
• Russell continued cultivating with Ouroboros and considered which Phantom Beast to contract for his fourth transformation.
• Katie told Russell that Roland had discovered something at Yunmeng Great Pasture, so Russell flew there on Rosai.
• Russell and Roland examined the herd and found that around fifteen white warhorses had developed bumps on their foreheads, while horses of other colors had not changed.

Russell helped Unicorn Polly overcome her distress over her horse ancestry by teaching her the belief that “White Horse is Not Horse,” and their contract entered a new stage. He then confirmed the evolution of fifteen white horses into Pseudo-White Horse Dragons and planned to build a knight order, while the family decided to preserve Polly’s belief in its rules.

• Russell sent Roland away and comforted Polly as she struggled with the discovery that her bloodline was connected to white horses.
• Russell taught Polly that white horses were distinct from horses, helping her accept her origins and regain her confidence.
• Russell and Polly raced across Yunmeng Great Pasture, and the bond between them advanced to a new stage.
• Russell announced that fifteen white horses had evolved into Pseudo-White Horse Dragons and asked Roland to gather more white warhorses for a future knight order.
• Baron Roman, Russell, and Roland agreed to make “White Horse is Not Horse” a family rule for future generations.

Cloud Mist Cigars traveled through the duchy to noble estates, where Lord Boris received his shipment and learned that Russell’s Tobacco Elf Nicole was evolving. Boris wrote Russell a letter and ordered more cigars to support Nicole, while privately imagining that he might have married his sister Bolif to Russell.

• Caravans transported Cloud Mist Cigars along Deep Dream Avenue and through the snowfields to noble fiefs across the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.
• Lord Boris received cigars at Pitcher Plant Manor and learned from Butler Bob that Lord Cadish had broken off his engagement to Bolif, paying one hundred Gold Coins in compensation.
• Boris and Bob discussed how five broken engagements had earned the manor 486 Gold Coins and decided to arrange more suitors for Bolif.
• Boris found Russell’s card announcing Nicole’s impending evolution and resolved to help his comrade by ordering ten crates of Cloud Mist Cigars.
• Boris sent Russell a letter and prayed that Nicole would evolve into a Tobacco Great Elf and produce more magical tobacco.

Russell encouraged Tobacco Elf Nicole’s evolution as nobles bought cigars to support her, while Sullivan and his students advanced their astronomical observations. The chapter ended with the students confirming that Summer One was a planet like Dragon Sleep Continent.

• Nobles across the Shadowflame Grand Duchy bought Cloud Mist Cigars and White Dew Cigars to support Nicole’s evolution, and several families claimed most of the season’s Cloud Mist Cigar production.
• Russell reassured Nicole that more people would smoke magical cigars and promised that Snowcake might give her a breath of Origin Dragon Flame after waking.
• Rosie, Whitt, and Nicole squabbled over Russell’s attention until he ordered all three back to the elf room.
• Sullivan directed his assistants to search the stars for the sun’s planets and worked on a paper about the causes of lunar phases under Russell’s guidance.
• Sullivan’s students reported that Summer One had followed its predicted trajectory, confirming it was a planet like Dragon Sleep Continent.

Sullivan and his students observed a fifth planet crossing the sun and began calculating its orbit. On Frost Star, Frost Da watched the transit and prepared to retrieve the Extreme Ice Sacred Artifact before the Frost Troll legion descended.

• Sullivan’s Dagger Mountain Observatory captured Summer One and confirmed its unusual planetary trajectory, earning Sullivan recognition and research funding.
• Sullivan’s students discovered a small black dot crossing the sun, and Sullivan identified it as a solar transit by a fifth planet.
• Sullivan ordered his students to calculate the new planet’s orbit and search the night sky for it.
• Frost Da watched Frost Star transit the sun from a Snow Giant’s hands and declared that the Frost Troll legion would soon descend.
• Frost Da reminded himself that he needed to retrieve the Extreme Ice Sacred Artifact and questioned whether the Eternal Frost Star Plan could save his people.

Russell investigated Rosai’s warning about an unusually strong aura and a surge of Snow Ghosts on the snowfield, but was diverted by astronomers’ discovery of a strange transiting planet. Suspecting the planet was connected to the snowfield riot, he flew south and began suppressing the Snow Demons around his territory.

• Rosai told Russell that Snow Ghosts and Snow Demons had multiplied and that a frightening aura lingered deep in the snowfield.
• Edok reported that Sullivan and the observatory team had detected a transiting planet that had never appeared in the solar system before.
• Russell observed the planet flickering and disappearing, then ordered Sullivan to locate it and determine its origin that night.
• Russell told Polly, Harpie, and Rosai that he suspected the strange planet was connected to the snowfield riot and might be the Frost Trolls’ world.
• Russell flew into the snowfield, saw the Snow Ghost army, and began harvesting Snow Demons with his Meteor Butterfly Sword.

Russell suppressed another Snow Demon uprising and returned with Hail Beads and Ice Soul Beads before visiting Baron Roman. He then rushed back to Cigar Castle when he sensed Tobacco Elf Nicole beginning to evolve, and stayed by her side as she faced the painful transformation alone.

• Russell swept through the snowy plains on Black Oil Dragon Rosai, defeated the Snow Demons and Riding Blue Skins, and brought a bag of Hail Beads and Ice Soul Beads to Cigar Castle.
• Russell visited Baron Roman at Fluorite Castle, warned him about Riding Blue Skins, and learned that Roman planned to patrol the snowy plains with Clay Dragon Ross.
• Russell sensed that Nicole needed him, flew back to Cigar Castle with Rosai, and found her trembling in the sprite room as she began to evolve.
• Russell considered asking the Shadowflame Dragon for help but decided against it, then arranged for the servants to stay away and prepared to stand guard over Nicole with a Frost Cigar.

Russell monitored Nicole as she struggled through evolution, considered expanding astronomical observation, and inspected a steam-carriage prototype that he renamed the Volkswagen Steam Carriage. The chapter left the vehicle poised for production while Nicole’s evolution remained uncertain.

• Russell kept Nicole close and recorded her condition as she endured the painful start of her evolution.
• Russell heard Edok report that the observatory had named the unlocated planet Missing Number One and could not observe it during the blizzard.
• Russell sent Gelontan Baimai Gen to deliver a letter to the Grand Scholars' Round Table and return to his family for Dragon Birth Festival.
• Charles and Lightley presented the steam-carriage prototype, and Russell rejected the Mercedes name in favor of Volkswagen Steam Carriage.
• Russell drove the prototype around Cigar Castle and told Charles to keep riding horseback so he would continue training his Battle Aura.

Russell discovered that Nicole’s evolution had not failed when she transformed into a Tobacco Great Elf after inhaling cigar smoke. He introduced her as Your Excellency Nico to Cigar Castle’s servants and ordered generous rewards for them.

• Russell woke to find Nicole sleeping peacefully and assumed her evolution had failed.
• Nicole asked Russell for cigar smoke, and after inhaling a wisp, she became excited as magic gathered around her.
• Nicole grew into an exquisite Tobacco Great Elf with wings, a tobacco-leaf hat, and the ability to speak.
• Russell named her Your Excellency Nico and led her to meet Cigar Castle’s servants.
• Butler Morris and the servants welcomed Nico, and Russell ordered bonuses for every servant.

Nicole evolved into a Great Elf, prompting celebrations across Thunder Flame Territory and Glimmering Light Territory. Russell kept the Fluorite Mushroom surname for now, leaving his eventual establishment of the Dragon Blood Family for the future.

• Nicole rode on Polly's back around Cigar Castle while Harpie returned to the Oak Forest and Ouroboros left to fight on the snowfields.
• Russell's follower knights announced Nicole's evolution throughout Thunder Flame Territory and neighboring Glimmering Light Territory, where subjects received rewards and celebrated.
• Eric told Baron Roman and Madam Meryl about Nicole's evolution, and they arranged to travel to Cigar Castle and began planning a celebration banquet.
• Nicole fell asleep in the Jade Box after playing all morning, while Charles and Grove congratulated Russell on her evolution.
• Russell told Charles that he would not change his surname yet, since he expected to establish the Dragon Blood Family in the future.

Russell welcomed his family and guests to celebrate Nico’s evolution into a Great Elf while letting the nobles believe the Shadowflame Dragon would soon choose him as its rider. Across the Grand Duchy, nobles interpreted Nico’s success as a sign of Russell’s impending rise, and Lord Kunbei defended his decision to support him.

• Russell chose to preserve the misunderstanding that the Shadowflame Dragon would become his partner, though he expected to contract with the Little Dream Dragon instead.
• Russell and his household welcomed Baron Roman, Madam Meryl, and the gathered relatives, nobles, scholars, and guests to Cigar Castle.
• Nico flew into the banquet hall, where the guests celebrated her evolution and Old Madam Ingrid reflected on the family’s future.
• Nobles across the Grand Duchy received invitations to Nico’s celebration and viewed her evolution as evidence that Russell would soon rise to power.
• Lord Kunbei told his butler that he supported Russell’s ascent to protect his descendants and challenged Kunbif’s right to criticize him.