Evil dragon has a warm heart-Chapter 158 - 157 Tobacco Sprite Niko

Chapter 158: Chapter 157 Tobacco Sprite Niko

Chapter 158 -157 Tobacco Sprite Niko

Roland received a set of armor, Rolin a bracelet, Cooper’s was a belt, and Lola a necklace—all were crafted with the highest level of magic-powered constructs.

“Russell, this is for you,” Count Merlin didn’t personally give the gift but instead had his personal servant Dylan do it.

Dylan brought over a large box. Opening the box, inside was an exquisitely gilded bow and arrows.

Count Merlin said with a smile, “A knight’s charge is never the sole option, especially as a lord, you must have ample means to deal with potential crises. Therefore, besides the long sword and the spear, bows and arrows are the best choice.”

Russell’s eyes lit up.

It wasn’t just the splendor of the bow and arrows that excited him but also Count Merlin’s words, with which he deeply resonated.

As a lord responsible for governing his land and training knights, how could he recklessly charge into battle? He could very well die on the battlefield and that would lead to immense losses for his territory.

So, for a lord to stay in the rear and shoot arrows is indeed the best choice.

“Thank you, Grandfather!” Russell picked up the bow and arrows from the box.

There were a dozen arrows in total, and from their craftsmanship, they were clearly not meant for the battlefield but for training exclusively.

As for the bow, it appeared to be made from the bones of a fantasy beast, wrapped with a coil of fine metal wire and embedded with several gems of red, yellow, blue, green, among other colors.

No matter the practicality of the bow, its value was undoubtedly high.

At least worth a hundred gold coins as a base.

On the Dragon Sleep Continent, such economic disbalance existed between the upper and lower echelons—without a generous grandfather like his, Russell, relying on his Blackwaist Snake Manor, wouldn’t have been able to afford such a bow and arrows.

It was tough enough to maintain a small team of knights, let alone such lavish equipment.

Count Merlin asked with a smile, “Do you like it?”

“I love it!” Russell tested the tension of the bowstring; it was impossible to draw without channeling battle qi, and even with it, he could only pull it with difficulty and not to full draw. It was not meant for his current use.

However, once Russell was promoted to Great Knight, he should be able to draw the bow and arrows with ease.

“Grandfather, does this bow have a name?”

“Yes, it’s called Light Snow Bow.”

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Having received the Light Snow Bow as a gift, Russell was already quite satisfied and thought it was over, never expecting Count Merlin to have another surprise in store.

He turned to Viscount Mejie, “What about Melinda and her two children?”

“My sister and her family have already left.”

“Still so petty,” Count Merlin frowned slightly, waving his hand, “Let’s not bother with them… as Russell comes of age this year and I wasn’t at the Red Castle to prepare his coming-of-age gift, I’ll make up for it today.”

“It’s okay, Grandfather,” Russell said with his mouth, but his eyes lit up again—who didn’t like receiving gifts?

One Light Snow Bow was worth several years of crops from his lands.

Another one could save him ten years of hard work!

But this time, the personal servant Dylan brought a jade box the size of a shoebox to Count Merlin.

Count Merlin opened the lid gently, and inside was a Tiny Sprite deep in slumber, the size of a palm with two transparent wings on its back, and two green leafy sprouts atop its head; it was drooling in its sleep.

In an instant, Russell’s breath hitched.

This was a Tiny Sprite!

It signified magic potions for fifteen hundred acres of land, numerous spirit insects over dozens or hundreds of years, and a large number of knights.

If the Light Snow Bow was a treasure that could be measured in gold coins, then the Tiny Sprite was a priceless treasure that not even a castle could match.

At this moment, not only was Russell shocked, but big brother Roland’s eyes widened, his whites reddening completely in mere seconds.

Rolin and Cooper looked at each other, equally astonished.

Although the Rainflower Family was wealthy, with two bipedal flying dragons and even one Great Sprite, and ten to twenty Tiny Sprites, for someone to give a Tiny Sprite as a gift was still an unbelievable gesture.

You should know,

when Lady Meryl married Baron Roman, her dowry was nothing more than a little sprite, and even that was considered outrageously generous.

However, Viscount Merlin and his wife as well as Cousin Mel had no change in their expressions, as if Count Merlin had already informed them earlier.

At that moment, Count Merlin spoke with a touch of nostalgia, “This is Tobacco Sprite Niko. I’ve loved smoking all my life and have always wanted to cultivate a tobacco field since my youth, just to be able to grow the finest tobacco leaves.”

He spent half his lifeblood and even went so far as to obtain a trace of a Flying Dragon’s origin, eventually nurturing a tobacco spirit insect into the present Tobacco Sprite Niko.

“Niko is ten years old now. I still remember the year I defeated Count Broken Stone and was successfully elected as the Chief Executive of the Council of Elders. It was also in that year that Niko successfully evolved, giving me a double surprise,” Count Merlin said with a sigh, “Now, let her be a witness to Russell’s growth.”

“Father!” Lady Meryl immediately exclaimed, “This gift is too precious!”

Baron Roman also spoke up, “Yes, father-in-law, Sir, perhaps you might consider a different gift for Russell.”

“What is precious?” Count Merlin said indifferently, “In my eyes, aside from the Great Dragon in the volcano, there is nothing else of such value. That Great Dragon only opens its eyes a few days a year to check on its territory.”

He continued, “During those few glances, although it can’t see clearly, I believe it has noticed Russell.”

These words made Russell feel a tightness in his heart.

But he soon relaxed, as he heard Count Merlin say, “Two fantasy beasts, several mushroom insects, a mushroom bird, and even the finding of a pearl—these are all ample evidence. Since the Great Dragon seems so fond of Russell, how could I not show my appreciation?”

He patted the Tobacco Sprite Niko in the jade box, woke it up, then held Niko up and beckoned Russell to come forward.

Russell glanced at his parents.

He also knew that the gift was far too precious, so he had to be cautious about it.

Lady Meryl seemed to have something to say but ultimately did not use her gaze to stop Russell, while Baron Roman gave a gentle nod, his eyes brimming with encouragement.

Assured by their confirmation, Russell then approached slowly, “Grandfather.”

“Just a little sprite, what are you dilly-dallying for?” Count Merlin was somewhat dissatisfied with Russell’s behavior, “I’ve already released my contract with Niko. It is now free of any elf contract, so hurry over and make the contract!”

Elves cannot be contracted frequently; a contract must be rested for a year or two before the next one can commence.

However, in the past ten years, Niko had not been contracted repeatedly, so Russell was able to directly contract with it after Count Merlin broke the contract.

“Gurgly?” Niko was clearly confused, not understanding what was happening.

Standing on Count Merlin’s palm, it looked around at everyone warily because, with the elf contract removed, it obviously felt insecure.

Luckily, having established a contract with Count Merlin since its spirit insect stage, decades of affection made it still close to Count Merlin.

Dylan brought the prepared jade powder and handed it to Russell.

Russell took a deep breath and did not hesitate anymore; after all, this was a coming-of-age gift from his grandfather, and there was nothing to be afraid of accepting it.

The jade powder clearly attracted Niko, which wanted to eat it but also looked at Count Merlin. With Count Merlin’s encouragement, it began to eat little bites.

While it was unsuspecting, Russell reached out his already cut finger into the tiny creature’s mouth, its fine teeth gently bit and mixed the blood bead with the jade powder inside Niko’s stomach, triggering a miraculous reaction.

It was a mysterious connection established in the unknown, led by bloodlines.

In an instant,

Russell and Tobacco Sprite Niko shared a clear mental connection, and an elf contract was thus formed.

“Gurgly?” Niko tilted its head, looking at Russell, no longer fearful but rather filled with a sense of safety and affection.

“Niko, come here!” Russell beckoned.

Niko immediately prepared to fly over, but then it turned back, looking at Count Merlin with a hint of reluctance showing.

Count Merlin said with a kind smile, “Go ahead, little Niko, to your new master.”

He then looked at Russell, “Part of the reason I’m giving you the Tobacco Sprite is for you to cultivate tobacco on your estate and produce Rain Dragon cigars. From now on, all the Rain Dragon cigars that I smoke will be your responsibility.”

Russell laughed, “Understood!”