Evil dragon has a warm heart-Chapter 121 - 120 The Money-Spreading Variant Tree

Chapter 121: Chapter 120: The Money-Spreading Variant Tree

Chapter 121 -120: The Money-Spreading Variant Tree

The time for celebration was short-lived, and with the appearance of the Fluorescent Fungus Mushroom Bird Rosy, the celebratory feast came to an end.

Lola did not stay at Fluorescent Castle any longer.

After seeing off the departing guests one by one at the door, Russell also bid farewell to his grandmother, parents, Roland, and Lola, taking Eric, Charles, the Red-eyed Rat King, and the Fluorescent Fungus Mushroom Bird Rosy back to his own territory.

“Sir, Rosy’s birth is a supreme honor for the territory, how shall we celebrate?” Along the way, Charles asked.

“What do you think?”

“How about we continue with your custom of distributing money to the serfs?” Charles did not like handing out money to serfs, but since Russell enjoyed it, he prepared to celebrate Rosy’s birth by scattering coins.

But this time, Russell shook his head, “Perhaps we can celebrate in a different way.”

“What do you mean, Sir?”

“Plant trees.”

“Plant trees?”

“Yes, Rosy can now influence one thousand five hundred acres of Magical Medicine Field, but aside from the Birch Forest, there are no other trees in the territory that can sustain the Glowing Mushrooms. Thus, the priority is to expand the size of the Birch Forest.”

“Indeed,” Charles nodded.

“So when you get back, arrange to purchase a batch of saplings from various places in Glowing Valley and transport them to Magic Medicine Tun. Then announce to the subjects that they can use their leisure time to plant trees in Magic Medicine Tun, awarding a copper coin for each tree planted.”

After a pause, Russell added, “Furthermore, this will be a long-term celebratory activity, continuing until we’ve planted trees on all one thousand five hundred acres… Of course, if the trees do not survive, we must consider penalties.”

Charles’s eyes sparkled with inspiration on how to implement penalties, “We can divide Magic Medicine Tun into sections for planting, with each Tun responsible for one section, and then each section can be further divided into small plots for each furrow. If any tree in a furrow does not survive, the reward will be deducted!”

“Good, this method will work, letting the subjects supervise each other!” Russell praised, very satisfied with Charles’s idea.

Based on this, he proposed a new plan, “Officials like you should also join in, but not to plant trees, rather to urge the subjects to do so… We won’t look at the number of trees planted, only at the quality, with a higher survival rate yielding greater rewards.”

Compared to simply handing out money, Russell increasingly felt that such a welfare-oriented tree planting activity offered even more benefits.

After all, making serfs perform tree-planting service was unlikely to stir much enthusiasm, especially now during the busy agricultural season.

But money could excite and dispel fatigue, and Russell believed that for the rewards of tree planting, the serfs’ enthusiasm would be quite high.

On the journey, the two of them continuously refined the tree-planting reward program.

As for Eric, he was focused on hastening their travel, not participating at all.

Upon returning to Wuyao Snake Manor, under Butler Morris’s lead, the manor’s male and female servants collectively and loudly expressed their delight, “Congratulations to the master for successfully cultivating the Fluorescent Fungus Mushroom Bird, ensuring an unceasing supply of Magic Potion, glory without parallel!”

“Reward!” Russell laughed heartily.

For his own servants, there was no need for pomp and circumstance; he distributed money directly, “Butler Morris, a silver coin for you, fifty copper coins for Mrs. Moore and Leona, thirty copper coins for Mrs. Brown, and twenty copper coins for the other servants!”

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“The master is generous!”

“Praise the master!”

“Ah, master, I… do the kitchen maids also get twenty copper coins?” The kitchen maid Barbara asked in disbelief.

Russell just happened to hear her exclamation and immediately responded, “The kitchen maids, too!”

“My God, thank you, master, praise the master, you are the most generous and kind master in the world!” It was not Barbara who spoke, but Mrs. Moore, “Even the kitchen maids receive such generous rewards from you!”

Barbara was too overjoyed to speak.

Twenty copper coins, an equivalent of her entire month’s wage.

In a world with extraordinary powers, the gap between nobles and commoners was simply too vast to accurately gauge in purchasing power. But at the small market’s bakery, one and a half copper coins could buy a loaf of dark bread sufficient for a family of three to eat for a day.

The purchasing power of a copper coin was self-evident.

Amidst the cheers and flatteries of the servants, Russell walked into his manor’s separate courtyard.

Charles had left before even entering, eager to gather all the officials for a banquet that evening. Eric, meanwhile, planned to return home to fetch Kevin the Gold and Silver Wolfhound before coming back to the castle for dinner.

Kevin had a huge appetite and needed to eat specially-farmed Primordial Beast meat to supplement his nutrition from time to time, which Eric couldn’t afford on his own.

Only with Russell’s aid could he afford to keep Kevin.

“Chirp chirp.”

The Fluorescent Fungus Mushroom Bird flew up from Russell’s shoulder, seemingly remembering that this was its former home. Thus, overcoming its timidness, it joyously flew around the manor’s annex, sneaking peeks at each servant.

It especially liked Butler Morris, who often fed it pearl powder when it was still a Mushroom Insect.

“Sir, Rosy is truly beautiful,” Butler Morris’s voice nearly broke with emotion, trembling with excitement as he watched the circling Mushroom Bird Rosy.

“Yes, a beautiful magical creature.”

“Praise the Great Dragon!” Butler Morris cupped his hands and placed them under his chin, praying devoutly, “Your faithful servant Morris expresses his gratitude to you for everything you have contributed to this home and for your watchful eyes over the Sir!”

Everyone believed that the Mushroom Bird Rosy was a result of the Shadowflame Dragon’s watchful gaze.

Russell simply smiled at this.

Upon reaching the second floor, Butler Morris opened the Elf Room, and Rosy immediately settled on the perch, curiously observing its former companions— the other six Spirit Insects: Glowing Worms, Bloodfang Worms, Rainflower Worms, Dill Worms, Birch Worms, and Dandelion Worms.

It had entered a new echelon of life, gaining intelligence, while its former buddies remained languid insects.

Between them, there was now a great divide.

“Chirp chirp,” Rosy called out softly.

Either hearing the call or sensing the familiar yet powerful presence, the six Spirit Insects crawled over to Rosy.

Then each lifted its head and, with sesame seed-sized eyes, looked up at Rosy.

Their bodies’ two rows of tiny legs waved incessantly as if greeting Rosy.

Rosy also chirped merrily in response: “Chirp chirp!”

Its voice was crisp and pleasant to the ears, making the sleazy and grating “chirp chirp” sounds of the Red-eyed Rat King seem unbearable by comparison.

“Rosy, you can play here,” said Russell.

“Chirp chirp.”

After closing the door to the Elf Room, Russell said to Morris, “Later, find someone to make a small door, about the size of a palm, atop the doorframe, no, actually, directly on the door panel, for Rosy to come and go from the Elf Room as it pleases.”

“Very well, Sir. I shall find the carpenter from the manor right away to make the small door,” Butler Morris responded cheerfully.

The birth of Rosy filled him with hope for the future of the manor’s annex, making him feel as if he had grown ten years younger. Just like many lifetime bachelors in the castles’ stewardship, Morris had poured all his emotions into this annex.

Every advancement of Russell’s, every bit of glory he reaped, brought Morris joy and comfort.