Chapter 6: The Master

The male servant Thomas did not want to follow Russell to the Black Waist Snake Manor.

If the former self were still alive, it would have been a big blow to him. The reason was simple: Thomas was his personal male servant.

Roughly equivalent to the personal maids of the young ladies in “Dream of the Red Chamber”.

“Looking down on me, huh?” Russell thought, but his face showed no expression, only said indifferently, “You want to stay and work at Fluorescent Castle?”

“Uh… yes, Master Russell.” Thomas replied nervously. If Russell insisted on taking him, as a servant of the Baron’s family, he had no power to resist, “My mother is sick, I hope to be closer…”

“All right, I won’t take you.”

“To take care of her… ah, you, you agreed?” Thomas was stunned, the prepared words suddenly stuck.

Russell said calmly, “In theory, you have sold yourself to Fluorescent Castle, having little to do with your original family, but since it’s the human bond between mother and son, I still wish to fulfill you. Go, take care of your business, I’ll inform Butler Carter.”

Thomas hesitated instead: “Master Russell, I…”

But Russell had no intention of continuing the conversation. He just pulled at his tight collar and walked out of the room.

Down the stairs.

Just in time to see Butler Carter patrolling the hall, his sharp eyes scrutinizing every servant, every corner.

Seeing Russell, he withdrew his gaze and bowed slightly: “Good morning, Master Russell.”

“Good morning, Mr. Carter.” Russell replied and then said, “Thomas’s mother is sick, I hope to leave him at Fluorescent Castle so he can take care of her. So, for my personal male servant, please recruit another one for me.”

Butler Carter praised, “You are truly benevolent.”

Russell smiled slightly.

Butler Carter continued, “I will do my best to recruit you a personal male servant with good morals and a serious work attitude.”

“Of course, I trust your judgment.” Russell replied in a good mood.

Thomas’ reluctance didn’t make him angry. On the contrary, he was happy to get rid of this personal male servant.

For in the memory of the former self, Thomas was a bit gay.

According to Russell’s current personality, he didn’t want any personal male servant to serve him, a personal female servant would be fine.

Of course.

The male nobles all had personal male servants to serve them. In order to avoid standing out, Russell had to accept it for now. But he could accept a normal male personal servant, never a gay one, which would make him feel sick all the time.

Breakfast was buffet style.

There was milk, risotto, bread, fried eggs, bacon and vegetable salad.

All were placed in specially made plates with a charcoal fire underneath to keep them warm. Even if the baron and baroness got up late, they could still eat hot food-the children in the baron’s family couldn’t sleep late, but the baron and baroness could.

After cultivating martial energy, Russell’s appetite increased.

By the time he finished two big bowls of fish-egg risotto and a large portion of bacon, his sister Rora came downstairs yawning.

Russell bared his teeth at her.

Rora covered her mouth immediately; she had forgotten that she was missing a tooth.

“Russell, will you be living at Black Waist Snake Manor from today on?” Rora served herself a small portion of fish-egg risotto and poured herself a glass of milk, which was enough for her.

“Maybe.”

“Can I go with you to check it out?”

“Hmm, it depends on when we leave. If it’s in the afternoon, definitely not.” Russell said. He quite liked this gap-toothed little sister; she was ordinary-looking but quite quiet, unlike his memory of his sister Rowena, who was ugly and liked to make trouble.

“So you’re leaving this afternoon?”

“Perhaps.”

In fact, the Baron’s efficiency was quite high.

By noon, he had already recruited four armored knight attendants for Russell, and Butler Carter’s efficiency was equally fast; the list of ten servants was also ready.

“Tom (John, Jack, James), we swear allegiance to you, Master Russell!”

In the hall of Fluorescent Castle, four armored knights knelt on one knee and swore allegiance to the young Lord Russell Fluorescent Mushroom.

“Congratulations, Russell, on having your first followers.” The tutor Charles, unsurprisingly, attended the occasion.

He and Knight teacher Eric were considered Russell’s earliest team.

Eric, not good with words, said in a low voice, “Congratulations, Master.”

Russell nodded with a smile and accepted the congratulations of the two teachers. By this time, Butler Carter had already led ten male and female servants over.

“Master Russell, these are your servants.”

Under the leadership of a male servant in his forties, the ten male and female servants knelt down and kowtowed to Russell: “Greetings, Master.”

“Please rise.” Russell raised his hand in a virtual gesture, “Ladies and gentlemen, we don’t need to introduce ourselves today. We have plenty of time to get to know each other.”

And so.

Russell’s fiefdom team began to take shape.

Then the Baron rewarded Russell with five full carriages of wealth and gave him three sprite grubs with severed contracts. Along with the gifts came several packets of magical herb seeds and a dozen or so serf technicians skilled in the cultivation of magical herbs.

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

Everything was ready to go.

“I won’t send you to your fief, Kendal will carry my decree to announce the new lord of Black Waist Snake Manor.” Baron Roman patted his second son on the shoulder and stepped aside, leaving the place for his wife.

Meryl opened her arms.

Russell leaned forward slightly and hugged his mother.

Close to her ear, Meryl whispered, “Stay alert at night, don’t save on food at the manor, the cultivation of Martial Arts Energy can’t be neglected. If you run out, let me know, I’ll prepare more for you from my dowry.”

“Thank you, Mother, if necessary, I won’t be polite.” Russell replied sincerely.

In this world, knights valued the noble quality of self-reliance, but he wouldn’t be stubborn; he would rely on his parents when needed.

Meryl kissed Russell on the cheek and then let go.

Rora stepped forward, covering her mouth and said, “Russell, I want to go and play at Black Waist Snake Manor, when can I?”

“It’s too late today, another day.” Russell said.

Then he turned to look at the Baron and Baroness, knocked on his chest with his right hand, and bowed slightly, “Father, Mother, I’m leaving.”

The Baron nodded.

Meryl smiled reluctantly, “Go, my child.”

Russell mounted his horse, looked back at the tall Fluorescent Castle and the clay dragon Ross circling in the distant sky.

Without hesitation, he waved forward, “Teacher Charles, Teacher Eric, let’s go.”

Charles took off his hat and said stylishly, “Respected Baron, Lady, Charles bids you farewell.”

Eric simply bowed and followed Russell.

The four armored knights waited for the servants to get into the carriages, and then surrounded five carriages and followed Russell closely.

The convoy gradually picked up speed.

Under the afternoon sun, they moved along the coal-cinder paved road towards their new home.

In front of the Fluorescent Castle gate, the Baron led his wife back, and the male and female servants also followed, continuing their unfinished work.

Only Butler Carter still stood at the gate, watching the convoy disappear down the road, then raised his hand to wipe his slightly warm eyes.

He murmured softly, “The eaglet must learn to fly, Master Russell… has grown.”