Evil dragon has a warm heart-Chapter 99 - 98 Slag Earth Brick

Chapter 99: Chapter 98: Slag Earth Brick

Chapter 99 -98: Slag Earth Brick

Russell didn’t like the word “slag earth,” probably because being hit by a slag earth cart had triggered the reboot of his life.

However.

After dinner, he still discussed the feasibility of slag earth bricks seriously with his father, Baron Roman, and his elder brother, Roland.

“Wooden houses are currently the main residences for serfs and commoners all over the Glowing Valley, and few people can afford to build the better stone houses,” Russell explained. “This afternoon, I walked around the town and found it’s not that people dislike stone houses, but that they can’t afford to build them.”

Russell continued, “The stones mined from Curved Blade Mountain and Sharp Knife Mountain are mostly transported here for castle construction, so much so that even the roads can’t afford to be paved with stone and can only use coal slag.”

“So you think that making slag earth bricks out of clay waste will have a big market?” Roland asked, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“I don’t know about other places, but there should be a big demand in the town and my manor,” Russell responded.

“Russell, don’t aim too high,” Roland, imitating Baron Roman’s tone, advised his younger brother. “It’s better to renovate the manor outbuilding where you live than to make grand constructions on the estate that exhaust the resources and labour.”

“Well, I just want to manage my own territory well.”

“Following tradition is much better than pointless innovations. You’ll understand this in time,” Roland said.

Baron Roman also nodded and added, “Your elder brother is right, Russell. Did you forget all the principles I told you on the Snowfield? Be a stable lord, focus on training knights, and avoid pointless endeavors.”

“I understand, father,” Russell replied earnestly, yet resolutely unyielding.

He didn’t think that just because he was a transmigrator, he had to perform great feats or champion a cause; aspire to establish principles for heaven and earth, set mission for people’s livelihood, carry on the traditions of the sages, or bring about peace for all times.

But if he didn’t even have the inclination to try, how could he live the remarkable life he desired?

Russell said, “Father, I truly think it’s a waste to not use the clay waste. If there’s enough coal, I’d like to try firing them into slag earth bricks… If successful, it could also be an extra source of income, right? The estate has too few products.”

Seeing Russell speak in this manner, Baron Roman pondered for a moment and slowly nodded, “Alright, at the Volcanic Oasis, among the Ten-Headed Dragons, one is a Black Coal Dragon, and coal isn’t expensive. Try firing the slag earth bricks first, and if it’s feasible, I will arrange for the caravans to bring an extra load of coal each month.”

“Thank you, father!” Russell exclaimed happily.

“You can delegate the miscellaneous tasks to subordinates. The most important thing for you now is to focus on your training and become a Great Knight as soon as possible,” the Baron reminded him.

“Got it.”

That night, the Little Dream Dragon was still recuperating, and Russell had another dream, but it wasn’t a dream filled with desire; it was a cluttered mess.

He only remembered two scenes: In one, he was clad in a robe woven from pearls, riding a Great Dragon and showing off everywhere; in the other, he had successfully made slag earth bricks, and a duke was asking him to use those bricks to build a house for him.

The houses built with slag earth bricks were both beautiful and strong. The duke was very satisfied and immediately declared he would marry his sister, Princess Kunlaya, to Russell.

“Your Grace, seeing you like this, I guess you won’t be able to ride the Shadowflame Dragon anymore. Now that we’ve become family, why not let me ride the Shadowflame Dragon?” Russell said in the dream, holding an indistinct Princess Kunlaya and feeling utterly content.

The duke could only laugh, “Go ahead, ride.”

But just as Russell was about to mount the Shadowflame Dragon, and the dragon did not refuse, the butler, Carter, came to wake him up.

“So close!” Russell lamented as he got out of bed unwillingly.

At Fluorescent Castle, he had to get up punctually at 7:30 a.m., a rule unbroken even if Cooper and Rolin visited.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

After a self-serve breakfast, Russell grabbed the token his father had given him and hurried to the clay mining site.

“Prepare a batch of clay slag and take it to the pottery kiln factory by cart.”

In this world, clay is classified as a metal, with high-quality clay being fired into porcelain; mediocre quality clay is fired into pottery; and the rest, the clay slag, is used for nothing but backfilling mines.

Once the cart was loaded, Russell personally escorted it to the pottery kiln factory. With Baron Roman’s waist badge, the person in charge bustled about with great urgency.

He had the most skilled potter in the factory make the brick blanks and then send them into the kiln for firing.

“It’s not enough. We need to create more varieties of brick blanks, mixing some other materials into the clay slag, such as charred residue, such as ordinary soil… In short, Crooked Hat William, you experiment with a few more formulas for firing. Once they’re fired, I’ll come over to compare them myself,” he said.

“Rest assured, Mr. Russell, I, Crooked Hat William, have been firing pottery for decades. I’ll definitely make those slag earth bricks for you, strong and durable!” the potter, Crooked Hat William, said confidently, pipe clenched in his teeth.

“The temperature of the furnace fire and the cost of brick firing must all be taken into account… Once the slag earth bricks are successfully produced, I’ll open a brick kiln factory in town and put your son, William, in charge,” Russell promised expansively.

To make a horse run fast, feeding it well is the best approach.

These potters were neither his serfs nor his employees, and Russell couldn’t possibly stay at the pottery kiln factory every day, watching over their work.

After all, firing a kiln of pottery or slag earth bricks could take more than a week.

So, he could only motivate Crooked Hat William with promises, letting him take on the development of the slag earth bricks.

“Thank you for your support, Mr. Russell. My son, William, is definitely a qualified potter. I hope he can continue to make slag earth bricks for you,” said Crooked Hat William, removing his pipe and bowing deeply to Russell.

He busied himself with the research and development of the slag earth bricks.

By noon, Russell had returned to Fluorescent Castle for a free lunch, and then he made his way back to Wuyao Snake Manor.

He called the fisherman, Rib Jimmy, and handed over a bag of high-quality clay: “Use this clay for the core of pearl cultivation in some of the river clams. Also, find the Chancellor of Records, Charles, and have him arrange for more small ponds to be dug, to breed river clams separately.”

Initially, Russell had just wanted to give it a try, but now he was determined to go big and thoroughly verify whether it was indeed possible to create magic-powered artifacts artificially.

Therefore, meticulous comparative experiments had to be conducted to determine exactly which method and materials could be used to cultivate pearls.

“Rib Jimmy will definitely cultivate pearls for the lord!” Rib Jimmy, thin as a rib but muscled, thumped his chest emphatically.

“Good,” said Russell, habitually making another big promise, “If you successfully cultivate pearls, Rib Jimmy, I’ll promote you to an official of the territory.”

“Thank you, my lord, thank you!” Rib Jimmy knelt down and bowed, overcome with emotion.

Without a chance opportunity, a serf would remain a serf for life, as would their children and descendants. But a territorial official was different; in the territory, it was a high-class position, and their children would have better chances of getting an education.

They could learn skills or train in battle qi.

There was a very good chance they could rise above their class, and if not becoming nobility, at least escape the endless labor of the manor.

With another big promise, Russell sent Rib Jimmy on his way.

Russell opened the notebook he always carried and wrote down two terms with emphasis—slag earth bricks, pearls.

After thinking, he added another behind them—glass.

“For now, I’ll busy myself with these three technological inventions. First, to earn some start-up capital, and second… if I ever get the chance to obtain a larger title and leave Glowing Valley, these three inventions will serve as my repayment to the Fluorescent Fungi Family.”