The personal servant Thomas was unwilling to follow Russell to Wuyao Snake Manor.
If his predecessor were still alive, this would have been a huge blow because Thomas was his personal valet.
It's somewhat similar to the personal maids of the young ladies in "Dream of the Red Chamber".
"Looking down on me, huh." Russell thought to himself, but his face showed no expression, and he simply said, "You wish to stay and work at Fluorescent Castle?"
"Um... yes, Mr. Russell." Thomas replied nervously, knowing that if Russell insisted on taking him, as a servant of the baronial family, he had no power to resist, "My mother is ill, and I hope to be nearby..."
"Alright, I won't take you with me."
"To be nearby to take care of... Oh, you, you agree?" Thomas was startled, his prepared speech suddenly stuck in his throat.
Russell calmly said, "In theory, you have already sold yourself to Fluorescent Castle and shouldn't have much to do with your original family, but considering the bond between mother and child, I am still willing to accommodate your wishes. Go on, attend to your business. I will speak with Carter."
Thomas hesitated, "Mr. Russell, I..."
But Russell had no intention of further indulging his thoughts, he simply adjusted the somewhat tight collar of his necktie and left the room.
Descending the stairs,
he happened upon Carter making his rounds in the hall, his sharp eyes scrutinizing each servant, every corner.
Upon seeing Russell, Carter returned his gaze, bowed, and greeted, "Good morning, Mr. Russell."
"Good morning, Mr. Carter," Russell responded, and then continued, "Thomas's mother is ill, and I would like him to stay at Fluorescent Castle so he can be close to her. So for my personal servant, please recruit another in his stead."
Upon hearing this, Carter praised him, "You are truly kindhearted."
Russell offered a slight smile.
Carter continued, "I will do my best to recruit for you a personal servant who is virtuous and diligent."
"Of course, I trust your judgment," replied Russell, in good spirits.
Thomas's reluctance hadn't upset him; on the contrary, he was quite pleased to rid himself of this personal servant.
Because, in the memory of his former life, Thomas was a bit too effeminate for his taste.
With Russell's current disposition, he had no desire for any personal servant to attend to him, a female attendant would have been much preferable.
Of course.
Male nobles all have personal servants, so to avoid standing out, Russell had to accept this for the moment. He could tolerate a normal personal servant, but absolutely not one that was effeminate, as it would make him feel disgusted all the time.
Breakfast was buffet style.
There was milk, stewed fish and rice, bread, fried eggs, bacon, and a vegetable salad.
All were placed on specially designed serving dishes, kept warm over a bed of charcoal, ensuring that even if the baron and his wife got up late, they would still have hot food—children in the baron's family were not allowed to sleep in, but the baron and his wife were an exception.
After cultivating Battle Qi, Russell's appetite had increased significantly.
It wasn't until he polished off two large bowls of fish and egg stewed rice and a large portion of bacon that he saw his sister Lola yawning as she came down the stairs.
Russell bared his teeth at her in a grin.
Lola immediately covered her mouth, remembering she had lost a canine tooth.
"Russell, are you going to stay at Wuyao Snake Manor today?" Lola served herself a small portion of fish and egg stewed rice and poured a glass of milk, content with that.
"Possibly."
"Can I come over to see it?"
"Hmm, that depends on what time we leave. If it's in the afternoon, then definitely not." Russell was rather fond of this gap-toothed little sister of his; though not particularly beautiful, she was quite tranquil, unlike his sister Rolin from his memories, who was not only unattractive but also prone to causing trouble.
"So you're leaving in the afternoon?"
"Maybe."
Indeed, the baron's efficiency in action was quite high.
By noon, four Armed Knight Attendants had already been gathered to pledge allegiance to Russell, and Carter the butler had been equally efficient, producing a list of ten servants as well.
"Tom (John, Jack, James), I pledge my loyalty to you, Lord Russell!"
There, in the great hall of Fluorescent Castle, the four Armed Knights knelt on one knee to swear fealty to the young lord, Russell Fluorescent Fungus.
"Congratulations, Russell, on having your first group of followers," family tutor Mr. Charles, unsurprisingly, attended the occasion.
He and the knight instructor, Mr. Eric, were considered part of Russell's earliest foundation.
Eric, not much for words, said in a muffled voice, "Congratulations, Sir."
Russell smiled and nodded, accepting the congratulations from both teachers as Carter was already leading ten male and female servants over.
"Mr. Russel, here are your servants."
Under the guidance of a male servant in his forties, the ten male and female servants knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Russell: "We have seen the master."
"Please stand up," Russell said, gesturing with his hand, "Ladies and gentlemen, we need not introduce ourselves today. We will have plenty of time to get to know each other in the future."
And so.
Russell's small foundation for his fiefdom had begun to take shape.
Later, Baron Roman rewarded Russell with five large wagons full of goods and gave him three Spirit Insects after breaking their contracts. Along with the gift were several packs of Magic Potion seeds and more than a dozen serf technicians skilled in growing them.
At three o'clock in the afternoon.
Ready to set off.
"I will not accompany you to the fief, Kendal will carry my intentions and announce the new lord to Wuyao Snake Manor," said Baron Roman as he patted his younger son's shoulder and stepped aside to leave space for his wife.
Meryl opened her arms.
Russell leaned slightly forward and embraced his mother.
Whispering into his ear, Meryl said softly, "Be alert at night, don't skimp on the food in the manor, and don't fall behind in your fighting qi cultivation. If you run out, just tell me and I'll re-supply you from my dowry."
"Thank you, mother. If it's necessary, I won't hesitate to say so," Russell sincerely replied.
The knights of this world prided themselves on self-reliance, but Russell was not going to be stubborn to the point of not accepting help when it made sense.
Meryl kissed Russell's cheek and then let go.
Lola came up, covered her mouth with her hand and said, "Russell, I want to visit Wuyao Snake Manor. When can I come?"
"It's too late today, some other time," Russell said.
Then he turned to the Baron and Baroness, thumped his chest with his right hand in a knightly salute, and bowed: "Father, mother, I'm departing."
The Baron nodded.
Meryl smiled reluctantly: "Go on, child."
Mounting his horse, Russell looked back at the towering Fluorescent Castle and Ros the Clay Dragon circling in the distant sky.
Without hesitation, he waved his hand forward: "Mr. Charles, Mr. Eric, let's depart."
Charles took off his hat with a flourish and said with swagger, "Respected Lord Baron, Baroness, Charles bids you farewell."
Eric simply bowed and then turned to follow Russell.
The four Armed Knight Attendants waited until all the servants had mounted their carriages, then flanked the five wagons, closely following Russell.
The procession gradually picked up speed.
Under the afternoon sun, they traveled along the cinder-paved road toward their new home.
Back at the gate of Fluorescent Castle, the Baron, arm in arm with the Baroness, returned inside, and the male and female servants also followed them in, continuing with their unfinished work.
Only Carter stood before the gate, watching the procession disappear along the road before raising his hand to wipe the warmth from his eyes.
In a soft murmur, he mused, "Eaglets must learn to fly, Mr. Russell... you've grown up."