Chapter 15 (1/2)

After the tulip completed the assimilation, it would be kept in the jade box again. Also, there would be no need to feed it with jade powder, because the wormgrass could absorb nutrition for the insect.

The process would probably take a day.

After Liszt returned to his castle, he began to write.

Paving a piece of thick paper and dipping the quill in the ink, he wrote in Ophidian. Without telephones or fax, he could only communicate with letters.

He was writing to the Earl of Coral Island and the Baroness of Falcon Town, or his father and his sister.

The earl had a tulip big elf, a tulip little elf, and multiple tulip elvish insects, and the baroness had a tulip little elf. The earl and the baroness were certainly willing to offer something to assimilate the new black tulip in Liszt’s territory.

Deals had to be made even though they were family.

With this opportunity, I can ask for an elvish insect from the earl and a batch of life necessities from the baroness. He already figured out what he wanted.

Elves were the primary source of productivity. He would never let go of the opportunity.

Next were the things that he was short of—as a matter of fact, the castle was short of everything. Liszt was certainly not an ascetic man.

Secondly, I can negotiate with the earl about the plantation and sale of the black tulip. As a unique good, the black tulip can only be grown on my land, but I can give away the selling rights to the earl for twenty percent of the profits… However, the black tulips won’t be enough to sell until one or two years from now.

Stopping for a moment, he considered and wrote on.

Perhaps I can ask for a down payment from the earl first. I have to get more coins. It’s difficult to develop Flower Town without initial capital. The road through Thorn Hill has to be broadened, too.

That was basically the content of the letter.

Marcus arrived after the letters were ready. Only Marcus, an earth knight, was qualified to send the letters. Liszt hadn’t grasped any techniques with intermediate combat aura, and his combat ability was weak.

“Mr. Marcus, I have letters that I’d like you to deliver for me.”

“With pleasure,” Marcus said with a different tone. Before Liszt became an earth knight, he always answered with a simple “yes.”

Liszt sensed the change, but he made no comment. “Also, I need a book on intermediate combat aura. Thousand Waves of the Tulip Castle is not suitable for me. Could you bring Furious Fire from the knights’ academy? Also, ask Butler Luis if there are any other fire-natured techniques in Tulip Castle.”

“No problem.”

“Have a good rest tonight. Be careful when you cross Thorn Hill.” Liszt thought for a moment. “Your horse is not very good. Ride my Fire Dragon.”

Marcus bowed in gratitude. “Thank you for your kindness, but my horse was on the battlefield with me. We’re connected. He’s a better choice.”

“If you say so.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

“See you.”

…

“Mr. Marcus, good afternoon.” Tom Pigpen, who was carrying water buckets, greeted Marcus, who was leaving the castle.

Marcus nodded. “Good afternoon.”

Tom was flattered. Marcus and Goltai normally never greeted him back. He was only a servant for chores in the castle. Jesse Ricewater, who was responsible for cutting wood, and Allyn Fourfingers, the kitchen maid, were probably the only people lower than him.

He bowed to Marcus. Forgetting that he was carrying buckets, he slipped, and half of the water was spilled.

“Be careful.”

“Oh, o-okay, Mr. Marcus.”