Chapter 25 (2/2)

“What technique have you practiced?”

“Dragon Drill.”

“Let’s spar. I want to see how good you are.” Lvera took a spear from her squire. “It’s been a while since we practiced with each other.”

It was only an excuse.

Her real purpose was to teach Liszt a lesson.

However, Liszt was no longer what he used to be. He simply smiled. “Excuse me, but I haven’t finished my training. Maybe another day.”

Lvera stared at him. “Are you running away? It’s not a quality expected of a knight.”

“Fairness is also a quality of knights. Why don’t you wait until I grasp Dragon Drill, sister?” Liszt resolved the attack easily.

Raising her eyebrow, Lvera put down the spear. “You’re as timid as before.”

“I call it intelligence.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Lvera was only nineteen and not married yet. She was still a vigorous young woman. Liszt’s mental age had long surpassed that phase. He would not be infuriated easily.

As they chit-chatted, Levis had returned from his tour.

“Dirty, messy, lousy.” He shook his head. “Liszt, I’ve understood your demand for food. Flower Town is poorer than any town I’ve seen.”

“Indeed. However, I’ll make it rich.”

“With the black tulip? Let’s talk about it… For the assimilation of the big elf, the little elves, and the elvish insects, Tulip Castle will pay 1,500 kilograms of wheat, 1,000 kilograms of barley, 250 kilograms of wheat flour, 500 kilograms of wrought iron, 30 barrels of beer, and seeds of various crops.”

Liszt acknowledged the deal after further negotiation.

The wagons of assets were moved to the warehouses of the castle and immediately filled them. The food alone was enough to feed the castle for half a year. The iron could be used to build tools and armor, and the seeds could be planted in Flower Town.

Without elvish insects, the barren land could only be fertilized with manure, and the effect remained to be seen.

Speaking of which, the town was not very dirty anymore. Feces were picked up and sold to the castle every day, before they were distributed to the villages for fertilization. Since the policy hadn’t been instilled for long, the result was not obvious in places other than Peanuton.

…

The dinner had a great atmosphere thanks to Goltai, who was a good talker.

After dinner, Levis discussed the plantation and sale of the black tulip with Liszt. “Our father intends to buy out the right to plant and sell the black tulip with a thousand gold coins. Meanwhile, you can plant them in Flower Town and sell them to Tulip Castle.”

“That won’t do. The black tulip is the cornerstone for Flower Town. I can’t give up incessant revenues for only a thousand gold coins.”

“A thousand gold coins is not a small number. It’s more than the taxes of Flower Town in the next fifty years.”

“After the magic medicine is planted on a large scale, I’ll probably earn a thousand gold coins every year with the black tulip. Magic medicines are always in demand.”

“You must know that the black tulips cannot be shipped out of Thorn Hill without the family channels.”

“That’s why I’m negotiating with Father, or you. I can provide seeds for Tulip Castle, but for every black tulip to be planted, I’ll be paid with a certain amount of money.”

“You mean that we’ll do the dirty work while you do nothing but count the coins in your castle?”

Liszt held the teacup and replied unhurriedly, “Basically, yes.”