Chapter 114: Chapter 114: The Conservation of Cordyceps

Translator: 549690339

The Earl was very busy, Liszt merely took a moment to greet him and offer his blessings before leaving Tulip Castle and returning to Fresh Flower Town.

Before departing, the Earl solemnly said, “Fresh Flower Town is developing quite well, I have been paying attention. Train your Knight Squad, I hope that in next year’s Pioneer Mandate, you and Levis can fight side by side.”

“I am looking forward to it as well.”

Liszt responded with these words.

Yet in his heart, he was noncommittal—engaging in battle was out of the question, he would never partake in battle in this lifetime. Flattery wasn’t his forte, only farming, could he maintain his way of life.

However, no one could predict the future.

He would not be cooped up in Fresh Flower Town forever, remaining a countryside Baron. Riding dragons was a major life goal, while owning his own small island was a minor one. To possess an island as a fief, he would at least need to climb to the rank of Viscount, which would require some effort.

During the return journey, the Li Dragon Horse galloped.

He zoned out slightly while on horseback.

The excitement of the nobles at the Pioneer Mandate banquet had indeed infected him—the nobles might be parasites, but their thirst for glory was very pure.

To fight, to charge, to risk their lives for wealth and honor.

“Will I really not go to war? But without warfare, how else can I advance in rank? Rebel? Without the power to slay a dragon, rebelling is tantamount to suicide.”

You can’t treat the Sapphire Family’s Sapphire Dragon as an ornament.

That is a top-level power in this world, akin to a nuclear weapon; it is best not to test it.

“Earning merit on the battlefield is the most effective way to advance… A Lord does not need to lead the charge, let the knights do the fighting and killing, it is still possible to ensure one’s safety. In the worst-case scenario, being captured and ransomed back is a bit embarrassing, but preserving one’s life is most important.”

“Perhaps I could follow the path of a typical Noble’s second son, and court a noble damsel?”

Some nobles who only had daughters, their ranks would certainly be inherited by the daughters, as the Grand Duchy recognizes Baronesses. Such noble damsels are the best marriage prospects for second sons of nobles.

Some noble damsels, pampered by their parents, would already have their own fiefdoms and become hereditary nobles, like Li Vera. They too would be prime marriage prospects for second sons of nobles.

“Unfortunately, in the Duchy of Sapphire, suitable noble damsels are after all in the minority… There are many noble damsels at the ranks of Honored Knights and Barons, but noble damsels at the rank of Viscounts, Earls are very rare. The archipelago itself isn’t very large, with only seven Marquises and a little over twenty Earls.”

Besides, there was a very realistic problem—noble damsels aspired to marry higher ranking noble heirs, not just any minor nobility.

“I am handsome, my father is an Earl, my grandfather is a Marquis, and I have been granted a Baron’s fief. Amongst the second sons, I am probably a very competitive candidate, let me think about which single Viscount damsels in the Grand Duchy are suitable for marriage…” After some thought, he couldn’t come up with a single one.

All nobles hope to have a son to inherit their rank.

Nobles with only a daughter are very rare.

The battlefield is too dangerous, and Baronesses are too scarce, Liszt then considered a third way to achieve rank—by making a significant contribution. If he could contribute the art of paper-making to the Sapphire Duke, maybe he could fish for an Earl’s, or even a Marquis’s rank.

“But ranks conferred for contributions are lifelong ranks without fiefs. This method is utterly unacceptable.”

The more he thought about it, the less feasible it seemed.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh, feeling resignated, “Rather than going through all this trouble, it would be better to hope for the Earl and Levis to… stop, I feel like such thoughts shouldn’t arise, after all, they are dear blood relatives.”

After returning to Fresh Flower Town.

Liszt fell back into the leisurely rhythm of life.

The Earl was too pressed for time with war duties and couldn’t even hold his September 14 birthday party on Coral Island, so there was no need for Liszt to worry about diplomacy and he could devote himself to developing the town.

The Dragon Hollyhock was still half-dead, but as long as it hadn’t died, it indicated that the Elf Bug had a will to survive.

Hope remained.

What brought him joy was the Fragrant Coconut Tree, as farmer Jiggs came to report that a Fragrant Coconut Fruit had cracked open. Instead of coconut milk flowing out, a plump, milky-white Elf Bug had crawled out.

He brought Jade Powder and a Jade Box.

Liszt hurried to Oyster Village and personally climbed the several dozen meters high Fragrant Coconut Tree to see the long-awaited Fragrant Coconut Tree Elf Bug—it was very plump, fatter than any Elf Bug he had on hand, and also exceptionally white, as if it were faintly glowing. It appeared as though it had just bathed in milk.

“Little guy, come on, my treat, have some Jade Powder.”

He sprinkled Jade Powder on the Fragrant Coconut Fruit to tempt the Elf Bug. A newly born Elf Bug, acting on instinct, was quickly attracted by the magic power contained in the Jade Powder.

It began to gobble up the Jade Powder in big bites.

Next, all Liszt needed to do was to smear his finger with Jade Powder and stretch it out to the mouth of the Elf Bug.

A bite down.

The contract was complete.

The pleasure of a heart-to-heart connection closely linked him with the Fragrant Coconut Tree Elf Bug, sharing joy and sorrow.

Having put the Fragrant Coconut Bug into the Jade Box, Liszt rewarded the farmers who had been patiently taking care of the Fragrant Coconut Bug, giving each person a silver coin, “Jiggs, you all must continue to take good care of this Cordyceps, understand?”

“Understood, Lord Landlord.”

Back at the castle, he handed the Fragrant Coconut Bug over to Carter to be placed in the Worm Room.

Carter was very happy but also expressed his concerns, “My lord, we now have eight Elf Bugs, and the castle servants may not be able to take adequate care of each Cordyceps. Do you think it is necessary to hire new servants to specifically care for the Cordyceps?”

This question reminded Liszt.

Indeed, no one in Fresh Flower Town would dare to defy him, let alone destroy his Cordyceps. But it’s always the unexpected that happens—if a commoner went mad and cut down the Cordyceps; or if an animal accidentally ate the Cordyceps—don’t expect fences to stop everything.

“Your concern is very reasonable, but I don’t plan to hire servants for watching the Cordyceps. Instead, I plan to set up a formal team to guard them,” he said.

No sooner had he thought it than he acted, immediately calling Goltai, Marcus, and Karl Ironhammer.

“My lord.”

“Teacher Goltai, Teacher Marcus, Karl, I’ve called you here because I have more and more Elf Bugs, and the Cordyceps are distributed all over the town. They need better protection.”

“Do we need to assign more Patrol Members to frequently patrol the Cordyceps, my lord?”

“Merely patrolling is not enough. I need dedicated, long-term protection. Do you have any good ideas?” Liszt had plans in mind, but he didn’t reveal them.

To hint but not divulge—this is the Controlling Path of those in high positions.

Goltai thought for a moment and said, “Currently, the protection for Cordyceps relies mainly on castle servants for care, local farmers for supervision, Patrol Team for inspection, and fences for isolation. Perhaps we can train more Patrol Members to specifically patrol the Cordyceps.”

Marcus was more straightforward, “The Knight Squad could take over patrol duties.”

Last came Karl, “My lord, I think we can arrange for Patrol Members to stand guard around the Cordyceps. Currently, we have twenty Patrol Members overseeing the town, which is not necessary; we can spare eight Patrol Members to protect the Cordyceps, ensuring they are guarded at all times.”

“Karl’s suggestion aligns more with my thoughts, but we don’t need Patrol Members for the job; that’s a waste of manpower. Select sturdy serfs from each village, arrange them to guard the Cordyceps in shifts, and have the town administration pay their salary, one copper coin a day,” he said after a pause.

Then he continued, “In addition, Teacher Marcus, arrange for members of the Knight Squad to teach the guarding serfs some basic combat skills.”