Chapter 285: Chapter 0285: A Series of Loyalties (Fourth Update, 3000 Monthly Votes Plus)
 

After training the dog,

the sky had completely darkened, and the castle was in the midst of preparing the evening’s dishes.

Liszt went upstairs to have a chat with Sea Sprite Ake, a routine he had established. Talking with the innocent and lively Ake was a way to relax his mind.

“Liszt, look, I’ve copied ‘Fredo’s Fireball Technique’, and now I can also create water arrows on the back of my hand,” Sea Sprite Ake said happily.

She conjured a water arrow on the back of her hand and, with a gentle push, the water arrow flew out of the window like a sharp bolt.

Learning magic was like getting a new toy for her, full of nothing but joy: “Look, look, not only can my right hand create water arrows on the back, but my left can do it too, hehe, next I plan to try creating them with my knee. What do you think of that idea?”

Apart from amazement, Liszt didn’t know what to say.

It wasn’t difficult for a magician to create fireballs with different parts of their body, but it was still technically challenging for Magic Apprentice Fredo Truth to do it with the back of his hand.

After all, Magic Apprentices could not be compared with Magicians, especially in terms of mental control, they were far too weak.

That Sea Sprite Ake could use both hands to create water arrows on the back, and learn it within a few days, was astonishing: “Ake, how did you think of using your knee to create water arrows?”

“The Truth seniors who wrote the magic books said that the most important thing for magicians is to have imagination and creativity. Ake noticed that no one used their knees to cast spells. If Ake succeeds, I can also write a book, umm, it will be called ‘Acherloides Truth’s Water Arrow Technique’, hehe.”

“Yes, Ake, you already qualify to write a book. It seems you have a profound understanding of the Water Arrow Spell. I will need to find more books on Water Magic for you as soon as possible.”

The inheritance of magicians is rather secretive, and aside from simple basic magic, which has specific magic books for introduction and mutual discussion of new casting methods,

there are no books passing down Advanced Magic.

It’s like the Dou Qi Secret Technique of the knights and the cultivation secrets of the Sky Knights, which are incredibly hard to come by.

The Tulip Family, despite years of hard work, did not possess even a single Dou Qi Secret Technique. Had it not been for the guidance of the Smoke Mission, Liszt would never have obtained “The Eye of Magic”.

“It seems like I need to have a serious talk with Elkerson.” In Liszt’s view, Elkerson was a magician who highly valued enjoyment, and therefore, there was a good chance of obtaining magical inheritance from him, as long as one was willing to pay.

For the sake of Ake’s path as a Water Mage, Liszt gritted his teeth and was willing to bear the cost.

After all, Ake’s strength ensured greater security for sailing. Imagine, with a Water Mage accompanying the journey, there would be no fear of any Sea Monsters. Even if Ake did not have the talent to become an Archmage, advancing to the level of a Grand Magician was still a formidable combat power.

Hearing what Liszt said,

Ake nodded happily: “Thank you, Liszt.”

“Ake, why don’t you call me brother?” In three seconds, Liszt decided to bind the future Water Mage with the bonds of kinship.

Ake tilted her head, pondering seriously: “But Ake is already forty-one years old, and you, Liszt, are only seventeen.”

“You’re a sea sprite, and I’m a human, so you can’t count age like that. I’m already an adult human, and you’re a minor sea sprite, so you should call me brother.”

“Oh, okay, brother.”

“You’re such a good girl, Ake. Here brother has a gift for you—a Black Pearl that you can use to study the Magic Runes and Magic Arrays written about in the magic books.” Liszt took out a fist-sized black pearl and handed it to Sea Sprite Ake.

He had harvested a total of sixteen black pearls from the Tridacna giant clams.

A black pearl the size of a wash basin was still lying quietly in the Gemstone Space, waiting for the right moment to be crafted into a Calming Sea Pearl.

Of the two basketball-sized black pearls, one had already been made into a Calming Sea Pearl, and the other was soon to be made into another one.

“`

Three sea-bowl-sized black pearls, unused.

Ten black pearls about the size of a fist, two sold to Levis, two ground up to treat Dragon Hollyhock, one given to Marquis Merlin, one given as payment to Grandini Truth for calculating rewards, and one more given to Ake, leaving three remaining.

Holding the black pearls.

Ake smiled radiantly, “Wow, such beautiful black pearls, I can feel many water attribute magic elements, as gentle as little babies holding hands, just like… just like a natural magic array. Thank you, brother, I will study the black pearls carefully, and learn magic runes and magic arrays!”

“Study hard, I still have a few black pearls, and when the time comes, you can help me make them into magic equipment.”

“Mhm, Ake will work hard!” The sea sprite clenched her little fists, her expression invigorated, a stark contrast to the cautious demeanor she had when they first met, now lively and adorable.

One couldn’t help but reach out and tousle her deep blue hair.

He truly hoped that Ake would make progress quickly so that she could help make the Calming Sea Pearl.

After all, the costs for all the materials requested by Grandini Truth to make a Calming Sea Pearl were astronomical. The last Calming Sea Pearl had cost him a fist-sized black pearl.

Poking Jela, who was stubbornly nestled within her shell.

Liszt left the room.

The castle’s banquet commenced.

In Fresh Flower Town, covered with snow and ice, there were not many lights at night, hence work ended relatively early. Only the Brewing Workshop continued to operate through the night.

“Baron, I’ve heard that Lasse and Griffin have sworn loyalty to you and have been assigned to carry out missions?” Rondo Waterpot suddenly asked before the banquet began.

“Yes.”

“Rondo hopes to follow the Baron!”

“I accept your allegiance.” Liszt was not surprised by Rondo’s request and responded directly. Thereafter came the ceremony of a knight swearing fealty, officially establishing the relationship between the follower and the landlord.

This meant that Rondo’s fate was now in Liszt’s hands, and in turn, Liszt would bring him greater glory.

With Rondo leading the way,

Rick Trace, Nemo, and others also declared their allegiance to Liszt. Among the officials of Fresh Flower Town, Isaiah, who had not yet followed Liszt, took this opportunity to request to follow as well. Fresh Flower Town was no longer the remote rural town it used to be, and Liszt was no longer the timid second son of the Earl.

Fresh Flower Town was bound to rise alongside Liszt, and everyone understood that not following him now would put them at a disadvantage later, as more people would gather around him.

After all, the early followers would certainly be held in higher esteem by the landlord than the new ones.

Seeing the young people one by one perform the knight’s loyalty ceremony, Zambrotta, who was not young anymore, hesitated. He came to Fresh Flower Town seeing the potential in Liszt, hoping to leverage Liszt’s rise to reclaim noble glory. However, such hasty allegiance was not what he desired.

As a former Honored Knight, he had his moments of glory and remembered well the distinction between himself and the common folk.

Even stripped of his title and reduced to a commoner, he still held on to his pride. Coupled with his talent for learning and his arrogance, he was reluctant to lower his status easily.

However,

the current situation no longer allowed for his aloofness. Not following today would surely be noted by Liszt: “Since I’m going to follow sooner or later, I might as well be straightforward about it. Liszt is certain to emulate the Earl’s glory and become one of the new Nobles, I can’t miss this opportunity!”

Making up his mind, he immediately knelt on one knee: “Zambrotta wishes to swear loyalty to the Baron!”

“`