banquet

Red Maple Town is a prosperous town. As one of the three richest towns in North County, except for the capital of North County, she is much more prosperous than any town in the domain of the Viscount Macbeth family and its subordinate noble domains.

Despite this, the Red Maple Baron never built his own castle. According to the decree of the kingdom, the hereditary knight titles among the nobles in the field can already build castles and recruit private soldiers of no more than 100 people to protect the security of the territory and resist the invasion of the enemy.

The biggest enemies of the Celtic Kingdom were not the great powers of the mainland who were eyeing this land, but the savage orcs on the northwest plateau. In addition, there are also several space cracks leading to the abyss in the kingdom, which can allow a small number of evil creatures to pass through, so the military strength of the Celtic kingdom has always been good. Just the basic army, there are powerful heavy infantry and cavalry. The cavalry troops riding the sturdy northwestern purebred horses, not to mention the three major legions of the kingdom as the strongest force, are no different than the elite armies of the mainland countries.

It is hard to imagine that the remote kingdom of Celt in the north of the continent has such a powerful military force. This may be one of the reasons why the mainland forces are very interested in the land here, but have never had the opportunity to invade.

It's just that the entire North County is not very threatened by orcs, and only the westernmost Bloodstone Fortress can see orcs, so the baron believes that there is no need to spend a lot of money to build any castle here in Hongfeng Town.

This is also because the Red Maple Baron family is actually a businessman. If you are a general noble, especially a knight, the first important thing when you have a territory is not how to make money, but how to keep and stabilize your territory.

Baron Red Maple has only been enshrined for two generations. The family used to be only a squire class, and had never been a knight, so he didn't have any special ideas about the castle. Over the years, only one villa was built in the center of the town as the lord's mansion, and most of the time, the two generations of barons liked to live in their manor.

On the contrary, for the business of the territory, the two generations of Red Maple Barons attach great importance to it. In order to attract investment and make people think that Hongfeng Town is safe, they do not hesitate to spend a lot of gold to strengthen the town and the villages under its jurisdiction. Peripheral defense, used to defend against the occasional threat of monsters running out of the forest.

I have to say that this was a success. In just over a dozen years, the excellent crops and high-end wines, sweet maple sugar, and the huge monster resources provided by the Green Mantle Forest have driven a large number of people. The richness of the people made Hongfeng Town become the richest commercial town in North County after Shining Gold Town.

Such a style often caused the nobles of North County to ridicule the baron for being an upstart full of copper smells, without the slightest noble demeanor. But they are all rushing for the production of Hongfeng Town.

The planning of Hongfeng Town is somewhat similar to the commercial city of the previous life. Donald still appreciates it very much, but he does not fully agree with it. Because in the era of stability and prosperity, such a town would definitely bring a lot of wealth to the lord, but if it were in troubled times, it would undoubtedly become a target for others.

And even if there is no war, such wealth is enough to make people jealous. If there is no relative strength to protect one's wealth, then it is simply attracting outsiders to snatch it. At that time, the life will be in the hands of others, and there will be a room full of gold. What use can it be?

Donald didn't know what the lord was thinking, but if it was himself, he would definitely create force first and take the territory into his own hands before doing anything else.

At this time, Donald was riding in a carriage, looking out the window. The lively scene passing by along the way is unobstructed.

It was only a few minutes away from the civilian area where he lived to the Baron's Manor outside the town. Donald didn't pay much attention to Baron Red Maple's invitation this time, and he didn't bring anyone other than Clinton.

And he only wore a new set of ordinary aristocratic dress, except for the apprentice badge on his chest, the two rings on the fingers of his left hand, and a cane placed obliquely on the seat of the carriage, there was no decoration on his body. Compared to Sir Jesse, who wished to have gold trim on the corners of his clothes, Donald's outfit was extremely plain.

Soon the carriage arrived at Baron Red Maple's manor outside the town, and a middle-aged man who looked like a butler was standing outside the gate of the manor waiting.

Donald vaguely remembered that this was Baron Red Maple's butler, Mr. Klein.

As for this housekeeper, the former Donald had seen several times in the town when he was down, so he knew the existence of this person.

Being able to have his butler outside to greet him, it seems that while the red maple baron attaches great importance to him, he also has a little contempt. According to the noble etiquette of this world, no matter the size of the title, it is very normal and normal to send his own butler to greet the nobles. Do not lose manners. But that refers to the nobles who know each other or even befriend each other. As two nobles with similar titles, one of them is visiting for the first time. No matter what important thing the interviewee is doing, he must temporarily put down and greet him in person. to show respect for each other.

The red maple baron obviously thought that Donald Melina had not reached the same level as himself, and Donald's status as a poor noble also made him despise, so he only sent his housekeeper to greet him.

Donald didn't pay much attention to this contempt. Anyway, when he was a blockbuster, he would be replaced by the Baron to look up to him!

Passing through this rich wine estate, Donald secretly observed the situation of the estate.

It was found that a solid wooden wall with a height of three meters was erected on the periphery of the manor, and the wooden wall was several layers thick, which was enough for a hundred militiamen to resist the attack of an ordinary army of several hundred people, and also had a good defense against some bulky monsters. Effect.

It seems that this businessman baron did not attach importance to force as rumored by outsiders, at least he was closely guarded for his wine estate, which is the biggest source of income.

Under the leadership of the housekeeper, several people soon came to the gorgeous villa in the center of the manor, and saw the red maple baron sitting in the master's seat.

For his father's old acquaintance, Baron Red Maple, Donald still has some impressions in his heart. This old-fashioned aristocrat who is good at business has a good heart compared to other guys who fell into trouble, but in the later stage, because the other party did not mean to help in the slightest, this The relationship is over.

In front of Wei Weifa, a middle-aged aristocrat dressed as a businessman, Donald first saluted.

"Lord Ernest, Donald Melina has come to visit at your invitation!"

It stands to reason that Donald should also be called an uncle, but to the snobbish aristocrat in front of him, he can't say anything.

"I haven't seen you for many years, Donald Jr. has grown into an adult! I miss the good times when you were hunting with your father!"

Regarding Donald's attitude, this businessman and nobleman who is good at talking is very enthusiastic. If it is the original Donald, he may be fond of the memory of the other party's emotional offensive, and gradually fall into the other party's control.

However, although the current Donald is less friendly to people, the subjective identification that basically stems from his previous life is still relatively firm, and he has not changed his attitude because of the other party's few words of close remembrance.

For this kind of person who only has interests in his eyes and can sell most things, it's better to just talk to him about interests. Once you get emotional, you will hurt yourself in the end!

"Yeah! Speaking of which, Donald would also like to thank Lord Ernest for his help ten years ago, allowing us to settle down in the town, otherwise I probably wouldn't live now, let alone my current achievements!"

"Oh! The friendship between you and my family, don't mention these little help, in order to celebrate Donald, you have obtained the certification of the mage apprentice, I will prepare a celebration banquet for you later, it is my own family, no Outsiders are involved, so Donald, you don't have to be restrained, just treat it as your own home!"

Seeing Donald's lukewarm attitude, Red Maple Baron Ernest obviously knew that his offensive did not impress the young man in front of him. It seems that a person who can become a powerful profession like a mage, even an apprentice, is not a simple person.

However, the middle-aged businessman was not discouraged. The more he did, the more it proved that this young man was worth paying a lot of money to befriend.

While preparing for the noon banquet, the Red Maple Baron took Donald to visit his most proud asset, the wine workshop.

However, the short visit did not give Donald much useful information, which disappointed Donald, who had his own manor and wanted to buy a profitable business.

Back in the villa, Baron Red Maple sat and talked with Donald, and the Baron naturally brought the topic to Donald's recent big moves.

"I heard that you purchased the two manors in the northwest of my territory?"

Donald answered truthfully: "Yes! Lord Ernest, the profession of mage requires too much capital to grow, even as an apprentice. If I have a stable income now, then I can enter immediately. The rank is an official mage! So it is imperative to buy an estate!"

The middle-aged businessman frowned and looked worried, but in fact there was a hint of joy in his heart and said:

"As far as I know, the results of my neighbor in the red maple land a few decades ago were not very good. Many people say that the former Lord Land and the current two manors are actually cursed land. Anyone can accept it. They will all be blessed by bad luck, and the previous owners have all ended badly. If you need funds, Donald Jr., you can tell me that I, as an elder, will not care about the friendship of the old friends who have passed away. !"

When Donald heard the words, he looked at the person in front of him seriously, and after a few seconds of silence, he said with a smile:

"Curse is originally a branch of our mages. The wizards who are good at conjuring spells are good at it. If there is a curse, I won't be afraid. The big deal is to ask Mr. Messer to do it in person, and it will definitely be able to expel a portion of the kingdom's land. Curse, the teacher will still be very willing!"

"As for the help of Lord Ernest, I will definitely do it when necessary!"

"Oh? Dear Donald Jr., your relationship with Master Messer..."

The middle-aged businessman saw the young man silent, thinking that the other party had already taken the bait and was considering whether to accept his funding, but the young man's words surprised him! Master Messer, as the number one mage in North County, was not inferior to the existence of Viscount Macbeth. In his capacity, he only had a little contact with him twice, and then he never had the chance again. Don't even get to know him. If this little apprentice has a close relationship with that master, then it is not something that ordinary people can offend!

The more Ernest thought about it, the more startled he became, but Donald replied with a smile:

"I became an apprentice, which happened to be tested and certified by the master himself. The master still appreciates my little talent on the path of the mage, so he accepted me as his apprentice! This ring is one of the gifts given by the teacher, I am very grateful to my teacher for helping and teaching me!"

Only then did Baron Ernest take a closer look at the ring and scepter that he thought was decorated with jewelry. The more I look at it, the more I feel that every piece seems to have a mysterious power.

Even if local nobles like him have power and wealth in their hands, they still don't know much about the mysterious mage. Not to mention that he is a small baron, even His Majesty the King of Celtic, what he knows about the profession of spellcasters such as mage is limited to the content of the royal family's collection.

However, Baron Red Maple, who did not understand the level of magic items, knew their value very well.

You must know that as a well-known rich nobleman in North County, the crystal lamps in his home are not counted, and there are only three magic items, two of which are used for kitchen fire and food cooling and freshness. Only one magic talisman is used to protect His own defense equipment, which he purchased from a black iron mage at a cost of thousands of gold sol. Even if he has money, some high-level magic items have no way to buy them. If he participates in the auction, he cannot bid with all his strength because of the power of those great nobles.

In fact, this is also the reason why Baron Red Maple has become a noble for too short a time. Generally, there are family heirlooms accumulated for several generations in the noble families that have lasted for a long time, which are not only valuable, but also valuable.

The time for the conversation ended soon, and the diligent servants of the Red Maple Baron's family had already prepared the banquet and could start at any time.

When the middle-aged businessman saw that he could not get any useful information from Donald's mouth, he invited him to the banquet.

Donald still knows a lot about the banquet etiquette of nobles. After all, he was deeply impressed by the education of those nobles when he was a child. Although he lost his territory and became a desolate aristocrat, he did not give up on the noble education of his own heir, the elders of the Melina family, even when he died.

After the two sides were seated, the first appetizer was served by the waiters.

The content is appetizing wild sour fruit marinated beef tenderloin, with a small thorn bird egg.

After being marinated for half an hour with a few pieces of wild sour juice with a sweet and sour sauce, a small plate of beef tenderloin with a strong aroma and sour sauce is really appetizing. On the other hand, after being cooked, the crystal clear white thorn bird egg has no condiments attached, and the original taste of the thorn bird egg itself is already very smooth and delicious.

Thornbird is a bird similar to the size of a quail in the previous life. People here usually take their eggs as food. The size of Thornbird eggs is also similar to that of quail eggs, but the shape is slightly round. Its population is large, but its flight is dexterous, and it often builds nests in high places, so that it is difficult to obtain, and because it cannot be artificially raised, the price of its eggs has always been high.

Because the thorn bird eggs are sought after by the nobles, it usually takes one silver moon to buy three eggs, which is equivalent to the food cost of most poor families for a month. Donald also only ate some of it during the period after he came to this world to open the book of truth.

Speaking of which, spices are rare and expensive in this world, only the nobles can enjoy them from time to time, but the varieties are relatively simple, which made Donald, who was used to the rich cuisine and taste of his previous life, very unaccustomed to it when he first arrived.

He did not like the nobleman Baron Red Maple, but it did not prevent Donald from enjoying the food provided by the other party, but before the second dish came, the good atmosphere of the banquet was interrupted by the sudden arrival of uninvited guests.