Assassination

Stonebridge City, within a lavish castle:

"How is it? Did you know how the city next to us managed to make their land grow food?" Count Laxus, the lord of Stonebridge City, asked.

"According to our informant, a few months ago, the Moonshadow City collected a variety of materials,"

"Based on the analysis, such materials can be used to make fertilizer," Martis, Count Laxus' advisor, replied.

"What kind of fertilizer?! How can fertilizer be effective?"

It's common knowledge that no fertilization is enough to make a land arable.

Without addressing the core issue of the corrosive mana, one cannot make the land fertile and promote food growth.

Yet, the city next door managed to achieve just that.

"Did you check if there is an array formation set up?"

Laxus didn't believe that a simple fertilizer could revitalize the land.

"Yes, there seems to be something that was blocking the corrosive mana from reaching the ground,"

"I see, no wonder…"

It's no wonder that fertilizer was effective.

Without the corrosive mana affecting the land, growing food is just a matter of time.

"But how could they afford to hire a formation master? I heard the previous count was obsessed with training. How could they still afford to spend millions of gold coins?"

"This—I don't know."

"Hmm, it's possible that the previous count sold some treasures while he was still alive,"

As for the possibility that Maximus was the formation master, that didn't even cross his mind.

"That count should have had a lot of money. Spending millions of gold just to grow some food is quite extravagant."

Even Laxus, given such an enormous amount of money, wouldn't think of investing in food production.

If he had that kind of money, he would spend it all on his cultivation.

After all, in this world, strength is all that matters.

"What do you think I should do, Martis?"

Although strength matters, he was also short of food, relying on others for export.

"That... Should we rob him?" Martis suggested.

With Laxus' strength as a tier 3 Earth Knight, robbing some kid should be easy.

"It's quite barbaric. We should act nobly and engage in business."

"I'm sorry for suggesting such a thing, my lord," Martis bowed, acknowledging his mistake.

"It's alright,"

"Then what kind of business should we do?"

"Perhaps we could hire some assassins to kidnap the count's relatives."

"Kidnap?" Martis couldn't help but be speechless.

What happened to doing legitimate business?

Kidnapping is worse than robbing.

"Heh, selling people should fetch millions of gold," Laxus laughed.

How could a brute like him engage in business?

If he had business acumen, why would he stare at mere millions of gold?

---

A few days later, the Moonshadow City started the harvesting season.

"Maximus, I saw that your farmland is beaming with food," Francis, Erica's father, said excitedly.

When he had come to visit his daughter, he was greeted by a vast expanse of land filled with crops.

"Hey, it's because I planted a mini-formation," Maximus lied.

Knowing that many people would notice the peculiarity of his territory sooner or later, Maximus already thought of an excuse.

"Do you know about formations?!"

Formation Master was rare as a phoenix feather in the barren Sunburn Plateau.

To set a formation array, they had to outsource from other lands, paying an exorbitant price.

"I know a little. There's a formation inheritance left by my father. After studying all these years, I had become quite proficient."

"So that's it!"

"Unfortunately, I'm barely skilled and can only set a subpar isolation formation."

"Oh, that's already very impressive," Francis sighed with envy.

However, thinking of asking Maximus to set up a similar formation when he had his territory, he couldn't help but smile.

As his son-in-law, asking him to set up a formation should be easy.

"By the way, father-in-law, I heard that your restaurant is causing a sensation in the Imperial Capital."

"Hey, I'm glad you asked me. After I received the 10 thousand gold from you, I established a high-end restaurant."

"Now, after a few months of operation, it earns thousands of gold every month,"

Initially, Francis was an imperial chef; thus, the business quickly flourished after he set up the restaurant.

"In the future, I might have to rely on you, father-in-law, to support our family," Maximus joked.

"Hahaha, don't worry. How could I forget about my daughter and grandchildren?"

While they were engrossed in conversation and laughter, Maximus suddenly felt the protective ring on Hazel's hand activated.

"Hazel!"

Without hesitation, Maximus activated a speed-boosting jade token, darting out of the castle and heading straight for Hazel.

---

A little while earlier,

"You're here, Hazel!" Grace, Hazel's mother, exclaimed.

"Hmm, I missed you."

"You also brought little Lily with you."

A few days ago, after Hazel gave birth, there was a banquet where their parents had the chance to meet Lily.

Now, seeing Lily again, Grace couldn't help but cuddle her granddaughter.

"My husband said that it's good for the baby to bathe in the sun," Hazel explained, giving Lily to her mother.

"That's indeed good. I often took you out in the sun when you were young."

"Now look at you, growing up so beautifully and capturing even the Lord's heart,"

Although Grace wasn't sure if it was really good, she believed it to be so since the Lord said it was.

"By the way, where is Father?"

"Oh, your father is helping Robert oversee the food harvesting."

Since Hazel's family didn't have a job, Maximus gave Hazel's father the position of supervisor and assistant to Robert.

"I see. Then I'll go see him,"

"Then come back later; I'll cook you some food."

"Hmm, well, I'll be back later."

"Let's go to the farm," Hazel said to the guards as she boarded the carriage.

As Maximus' wife, she naturally had a group of escorts.

"Yes, madam."

Soon, the carriage moved, slowly roaming through the Moonshadow City.

"How does the outside world look to you, Lily?" Hazel talked, gazing out the window.

"Ba...ba..." Lily babbled endlessly as if understanding what Hazel was saying.

While they were bonding, the carriage suddenly came to a stop.

"Assassin!" The guard outside suddenly warned, noticing an individual approaching with hostile intent.

"What happened?"! Hazel muttered, holding Lily nervously.

Bang!~

Suddenly, the door of the carriage was swung open.

"Who are you?!"

"You must be Hazel, Count Maximus' wife," Lucas said with a wide grin.

"What do you want?!"

"Hehe, some people just want bargaining chips against your husband."

"Don't worry; you won't be hurt if you cooperate peacefully."

However, before Lucas could get any closer, Hazel activated a jade token, unleashing an attack comparable to a Tier 3 earth knight.

"Damn!" Lucas, sensing the danger, quickly dodged.

Unfortunately, the attack came in an instant, severing his arm.

"Damn, Witch!"

It was supposed to be an easy job; who knew that this girl possessed an alchemy talisman?

Blinded by anger, Lucas forgot his initial goal and attempted to kill Hazel.

Dang!~

However, as his attack came through, an energy barrier abruptly materialized.

"Another alchemy item?!" Lucas' eyes reddened.

Who said that this was a simple kidnapping mission?

"Escape!" Realizing he couldn't stay any longer, he fled.

"Huh? The ring my husband gave me is effective." Although Hazel was scared, her maternal instinct enabled her to think clearly.

Seeing Lucas about to escape, she pulled out another jade token and activated it.

"Another one?!" This time, Lucas was prepared, completely dodging the attack.

Unfortunately, the impact still sent him flying.

"Oh, it's really powerful," Hazel smiled as she retrieved another jade token.

Arming her to teeth, her husband sent her dozens of alchemy talismans for protection.

Meanwhile, unable to dodge a barrage of attacks, Lucas injured his leg.

"Damn, this is endless,"

Lucas didn't know how many times he cursed his employer in his heart.

He was a tier 3 earth knight vagrant from another kingdom.

He just arrived in the Faerie Kingdom, so he thought of doing some easy mission to get some quick cash.

Who knew a simple mission was something that would kill him?

"Really persistent!"

While Hazel didn't like killing, the danger had almost taken her daughter's life, filling her with rage.

Soon, faced with the ninth jade token and unable to move, Lucas could only wail in despair.

Boom!

Leaving dust and rubble behind, Lucas was erased from existence.

"Huff."

"Huff."

Breathing heavily, Hazel calmed her nervous heart, turning to see if Lily was alright.

"Da... da..." Lily, who had witnessed everything, clapped as if it were a play.

"Huh, you really don't care about your old mother!" Hazel complained with a smile.

As if understanding her words, Lily gave her a kiss and a toothless smile.

"Hmph! It's good enough,"

However, seeing the ruckus, the guard's body littered across the ground, and the fact that she just killed someone, Hazel felt a whirlwind of emotions.

"Hazel!"

Soon, in less than a minute since the start of the assassination, Maximus arrived at Hazel's side.

"Are you hurt?!"

"I'm fine," Hazel reassured with a smile.

"It's good to see you're okay," Maximus sighed in relief as he embraced Hazel and Lily.

"Hmm," Hazel hummed, feeling comforted by Maximus' embrace.

"Ba... ba..." Lily seemed uncomfortable and babbled as she patted his chest.

"Baby Lily, it's good to see you're fine,"

Lily chuckled and talked endlessly as if recounting what happened.

Seeing that both were unharmed, he cast a gaze over the surroundings.

Surveying the dead guards and Lucas' body, his expression turned dark.

"Who dares to threaten my family?" Maximus thought with a fierce expression.