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, Moonshadow City collected a variety of materials," Martis, Count Laxus' advisor, replied.

"Based on the analysis, such materials can be used to make fertilizer," Martis continued.

"What kind of fertilizer?! How can fertilizer be effective?" Laxus exclaimed in shock.

It's common knowledge that, regardless of the fertilization methods you use.

Without addressing the core issue of the corrosive mana, you 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 inquired.

He didn't really 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," Martis explained.

"I see, no wonder," Laxus couldn't help but nod.

It's no wonder that fertilizer is 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?" Laxus couldn't help but wonder.

"This, I don't know."

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

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.

After all, it's not a worthwhile investment.

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

After all, strength is all that matters.

Now he's in the same situation as the previous count of Moonshadow City, saving money only to spend it all on training.

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

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

After all, Laxus was a Tier 3 Earth Knight himself.

Robbing some kid should be easy.

"Hmm, that's not decent. 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," Laxus waved his hand.

"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 question.

What happened to doing legitimate business?

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

How could he truly engage in business?

Isn't that nonsense?

If he really had some talent in business then he wouldn't be envious of some kids.

...

A few days later, during the harvest season, in the Moonshadow City castle:

"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 excused himself.

Sooner or later, many people would notice the peculiarity of his territory.

After all, only with a formation can you grow food.

"Do you know about formations?!" Francis exclaimed with shock.

The reason he was so surprised was that formation masters were nearly extinct in the Sunburnt Plateau.

If you wanted someone to set up a formation for you, you had to pay exorbitant prices.

"I know a little. There's a formation inheritance left by my father."

"After years of study, I became quite proficient," Maximus explained.

"So that's it!" Francis couldn't help but nod.

"Then you set up the formation in the farmland to isolate the corrosive mana?" Francis asked.

"Yes, unfortunately, I'm barely skilled in formations."

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

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

After all, Maximus was his son-in-law, so 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 100 thousand gold from you, I used all of it to establish a high-end restaurant."

"Now, after a few months of operation, it earns tens of thousands of gold every month," Francis bragged.

Originally, he was an imperial chef, so after he set up the restaurant, the business flourished.

"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?" Francis laughed.

While they were engrossed in conversation and laughter.

Maximus suddenly felt the protective ring on Hazel's hand activated.

"Hazel!" Maximus called her name.

Without hesitation, he 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."

Just 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. When you were young, I often took you out in the sun."

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

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

"By the way, where is Father?" Hazel asked, not seeing her father around.

"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," Hazel said.

She intended to take Lily out to soak in the sun anyway.

"Then go, come back later, and I'll cook you some food."

"You're too cute, little Lily." 

Grace couldn't resist pinching Lily's cheeks – she was such an adorable child.

"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."

The carriage moved slowly through 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 noticed someone approaching Hazel with hostile intent.

However, soon silence prevailed.

Hazel even thought that it was just her imagination.

"What happened?" Hazel questioned, holding Lily tightly.

Bang!* 

The door of the carriage suddenly swung open.

"Who are you?!" Hazel demanded, seeing a man holding a bloodied knife.

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

"What do you want?!"

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

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

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

"Damn!" Lucas suddenly sensed danger and dodged.

Unfortunately, the attack came swiftly, severing his arm.

"Damn, witch!" Lucas cursed.

It was supposed to be an easy job; little did he know that this girl possessed alchemy talismans.

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

*Dang!*

However, an energy barrier abruptly materialized.

"Huh, 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 really 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, so he dodged without sustaining further injury.

Yet, the impact alone sent him flying.

"Oh, it's truly powerful," Hazel muttered as she retrieved yet another token.

Besides the ring of protection, Maximus had armed her with a bunch of tokens.

As Lucas grew frustrated, he barely managed to dodge, losing his legs in the process.

"Damn, this is endless,"

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

He, Lucas a tier 3 earth knight vagrant from another kingdom.

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

But who knew that a simple mission is something that will kill him?

"Really persistent!" Hazel grumbled.

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

Now, faced with the fourth token and unable to move, Lucas had given up.

*Boom!*

Lucas disintegrated, leaving behind rubble and dust.

"Huff."

"Huff."

Hazel breathed heavily after such a harrowing experience.

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

"Huh, you really don't care about your old mother," Hazel remarked, looking at the oblivious Lily.

Lily seemed to understand and gave her a kiss and a toothless smile.

"Hmmm, that's good enough," Hazel smiled.

However, seeing the ruckus that had happened, the guard's body that was littered across, and the fact that she just killed someone.

Hazel's emotions were quite complex.

"Hazel!"

In less than a minute, Maximus arrived at Hazel's side.

"Are you hurt?!" Seeing Hazel safe and sound, Maximus couldn't help but ask.

"I'm fine, husband," 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," Maximus said, leaning in to kiss her.

Lily chuckled and returned the kiss.

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

Surveying the dead guards and Lucas' body, a sense of darkness overcame him.

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