Chapter 0015: Marcus and the Sneak Attacking Wild Dog

Once the Tulip Spirit Bug completes its assimilation, it can be returned to the Jade Box and kept inside the Castle—what's more, there's no need to feed it Jade Powder anymore; the Cordyceps can absorb nutrients on its own to sustain the Spirit Bug.

The process should take about a day.

Back at the Castle.

Liszt began to write letters.

He unfolded a thick piece of parchment and, dipping the quill in ink, began to trace Serpent Script. With no telephone and no fax, he could only use the most primitive method of letter-writing to communicate.

He planned to write to the Coral Island's Count and the Falcon Town Baron, his father and sister respectively.

The Earl had one Tulip Greater Elf and one Tulip Lesser Spirit, as well as several Tulip Spirit Bugs, while the Baron had a Tulip Lesser Spirit. This meant that the Black Tulips on Liszt's land were vitally important to the Elves, and both the Earl and the Baron would be willing to pay a price to assimilate this new variety.

Here, let alone brothers settling accounts, even fathers and sons must do the same.

"By taking advantage of this assimilation opportunity, perhaps I could obtain a Spirit Bug from the Earl; from the Baron's side, a batch of living supplies." He had already decided what he wanted to trade for.

Elves were the primary source of productivity, and he must not let slip any opportunity to obtain them.

Next came the shortage of living supplies— in reality, the Castle was lacking in everything. Liszt was not a person who lived an ascetic life; he enjoyed his comforts.

"Additionally, I can speak with the Earl about the cultivation and sale of Black Tulips as a specialty item. Black Tulips can only be grown on my land. However, I can entrust the Earl with the selling rights. Hmm, as for the profits, taking a twenty percent share should be no problem... But to fully propagate the Black Tulips, it will still take a year or two before they can be mass-produced."

He paused his writing, pondered for a moment, and continued the letter.

"Maybe I could ask for an advance, no, collect the Earl's sales agency deposit upfront. I must secure more Gold Coins; it would be hard to develop Fresh Flower Town without start-up capital. Especially the road through Thorn Ridge, a safe and broad path must be cleared; if you want wealth, build the roads first."

Basically, that was the content.

Once the two letters were written, Marcus had already arrived. The only person fit to deliver the letters, being an Earth Knight, was Marcus—Liszt had not yet studied the Intermediate Dou Qi Manuscript, which left him relatively weak in combat.

"Teacher Marcus, I have two letters here that I need you to deliver for me."

"At your service," Marcus replied, his tone slightly different. Before Liszt was promoted to Earth Knight, Marcus would probably have just said "Yes," but now it was "At your service."

Liszt noticed this subtle change, but made no particular response: "Also, I need a copy of an Intermediate Dou Qi Manuscript. The 'Thousand Waves' at Tulip Castle is not suitable for me. Please bring me the 'Flaming Wave' from the Knight Academy, and, uh, ask Butler Louis whether Tulip Castle has any other Fire Attribute Dou Qi Manuscripts."

"No problem."

"Rest well tonight, and set off tomorrow. Be careful when crossing Thorn Ridge." Liszt paused, "Your dappled gray horse isn't outstanding enough; ride my Fire Dragon Horse instead."

Marcus bowed in gratitude: "Thank you for the offer, but the dappled gray horse has been through battles with me; it's an old friend with whom I share a mutual understanding. It's more fitting for a poor knight like me to ride it."

"As you wish."

"If the Baron has no further need of me, I shall take my leave."

"Please do."

...

"Good afternoon, Mr. Marcus," greeted Tom Pigsty, who was carrying buckets of water when he encountered Marcus leaving the Castle.

Marcus nodded slightly: "Good day to you."

Tom was flattered by the acknowledgement. Normally, neither Marcus nor Goltai would say "Good day" to him. He was just a manservant who did the heavy chores in the Castle, with perhaps only the stable-boy Jessie Asanobu, who was responsible for feeding the horses, chopping wood, and sweeping dung, and kitchen maid Eileen Four Fingers beneath him in status.

He wanted to bow to Marcus, but forgot he had buckets on his shoulders. As he bent over, the carrying pole slipped, and half the water spilled from the buckets.

"Be careful."

"Oh, yes, of course, Mr. Marcus."

After Marcus rode off, Thomas emerged from somewhere and said, "You really are all thumbs, spilling half the water from both buckets, Mr. Tom Pigsty. Perhaps the lord should have you feed the pigs—that might suit you better."

Tom picked up the bucket without looking at Thomas. "I'm going to fetch two more buckets of water."

He was a head taller than Thomas, but always had the habit of lowering his head.

Thomas sneered, "Other than fetching water, what can you do? No, you can't even fetch water properly. You are nothing but a laboring manservant for life! I am the master's personal servant, and sooner or later, I'll replace Old Carter and become the butler of the castle! When that time comes, you'll be the first one I send to feed the pigs."

"You won't, Mr. Carter is the master's confidant," Tom murmured in defense.

"Hmph, the master has already allowed me to accompany him on outings and trusts me. I'm young, and I will replace Old Carter sooner or later!"

"You won't." Tom didn't want to argue anymore and turned away.

After pouring the water from the bucket into the large tank, maid Debbie Window came over to fetch water. She glanced at Thomas, who was loitering outside the castle, "Tom, is Thomas giving you trouble again?"

"It's nothing."

"You shouldn't be afraid of him; he's nothing special. The master will see your hard work."

"I know, I'm not afraid of him. The master is very very kind, he sees my hard work, and so does Mr. Carter," said Tom as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "But thank you, Debbie, do you need help carrying water upstairs?"

"Won't it bother you?"

"Not at all, Mr. Carter has arranged light duties for me."

"Tom, you really are a good person."

...

Early in the morning, Marcus had his breakfast and fed his dapple-gray horse plenty of beans and hay.

He carefully checked the two letters from Liszt and the five from Goltai, and then glanced at the few words he had written on the thick paper.

These words were reminders to himself so he wouldn't forget—Liszt needed the Fire Attribute Dou Qi Manuscript, Old Carter had entrusted him to purchase thick paper, Goltai wanted a box of cigars, Retainer Knight Auden Insole had asked him to buy ointment for scabies, and he needed bowstrings for himself.

His bowstring had snapped while struggling with Wind Blade Wolf, and he needed a new one.

Afterward, he cleaned his Knight Spear and One-Handed Sword, counted the feathered arrows in his quiver, and, with everything well prepared, he mounted his horse and left the town, heading towards Thorn Ridge.

Thorn Ridge was a series of rolling hills.

In fact, it should be two hills joined together, with one running north-south and the other east-west, and a little path in the middle being the essential route in and out of Fresh Flower Town.

Within the woods, Magical Beasts roamed.

However, they were not many, especially in this season when food was abundant, and rarely did the beasts venture out. Thus, the path between the hills was relatively safe, and as an Earth Knight, he did not dread common beasts.

He had traveled no more than a mile.

Suddenly, he sensed the presence of a Magical Beast.

"Why have I encountered a Magical Beast again? Last time it was a Wind Blade Wolf, I really am unlucky!" Marcus gripped his Knight Spear, nervously watching the direction from which the Magical Beast's aura spread.

After waiting for a moment.

The Magical Beast did not show itself.

Marcus narrowed his eyes; a Magical Beast that concealed itself was more dangerous than one that showed itself openly. He patted his dapple-gray horse, pretending to leave to coax the beast into revealing itself.

He had gone about half a mile farther.

The Magical Beast trailing him finally grew impatient and took the initiative to attack. A large figure burst out from the woodland beside the path, launching a ferocious attack.

Marcus, who had been on guard all the way, naturally could not be taken by surprise. Almost simultaneously, he reined his horse around, thrusting his Knight Spear forward in response.

Then, he discerned the appearance of the Magical Beast—it was a gigantic wild dog.