Chapter 15 Marcus and the attacking wild dog

Once the Tulip Insect has completed its assimilation, it can be re-contained within the jade box and nurtured within the castle – no longer requiring the feeding of jade powder, as the insect can absorb nutrients on its own to sustain the Elfbug.

This process would take approximately one day.

Upon returning to the castle, Liszt began penning a letter.

He laid out a thick parchment, dipped his quill into ink, and began scripting in serpentine letters. Without telephones or faxes, he could only rely on the most primitive form of communication: handwritten letters.

He intended to write to both the Earl of Coral Island and the Baron of Falcon Town, his father and elder sister.

The Earl had a Greater Tulip Elf, a Lesser Tulip Elf, and several Tulip Elfbugs, while the Baron possessed a Lesser Tulip Elf. This indicated that the black tulip in Liszt's territory held significant importance to the elves, and both the Earl and the Baron would undoubtedly be willing to pay a price for the new variety.

In this situation, not even blood relatives could escape a clear accounting, let alone father and son.

"Using the opportunity of assimilation, I might be able to barter an Elfbug from the Earl and a supply of living necessities from the Baron," he had already decided what to request in exchange.

Elves were the primary source of productivity, and any chance to acquire them must not be missed.

Secondly, there was the issue of scarce resources – in fact, the castle lacked everything. Liszt wasn't someone who lived a simple life; he enjoyed the good things.

"I can discuss with the Earl about cultivating and selling the black tulips. As a specialty product, they can only be grown here with me. However, the sales rights can be handed over to the Earl… Well, I should be able to claim a 20% profit from it… But even with full-scale breeding, it'll take a year or two before we can produce them in bulk."

Putting down his pen, he pondered for a moment before continuing the letter.

"Perhaps I can ask for an advance, no, a deposit from the Earl for his sales agency. I need more gold coins – it's tough to develop Flower Town without initial capital. Especially for the road to Thorns Ridge, we must clear a safe and wide path. As the saying goes, 'to get rich, build roads first.'"

That was essentially the content of the letter.

By the time he finished writing the second letter, Marcus had arrived. There was no one else suitable to deliver the letters except for Marcus, who was a Earth Knight – Liszt had yet to cultivate an Intermediate Battle Qi technique and thus was weak in combat.

"Teacher Marcus, I have two letters here that need delivering."

"At your service," Marcus replied, his tone seemingly different. Before Liszt's promotion to Earth Knight, he would've only answered with a simple "yes," but now, it was "at your service."

Liszt noticed the change, but he didn't comment on it: "Also, I need an Intermediate Battle Qi technique. Tulip Castle's Thousand Waves doesn't suit me. Could you bring me the Flame Wave from the Knights Academy? Oh, and ask Butler Louis if there are any other fire attribute Battle Qi techniques in Tulip Castle."

"No problem."

"Rest well tonight, and we'll set off tomorrow. Be cautious when crossing Thorns Ridge," Liszt pondered for a moment and offered, "Your yellow-gray horse isn't the best; perhaps you should ride my Fire Drake."

Marcus bowed in gratitude, "Thank you for your kindness, but my yellow-gray horse has been with me on the battlefield. It's a trusted companion with whom I share a deep bond. It's more appropriate for me to ride it."

"You may do as you please."

"If there's nothing else, my lord, I'll take my leave."

"Feel free to go."

...

"Good afternoon, Mr. Marcus." Tom Pigsty, with his buckets of water, greeted Marcus respectfully as he saw him leaving the castle.

Marcus nodded slightly, "You too."

Tom was taken aback by this unexpected politeness. Usually, Marcus and Gort wouldn't bother saying "hello" to him. He was just a menial laborer in the castle, and those below him were likely the stable boy Jesse Rice-Water, who tended to the horses, chopped wood, and cleaned manure, and kitchen maid Irene Four-Fingers.

Tom wanted to bow to Marcus but forgot about the buckets on his shoulders, causing the water to spill.

Bending down, the yoke slipped, spilling half the water from the buckets. "Be careful."

"Oh, s-sure, Mr. Marcus."

As soon as Marcus rode away, Thomas appeared out of nowhere. "You're so clumsy, Tom Pigsty. You can't even manage two buckets of water without spilling half of it. Perhaps Master should assign you to feed the pigs – that would suit you better."

Tom lifted the buckets without looking at Thomas. "I'll fetch another two."

He was a head taller than Thomas, but he always kept his head lowered out of habit.

Thomas sneered. "What else can you do besides fetch water? No, you can't even do that properly. You're destined to be a menial servant your whole life! I'm Master's personal servant, and sooner or later, I'll replace old Carter as the castle steward! When that happens, I'll send you straight to tend the pigs first."

"You won't," Tom whispered in protest. "Mr. Carter is Master's right-hand man."

"Hmph, Master has already entrusted me with accompanying him on trips. He trusts me, and I'm still young. I'll eventually replace old Carter!"

"You won't," Tom muttered, turning away and leaving.

Pouring the water from the buckets into the large cistern, the maidservant Debbie Window came to draw water. She glanced at Thomas, who was strolling outside the castle walls. "Tom, is Thomas causing you trouble again?"

"Nothing at all."

"You shouldn't be afraid of him. He's not that impressive, and the Master will see your efforts."

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

"Would it be too much trouble?"

"Not at all. Mr. Carter assigned me tasks that are quite light."

"Tom, you're truly a kind soul."

...

As early as dawn, Thomas finished his breakfast and fed his dun-gray mare with beans and hay.

He meticulously examined Liszt's two letters and Gort's five, along with the few words he had scribbled on a thick parchment to remind himself of tasks not to forget – the fire-elemental Aura Secret Technique that Liszt needed, the thick parchment that Old Carter had asked him to purchase, the box of cigars that Gort desired, the scabies ointment for Squire Alden Pad, and the bowstring that he himself required.

His bowstring had snapped during his encounter with the Windblade Wolf, so he needed a replacement. After wiping down his lance and one-handed sword, and counting the feathered arrows in his quiver, he was ready. He mounted his horse and left Flower Town, galloping toward Thorns Ridge.

Thorns Ridge was a series of rolling hills.

In truth, it consisted of two hills joined together - one running north to south, the other east to west. A narrow path between them served as the only access to and from Flower Town.

The forests on these hills were home to magical beasts.

However, they were not abundant, especially during this season when food was plentiful. As a result, the path between the hills was generally safe. As an Earth Knight, Marcus wasn't intimidated by ordinary beasts.

After traveling no more than a mile,

he sensed the aura of a magical beast. "Why do I keep encountering magical beasts? First the Windblade Wolf, now this – I must be truly unlucky!" Marcus gripped his lance tightly, his gaze fixed on the direction from which the beast's aura was emanating.

He waited for a moment.

The magical beast remained unseen.

Marcus narrowed his eyes. Concealed magical beasts were more perilous than those that moved openly. He patted his dapple-gray steed, pretending to depart, hoping to lure the beast into revealing itself.

They had traveled another half league.

The magical beast following him finally lost its patience and decided to attack proactively. A towering figure burst from the woods beside the path, launching a fierce assault.

Marcus had been on high alert the whole time and was not about to be caught off guard. Almost simultaneously, he turned his mount and lunged forward with his lance.

Then, he clearly made out the appearance of the magical beast—a colossal wild dog.