Chapter 312: Dracula

Defeating Charles Trapp was, in Liszt's view, a very normal thing. Just like how most who rely on potions can defeat those who rely on combat skills, money can buy a lot of advantages.

However, as Liszt's opponent, Charles found it hard to accept. He was already over forty years old, yet he had been beaten by a seventeen-year-old.

This was a result he had never anticipated before the combat training.

The most critical point was that he was utterly powerless, beaten from start to finish, and completely suppressed. The situation was incredibly humiliating.

But with the burning hot longsword already at his neck, Charles had no choice but to admit that he had indeed lost, to a young man.

This should have been a shameful and infuriating matter.

Considering Liszt's status, he soon felt relieved. The offspring of the Tulip family, who also inherited the bloodline of the Longtaro family, it was only right for such a noble to possess such strength.

In the end, he sighed and sincerely said, "I... have lost."

"There have been more than one elite Earth Knight who have fallen to my hands. You shouldn't dwell on it. Among elite Earth Knights, your strength is quite good, and the paralyzing effect of your lightning-infused aura is quite threatening," Liszt said lightly. In truth, I've only sparred with Marcus and Parris.

Neither of us fought to the death, so it wasn't about winning or losing.

However, in the Earth Knight stage, sword battles were rare, and group charges were still the main focus. Liszt had no intention of going to the battlefield for one-on-one sword fights. His primary training was in archery. He had learned the《Multiple Arrows》technique from Marcus and had surpassed his master.

In a real battle, he would definitely focus on shooting from the periphery.

"Lord Baron, your strength is formidable. Charles is truly convinced. The bloodline of the Tulip family is among the noblest I have ever seen," Charles got up, half flattering and half sincere, "The difference between the Tulip family and the Marquis family is merely a matter of time."

Liszt threw the steel longsword to the footmen and took a handkerchief to wipe his hands. "It's best to be ennobled early; time is everyone's enemy."

Charles deeply agreed, "Yes, the feeling of being against time is terrifying."

As an elite Earth Knight without the means for advancement or potions, his physical abilities would likely decline in a few years.

That's why he was desperate to seize any opportunity: "Lord Baron, if you need assistance on your path to ennoblement, Charles is willing to charge for you!"

This was a declaration of intent to follow.

But Liszt thought about it: "I am just a baron, the second son of a count. The members of my Knight Squad are knights like me who fight against fate. Because, apart from striving for glory, they have no other choice. What about you? You have many choices, so why did you come to Flower Town?"

Of course, it was because there were opportunities in Flower Town.

However, Charles knew that this answer was not what Liszt wanted. Just as a knight chooses a lord to follow, a lord also chooses suitable followers.

He had to prove to Liszt that he was a qualified follower.

But how to prove himself left him at a loss. "Lord Baron..."

"Don't rush, Sir Charles. Time is indeed our enemy, but it also allows us to more clearly understand what we want. You can go back first, calmly think about what you want and what you can do, and then we can talk about serving me."

Ultimately, Charles left Flower Town with regret and confusion, but also a glimmer of hope.

...

Under the apple tree.

The new conversation partner had become Zanbuluota: "My lord, did you turn down Charles's offer to follow you?"

"I didn't reject it outright, but I didn't accept it either. I told him to go back and understand himself first before returning," Liszt said while sipping his milk tea, "That was just an excuse to send him away. In truth, I haven't decided yet whether to accept his service. As you mentioned, his status is an obstacle."

Having an elite Earth Knight as a retainer is actually quite good.

However, there's a concern that the other party might be a noble with a forged identity. If one day someone exposes this fraud, it would not only embarrass Charles, but it would be even more pitiful for Lord Liszt, a noble lord who was deceived by a fraudster.

Zanbuluota nodded, somewhat emotional: "What hinders him from gaining the glory of knighthood is actually the noble title he values the most."

"Maybe one day, he will figure it out and choose to abandon his status to fight for something greater," Liszt said with a smile, though he found it unlikely, and then changed the subject, "Where did we leave off last time? Was it about Count Dracula from the Rose Duchy, who was mistaken for a vampire?"

"Yes, he never participates in banquets between nobles, hiding in Blood Castle. At one time, he was the most renowned sky knight of the Rose Duchy, and even the Duke's daughter was infatuated with him."

Storytelling was Zanbuluota's forte, and he always told stories vividly, drawing people in: "After the Countess passed away, Count Dracula became eerie and strange. Some said he made a pact with the devil, turning himself into a vampire to resurrect the Countess."

"I bet the Countess must have been stunningly beautiful."

"When I passed by Blood Castle, I lingered for a long time but rarely heard anyone talk about the Countess's appearance, and even her identity was hard to discover... It was quite a pity."

Vampire and werewolf stories are widely spread.

However, a living Count being mistaken for a vampire was quite amusing. This gave Liszt a lot of inspiration and reignited his desire to write the epic historical novel *Dragons Battling in the Wilderness*. Perhaps he could write about an ancient war between humans and vampires.

The vampires retreated and blended into human society.

Perhaps they are among us right now.

...

Unfortunately.

The writing plan for *Dragons Battling in the Wilderness* was delayed again.

After finally resolving issues with the woodworking workshop and the brick factory, Liszt had only a few days of leisure before he received a notification from the knights of Tulip Castle. The young heir of the Golden Wheat family was visiting Longtaro Castle, accompanied by Levis, and Liszt was informed to attend as a host.

As a fellow noble heir, mutual socializing was necessary.

Liszt had to make some arrangements for the affairs in Flower Town and spent several hours having fun by the sea with the mermaid Acheronides. The next morning, he set off for Tulip Castle, leading his signature blizzard beast Hiddleston and accompanied by his personal guard, the black dragon guardian Parris.

"Sigh, nobles are really keen on socializing. There are always endless reasons to gather for feasts and celebrations... I do not desire to live such a life."

Sitting in the carriage hanging with the black tulip flag, Liszt boredly looked out the window.

The landscape was dotted with forests, shrubs, wastelands, farmlands, and scattered wooden houses, forming a quaint township. This was an era of relatively low productivity, characterized by its rustic simplicity. As the carriage entered Coral City, the bustling crowd felt like it pulled him back to the dirty and chaotic streets of the medieval era.

However, as they drove toward the tall and magnificent Tulip Castle along a slope filled with tulip flowers,

The sight of civilization greeted him.

The lives of nobles and commoners were two different worlds. As Liszt stepped out of the carriage and looked at the elderly butler Louis, who came to welcome him, he felt profoundly grateful for his status as a noble.