Chapter 61 Boiled Peanuts and Hops

"Tonight's main course is peanuts?" Marcus deftly shelled the nuts. Although wheat was undeniably the staple food, its yield was generally low, necessitating supplements like peanuts and peas.

"How does it taste?"

Liszt asked, as he didn't have any boiled peanuts in front of him. He wasn't particularly fond of them, so Abby, the castle's cook, had prepared him a porridge of oats instead. The others weren't as fortunate.

"Soft and tender, but a bit bland."

Gort chimed in, "Boiled peanuts usually have this taste. They're nice as an occasional change of pace, but eating them often is enough. However, these peanuts seem larger than usual. Did you notice that?"

Marcus nodded in realization, "The peanuts from Peanut Village have been harvested?"

"These are the first batch, from the area near the peanut bug grass. The yield is a third higher than normal, and the growing cycle is shortened by a month. We won't be lacking in peanuts this year. I think Mrs. Abby should have time to grind more peanut butter to spread on bread for a delightful aroma all day long."

In Flower Town, Gort was the sole connoisseur of food and drink. The knight lord never ceased to talk about such matters.

Liszt smiled slightly, "A dollop of juniper berry wine would complement it perfectly."

"Oh, Liszt, you always understand me, ha ha."

"Unfortunately, the juniper brandy we brought back from Coral City last time is already gone."

"Honestly, I really don't want to hear that news."

"In fact, there's even more disheartening news." Liszt sipped his porridge. "Our reserve of red wine has reached its limit, and Mr. Carter doesn't recommend us continuing to drink it. Otherwise, we won't be able to afford the festivities for the second half of the year. As for beer, we're running out of the hopped variety, leaving only sour beer."

"Goodness, this can't be true, can it?"

Liszt didn't respond.

Carter, the butler serving the banquet behind him, stepped in to answer, "With the weather turning warmer, beer consumption has increased significantly. With no caravans passing through, we can't produce hopped beer ourselves. If not for the Earl's carriage bringing many barrels of beer last time, the castle would have run out of even sour beer by now."

Gort wore a grimace. "I think we should build a pier and directly purchase hops from Vice Count Tricke's place."

Unfortunately, the eastern coast of Flower Town was flat sand without a suitable deepwater harbor for a pier to be constructed.

As for Vice Count Tricke, he was a follower of Earl Coral Island, full name Tricke Hopvine. He owned a separate island known as Beer Island.

On the island stood an imposing castle known as Brew Castle.

The Hops family's beer, brewed with hops, was popular across several major islands.

Beer was the most common beverage in the Grand Duchy, available in two types: hoppy beer and unhopped beer.

Hops were a variety of the Humulus plant, playing a crucial role in beer-making. They lent the drink a refreshing aroma, bitterness, and preservative quality, creating a fine foam, clarifying the wort, and their strong hop flavor balanced the natural sweetness of the malt, stimulating the appetite.

Unhopped beer would quickly turn sour and become unpalatable.

All hoppy beer on Coral Island was brewed by the Hops family, thanks to which they could afford to build the named Brew Castle.

"Access to the harbor is out of the question, so I must fully open the road to Thorns Ridge. Only then can caravans enter Flower Town... There are no Tax Knights now to ensure the safety of their passage," said Liszt, turning to Marcus. "Professor Marcus, hasn't the selection for the knight squad ended yet?"

Putting down the boiled peanuts he was holding, Marcus replied, "Tomorrow is the final day of selection. I've already made preliminary choices, but unfortunately, their physical conditions are still too poor. Only two of them meet the entry requirements for the Knights Academy."

"It might be due to inadequate nutrition. From now on, the squad will be supported by the castle. I trust their physique will greatly improve."

"In that case, I'll no longer worry about their meals and focus on training."

"Well, they should learn to wield Aura as soon as possible. Flower Town shouldn't be limited to just five Aura knights. There will be many occasions in the future when we'll need to rely on them."

...

To his surprise, Liszt met the logging team the very next day.

He had expected Gort to take at least two or three days to mobilize the robust slaves, but he received an unexpected turn of events today.

Gort rode on horseback, personally leading the logging team to assemble on the road outside the castle. There were thirty sturdy slaves, but only half of them had new or old axes in their hands. The team only had two saws in total, which were brought by the carpenter's son from his home.

Iron was scarce.

The metal was controlled by countries with dragons, making it extremely difficult to acquire.

This was also the reason why the Sapphire Grand Duchy often organized knight groups to participate in battles on the continent, to seize mineral resources – most of the iron mines in the Grand Duchy had been plundered from the Eagle Kingdom and transported bit by bit by sea to the various islands.

In Flower Town, many slaves used wooden, stone, and bone tools for their labor.

Contrary to his imagination, the scene was not orderly or solemn.

This group of sturdy peasants wore deep worry on their faces – their lord had commanded them to cut down trees in Thorns Ridge, a perilous task. Should they encounter a monstrous beast, their wives might very well have to remarry.

"Master Gort, didn't you mention that I would send protectors for them?"

"Of course I informed them, but they remain fraught with fear."

Lister expressed understanding: "Language is inadequate."

Amidst the conversation, a squad of chanting soldiers sprinted across the polo field towards the castle. Four knights accompanied them in supervisory roles, with Marcus leading the charge as their chief.

"My Lord!" Marcus dismounted his horse and bowed to Liszt.

"Why thirty of them?"

Marcus explained, "They will be escorting the logging team. Based on their performance today, I will make the final decision on who will be in my squad. They have similar physiques and are not too dull-witted. Now, it's time to test their courage, for a knight must possess bravery."

Gort asked upon hearing this, "Liszt, shouldn't you say something before they depart?"

Liszt nodded. Of course, some parting words were necessary.

Mounted on his Black Dragon steed, his figure exuded an air of valiance accentuated by the black magic beast armor. He slowly approached the two lines of people. Liszt surveyed the crowd with a solemn expression and declared in a loud voice, "Citizens, I am your lord, Liszt Tulip."

Pausing for a moment, he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

He had yet to master the art of grandstanding. After a brief moment, he decided to abandon the lengthy and rousing speech, opting instead to say calmly, "Today, you will cut down the trees of Thorns Ridge for me, clearing a path between our town and the outside world. And I shall ensure your safety!"

Words alone were insufficient. Facing the still-anxious serfs, he simply raised his whip lightly, and the Black Dragon horse reared up, letting out a mighty cry to the sky.

As the hooves hit the ground, Liszt was already leading the way on his horse.

"Let's move out!"