Chapter 206: Fire Attribute Condensation Core Vein

Elkson still took the time to study the bone fragment Liszt had given him.

Of course, he was not a scientist but rather a magician who enjoyed socializing more than exploring the truth. After a few days of tinkering, he returned the fragment to Liszt.

"Baron Liszt, based on my judgment, this is a remnant of a large creature's skeleton. It is quite old, and the magic lingering on the bone has completely dissipated... So it should still be suitable for crafting bone tools. The hardness is quite good, not far off from iron."

He elegantly bowed. "Additionally, I thank you for your generous hospitality. I have completed the new batch of Flame Mushroom magic potions, so I wish to take my leave."

"Alright, when you come again, don't forget to continue purchasing magic books for me."

"No problem."

Elkson left lightly, likely returning to Coral City to enjoy his freedom. Magicians are human too; they may not marry but can visit brothels to continue their exploration of life's truths.

At the apple table, there were some snacks and pastries.

Hiddleston lay at the edge of the table, his eyes fixed on the pastries, wanting to eat them but not daring to reach out.

A beautiful white fairy named Jie La swung from the branches of the apple tree. With Liszt watching nearby, she did not bind Hiddleston but instead dozed off boredly in the tree.

Occasionally, when a leaf fell, she would fly out with a cry, chasing after it, entertaining herself.

In a chair under the tree, Liszt leaned back, turning the fragment of fire dragon bone in his hand, looking somewhat disappointed: "It seems it can only be used to craft bone tools for the serfs to till the fields... Sigh, such precious dragon bones being used for farming is truly a waste!"

Steward Carter approached and reported: "Sir, all twenty carts of bone fragments have been neatly stored in the warehouse. Do you need to personally inspect them?"

"No need. Mr. Carter, I trust you to handle this matter."

Carter smiled modestly. "Thank you for your trust, sir. It is an honor to serve the castle."

"Regarding finding bone artisans, don't forget to instruct Harpagon and Sherlock. The bone workshops are already under construction, yet the artisans are still not in place. Also, keep an eye out for any signs of competition between them. I don't want the two merchant groups to have conflicts over the sales of Flower Soap."

"Rest assured, sir. I will closely monitor Harpagon and Sherlock."

Liszt nodded, reflecting aloud: "Merchants need control. Once given too much power, they tend to lose themselves, which is not good."

He was gradually beginning to dislike merchants. Indeed, obedient farmers were the lord's favorite subjects, while these active merchants always had ambitions that could swell uncontrollably. Because the production of Flower Soap was limited, they even bribed Bounie to suppress each other, ignoring Liszt's instructions to cooperate.

Punishment was necessary. He planned to bring Grandet out of retirement to integrate the two merchant groups and reduce their autonomy.

He also intended to promote several natives of Flower Town to important positions within the merchant groups to supervise and limit Harpagon and Sherlock.

"If only I had the Three Corpse Brain Spirit Pill. One pill for each of them, and they would obediently follow orders without needing any strategic manipulation," Liszt mused, envious of the Sun Moon Holy Cult's method of controlling subordinates. "Without the Three Corpse Brain Spirit Pill, learning the Heavenly Longevity Old Ancestor's Life-Death Seal would also work."

His imagination ran wild. Since martial arts novels had inner energy, perhaps this world's magic or martial aura could achieve similar effects as the Life-Death Seal or the Three Corpse Brain Spirit Pill.

At least magic contracts already had some elements of controlling life and death.

He pulled out a thick parchment and wrote in snake script: "Development plan for life-death controlling magic, martial aura, or contracts!"

Then he stuffed the parchment into the spatial gem, knowing it was just an idea for now, without the means to develop it. Perhaps someday, when he had the capability, he could revisit it.

The Flower sailed back with a half-ship full of bone fragments.

This was just a small portion of the fragments cleared from the burial ground, yet it filled an entire newly built warehouse. With such abundant raw materials, the number of bone tools that could be crafted would be massive. The primitive agricultural civilization of Flower Town would leap forward once equipped with these tools.

By then, one serf could cultivate more land, utilizing all the remaining fallow land in Flower Town.

...

When the last batch of bone fragments arrived in town aboard the Flower, it was nearly mid-December.

A bone artisan from Coral City, Blake Bones, finally agreed to come to Flower Town to oversee the bone workshop and craft bone tools, teaching apprentices along the way, enticed by a hefty sum of gold.

He brought his family with him—his wife, two sons, their wives, and a newborn grandson. This family had a tradition of bone craftsmanship, though not particularly skilled, which is why they couldn't compete with other bone workshops in Coral City and thus were willing to move to a rural town.

"Blake, work diligently for me, and the rewards you receive will far exceed your efforts," Liszt said to Blake. "Your two sons are already set in their ways, with no potential for development, but your grandson, once he grows a bit older, I can make an exception and allow him to train with the knights, becoming my retainer knight."

Offering a chance at nobility was always effective.

Blake knelt down, moved. "I am honored to work for Lord Liszt. I will give it my all."

"Excellent. You will be proud of today's decision."

Having convinced Blake,

Isaiah brought more good news—the chicken-raising scale in Flower Town had officially surpassed a thousand birds. All the peasants eagerly signed up after hearing about the benefits of raising chickens, knowing that eggs were valuable.

However, acquiring chicks was challenging. Most were collected one by one from rural households, barely reaching a thousand before winter snows arrived.

"Task completed, reward: Fire Attribute Condensation Core Vein."

The smoky task promptly followed up, issuing the reward—a vein of a mineral Liszt had never heard of.

"What is a Fire Attribute Condensation Core? It sounds valuable and seems related to the fallen fire dragon. It must be on Black Horse Island, likely discovered by Marcus during the excavation of the fragments."

The fire dragon and the Fire Attribute Condensation Core were hard to separate in Liszt's mind.

However, elemental dragons were not known to produce minerals, and he hadn't heard of fire dragons creating such veins.

"I'll ask Marcus when he returns what kind of vein they found. If they haven't found it, I'll send someone immediately to search and excavate... I have a feeling the Fire Attribute Condensation Core will be crucial for me, especially since I have fire attribute martial aura!"

Thoughts flashed through his mind.

The smoke before their eyes shifted and transformed, forming new serpentine patterns.