Chapter 233: Distilled Liquor Tastes Terrible

The night before the departure. * WwW.suimeng.lā

Baron Liszt specially visited the distillery in the Workshop Area. Frank Barley, Bordin, and Hunt had been experimenting with distilling spirits for over a month.

However, no results had been delivered to the castle.

"So, after all this time, you've only managed to continue brewing beer, rice wine, and fruit wine, but still haven't succeeded in making spirits?"

He asked with a stern expression.

Frank Barley, the head of the distillery, who shared the same name as Frank, the tutor of Levis, replied nervously, "My lord, we have figured out the method and principles of distillation, but the distilled liquor doesn't seem to achieve the desired taste."

"Bring out the liquor you have distilled."

Soon, the distilled liquor was presented to Liszt.

Frank explained, "Following the method provided by you, my lord, we found that during the distillation process, the alcohol in the fermented wine evaporates first, leaving behind water. Repeated distillation should yield spirits, but even after multiple distillations, there are always foul, sour, astringent, and salty flavors."

Liszt tasted a bit of the spirit.

Although he didn't like drinking spirits, he had tried gin in the castle before. Compared to gin, the spirit brewed in Flower Town tasted very poor, with strange flavors. He could detect some foul and sour notes, and the alcohol aroma was very weak, suggesting a low alcohol content.

"You've repeatedly distilled and only achieved this level of potency?"

"There is a stronger version, but it might... might not be considered liquor anymore."

"Bring it out."

The stronger liquor was soon presented. Liszt took a small sip and nearly choked. It was not only extremely spicy but also had a strong foul and unpleasant taste.

This was definitely a problem with either the fermentation or distillation process.

Seeing Liszt's reaction, Frank and the other two stood uneasily beside him, feeling ashamed. Distilling spirits wasn't a high-difficulty task, yet they hadn't managed to produce a satisfactory product even after a month of research with Liszt's guidance.

"Remarkable efficiency!"

A surge of frustration welled up inside him, but he couldn't vent it.

The three men in front of him were the only brewers in Flower Town.

If they were truly talented, they wouldn't have been sent here; they were likely the leftover craftsmen. So, he couldn't expect much more from them.

After venting his frustration, Liszt controlled his anger: "Forget it, continue improving the process... for now, fill a few bottles of the less potent liquor, I want to take it with me."

In the end, he did not punish them.

At least, the distilled liquor had been produced, and sooner or later, they would find a way to remove the strange flavors.

To create a specialty liquor unique to Flower Town.

With Thomas carrying the bottled liquor, Liszt returned to the castle. He still intended to bring this semi-finished spirit to Tulip Castle, not as a gift, but to entice Levis with a grand vision.

With the promise of a highly profitable spirits business, this trip to Tulip Castle would undoubtedly ensure top-tier treatment and a share of iron tools and ore.

...

The next morning.

Servants were busy loading gifts from Flower Town onto the wagons.

Rondo and Lasse, along with their retinue of knights, were warming up, ready to accompany Liszt to Coral City. Liszt was no longer an ordinary man; without a proper entourage, it wouldn't match his status.

Thomas, the male servant, led Hiddleston, a mid-level magical beast, one of Liszt's symbols of prestige.

Another servant, Tom, held a beautiful jade box, inside which slept the thorn sprite Jie La. Its birth was destined to be a focal point, and the messenger knight had explicitly mentioned that the Earl hoped Liszt would bring Jie La to Tulip Castle to show the new member of the Tulip family.

For nobles, a sprite was a family member.

Gort arrived early, but unfortunately, he wasn't needed this time. Liszt asked him to stay in Flower Town. Missing out on the grand feast was a great regret, but he had more pressing concerns—his wife and children were coming to Flower Town for the New Year celebration.

If things went wrong, his mistress Frya and her unborn child might be exposed.

The sun rose in the east.

Snow-covered Flower Town became particularly bright.

"Mr. Carter, I don't know how long I'll stay at Tulip Castle, so please take care of the castle," Liszt said, dressed in a well-fitted frock coat that accentuated his refined demeanor.

"Sir, rest assured."

Carter led the remaining servants to see Liszt off.

Mounting his horse, Liszt rode the Black Dragon horse to the front of the procession. Behind him, Parris, carrying a large sword and wearing new leather armor, covered her face with a scarf and followed on another horse. As a bodyguard, she naturally had to protect Liszt's safety in such situations.

The group set off in grand style.

The road from Flower Town to Thorns Ridge was well-maintained, with the snow cleared by the town's efforts. But beyond Flower Town, the road turned into a muddy mess, a stark contrast.

Fortunately, everyone was either riding horses or in carriages, so the speed remained quite fast.

Enjoying the snowy scenery along the way, except for the thick snow in Flower Town, once they left North Valley City and entered the territory of Yulin City, the snow became scarce, leaving only muddy roads.

Around ten o'clock in the morning.

The group entered Coral City, where a faint stench greeted Liszt, but he was prepared, having pinned a bunch of dried tulips to his chest.

These were red tulips, with a very strong fragrance.

In Coral City, both fresh and dried tulips were in high demand, though the residents, accustomed to the city’s perpetual aroma, still found it hard to get used to the pungent scent that lingered all day.

Fortunately, the caravan was just passing through, heading straight for Tulip Castle.

The majestic Tulip Castle was still surrounded by a sea of flowers, with colorful tulips swaying in the cold wind. On the southern hillside, a large patch of deep purple tulips could be seen, the expanded fields of magical black tulips now occupying the largest area of the flower sea.

Xiang Xiang, the great tulip elf, tended her caterpillar grass among these black tulips.

As they ascended the hill, the guards of Tulip Castle soon came forward to greet the caravan, escorting them to the castle gates before handing them over to the castle’s servants.

Steward Louis, who now needed a cane to walk, personally greeted the young heirs at the gate. To him, these young tulips were children he had watched grow up with his own eyes.

"Every sunrise reminds me of the lord's offspring, rising like the red sun one after another. But the happiest moment is when I see you return to the castle, like weary birds returning to their nests," the old man spoke as if reciting poetry, filled with metaphors and eloquence.

Liszt dismounted, smiling and greeting him, "Grandpa Louis, you’ve come out to welcome us again. How have you been recently?"