Chapter 259: The Great Magician’s Blessing

I had thought that a family dinner would be enough to conclude this rather uninteresting holiday and earn the reward.

But in the evening, an unexpected surprise arrived.

"Marquis Merlin, it's been a long time," said a middle-aged man dressed in a splendid magic cloak, wearing three rings of different colors on his hand—pale yellow, light red, and blue.

"Mr. Grimandan, why have you left the court to come here?" Marquis Merlin was somewhat surprised by his arrival.

"I come with the Duke's blessing."

"The Duke has gone to great lengths. Let's begin, Mr. Grimandan."

Grimandan smiled slightly and raised his hand adorned with the three rings. In the next moment, the light from the rings intermingled, forming several beams that shot straight into the nearly dark night sky. These beams were all magic, and they suddenly exploded at a height of a hundred meters.

Boom!

The red beam ignited vast patches of flames, like clouds of fire.

Boom!

The blue beam stirred up waves of water, surging in the sky like ocean waves.

Boom!

The purple beam unleashed streaks of lightning, weaving through the flames and water, producing a deafening thunder.

Boom!

The green beam exploded last, transforming into a powerful wind that mixed the flames, water, and lightning into a swirling mass above Longtaro Castle, constantly changing shapes.

This magical spectacle made everyone in Longtaro Castle look up at the sky, admiring the magical wonder. Even people in the distant city could see the magical display above Longtaro Castle and marveled at it.

After about fifteen minutes, the magical spectacle gradually dissipated, leaving behind a few raindrops, and everything returned to calm.

"Marquis Merlin, I have delivered the Duke's blessing," Mr. Grimandan bowed slightly and said calmly.

Marquis Merlin returned the bow, his tone somewhat wistful: "Although it is just a showy magic performance, I have received the Duke's intention. Thank you, Mr. Grimandan, for your hard work. Please join me for the holiday dinner."

"It is my honor."

Accompanied by Marquis Merlin, Grimandan nodded to Mexiro and others before entering Longtaro Castle.

Meanwhile, Liszt had already found out the identity of the visitor, and Meopo explained in detail: "Curtis Truth, a grand mage serving the court. He excels in the six elements of wind, water, fire, earth, lightning, and ice, but his greatest skill is designing and researching magical equipment, especially magical rings."

"The three rings on his hand?" Liszt asked again, remembering the life box he had tricked Curtis Truth out of, which was a blue sapphire ring. He hadn't noticed anything special about it.

The design was similar to the magical rings on Grimandan's hand.

It might very well be a magical ring.

Meopo nodded: "Yes, they are definitely three magical rings. Using the power of dragon gems, they specifically enhance the power of spells cast by mages. Because the magical runes are carved differently, they are of little use to us knights, but they are invaluable treasures to mages."

Hearing that they were of no use to knights, Liszt couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

It seemed that the magical runes on the blue sapphire ring, which contained Curtis' life box, were also specifically carved for mages. He couldn't use it and could only keep it as a keepsake.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind: "Why not simply remove the blue sapphire from the ring, scrape off the magical runes, and have someone carve new ones to create a gemstone weapon? I already have a suitable red blood sword; it would be best to create a matching gemstone spear for charging."

He even had a name in mind: Blue Blood Spear, to go with the Red Blood Sword.

As for the life box function of the blue sapphire ring, with Curtis' soul having been extinguished along with the collapse of the ghost ship, it was no longer needed.

"But if I reveal this blue sapphire ring now, will it raise any suspicions? Besides, can a used gemstone still be recycled and reused?"

It was unknown.

He had only just had the idea and quickly returned to the dining room to start the holiday dinner.

At the table, the rich and luxurious food, extravagant crystal tableware, and aged cellar wine all highlighted the wealth of the Longtaro family.

Grand Mage Grimandan chatted amiably with Marquis Merlin, occasionally sharing a few court secrets.

The young people toasted each other, wishing for a smooth new year.

Servants continuously entered and exited, removing plates that had barely been touched and bringing in new, darker-themed dishes. Two-year-old Luoxi suddenly started fussing, her small hands randomly slapping the table, causing a crystal dish to fall and shatter on the ground.

The servants of Longtaro Castle smiled and cleaned up the broken dish, and the guests at the table paid no attention.

Liszt, who had still not developed a taste for dark cuisine after a year, ate politely and idly lamented in his heart: "The rich feast on meat and wine while the poor freeze to death on the streets."

The luxury of Longtaro Castle allowed crystal dishes to be casually broken.

The price of one crystal dish might be enough to feed a commoner on black bread for a year.

The backward level of productivity made it difficult for commoners to have enough to eat and wear warm clothes, even for the serfs of Longtaro Castle, who had countless elves assisting in agriculture, life remained hard. Although the yield in the fields was high, it also meant heavy taxes, necessary to maintain the lifestyle of Longtaro Castle.

Food, clothing, and the equipment for armed knights—all came from the labor of the commoners.

"What are you thinking about, lost in thought?" Lvera, sitting beside Liszt, leaned over and whispered, "Are you thinking about your subordinates, perhaps a certain masked mercenary woman?"

After arriving at Red Crab Island and recovering from the mental trauma she suffered on the ghost ship, Lvera had developed an interest in Parris and often sought to build a rapport with the female mercenary.

She seemed intent on recruiting the female mercenary, and Liszt did not interfere; if she could win her over, so be it.

Hearing this, he elegantly sliced the roasted monster meat and replied nonchalantly, "No, I am contemplating world peace."

"Haha," Lvera laughed, "Liszt, I never realized you had such a sense of humor."

Liszt also smiled, with a touch of self-mockery that echoed the sentiment, "Life should be about doing meaningful things. The desire for world peace is very meaningful, of course, we need to understand that it’s best to set a small, achievable goal first."

"What’s your small goal?"

"For example, riding a dragon first."

"Haha!" Lvera burst into laughter.

Cousin Russell joined in the laughter as well, "Yes, I also want to set a small goal. I want to ride a dragon too."

Their laughter caught the attention of Grimandan, who was chatting merrily with Marquis Merlin: "Who wants to ride a dragon? I can introduce them to the Duke; his courtyard houses the only dragon in the country."