Chapter 285: Successive Pledges of Allegiance

..The great dragon died.

It was completely dark, and the castle was already preparing the dishes for the evening banquet.

Liszt went upstairs to chat with the sea sprite, Acheronides. This had become a fixed habit of his. Chatting with the innocent Acheronides relaxed his soul.

"Liszt, look, I've copied *Freddo's Fireball Technique*, and now I can cast a water arrow from the back of my hand," said the delighted sea sprite Acheronides.

Her hand began to form a water arrow. With a gentle push, the water arrow flew out of the window like an arrow.

For her, learning magic was like getting a new toy, and she played with it endlessly: "Look, look, not only can I cast a water arrow from the back of my right hand, but I can also do it with my left hand, heh heh. Next, I want to cast a water arrow from my knee. What do you think of this idea?"

Liszt was astonished and didn't know how to respond.

It wasn't considered difficult for magicians to conjure fireballs with various parts of their bodies. However, for a magic apprentice such as Freddo Truth, casting a fireball from the back of the hand was technically challenging.

After all, magic apprentices couldn't be compared to magicians. Their mental control abilities were much weaker.

The fact that Acheronides could cast water arrows from the backs of both her hands, and achieve this in just a few days, was astonishing. "Acheronides, what gave you the idea of casting water arrows with your knees?"

"The Truth predecessors who wrote the magic books said that the most important thing for a magician is to have imagination and creativity. I noticed that no one has used their knees to cast spells. If I succeed, I can write a book as well. Hmm, I'll call it *Acheronides Truth's Water Arrow Technique*, heh heh."

"Yes, you already have the qualifications to write a book. It seems you have mastered the Water Arrow Technique. I'll have to find more books on water-based magic for you as soon as possible."

The inheritance of magicians was quite secretive. Only simple basic magic had dedicated magic books for reference, with new casting methods explored through mutual discussion.

There were no books for advanced magic.

Just like the secret techniques of knights' aura and the cultivation manuals of sky knights, they are invaluable.

The Tulip family has cultivated for many years without even one secret technique of aura. If it weren't for the guidance of the Smoke mission, Liszt would never have obtained *The Eye of Magic*.

"It seems I need to have a good talk with Elkson." In Liszt's view, Elkson is a very pleasure-seeking magician, and the possibility of obtaining magical inheritance from him is relatively high, as long as he is willing to spend the money.

For Ake's path to become a Water Mage, Liszt gritted his teeth and was willing to bear the cost.

After all, Ake's strength means greater safety at sea. Just think, having a Water Mage accompany the voyage, there's nothing to fear from any sea monsters. Even if Ake lacks the talent to advance to a Mage, becoming a High Mage still provides formidable combat power.

Hearing Liszt's words,

Ake nodded happily, "Thank you, Liszt."

"Ake, why don't you call me brother?" Within three seconds, Liszt decided to bind the future Water Mage with familial ties.

Ake tilted her head, looking seriously thoughtful, "But Ake is already forty-one years old, and you are only seventeen, Liszt."

"You are a mermaid, and I am human; age can't be measured this way. I am already an adult human, while you are still a minor mermaid, so you should call me brother."

"Oh, okay, brother."

"Ake is such a good girl. Come, brother will give you a black pearl. You can use it to study the magic runes and magic arrays recorded in magic books." Liszt took out a fist-sized black pearl and handed it to the mermaid Ake.

From the giant clam shells, a total of sixteen black pearls were harvested.

A basin-sized black pearl still lies quietly in the gem space, waiting for the right moment to be crafted into a Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

Two basketball-sized black pearls, one has already been made into a Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and the other is about to be crafted into one.

Three black pearls as large as sea bowls, unused.

Ten black pearls the size of a fist, sold two to Levis, gifted one to Marquis Merlin, one given to Granny Truth as payment, and another given to Acher, leaving five remaining.

Holding the black pearl, Acher smiled especially brightly. "Wow, what a beautiful black pearl! I can feel so many water-attribute magic elements, gentle like little babies holding hands, just like a natural magic array. Thank you, Brother, I will study the black pearl and learn about magic runes and magic arrays!"

"Study hard, I still have a few black pearls," he said, separating the clause with a comma. "You can help me craft them into magical equipment later."

"Yes, I will work hard!" Acher squeezed her small fist, making an energetic gesture. Compared to her cautious demeanor when they first met, she was now lively and adorable.

It made one want to reach out and ruffle her blue hair again.

He sincerely hoped Acher would excel in her studies soon. When that time came, she could help craft the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. After all, family matters should stay within the family; asking Granny Truth to craft the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl involved astronomical material costs. The last one had cost him a fist-sized black pearl.

He nudged Jie La, who was still lying in the shell, unwilling to get up.

Liszt left the room.

The castle's banquet was beginning.

In the snow-covered Flower Town, there were few lights at night, so people finished work early. Only the brewery was operating overnight.

"Lord Baron, I heard that Lasse and Griffin have already pledged their loyalty to you and have been assigned tasks," Rondo Kettle suddenly asked, just before the banquet began.

"Yes."

"I hope to follow you, my lord!"

"I accept your request to follow." Lister was not surprised by Longdo's request and replied directly. This was followed by the knightly ceremony of allegiance, formally establishing the bond between follower and lord.

This meant that Longdo's fate was now in Lister's hands, and Lister would bring him greater glory.

With Longdo leading the way.

Rick Footprint, Nemo, and others also declared their intention to follow Lister. Among the officials of Flower Town, Isaiah, who had not yet pledged to Lister, also requested to follow. Flower Town was no longer a remote village, and Lister was no longer the timid second son of an earl.

Flower Town would rise alongside Lister, and everyone understood clearly that if they didn't follow now, as more capable individuals joined, those who followed later would lose their advantage.

After all, the early followers would certainly be valued more by the lord than the newcomers.

Seeing the younger generation perform the knightly oath of allegiance, the older Zambrotta hesitated. He had come to Flower Town, recognizing Lister's potential, hoping to regain his noble glory by riding on Lister's rise. However, such hasty allegiance was not what he had hoped for.

As a former knight of a noble, he had experienced moments of glory and remembered the distinction between himself and the common folk.

Even after losing his title and being reduced to a commoner, he retained his pride, and with his extensive knowledge and talent, he considered himself superior, unwilling to lower his status easily.

In this moment, the situation did not allow him to remain aloof. If he didn't follow now, Lister would certainly remember. "Since I will have to follow eventually, I might as well do so now. Lister will replicate the earl's glory and become a new great noble, I cannot miss this opportunity!"

Having made his decision, he immediately knelt on one knee: "Zambrotta wishes to pledge allegiance to Lord Lister!"

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