Chapter 502: Mage Tower

Thanks to the red packet from the alliance leader Bittertree, there will be four more updates later.

Cris Truth has been promoted to a Great Magician.

Even before the tofu was made, good news had already arrived. Liszt was equally excited when he saw Cris coming to the castle to report the good news.

He does have reservations about magicians.

Not because magicians like to cause explosions, but because their relentless pursuit of truth makes them reckless. The fanatics from the Goat Assembly even dared to slaughter dragons—what wouldn’t they do? Liszt certainly doesn’t want such a group of lunatics in his territory.

However, the water-element Great Magician, the mermaid Acheronides, is different. She is Liszt’s personal asset and a direct source of wealth from the sea. The light-element magician, the black dragon spirit Parris, is also different. Although this new captain of the patrol knight corps has switched to being a magician, she shows no interest in exploring the truth.

Finally, the true human Great Magician, the versatile Cris Truth, is also different.

She did say that she would dedicate herself entirely to the truth and would spend her life exploring it, but after all, Liszt saved her life. With this relationship, it keeps her craziness in check. Moreover, through their interactions, Liszt has come to feel that Cris is just an ordinary scholar.

She does enjoy exploring the truth, but she doesn’t have those insane, twisted thoughts.

Under Liszt’s continuous influence, she has blended into the life of the territory, often taking baths, dining out, going for walks, and even enjoying comedies.

She lives an ordinary life.

Liszt feels at ease with her: "Congratulations, Cris, you’ve finally achieved your wish and become a Great Magician. I will also keep my promise and build a magician’s tower for you on Black Horse Island."

"Thank you, Lord Viscount."

"You’ve been helping me create potions, and for that, I should thank you."

"Serving you is my unwavering duty." Cris remains gentle and humble, not proud because of her potion-making. "I’ve heard the territory’s finances are strained. I’m not in a hurry for the magician’s tower. I hope you address the financial issues first and build the tower for me later."

What a considerate gesture.

Liszt said with relief, "It’s alright. Recently, the glass produced in the territory has begun to be sold externally, which is a very profitable industry. Additionally, the revenue from the flower brew is also being recovered, so the territory’s finances are back on track. I had already planned to build a new castle, and now it’s the perfect time to build your magician’s tower."

"Ah, Lord Viscount, you should prioritize building the castle. My magician’s tower can wait."

"No need to debate, we’ll build the magician’s tower first," Liszt said decisively.

This instantly touched Cris, her eyes gleaming: "Lord Viscount, you are so kind to me… I hope to serve you forever."

Liszt smiled slightly, saying nothing.

In fact, the primary reason he prioritized building the magician’s tower was to allow the territory’s architects to gain experience in constructing modern buildings. The territory has rubber, glass, ironwood, stone, bricks, and Liszt’s knowledge of modern architecture.

Of course, they should build new-style buildings.

He plans to build a castle with a name for himself, designed in a neoclassical style, with the most typical example being the White House in the United States.

The traditional castles of this world are primarily designed for sustainable defense.

However, Liszt is not fond of this. Castles are only meaningful in strategic locations. On a small island like Black Horse Island, the enemies are merely pirates. Pirates can’t besiege a castle on an island for dozens of days, so there’s no need to build a castle capable of withstanding a six-month siege.

He originally wanted to design a seaside castle and had even planned the location.

However, after considering the architects’ opinions, he realized that a castle soaked in seawater would have too much humidity. So, he moved the castle’s location slightly inland, designing it in the style of the White House. At the same time, he planned to dig a canal leading to the sea, allowing Acheronides to come and go freely.

The castle’s scale might be designed to a four-story standard.

If the pressure test is successful, it might even be designed to a five-story standard. Although he lives alone, there’s no reason not to build the castle as a symbol of luxury—when it’s time to enjoy, there’s no need to deprive oneself.

So.

First, let's build a mage tower to test whether the new architectural style has sufficient strength to support each floor structure.

"Cris, first, solidify your status as a great magician, and in a few days, come with me to Black Horse Island. We'll pick a spot to build the mage tower."

"Thank you, my Lord." Cris's face lit up with excitement. "I aim to focus on magic arrays and also make magic power equipment, hoping to help you create the Wind Calming Pearl and Water Calming Pearl in the future."

"I'm eager to see it."

After bidding farewell to Cris Truth.

Liszt immediately called up the smoke task.

"The mission has been updated."

Sure enough, Cris became a great magician first, and the smoke task changed accordingly. Immediately, a new task was issued, which caught Liszt's attention.

"Mission: Help Avril Mask, the clown performer who came to Flower Town for a show, likes the clean and tidy streets of Flower Town, which sparks her creativity. Yet, she's puzzled by her limitation to clown shows. Why not help her achieve her artistic ideals. Reward: Loki's new magic."

"Loki is on the verge of acquiring a second magic, which means it has indeed become an intermediate dragon beast. Low-level magical beasts and dragon beasts can only have one magic!"

Liszt eagerly anticipates the Chocobo's new magic, so the task must be done immediately: "Clown performer Avril Mask? Doesn't want to perform clown shows, wants me to help her achieve her artistic ideals... If she's tired of clown shows, perhaps she could try opera, Peking opera, Huangmei opera? 'The Female Consort', 'The Heavenly Match', I know them all!"

Yet, Huangmei and Peking operas don't quite align with the Sapphire Duchy's tastes.

He pondered and then decided to summon Avril Mask for a chat. As luck would have it, the clown troupe from North Valley City is in Flower Town today. With Flower Town's growing prosperity, the common people here have more money to spend, and the consumption is gradually increasing, with many rewards for watching shows.

Drawing in multiple clown troupes.

"My Lord, Avril Mask awaits in the castle's parlor."

"Understood."

Liszt descended to the parlor to meet the aspiring clown performer. She's a tall, blonde, and attractive woman. Though she might be a bit older, likely over thirty.

"Avril bows to the esteemed Lord."

"Please, rise." Liszt waved his hand. "With a surname like Mask, has your family always been in the clown business?"

"Yes, Lord, since my grandfather's time, we have been performing clown shows."

"I'm done with clown shows."

Avril couldn't help but exclaim: "Ah!"

"Clown shows are interesting to watch occasionally, but every time it's just various clownish appearances and childish actions, which are very boring. Avril, haven't you ever thought about innovation? Performing clown shows all day, don't you think if the audience gets tired of watching, you also get tired of performing?"

"Lord... Avril does have some complaints about performing too many clown shows, but, please rest assured, Lord, Avril will go back and rearrange, create fresher clown shows for you to enjoy."

"I don't want to watch clown shows, I want to see some normal performances, Avril, I have an idea that needs you to realize. Of course, you can refuse, in which case, I will look for other clown troupes." Liszt said with a faint smile.

Avril immediately became nervous: "Please instruct, Lord, Avril's troupe is the best clown troupe in North Valley City, and we can definitely meet your needs!"

"I hope you can perform plays."

"Plays?"

"It's a form of performance mainly based on dialogue, which can bring folk tales, love stories, etc., to the stage for performance." Liszt briefly explained. He actually doesn't like watching plays, but just to complete the smoke task, he gave Avril some pointers.

Of course, if it's to be done, then do it well.

He decided to acquire Avril's clown troupe and transform it into a play troupe, rehearsing one or two classic plays to enrich the spiritual life of the territory.

Perhaps, it can also incidentally use the plays to praise the great Lord of Black Horse Island.