Chapter 632: Overnight Riches

The cries of apes echo endlessly along both riverbanks, yet the swift boat has already left countless mountains behind.

While the *Sunset* isn’t built for speed on the open sea, sailing downstream along the Three Dragon River and the Roaring Great River, it flies downstream far faster than it ever could at sea—even with its hold packed full of mountainous piles of supplies.

Soon, they arrived at Small Riverheart Keep.

Locked away in Small Riverheart Keep were three sword saints: one was Deborah Yuhuashi, another was Egret Count, and the last was Yevich Yuhuashi.

The Raging Waves Marquis sent representatives to participate in the ransom negotiations for his three followers. The final agreement was as follows: Egret Count would pay two spirit bugs of either grain or potion varieties and one ordinary spirit bug; Deborah would pay two spirit bugs of either grain or potion varieties and two ordinary spirit bugs.

Additionally, the spirit bugs’ lifespans could not exceed fifty years.

As for Yevich, the Raging Waves Marquis had already given up on him, refusing to pay any ransom whatsoever.

“This is awkward! Yevich can’t even fetch a price!” Levis was deeply frustrated by the Marquis’ decision. To discard a sword saint follower so carelessly, tossed aside like spoiled cabbage, “A Marquis should have some public decency—you can’t just toss trash around!”

Indeed, Yevich was equally embarrassed. He knew full well the Marquis wouldn’t pay much for him, but to not even make an offer? That was downright humiliating!

Then and there, he steeled his resolve: “My lord, Yevich wishes to pledge himself to you, to start fresh, renouncing all rank tied to the Kingdom of the Eagle!”

At this point, he had become an unwanted burden.

After long deliberation, Liszt finally reached a decision: “Since you’ve chosen to start over, in my generosity, I won’t deny you this chance. Here’s the arrangement: I won’t take your spirit bugs, but they must be cultivated on my lands, and the bugs themselves will be entrusted to my care. As for you…”

Yevich had two useless water-peanut spirit bugs and fourteen spirit bugs.

Spirit bugs had too few contract renewals, making recontracting them too troublesome. Among them, only one "upright stemless spirit bug" could cultivate the medicinal herb *Stemona sessilifolia*, and one "sweet potato spirit bug" could grow grain sweet potatoes—marginally useful at best. Contracting them wouldn’t be worth the trouble, so they were better used as leverage to control him.

“Your will is my command, my lord! Yevich has no objections!”

“I intend for you to set sail and explore beyond the Sapphire Duchy, scouting islands ripe for nation-building. Each island you discover will count toward your military honors. If you can find a large island like Ironhoof Island, I’ll gladly make you a Count… You do believe I have the power to make you a Count, don’t you?”

Yevich answered firmly, “I have absolute faith in you, my lord!”

“Then you agree to sail and search for islands?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Swear your allegiance.”

The oath of fealty was performed, and Yevich officially became one of Liszt’s landless followers, discarding all titles bestowed by the Kingdom of the Eagle. Once the oath was complete, his status was irrevocably changed—such a public oath was legally binding beyond dispute.

Now free once more, Yevich couldn’t decide whether to feel joy or sorrow.

A man, a sword saint, brought so low—there was little left for self-consolation. Moreover, he had grown weary of war. After a lifetime of struggle, only to fall further, he might as well embrace the solitude of maritime exploration. No more noble scheming or pissing contests fueled by mana.

Liszt ignored Yevich’s slump-shouldered gloom.

He had no intention of letting Yevich rejoin knightly warfare—the man’s loyalty couldn’t be trusted. If he switched allegiances again, it’d be money down the drain.

Better to send him off to discover new islands.

That way, without Liszt’s support, Yevich would have no means to establish himself at sea, nipping betrayal in the bud. Besides, Liszt needed a powerful knight to lead expeditions, scouting islands ripe for nation-building.

Overthrowing the Sapphire family was merely a contingency plan—only to be activated if the Duke turned hostile.

He had no love for endless conflict. Far preferable was founding a nation on an island, living free from the world’s squabbles—raiding the mainland only when provisions ran low, much like the Sapphire’s expansion edicts. Especially once new shipbuilding techniques were developed—then he could even circumnavigate the continent, claiming every island to carve out his own realm. To cultivate this land as his personal paradise… though, realistically, the difficulty was immense.

The matter of Yevich’s allegiance was settled.

The delegation from the Marquis of Roaring Tide arrived at Riverheart Castle to pay the ransom. While the two sword saints could cover their own ransoms, the large number of captured Roaring Knights required the Marquis to take responsibility.

The ransom had already been largely settled during the prolonged negotiations, and now it was just a matter of finalizing the handover.

On Egret Count's side, his family brought three spirit bugs—a wheat spirit bug (grain type), a sisal spirit bug (fiber type), and an ordinary ornamental "peperomia spirit bug (ornamental type)." Sisal, classified as a grain type, held significant value as it could be used not only for making ropes but also as livestock feed.

As for Deborah, he personally delivered four spirit bugs—a goldthread spirit bug (medicinal type), a millet spirit bug (grain type), an ordinary apple spirit bug, and a cinquefoil spirit bug (weed type). The apple spirit bug could still cultivate apples, while the cinquefoil spirit bug was likely only useful for growing weeds.

The Marquis of Roaring Tide, on the other hand, not only brought a large amount of gold coins, seeds, and other supplies but also had to surrender two spirit bugs—a tobacco spirit bug (classified as grain-type) and a pine spirit bug (classified as grain-type). Tobacco, used for making cigarettes, was equivalent to the grain type, while pine, a commonly used timber, also fell under the grain category.

All the spirit bugs were contracted to Liszt. Seeing nine spirit bugs gathered around him, he was practically giddy.

War really was the quickest way to get rich.

After toiling on the island for over two years, he had only obtained one Grand Sprite and six spirit bugs. Yet, in less than a month during this expedition, he had gained nine spirit bugs—eleven if counting Yevich’s two water-peanut spirit bugs!

Most importantly, the majority were grain and medicinal herb-type spirit bugs, which held even greater value.

"If Alonso weren’t due to return at any moment, I’d love to stay here and keep capturing Sky Knights for ransom. A year or so of this, and I could probably fill a whole room with spirit bugs," Liszt mused gleefully as he watched the ransom delegation haul away the goods.

Even a count only possessed one Grand Sprite and twelve spirit bugs.

But he now had one Grand Sprite and fifteen spirit bugs—not even counting the two water-peanut spirit bugs—making him an overnight fortune.

...

In late August, before the Sunset set sail with his bountiful gains, Liszt bid farewell to Lee William: "Father, I’ll leave things here in your hands. I’ll await your return on Coral Island."

"Go. Though the war isn’t over, your expedition has ended. Return and focus on your training on Black Horse Island. Stay focused and work on mastering the spiritual power of the Ghost Swordsman as soon as possible."

"I understand. Phoebe the Enchantress, Night Demon Wimbledon, and One-Eyed Uso will serve under you. They’re not the best fighters, but they make excellent scouts."

The count glanced at the three vampires shrouded in black. "Hmm."

And so, the Sunset pulled up anchor.

Oars splashed, sails billowed, and the ship rode the rolling waves into the deep blue sea. Before long, it disappeared over the horizon.

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