Chapter 696: Underwater Castle

Dispatching blood servants to gather intelligence, Liszt spent the next two days busily preparing for the castle’s relocation. All the spirit bugs were moved to Thorn Fortress and settled into new insect chambers.

The spirit bugs were indifferent—wherever they were placed, they simply crawled about peacefully. Their low intelligence meant they showed no special behavior.

The lesser spirit bugs, however, were much livelier.

Quiet ones like Mickey, the corn spirit bug, could spend half a day slowly counting corn kernels as long as they were given a handful. Occasionally, Liszt would ask Mickey how many kernels it had, only for Mickey to stare blankly in response.

Sadly, it couldn’t count.

Nami, the red mangrove spirit bug always hustling with odd jobs, was also assigned a chamber. Acheronides personally arranged the room since Nami was her contracted spirit bug. Nami showed no particular reaction to the new space, but she got really excited about the cabinet filled with peanut nougat.

After scarfing down a peanut nougat, she had Acheronides take her back to Red Mangrove Island to continue tending to her ducklings, refusing to stay overnight in the insect chamber.

Liszt always felt Nami’s personality was heavily influenced by Acheronides—both were independent by nature. Though Nami displayed the demeanor of an alpha spirit bug, at heart, she preferred solitude and wasn’t clingy.

The wheat, sisal, pea green, millet, apple, silverweed, squirrel, and tobacco spirit bugs all settled quietly into their rooms without fuss.

The two water peanut spirit bugs contracted by Yevich were even more subdued. Without their master’s care, they seemed rather pitiful. So Liszt kindly had Yevich come to the castle to comfort them before sending him back to the shipyard.

Liszt was organizing the expedition fleet, and Yevich needed not only to get used to the water but also to learn navigation and familiarize himself with ship structures to face dangers at sea.

The relocation of these spirit bugs went smoothly.

However, when the coptis spirit bug moved into its chamber, chaos inevitably erupted. Jie La, seeing that the coptis spirit bug also got its own beautiful chamber, was displeased. The two spirit bugs bickered endlessly across the hallway—one shouting “Wah!” and the other “Ula!”

Eventually, Liszt silenced them with a flick on the noggin, sending them obediently back to their jade boxes to sleep.

With the land-dwelling spirit bugs settled, the aquatic ones were quickly arranged as well. The spirit bugs naturally stayed docile in their pools. The three Giant Kelp Sprite bugs each had their own pool, happily enjoying the jade powder scattered at the bottom.

But the Giant Kelp Grand Sprite, Pyke, threw a tantrum.

“This place is trash! The lighting is terrible, and it’s uncomfortable. There’s water, but it’s not flowing—no good! The dashing Pyke can’t stand such conditions! I demand a change!”

“This place is fine. If you feel stifled, you can swim through the waterway to the maritime canal. It’s managed by professionals, and the estuary has a gate to prevent any danger.”

“Liszt, I thought you got me. The dashing Pyke needs light and freedom! Build me an underwater castle in the sea—I love underwater castles.”

“Sure.”

“That’s a bad attitude. A comfortable environment boosts a spirit bug’s work efficiency. If you build me an underwater castle, I promise a ten percent increase in potion-grade kelp yield from the Giant Kelp Forest.”

Though Pyke’s mind was erratic and his behavior unreliable, his words weren’t entirely false. If spirit bugs worked willingly, crop yields could indeed improve slightly, at least reducing labor costs in cultivation.

For instance, Pyke could toss out seeds over acres of land—he just couldn’t guarantee whether they’d grow into potion-grade or ordinary kelp.

Since the potion strain couldn’t be guaranteed, Liszt naturally wouldn’t let Pyke meddle haphazardly in kelp farming.

But being psychically linked, he did sense Pyke’s dissatisfaction. Unlike the undemanding Giant Kelp Sprite bugs, Pyke was a luxury-loving Grand Sprite.

“Fine. I’ll have the undead Yuchou, Virginia Truth, build you a simple underwater castle at the estuary of the maritime canal. If you like it, you can stay there. But don’t wander off—the sea isn’t safe. If danger arises, retreat to Thorn Fortress.”

Pyke grinned, baring his sharp teeth. “Hurry and fetch that Yuchou! The dashing Pyke can’t wait!”

Virginia Truth had fully owned her undead Yuchou role. She usually rested inside the Tear Staff, emerging only when recharged to widen and deepen the harbor. By now, not only Black Horse Harbor and New Harbor had become deep-water ports, but Flower Harbor had also completed its deep-water construction.

She now lingered near the estuary of the maritime canal, preparing to widen it in line with Liszt’s future plans to develop the area into another port.

After mastering the undead Yuchou’s power and training for a while, she could now remain outside for an hour at a time. An hour’s work a day—then back to sleep.

"Rest assured, my lord," the builder replied. "Constructing a small underwater castle at the estuary is as easy as building a toy castle. Just prepare the materials and blueprints, and I can begin construction anytime."

"Thank you," Liszt replied politely.

He always maintained a gentlemanly demeanor toward his followers and subordinates, never one for pretentiousness or putting on airs.

Jo Maya Hammer and his team of architects, having completed Thorn Castle, had little else to do and could immediately begin work on the underwater castle—better described as an underwater villa. It only needed to be large enough for Pyke to live comfortably, without any unnecessary extravagance.

With that, Thorn Castle became fully operational. Acher directed the mages in carrying pieces of experimental equipment to the laboratory on the fifth floor. Butler Carter oversaw the servants as they decorated each room, aiming for subtle luxury that matched Liszt's personal taste.

As for Liszt himself, he only needed to give a few suggestions regarding the arrangement of the study and bedroom.

Then he left to find a place to continue training with Leo—whatever hidden danger the smoke mission hinted at, only by growing stronger could he properly face it. Strength could overpower any trick; no matter the plot, he would simply charge ahead!

Near the castle gates, patrol captain Parris was leading a group of knights on their rounds.

Seeing her, Liszt gestured to a squire to call her over.

"My lord."

"How is your recovery?"

"Fully healed. I've never felt better." Parris smiled brightly, finally free from the lingering effects of the black dragon spirit.

She was practically bouncing, radiating girlish delight.

Liszt nodded. "And your training?"

Her smile widened. "I can cast light magic again, though weaving light and shadow still takes effort—it will take more practice. My light-attribute mana training is progressing quickly, and I feel close to mastering the novice level. I should soon be ready to advance to Earth Knight."

"Excellent. If you need resources, just ask. You're a rare light-magic swordsman, and your training system represents a completely new path." Liszt cared deeply about this—he hoped to train an army of fire-magic swordsmen, curious how blending magic and mana would work together.