Chapter 851: The Price of One Touch

"I'm back, Ai Ni."

Liszt greeted the Grand Sprite Ai Ni of the Phoenix Roost, sensing its desire amidst the chaotic emotions of the many sprites—it longed to get closer to Leo.

This was precisely what Liszt intended to address, so he responded with a reassuring emotion before beckoning. Instantly, all the sprites followed behind him, chirping and chattering as they returned to Bramble Keep.

"Jie La, take them back to the sprite chamber. I’ll visit you all there later."

"Who disobeys gets a thrashing from Jie La!" Jie La, having received Liszt’s order, immediately puffed up with pride—proof that it had become Liszt’s trusted favorite. Otherwise, why would Liszt choose it over the other Grand Sprites?

Though Liszt’s real intention was simply because Jie La was more aggressive, and a bully’s intimidation worked better.

Under Jie La’s shooing, all the sprites had no choice but to fly back to the sprite chamber along the corridor. Only Ai Ni remained unmoved, still following Liszt.

It couldn’t wait to get closer to Leo, to breathe in the sulfur-tinged fire scent.

"Lord, will you be staying for a few days before leaving again, or will you wait until after the New Year celebrations?" Carter the Steward waited until Liszt had settled the sprites before speaking up.

"A few days’ rest, then I’ll leave. As for the New Year, it depends—I might not make it back to Bramble Keep in time."

"If the Lord isn’t here for the New Year, this year’s celebrations won’t have the same atmosphere. Last year’s first New Year at Bramble Keep was truly memorable," Carter lamented. During last year’s festivities, both the *Longyu* family and the Tulip family had gathered here.

Liszt chuckled. "Even if I don’t make it back, Bramble Keep should celebrate as usual. Carter, you’ll be in charge—make sure the footmen and maids enjoy themselves."

"The Lord is always so generous," Mrs. Mossen said, approaching with a steaming cup of milk tea. "Freshly brewed *Half-Slope* milk. The dairy steward just delivered a batch of fresh milk—this is from the cows the Lord specifically marked."

*Half-Slope* cows were graded. Those infected directly as embryos were true dragon-blood cows, though they hadn’t yet reached milking age.

The adult cows directly infected, though not as purebred, still produced exceptionally high-quality milk—reserved exclusively for Liszt.

Liszt took the cup and took a small sip, the rich aroma of milk filling his mouth. "Mmm, it’s been so long since I’ve had fresh *Half-Slope* milk. It brings back memories of leisurely days."

"Lord, you’ve been far too busy this year."

Gulping it down—without minding the heat, Liszt downed the entire cup in one go before sighing. "Yes, this year has been hectic."

Raising three dragons, developing Flame Island—everything depended on him.

Ever since he began riding the Fire Dragon Leo, life had felt like a horse driven relentlessly forward, never pausing long enough to enjoy a few undisturbed, carefree days. When he thought about it, the humble, quiet days in *Flower Town* had been the most carefree.

Dreaming of dragon-riding, inspecting the crops daily—life had been straightforward, with little need for deep thought.

Those days were long gone.

The moment of nostalgia passed quickly. As a Dragon Knight bent on founding a kingdom, having chosen this harder path, he had to press forward unwaveringly.

"Mrs. Mossen, have the maids prepare hot water. I’ll take a bath later."

"Yes, Lord."

"Mr. Carter, see to the arrangements. Tonight, Bramble Keep will host a banquet—invite all the officials from *Black Horse Island*."

"As you wish, Lord."

With his orders given, Liszt walked out of the castle with Ai Ni, heading toward where Leo lay. The three Flame Dragonbird chicks were still circling Leo, though they had fallen silent. Leo wouldn’t show them any leniency just because they were Liszt’s pets.

If not for Liszt’s will constantly suppressing the dragon’s vicious instincts, those three little birds would’ve been Leo’s bite-sized snacks by now.

"Ai Ni, go on. I’ll have a good talk with Leo. From now on, you may pet him anytime." Liszt patted Ai Ni’s head with a smile.

"Hiss, thank you, Liszt." Ai Ni beat her shimmering wings and eagerly flew to Leo's side, reaching out to touch a scale before withdrawing her hand. She sniffed the fiery, sulfur-laced aroma lingering on her fingers, her expression instantly becoming intoxicated.

"Grrr!"

Leo was displeased. Though Ai Ni was no more bothersome than a flea in its eyes and her touches were barely noticeable, it still disliked having tiny creatures approach it.

Liszt then negotiated with it using the *Dragon Heart Code*.

"Leo, I plan to move Ai Ni near the volcano where you train. Let her touch you whenever you come out to sunbathe."

"Why should I allow a flea to clamber all over me?"

"She’s evolving and will become a Dragon Spirit Bug, which will be a great help to me. And helping me is the same as helping you, if you think about it."

"I want magic potions—ten vials per touch!"

"That's highway robbery!" Liszt glared. "One vial per touch, take it or leave it!"

After a fierce back-and-forth—Leo demanding exorbitant prices while Liszt haggled relentlessly—they finally settled on a price of two vials per "session," defined as a full period of enjoyment rather than a single touch. Otherwise, with Ai Ni’s habit of touching scales over a dozen times in quick succession, she’d bankrupt Liszt in two days.

Once the price was set, Leo flumped onto the rubble and dozed off, letting Ai Ni continue her endless, blissful touching.

...

"Mission complete. Reward: a jade ore vein."

Intoxicated by Leo's fiery essence, Ai Ni’s worries melted away, and Liszt’s smoky mission was accomplished—a jade ore vein now in hand.

However, its exact location remained unknown for now, likely somewhere on Flame Island.

Leaving Ai Ni to bask in Leo's presence, Liszt walked back while focusing on his new smoky mission.

"Task: After years of trial and error, the master builders at the Fire Dragon Brick Factory have yet to master porcelain production. However, they’ve discovered that limestone can be fired into lime, though its binding properties are poor, seemingly lacking a crucial component. Why not help them solve this dilemma? Reward: Cement at last!"

Cement had always been a product Liszt eagerly anticipated.

Though his territory possessed rubber—a hundred times tougher than cement—using it for roads and buildings was a waste. Rubber was already widely employed in shipbuilding, equipment, containers, and other strategic industries. He couldn’t bear to waste it on buildings.

Thus, cement was the perfect substitute, freeing rubber for more valuable uses.

"Finally, cement might be within reach. The Fire Dragon Brick Factory, established years ago, is finally paying off." The factory was a massive workshop housing brick kilns, pottery kilns, charcoal kilns, and more, all striving under Liszt’s directives to produce cement and porcelain.

Yet, porcelain remained elusive, and cement stubbornly out of reach.

Now, it was up to Liszt to intervene: "The lime doesn't hold well, missing a key component... What exactly is missing? My knowledge of cement is limited—how can I help them solve this?"