Chapter 67: Flames, Traps and Smokey Grass

Do beasts fear fire?

This is quite an intriguing question.

Gort shook his head in disagreement, offering a counterpoint, "Not all beasts fear fire; some are even drawn to it out of curiosity. And let's not forget, fire attribute magical beasts have a natural affinity for flames."

Marcus pondered, "I believe this method might just work. A small flame wouldn't scare beasts, but a massive fire fueled by pine branches would surely deter even fire-affiliated magical beasts. The value of the pine branches cut by the logging team is insignificant; we're after the trunks."

For a quarter of an hour, they engaged in discussion around the crackling fire.

Blair then added, "We could involve the town's hunters in cutting down the trees and setting up traps around the area. They might not be effective against magical beasts, but they can serve as an early warning system. Coupled with the bonfires, I believe it should be enough to ensure the safety of the logging team's slaves."

Finally, Liszt made the decision, "Bonfires and traps are worth a try, but don't overlook one of Flower Town's crops."

"What crop?" everyone asked curiously.

"Smoked Grass," Liszt replied.

"Smoked Grass? Oh, my goodness, how could we forget about that terrifying grass?" Gort exclaimed, dramatically gesticulating. "I have no doubt that just a little bit of Smoked Grass lit up would chase even a dragon away. The smell... I still remember vividly the aroma when you burned it at the Milk Farm back then!"

Dragons wouldn't be driven away by the smoke; on the contrary, they would be drawn to it.

Lister narrowed his eyes slightly. Looking at Gort's expression, he was certain that the man had mentioned it unintentionally and not out of curiosity.

On the day of the invisible dragon's invasion, the burning of Smokegrass, the slaughtered dairy cows on Marcus' farm, the ruined watchtower, and the piercing dragon roar were all mysteries to others.

But Lister had told them not to investigate.

So they could only suppress their doubts until they faded away.

"I also believe in that. When I studied Smokegrass, I smeared a bit of its juice on the nose of my Green Hare, and it suffered for two days, almost falling ill," Isaiah nodded in agreement, as Green Hare was his mount, a green-colored horse.

"So..."

Lister put down his cutlery, wiped his mouth, and paused his meal. "Fire, traps, and Smokegrass—three measures to protect the logging team and ensure that no one is harmed by magical beasts. Teachers Gort and Marcus, you two will work together to make sure there are no mistakes."

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Marcus acknowledged the order.

Gort also nodded quickly. "Leave it to me, Lister."

Lister mentioned in passing, "Additionally, we have finally discovered the value of Smoky Grass. Therefore, I've decided to cultivate that land to the north of the Flower Farm more thoroughly and expand the cultivation of Smoky Grass. Teacher Gort, you'll need to come up with a plan and implement it as soon as possible."

"Perhaps the uncultivated land we have isn't enough," Gort said hesitantly. "We're severely lacking in slaves. Originally, there weren't many to begin with, and Oyster Village has taken a portion. The logging team, road-building team, apprentices at the town's shops, even the knights' squad and castle servants have all taken some slaves."

He stretched out his hand and bent his fingers one by one, counting, "Maize grass, millet fields, tulips... not to mention the large quantity of seeds you traded for, like sweetheart cabbage, radish, onion, and coriander—these all require slaves to plant. I think we'll need at least a thousand more slaves."

With no farming tools, the only way to clear the wilderness was slash-and-burn agriculture.

Farming was an arduous task that required many slaves to maintain the growth of crops and vegetables. Without enough slaves, the fields couldn't be cultivated.

"If we were to use mechanized farming, a dozen people could plant all the fields in Flower Town."

Lister often fantasized about leading Flower Town into the American farmer's farming model, with large machinery operating on vast farmlands.

Unfortunately, it remained a fantasy, as Flower Town currently didn't even have many shovels or hoes.

So he didn't insist that Gort had to immediately expand cultivation. "Then let's first draw up a plan and divide the fields. When we have sufficient manpower, we can start planting."

"As you wish."

...

Amidst the logging site.

Pairs of lumberjacks, numbering around thirty, were chopping down trees with their axes. It had to be said that the slaves, accustomed to strenuous labor, possessed remarkable strength, making their work quite efficient.

Lister rode on his Black Dragon steed, slowly surveying the area.

On the other side, Marcus was leading his squad of knights, continuously collecting the felled pine branches and dragging them towards three bonfires in the woods. The bonfires blazed fiercely, forming a triangular defense around the logging site.

Hunters were busy setting traps around the perimeter of the fires.

Occasionally, the sounds of birds could be heard from the depths of the forest, yet there was no sense of danger in the air. Only the scene of industrious activity. Nevertheless, Lister remained vigilant. The Smoke Mission's prompt clearly indicated that a magical beast would attack the logging site. He just didn't know when this assault would occur.

"Magical beasts... Since I arrived at Flower Town, I've already slain two."

There was the Earth Rampager, still recovering from childbirth, and the Windsoar Falcon, exhausted after battling the Fruit Thief Monkey. Neither encounter had been particularly intense; they were more like fortuitous encounters.

The only direct confrontation he'd had with a Windblade Wolf ended with the beast feinting an attack before fleeing into Thorns Ridge.

He was now eagerly anticipating the impending invasion of magical beasts. This time, he wondered what kind of creatures they would encounter, whether there would be a battle, and if he could slay another magical beast—the taste of their flesh far surpassed that of ordinary wild animals, not to mention their magical essence, which Liston found utterly delectable.

The sun scorched relentlessly, with not even a whisper of a breeze. Even under the shade of the trees, it offered little respite from the heat.

His fire-infused battle aura coursed through his veins, and his hand rested on the hilt of his Bloodred Sword. Gazing beyond the dappled shadows on the ground, he felt a surge of battle fervor within him.

Given his personal style, it was unlikely he'd get the chance to charge into battle like a knight. To display the valor of a noble, he could only seek such an opportunity in facing a magical beast—this crowded setting, with ample preparation and Marcus at his side, presented the perfect stage.

"Come, magical beasts, my sword thirsts for action!"

With a sharp sound, he drew half of the Bloodred Sword, contemplating a few swings, but decided it lacked solemnity. As he prepared to sheathe it again, a somewhat abrupt "thud" echoed from afar, piercing through the crackling of burning pine branches. It immediately caught his attention.

Marcus, also scanning the surroundings, had clearly detected the noise and promptly called out, "On alert!"

He drew his short gun and moved towards the source of the sound.

Liston gripped the hilt of the Bloodred Sword tightly, his sapphire-blue eyes swirling like vortexes as he activated his Magic Eyes.

Soon, he spotted faint traces of magical residue amidst several clumps of grass.

Upon closer inspection, he identified that there were three magical beasts in total!

"Marcus, return!" Liszt drew his Crimson Blood Sword with a clang and shouted loudly, "There are three magical beasts approximately fifty meters ahead!"