Chapter 162: Falconer Elkerson

As the meeting progressed, the number of participants gradually increased, with Gort, Isaiah, Blair, old Grandet, and Kosto all joining in.

The topics ranged from training young serfs to planning the future of Flower Town, encompassing everything.

By noon, when the sun was at its zenith, the Apple Table Meeting concluded successfully.

It was decided that a Knights Academy would be established in Flower Town. Since the territory was only a small town, the academy would remain secret. The academy was an internal designation rather than a permanent institution. Anyone involved in training knights would also serve as an instructor and receive two copper coins per day as compensation.

The list of the first eight instructors is as follows:

Etiquette Instructor – Gort Mast, responsible for training the young serfs in loyalty to the lord.

Knights Squad Instructor – Marcus Wheel, responsible for training the candidates for the knights squad, which includes the qualified group of young serfs.

Patrol Squad Instructor – Karl Hammer, responsible for training the candidates for the patrol squad, which includes the unqualified group of young serfs.

Bug Squad Instructor – Rom Barrel, responsible for training the candidates for the bug squad, which includes the girls.

Administrative Instructor – Isaiah Moss, responsible for teaching administrative skills to the young serfs.

Serpent Script Instructor – Blair Nail, responsible for teaching serpent script reading and writing to the young serfs.

Wind Speech Instructor – Grandet Stool, responsible for teaching wind speech reading and writing to the young serfs.

Navigation Instructor – Kosto Footprint, responsible for teaching navigation knowledge to the young serfs.

...

The meeting also reorganized the responsibilities of Flower Town's administrative officials and set their salaries. Advisors would receive twenty copper coins per day, administrative officials ten copper coins per day, and assistants five copper coins per day.

The list is as follows:

Flower Town Advisor and Diplomat – Gort Mast, overseeing all affairs of Flower Town and diplomatic matters.

Administrative Officer and Legal Officer – Isaiah Moss, responsible for administrative and legal affairs of Flower Town.

Assistant Administrative Officer – Auden Insole.

Financial Officer – Blair Nail, responsible for financial affairs of Flower Town.

Assistant Financial Officer – Grey Scythe.

Defense Officer – Karl Hammer, responsible for patrol squad affairs.

Bug Officer – Rom Barrel, responsible for bug squad affairs.

Naval Officer – Kosto Footprint, responsible for navigation affairs.

There were plans to establish separate positions for a legal officer in charge of law enforcement and a diplomat in charge of foreign affairs, but there were no suitable officials to fill these roles yet.

Both old Grandet and Captain Kosto were serfs, temporarily serving in official positions. They needed sufficient merit to have Liszt free them from serfdom and promote them to formal officials. Therefore, their treatment was based on the serf standard, much lower than that of formal officials.

Even so, both men were so excited that they prostrated themselves on the ground, kissing the tip of Liszt's shoe.

To them, this was Liszt giving them a chance to change their fate and opening a window to nobility—provided the lord continued to achieve glory, they, as his followers, would naturally receive rewards. Even if not, their descendants would have a higher starting point to strive for noble glory.

"The glory of the knights shines upon Flower Town, upon our lord, and upon each one of us." At the luncheon, Gort was very excited.

The more prosperous Flower Town became, the more important his role as an advisor would be, along with his power.

He wasn't worried about facing challengers who might undermine his position; advisors were always nobles, and in Flower Town, apart from Liszt, he was the only noble.

At least for the next few years, this situation was unlikely to change.

Excited, he nearly got drunk on beer and showered praise: "Under the leadership of Baron Liszt, the prosperity of Flower Town is just around the corner. Let's raise our glasses and toast to our lord!"

"To our lord!"

Regarding Gort's flattery,

Liszt was immune and remained unperturbed.

Flower Town had already overcome its difficult start and was now in a phase of rapid development. With the help of the smoke mission, his vision was beyond what Gort and others could imagine.

After the luncheon,

the officials returned to their posts.

Liszt kept Kosto aside: "Captain Kosto, how is the sailor training going?"

"Almost complete. I've started trial voyages and am waiting for a heavy rainstorm at sea to test the sailors' adaptability before setting sail for Black Horse Island!" Kosto replied enthusiastically.

"The importance of Black Horse Island doesn't need repeating. Ensure secrecy during training."

"Rest assured, my lord. I haven't mentioned Black Horse Island to the sailors at all."

"Good work. Keep it up."

"Yes, my lord!"

...

As the sun began to set,

time flew by, and the afternoon passed.

Liszt had just returned from inspecting the thorn wormwood shrubs.

He happened to encounter his male servant Tom, who had come looking for him: "Sir, the Flower Town transport caravan has brought back a mage named Elkson Truth, who is waiting for you in the castle."

"I see."

The mage was invited by Granny Truth as a falconer.

When Liszt arrived at the castle gate, he saw the man wearing his trademark black magic cloak that enveloped his entire body. To be honest, Liszt had always been curious about why mages preferred black cloaks. He himself had worn black cloaks, but he also owned red, gray, and blue ones.

"Baron Liszt, Elkson Truth greets you," Elkson said more politely than Glanny, bowing slightly.

Liszt returned the gesture. "Mr. Elkson, welcome to Flower Town."

"The town is beautiful, peaceful, and quiet. I am glad to work here. By the way, where is Mage Granny Truth? I received his invitation letter."

"He is making crystal lamps."

Inside the castle, a servant brought tea, and Liszt directly asked, "I heard you can train hawks. I specifically asked Mr. Glanny to invite you, hoping you could help me train a magical beast, a Wind Falcon. It's already the season for its maiden flight, but it still hasn't learned to release magical wind blades."

Elkson calmly replied, "Firstly, I must clarify that I have never trained a magical beast like a Wind Falcon; I've only trained ordinary hawks. Whether I can train a Wind Falcon is uncertain."

"Do your best to train it. If it doesn't succeed, it's fine. Glanny hopes to use the materials from the magical beast to make a piece of magical equipment for me." Liszt smiled. "If you succeed in training it, I will reward you with two gold coins. Even if you fail, you'll still receive one gold coin."

"You are too generous," Elkson said, pleased with the price. "I will do my utmost."

Compared to Glanny, who has a bad temper, a rigid mind, and an inability to recognize the situation, Elkson is a much better conversationalist. His extensive knowledge, interesting demeanor, respectful tone, and powerful steel voice all made Liszt feel favorable towards him.

The steel voice, popular among the upper class, indeed sounds much better than the awkward local dialect of Coral Island.

There's no fear of not recognizing quality; the fear is comparing goods.

As they chatted, Liszt felt regret—earlier, he should have directly invited Elkson instead of spending a large black pearl to bring in Glanny.