Chapter 231: Zambrotta’s Talkativeness

Upon hearing the steward's report,

The hunchbacked Bob, who had been waiting to the side, immediately fell to his knees with a thud, sobbing and wailing, "My Lord, it wasn't intentional. It was that night when the strong wind blew open the door of my mushroom greenhouse... Please forgive me, My Lord. I will never let the wind blow open the door again!"

Seeing Bob's dramatic display of sorrow, Liszt recognized this man.

It was in Bob's greenhouse that the Flame Mushrooms first grew, and he had mistakenly thought they were defective, removing quite a few. Liszt remembered that because Bob couldn't produce the growing medium for the Flame Mushrooms, he only rewarded him with ten silver coins, while more rewards went to Nash, who had figured out the formula for the growing medium.

"This hunchbacked Bob has a special connection with the Flame Mushrooms."

After some thought, Liszt decided not to punish him immediately but instead led people into his Flame Mushroom greenhouse. At a glance, it was clear that many of the Flame Mushrooms inside had withered, faring much worse than those in other greenhouses.

The loss was neither insignificant nor negligible.

The hunchbacked Bob, still kneeling on the ground, hurriedly ran in and, seeing Liszt examining each patch of Flame Mushroom medium, continued to sob, "My Lord, although... although many Flame Mushrooms have died, there... there are still some that have survived!"

Even without Bob's words, Liszt had noticed.

On several patches of the medium, a few Flame Mushrooms were still growing sparsely.

Liszt already had a vague idea and moved closer for a detailed inspection. He found that the remaining Flame Mushrooms were distinctly different from normal ones; their color had faded from bright red to a dark red.

However, after using his Magic Eye, he discovered that the dark red Flame Mushrooms contained far more magical energy than the normal ones, almost glowing with a brilliant red light.

In other words, these Flame Mushrooms appeared to have suffered from the cold, affecting their appearance, but their internal fire elemental magic was even stronger.

"Cold-resistant Flame Mushrooms, this must be what they are!" Liszt was delighted. The reward for the mist task was right before him. "The term 'cold-resistant' indicates that these Flame Mushrooms are not afraid of the cold and snow, and due to some mutation, they can condense fire elemental magic more abundantly."

This was undoubtedly a high-quality Flame Mushroom, far surpassing the normal variety, capable of producing higher-grade potions.

He immediately issued an order: "Give the hunchbacked Bob ten lashes as a warning. If he is negligent again and causes damage to the Flame Mushrooms, it won't just be ten lashes."

After the hunchbacked Bob was severely whipped ten times, leaving his buttocks bruised and bloody,

Liszt instructed Thomas to give him ten silver coins: "Misfortune turned into fortune, hunchbacked Bob. Although your Flame Mushrooms suffered significant damage, they also mutated into a new variety. I will name them Ice Flame Mushrooms. These ten silver coins are your reward."

Bob, wiping away his tears and snot, immediately forgot about the pain in his buttocks and reached out to take the silver coins: "Ah, thank you, My Lord! Praise the great My Lord!"

Liszt then announced a new order: "Whoever figures out the appropriate medium for the Ice Flame Mushrooms will receive one gold coin as a reward."

Just like the reward for the Flame Mushroom medium, one gold coin was enough to stir the ambitions of all the serfs.

After he left,

Mushroom Village indeed erupted in excitement.

Countless serfs rolled up their sleeves, ready to work hard.

Especially Nash, the old bachelor who had received a gold coin reward before, used that gold coin to marry a wife and build two new Flame Mushroom greenhouses, becoming a major grower in Mushroom Village.

Hearing the Lord's reward, he loudly declared to those around him: "I could figure out the Flame Mushroom medium, and I can figure out the Ice Flame Mushroom medium. This gold coin, I, old Nash, am determined to get it!"

"That's not certain!"

"Indeed, you got lucky with the Lord's reward last time, but this time it's my turn!"

"Old Nash, you should focus on keeping your young wife from giving you a green hat. Researching the medium is my job."

The hunchbacked Bob, who had been whipped, was not to be outdone: "Last time I lost to old Nash, but this time I won't. The Flame Mushrooms grew in my greenhouse, and so did the Ice Flame Mushrooms. The gold coin reward belongs to me! Damn old Nash!"

...

In the afternoon.

In the study of the castle,

Zanbuluota nervously shuffled his feet.

Then he took a deep breath, trying to relax himself: "This study is warm as spring, yet no charcoal is burning. My Lord, Flower Town is full of surprises, and so is your castle."

Behind the desk, Liszt leisurely held a cup of milk tea and smiled, asking, "So, Mr. Zanbuluota, can you guess why the study is warm?"

"I guess it's magic," Zanbuluota answered solemnly.

From Gort, he learned that Liszt valued his extensive knowledge and broad experience. He knew today's meeting was a test.

If he failed to impress, this trip would be in vain.

For his rehabilitation and livelihood, he had to take it seriously: "And I suspect that the same magic is used in the public baths. It's probably a fire magic spell that heats water and warms the rooms. Such a technique is incredible; I've only heard that court magicians can do it."

"Hmm."

Liszt remained noncommittal and continued, "Have you traveled to many countries?"

"Yes, I have visited the Kingdom of Steel Ridge and its seven vassal states. In my youth, I loved traveling around the continent, but my finances were limited, so I only managed to travel within the Kingdom of Steel Ridge."

"I heard there is a dragon in Maple Leaf Grand Duchy. Do you know about it?"

"Oh, it's a Light Dragon, residing in Red Maple Mountain for over a hundred years. Many brave warriors have tried to slay it to earn the title of Dragon Slayer, alongside Dragon Knights. But as you know, dragons are incredibly powerful, and most of the brave warriors ultimately... became dragon dung."

"Is the Light Dragon that difficult to defeat? Why doesn't the Duke of Maple Leaf, being a Dragon Knight, kill this evil dragon?"

"The Duke of Maple Leaf's dragon is just a Rust Dragon, which can't even find the Light Dragon's hiding place, let alone hope to slay it... Actually, there are many evil dragons on the continent, but most are elemental dragons, which are more powerful in combat than metal or gem dragons."

Generally speaking, gem dragons and metal dragons are production units, while elemental dragons are combat units.

"Can you tell me about the customs and culture of the Kingdom of Steel Ridge and its vassal states?" Liszt asked gently, truly impressed by Zanbuluota's extensive knowledge.

Zanbuluota leaned forward slightly and bowed: "As you wish, My Lord."

A moment later, Zanbuluota's eloquent narration filled the study. Having personally traversed these lands, his accounts were more convincing and vivid than the fabricated tales in chivalric romances, and all the more engaging and clear.