Chapter 288: Chapter 287: A Sudden Grapple and Slam (Second Update)
New models of rubber still required a lot of data analysis, and a method for collecting and preserving rubber also needed to be found.

Although he was a man of action, he was not impetuous, but rather he paid great attention to personal pleasure. Only after satisfying his personal enjoyment would he consider striving for improvement.

“Baron, your Retainer Knight Philip Wool has returned from Tulip Castle and brought back a message—Miss Li Vera has expressed her discontent with the Fresh Flower Soap you sent as a birthday gift,” Butler Carter reported in a serious manner.

Fresh Flower Soap had become Liszt’s standard gift.

He smiled slightly, “I am reminding her that personal hygiene is very important. Fresh Flower Soap is not cheap; she can easily wash with one and toss it away.”

The soap making workshop in Fresh Flower Town gradually expanded its scale, successfully crushing Baron Henderson’s soap business and forcing him to switch to supplying washing powder.

That is to say, Fresh Flower Soap had already taken over the Coral Island market.

Moreover, under the leadership of merchants Sherlock and Abagon, they cooperated with Tulip Castle and Beer Castle respectively, shipping far and wide to other islands, with the market expanding day by day. The exquisite Fresh Flower Soaps easily outcompeted the old-fashioned soaps, thus profits were continuously increasing.

Even in winter, when bathing was less frequent, a net profit of five Gold Coins per day was still achievable.

In the present situation, where the seafood business had completely slumped and Fresh Flower Brew had yet to hit the market, the castle was wholly reliant on the income from Fresh Flower Soap. As for the peanut processing workshop and the small town’s taxes, the revenue was minimal.

What surprised Liszt was that, even in the cold winter, the two public baths could bring in dozens of silver coins in revenue each day. Merchants from other places, as well as nobles from North Valley City, would rather travel by carriage to Fresh Flower Town just for a hot bath.

Some people would stop over in Fresh Flower Town.

Because there were so many people stopping over, the commercial district specially allocated two two-story wooden houses in the name of castle-owned businesses—one to serve as a hotel, the other as a restaurant, and there were plans to open a pub as well.

The popularity of the small town was growing, which also began to thrive the businesses of the commoners.

Reynard’s bakery could sell all kinds of bread every day; the Old Tanner from the Tanners’ Shop hired four apprentices to help and pass on the craft; the general store was busy to the point where Harriet’s family, including Maggie, had to help in sales. Even those selling eggs, vegetables, and wild fruits always managed to empty their baskets.

More and more merchant caravans came to do business in Fresh Flower Town, and the purses of the more than two thousand serfs in the territory were bulging, with their desire to spend growing.

Even the comedy troupe from North Valley City would often come to perform in Fresh Flower Town and receive quite a few tips.

At least when Liszt watched the performance, he would always toss up a few silver coins—he purely spent money to hire the comedy troupe for a performance to enrich the leisure life of the town’s residents.

He even specifically ordered the square in the small town to have several gigantic snowmen built.

Those huge snowmen, as tall as a three-story wooden house, could be clearly seen from inside the castle, and the town’s children loved to run around them.

The snowmen had a name, called Snow Treasure.

“What are you doing, Paris?” When Liszt walked out of the castle, he saw the female mercenary also building a snowman, seemingly trying to replicate the snowman in the town square.

“The castle is too monotonous; it should have a Snow Treasure.”

“Have you completed your Serpent Script teaching lesson for today?”

“Today is Sunday, according to the rules you made, we can take a day off every Sunday,” Paris earnestly continued piling up the snowman, although it looked quite ugly.

“Since you’re idle with nothing to do, come and have a fight with me.”

“Can we not fight? Without transforming, I’m no match for you at all, Baron. It’s meaningless for you to fight with me,” Paris responded.

“That’s not appropriate to say. I’m now prepared to use a Fine Steel Longsword and not restrain your Light and Shadow Tug anymore, earnestly depending on basic strength to refine my combat prowess,” Liszt stated.

Paris stood up, “As you wish!”

In the open snowy field.

Liszt, holding a Fine Steel Longsword, didn’t use the Eye of Magic, and fought earnestly against Paris. The effect of Light and Shadow Tug was quite evident. Without the boost from the Crimson Blood Sword, he found himself floundering at times. But the benefit of long-term medicine use became apparent, even without the Crimson Blood Sword, he still had ample Dou Qi to rectify mistakes.

Clang!

The Fine Steel Longsword collided with Paris’s Greatsword, sparking flames.

The great strength bestowed upon Paris by the Black Dragon Childe was dissolved by Liszt’s Dou Qi, and this collision resulted in a draw. The subsequent clashes still did not determine who had the upper hand. Without using Dou Qi Secret Techniques and Gemstone Weapons, Liszt was on par with Paris, who did not transform, with their combat power being almost at the same level.

Liszt was panting heavily.

He was not so talented that he could rapidly break through in a single battle and defeat an opponent of the same level.

Paris across from him was also gasping for air, her full chest heaving, and her hands holding the greatsword began to tremble, “Again!”

Clang!

The Fine Steel Longsword clashed with the greatsword once more.

This time, Liszt’s hand holding the Fine Steel Longsword suddenly emitted a slight cracking sound, and in the next moment, half of the blade spun and flew away.

Paris raised her eyebrow upon seeing this and charged without hesitation.

She harbored the thought of seizing the moment to crush Liszt in one fell swoop.

“My sword is actually not as sturdy as Paris’s greatsword, this is bad!” Liszt thought anxiously, as he certainly did not want to lose to Paris.

In the recent live combat drills, he had been utterly dominating Paris and had grown accustomed to victory.

However, having been bullied for so long, Paris naturally knew that her chance was rare, and this was the moment to turn the tables on Liszt.

“Hyah!”

The greatsword whistled fiercely, forcing Liszt, who was holding onto half a broken sword, to continuously retreat. Facing such a dangerous situation, Liszt slowly calmed down, his mind cleared and he furiously thought about how to respond.

Suddenly!

He thought of a plan.

As Paris raised the greatsword once more, preparing to swing, he did not back down but moved forward, like a nimble leopard, rushing towards the wide-open Paris. His hands clasped around her waist and he forcefully executed a bear hug takedown. Knightly combat almost never saw such close-quarters fighting.

Paris was too slow to react, and Liszt managed to take the initiative and get close. By the time she thought to counterattack, she was already falling to the ground with Liszt.

Due to inertia, the two rolled like tumbling gourds.

To prevent Paris from retaliating, Liszt held on very tight, forcing Paris to be unable to twist her body, and her greatsword was thrown away as well.

After five or six rolls, they stopped.

The fight also came to a stalemate, with Liszt holding Paris, unable to attack further, and Paris unable to strike back, with neither side able to do anything to the other.

However.

Just as Liszt felt the body he was holding soften, he suddenly realized he was being pressed down by Paris. Her full chest was right against his head, a large area of roundness and elasticity pressing continuously against his face, almost suffocating him.

“You… can let go of me now.”

Paris’s voice was unusually soft.

Liszt, not the least bit embarrassed, maintained his original posture, “How about a draw?”

“Whatever you want.”

“Okay.”

He then let go.

Paris propped herself up with her arms and rolled off him.

The air became fresh again, and Liszt took deep breaths. Looking at the blushing Paris, who seemed to want to stand up but lacked the strength, he said, “If my Fine Steel Longsword hadn’t suddenly broken, this live duel would have ended in a more composed draw, with no need for such a disgraceful struggle.”