After the tulip completed the assimilation, it would be kept in the jade box again. Also, there would be no need to feed it with jade powder, because the wormgrass could absorb nutrition for the insect.

The process would probably take a day.

After Liszt returned to his castle, he began to write.

Paving a piece of thick paper and dipping the quill in the ink, he wrote in Ophidian. Without telephones or fax, he could only communicate with letters.

He was writing to the Earl of Coral Island and the Baroness of Falcon Town, or his father and his sister.

The earl had a tulip big elf, a tulip little elf, and multiple tulip elvish insects, and the baroness had a tulip little elf. The earl and the baroness were certainly willing to offer something to assimilate the new black tulip in Liszt’s territory.

Deals had to be made even though they were family.

With this opportunity, I can ask for an elvish insect from the earl and a batch of life necessities from the baroness. He already figured out what he wanted.

Elves were the primary source of productivity. He would never let go of the opportunity.

Next were the things that he was short of—as a matter of fact, the castle was short of everything. Liszt was certainly not an ascetic man.

Secondly, I can negotiate with the earl about the plantation and sale of the black tulip. As a unique good, the black tulip can only be grown on my land, but I can give away the selling rights to the earl for twenty percent of the profits… However, the black tulips won’t be enough to sell until one or two years from now.

Stopping for a moment, he considered and wrote on.

Perhaps I can ask for a down payment from the earl first. I have to get more coins. It’s difficult to develop Flower Town without initial capital. The road through Thorn Hill has to be broadened, too.

That was basically the content of the letter.

Marcus arrived after the letters were ready. Only Marcus, an earth knight, was qualified to send the letters. Liszt hadn’t grasped any techniques with intermediate combat aura, and his combat ability was weak.

“Mr. Marcus, I have letters that I’d like you to deliver for me.”

“With pleasure,” Marcus said with a different tone. Before Liszt became an earth knight, he always answered with a simple “yes.”

Liszt sensed the change, but he made no comment. “Also, I need a book on intermediate combat aura. Thousand Waves of the Tulip Castle is not suitable for me. Could you bring Furious Fire from the knights’ academy? Also, ask Butler Luis if there are any other fire-natured techniques in Tulip Castle.”

“No problem.”

“Have a good rest tonight. Be careful when you cross Thorn Hill.” Liszt thought for a moment. “Your horse is not very good. Ride my Fire Dragon.”

Marcus bowed in gratitude. “Thank you for your kindness, but my horse was on the battlefield with me. We’re connected. He’s a better choice.”

“If you say so.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

“See you.”

…

“Mr. Marcus, good afternoon.” Tom Pigpen, who was carrying water buckets, greeted Marcus, who was leaving the castle.

Marcus nodded. “Good afternoon.”

Tom was flattered. Marcus and Goltai normally never greeted him back. He was only a servant for chores in the castle. Jesse Ricewater, who was responsible for cutting wood, and Allyn Fourfingers, the kitchen maid, were probably the only people lower than him.

He bowed to Marcus. Forgetting that he was carrying buckets, he slipped, and half of the water was spilled.

“Be careful.”

“Oh, o-okay, Mr. Marcus.”

After Marcus left, Thomas emerged out of nowhere. “How stupid of you to drop half of the water. Mr. Tom Pigpen, perhaps his lordship should send you to take care of pigs. That’s more suitable for you.”

Tom hefted the buckets without looking at Thomas. “I’ll refill the buckets.”

He was taller than Thomas, but he always appeared to be the shorter one.

Thomas sneered. “What else can you do except fetch water? No, you can’t even do that well! You are born to be a footman! As his lordship’s valet, I’ll replace Old Carter as the butler of the castle one day! By then, my first order will be to kick you to the pigs.”

“You won’t. Mr. Carter is his lordship’s trusted subordinate,” Tom argued in a low voice.

“Hehe. His lordship already allowed me to go out with him. He trusts me. I’m young. I’ll replace Carter sooner or later!”

“You won’t.” Tom did not want to talk anymore and simply left.

After the water from the buckets entered the tank, Debbie Windows came to fetch water. She saw Thomas, who was wandering outside of the castle. “Tom, did Thomas cause you trouble again?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You shouldn’t be scared of him. He’s nothing special. His lordship sees your efforts.”

“I know. I’m not scared of him. His lordship is a great man. His lordship and Mr. Carter can see my hard work.” Tom wiped his sweat. “Thank you, Debbie, though. Do you need me to bring the water upstairs for you?”

“Would it be too much trouble?”

“That’s all right. Mr. Carter gave me an easy job.”

“You are a good man, Tom.”

…

Marcus had an early breakfast and fed his horse with beans and dry grasses.

He checked Liszt’s two letters and Goltai’s five letters carefully, before he reviewed what he wrote on a piece of paper.

It was a reminder in case he forgot his errands—Liszt needed fire-natured techniques, Carter requested him to purchase paper, Goltai wanted a box of cigars, Auden Shoepad asked him to buy scabies cream, and he needed to buy a bowstring for himself.

The old bowstring needed to be replaced after it was broken during the encounter with the Wind Blade Wolf.

Then, he cleaned his spear and his sword and counted the arrows in his quiver. After all was set, he left the town and rode to Thorn Hill.

Thorn Hill was actually a combination of two hills, one stretching from the north to the south and the other from the east to the west. The road at the center was the only path to enter or leave Flower Town.

The woods had monsters.

However, there weren’t a lot since the monsters had abundant food. The road was relatively safe. As an earth knight, he was not scared of common beasts.

After only one mile, however, he sensed the presence of monsters.

Again? After running into the Wind Blade Wolf last time? What an unlucky bastard I am! Marcus stared at the source of the threat nervously, his spear raised.

He waited for a moment, but the monster did not show up.

Marcus narrowed his eyes. A hiding monster was more dangerous than an attacking monster. He patted the horse and pretended to leave, trying to bait the monster into showing itself.

After another half-mile, the monster that stalked him finally grew impatient and pressed the assault. A tall shadow lunged out at him fiercely.

Marcus had been on alert all this way. Naturally, he was not hit. He stopped the horse promptly and extended his spear.

Then, he finally saw the monster. It was a gigantic wild dog.