CH 2

The Desinia castle stands alone on a low cliff by the sea.

Xia Zuoyi’s bedroom is connected to the study and is the largest sea view room in the castle.

When the weather is fine, open the window, you can see the clear sky, flocks of seabirds flying low to hunt, and the calm sea with silver shimmering light.

It is undoubtedly a pleasure to read a book by the window or familiarize yourself with the big and small things in the castle.

So Xia Zuoyi asked Udit to bring a chair, set up a small round table, fragrant flowers, and a pot of water soaked with lemon slices.

In the Western Continent, the main drinks are wine and water, not tea or coffee.

Lemon is used as a cheap condiment, and the way to drink it in water has never been heard of.

Before, Udit tried to stop him, but reluctantly compromised after, and finally agreed—Xia Zuoyi finally got his wish and drank lemonade.

It’s not easy.

The weather by the sea is always overcast and unpredictable.

In the morning, it rained steadily. By noon, it was warm and sunny, and the sky was clear.

Xia Zuoyi put away the financial statement that the old financial officer handed over yesterday and couldn’t help sighing.

The main source of aristocracy’s wealth was the tax revenue in the territory.

In order to be able to study alchemy, the old Earl Matt Desinia deliberately increased taxes, and the amount of money received was considerable.

But the cost of alchemy was too high, and the old Earl’s usual behavior was extravagant and wasteful, never thrifty.

As a result, the financial statements in Xia Zuoyi’s hands are already facing a serious deficit crisis.

—The sound of fluttering wings came in my ears.

Two seabirds fall on the windowsill together, comb each other’s feathers, and fly away after a short pause.

Xia Zoe retracted his gaze and looked at Udit, who was standing quietly beside him, “Are you familiar with Wissas?”

“My Lord, I grew up in Wissas, so I’m naturally familiar with it.”

“In that case, show me around, Udit.”

“Yes.”

Udit walked up to Xia Zuoyi, apologized for his rude behavior, reached out and gently raised Xia Zuoyi’s arms and lifted him away from the chair that was tall and wide for him.

“…”

Xia Zuoyi tried to maintain his inner peace, his expression as calm as possible.

Just get used to it, just get used to it.

He’s only six years old, still a baby.

The town of Wissas is one kilometer away from the coastline, and far from Desinia Castle.

Xia Zuoyi asked the coachman to stop the carriage on the main road leading to the town.

Not far away, he could see countless low houses, peddlers, roads mixed with sewage, mud, and dung…

Perhaps because it had just rained in the morning, the air not only smelled more and more “fresh”, there is almost no clean place on the road where you can walk on.

“My Lord, are we not going in?” Seeing the little Earl standing on the carriage and staring at the ground, the coachman summoned up the courage to ask.

Xia Zuoyi, “You wait here.”

The emblem of Desinia is engraved on the carriage, which is too conspicuous.

“Udit, Kelly, we… walk in.” 

For the first time, this “walk” was extremely difficult.

“Do you want me to hold you? My Lord.” Udit said.

Xia Zuoyi paused and held out his arms in silence, “Trouble you, Udit.”

A smile flashed in Udit’s eyes, “This is what I should do, my Lord.”

He carries Xia Zuoyi into town, with Kelly following.

The town is quite lively.

Most of the stalls selling on both sides directly put the goods on the ground or on the stones.

The few who know how to be clean will pull a piece of linen and spread it, and the more upscale one is to put the wooden table in front of the door of the shop.

The so-called shop door is to tidy up the living place for stacking goods, which is simple and messy.

Xia Zuoyi looked around.

The most popular commodities on the market are rye bread, rye wine, dried beans, onions, and other cheap vegetables, and some utensils and accessories.

It’s about halfway through the market before seeing two stalls selling pork, the strong smell of pork can be smelled from far away.

Living by the sea but didn’t see a fish stall.

Because on the Western Continent, the price of fish is higher than that of pork, and only the nobles can afford it.

The cost of fishing boats is not cheap, and the weather on the sea changes whenever it changes. Perhaps the next moment there will be violent winds and waves.

The most important thing is that if the fish is not handled properly, it will have a disgusting fishy smell, and not many people will eat it.

For civilians, the business of selling fish is not cost-effective.

Xia Zuoyi kept in mind what he had observed.

Not far away, a young man with brown hair and brown eyes, with a beautiful appearance, wearing old but clean clothes kept going back and forth among the three or four stalls around him.

He usually passes when the stall owner is selling or has sold out, and stands quietly for the rest of the time.

Xia Zuoyi was puzzled, “What is he doing?”

“I’ll go over and ask, my Lord.” 

Before Xia Zuoyi could react, Udit has handed him over to Kelly to continue to hold him, and then goes to one of the stalls where the boy goes back and forth.

Kelly was shorter than Udit, but stronger, she had strong arms and held him firmly.

But because she’s a woman, Xia Zuoyi is uncomfortable and slightly wriggles his body saying, “Let me down, Kelly, I’m too heavy.”

“You’re not heavy at all, too light, you should eat more.”

Kelly couldn’t help thinking of the little Earl’s appetite, as if it had been decreased since he recovered.

“You are thin!”

Xia Zuoyi glanced at his slightly bulged belly, chubby arms and legs without a trace…. He didn’t comment on Kelly’s real concerns.

Before long, Udit came back.

“The young man’s name is Gibran Keno.”

“I heard the stall owner say that he is good at mathematics, and will help them to confirm whether the price is wrong when they sell things, so as to earn tips to support himself and his brother.”

“How much money can he make?”

“A copper coin.”

Udit couldn’t help saying more, “Most people at the market know him, and only the stall owners with good business will call him for confirmation. Three or four are the most common situations, and he’s not needed every time.”

Besides, the market in Wissas only happens once every ten days.

The amount of copper coins Gibran Keno can earn is limited.

There are three currencies in circulation on the Western Continent—gold, silver, and copper.

One gold coin equals one hundred silver coins, and one silver coin equals one hundred copper coins.

Usually, one silver coin is enough for a month’s living and expenses in ordinary civilian homes.

Xia Zuoyi looked at the boy, and happened to meet his brown eyes.

After a while, the young man looked away without expression, saw a stall owner beckoning, and walked over quickly.

Xia Zuoyi also looked back, “What’s going on inside?”

They are now on the outskirts of the town.

Udit, “Pubs, clothing stores, shoe stores…”

Xia Zuoyi didn’t plan to see it.

“Go back.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Udit said softly.

Gibran Keno couldn’t help but turn his head and look at their back when they left, especially the child in his arms, white and tender, and could not be raised by the common people.

What’s more, the fabrics and shoes used to make clothes are not cheap.

He thought of those beautiful and sweet eyes that looked like caramel just now, and he couldn’t help but tut and muttered, “…little nobleman.” 

For Xia Zuoyi, being familiar with Desinia Castle and Wissas is the first step to bring Pal Mountain into his territory.

Pal Mountain currently does not belong to any territory.

The second step is how to ask the King of Gadaat to obtain the land through the King’s gift.

The third step is to find out how Wissas could not be taken away by other Lords after he dug out the natural asphalt mine because of the lack of population, cavalry, and poverty.

No matter where it is, a mineral vein is undoubtedly precious and rare.

The coachman waved the whip and drove the carriage back to the castle.

Udit and Kelly were sitting in the carriage, watching the little Earl rubbing his eyes on the bumpy road, he seemed sleepy. After a while, he yawned and leaned on Udit’s arm, closing his eyes to rest.

Oh, so cute.

Kelly couldn’t help covering her chest, she couldn’t bear to look away from the little Earl. She looked at his long curly eyelashes, his red, white, chubby face, and the slightly pursed lips because of the pressure on his arms.

Oh my god.

Kelly praised the Earl’s cuteness to the God of Creation.

Too terrible.

【Ding.】

Xia Zuoyi saw that the reputation value at the top right of the system interface increased again, from 11 points to 12 points—from zero to double-digit, all contributed by the servants in the castle, and they undoubtedly contributed a lot.

He clicks on the white building icon.

A little stickman appeared and pulled the search box—【The Universal Library provides professional books for you. Please enter the name or content of the book.】

Xia Zuoyi, “Seawater salt drying.”

【Searching seawater salt drying, please wait… Ding, successfully searched “History of Salt Drying”, “Seawater Salt Drying Method And Detailed Illustration”.】

Xia Zuoyi click on the “Seawater Salt Drying Method And Detailed Illustration”.

【Reading “Seawater Salt Drying Method And Detailed Illustration” requires 20 reputation points to exchange.】

After the system asked whether to redeem, Xia Zuoyi chose No.

He pursed his lips and slowly opened his eyes.

Udit saw that the little Earl who was leaning on him seemed to have puffed up his soft cheeks because he hadn’t had a good rest, and the corners of his mouth were down, somewhat depressed and unhappy.

He couldn’t help but gently follow along Shazoe’s back and said, “My Lord, we are almost at the castle.” 

Xia Zuoyi looks out of the car window.

From here, one can clearly see the bright red flag flying in the wind on the castle—the thorny rose representing the glory of the Desinia family.

—The black thorns with numerous thorns curl around and submit to the gorgeous rose, the rich red and black entangled each other. Knowing the danger but could not help being attracted.

The aristocrats who have been circulating for a long time in the country all have their own family emblems representing their identity, rights, and status.

The nobles will engrave the emblem on all the objects that can show their identity.

For example, the badges worn on the body, the flying flags of the castle, the horse-drawn carriages that go out…even the knights’ armors are engraved with logos.

After arriving at the castle, Xia Zuoyi went to the study to get a bunch of keys.

“Udit, light the kerosene lamp and follow me.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

The place they were going to go was built in the basement of the castle, an underground laboratory specially set up by the old Earl because he was addicted to alchemy.

Layers of stone steps meander down, and when you step on it, you can clearly feel the moist water vapor soaking through the stone steps, and moss grows in the gaps. You can smell the faint sea water and the smell of damp mold under the walls.

At the end, there is a tall iron gate locked on one side.

Xia Zoe looked at the height of the keyhole and silently handed the key to Udit.

Udit took it and opened it.

一A cloud of moldy air came to his face.

No one has been here since the death of the old Earl Matt Desinia.

Until today.

After Xia Zuoyi knew what he needed to know, he decided to implement his plan.

According to the foreshadowing of the second step plan, he will inherit the legacy of the old Earl and become an alchemist, providing an explainable reason for the knowledge and materials needed for future infrastructure construction.

What is alchemy?

—Turn things that are not gold into gold, and turn stones into gold.

—The pursuit of pharmaceuticals, hoping to make a panacea “philosopher’s stone”.

Generally speaking, alchemy is a “chemical experiment” developed in metallurgy and medicine.

However, under the influence of feudal theology, the ultimate goal of alchemy seems absurd, ridiculous and unrealistic.

But it is undeniable that in the process of continuous search, some capable people have also obtained many achievements through alchemy and have been applied in related fields.

This has led to countless people’s obsession and admiration for alchemy, and being proud to be alchemists.

Alchemy can be called the primitive form of chemistry.

In Xia Zuoyi’s view, medieval alchemy and ancient Chinese alchemy have similarities, especially in the pursuit of “elixir of immortality”.

Lighting the still kerosene lamp in the underground laboratory, the dark room finally lights up.

There are two long tables in the middle, with odd shaped equipment and utensils, some scattered manuscripts, animal skins, bones, etc.

There are iron cabinets all around and many marked finished products are arranged on them.

Xia Zuoyi inspected the room and found that many things had deteriorated and become moldy due to poor preservation, with green moss growing.

He didn’t understand why the old Earl built the laboratory underground.

It’s dark and humid.

If you stay here for a long time, won’t you be blind?

Xia Zuoyi shook his head and made up his mind to move the laboratory away.

“Udit, let people come down and move everything in the room to the attic, the largest one.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

If Xia Zuoyi wants to get Pal Mountain through the King’s gift, he must first take credit or offer a “gift” of enough weight to the King.

The Cogit Sea is close at hand and is a huge natural treasure house.

The “gift” he chose was naturally the method of drying salt in seawater.