Chapter 25

At the center of the Flower Farm, the tulip big elf, leading the little elves and the six elvish insects, absorbed the black tulip around it.

Liszt observed the tulip big elf not far away.

According to his memories, the big elf named Xiang Xiang was more than sixty years old. It was a little elf twenty years ago and evolved into a big elf in Liszt’s father’s hands. The Tulips couldn’t have prospered without Xiang Xiang’s help.

With his newfound wealth, Leewilliam established an order of capable knights and became an earl after only a few years.

Coral Island turned into the fief of the family.

Elves… I have seen Xiang Xiang many times, but I can never see it enough. Elves are beautiful creatures that shouldn’t exist in reality. It’s a pity that it’s not mine. I have only five, no, six elvish insects.

He wrote to the earl hoping to get an elvish insect. The earl obviously agreed, because Levis carried an additional wheat elvish insect.

“My dear brother, this is your reward for discovering the magic medicine that our father asked me to give you.” Levis delivered the box to Liszt.

“Is the reward part of the deal?”

“No. Hehe, Liszt, don’t consider us outsiders.” Levis smiled, all good manners. “In any case, the blood of the Tulips flow in our veins. A magic medicine in the form of a tulip is very important for the family. Our father was delighted when he heard.”

“Then I’ll take it. Please forward my thanks to our father.”

“Why don’t you thank him in person?”

“Huh?”

Lvera approached them. “Our grandfather is bedridden. Our father wants us to visit him in person. So, after the business here is done, you need to return to Coral City with us tomorrow.”

“Is that so?” Liszt nodded. There was no point in refusing it.

“Let’s talk about it at dinner and finish business first. Lvera, you will negotiate with Liszt first. I’ll take a look at Flower Town… I’ve never been to this town before.” Levis left with his squires and Lydon, who was here to ensure his safety.

After Levis was far away, Lvera suddenly asked, “You’re really unwilling to give me the black horse?”

“I’m sorry, sister.”

“It’s extraordinary. You’ve discovered it?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not selling it for anything?”

“No.”

“Fine, it seems that your temper has grown with your luck.” Lvera squinted. She had beaten Liszt a lot when they were little. The former Liszt was too useless.

Liszt did not want to recall his past, which was not his own experience. “What have you brought to me, sister? There is no family in business.”

“I won’t get involved in the sale of the magic medicine. I’ll only assimilate it once with a reward of 250 kilograms of wheat, 400 kilograms of millet, 50 kilograms of pig iron, 25 kilograms of wrought iron, and a bag of sweet cabbage seeds, which is a specialty of Falcon Town.”

“It’s less than I thought, but I can accept it.”

“Don’t be greedy. I would only pay half of it if it were Lytton.”

Lytton was the earl’s youngest son. His mother was the earl’s second wife, a daughter from a small noble family. The mother of Liszt and his siblings was the daughter of a marquis, so they were much more respected than Lytton was.

As if she was dissatisfied with Liszt’s attitude, Lvera proposed a deal after they struck one.

“What’s the nature of your combat aura?”

“Fire.”

“What technique have you practiced?”

“Dragon Drill.”

“Let’s spar. I want to see how good you are.” Lvera took a spear from her squire. “It’s been a while since we practiced with each other.”

It was only an excuse.

Her real purpose was to teach Liszt a lesson.

However, Liszt was no longer what he used to be. He simply smiled. “Excuse me, but I haven’t finished my training. Maybe another day.”

Lvera stared at him. “Are you running away? It’s not a quality expected of a knight.”

“Fairness is also a quality of knights. Why don’t you wait until I grasp Dragon Drill, sister?” Liszt resolved the attack easily.

Raising her eyebrow, Lvera put down the spear. “You’re as timid as before.”

“I call it intelligence.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Lvera was only nineteen and not married yet. She was still a vigorous young woman. Liszt’s mental age had long surpassed that phase. He would not be infuriated easily.

As they chit-chatted, Levis had returned from his tour.

“Dirty, messy, lousy.” He shook his head. “Liszt, I’ve understood your demand for food. Flower Town is poorer than any town I’ve seen.”

“Indeed. However, I’ll make it rich.”

“With the black tulip? Let’s talk about it… For the assimilation of the big elf, the little elves, and the elvish insects, Tulip Castle will pay 1,500 kilograms of wheat, 1,000 kilograms of barley, 250 kilograms of wheat flour, 500 kilograms of wrought iron, 30 barrels of beer, and seeds of various crops.”

Liszt acknowledged the deal after further negotiation.

The wagons of assets were moved to the warehouses of the castle and immediately filled them. The food alone was enough to feed the castle for half a year. The iron could be used to build tools and armor, and the seeds could be planted in Flower Town.

Without elvish insects, the barren land could only be fertilized with manure, and the effect remained to be seen.

Speaking of which, the town was not very dirty anymore. Feces were picked up and sold to the castle every day, before they were distributed to the villages for fertilization. Since the policy hadn’t been instilled for long, the result was not obvious in places other than Peanuton.

…

The dinner had a great atmosphere thanks to Goltai, who was a good talker.

After dinner, Levis discussed the plantation and sale of the black tulip with Liszt. “Our father intends to buy out the right to plant and sell the black tulip with a thousand gold coins. Meanwhile, you can plant them in Flower Town and sell them to Tulip Castle.”

“That won’t do. The black tulip is the cornerstone for Flower Town. I can’t give up incessant revenues for only a thousand gold coins.”

“A thousand gold coins is not a small number. It’s more than the taxes of Flower Town in the next fifty years.”

“After the magic medicine is planted on a large scale, I’ll probably earn a thousand gold coins every year with the black tulip. Magic medicines are always in demand.”

“You must know that the black tulips cannot be shipped out of Thorn Hill without the family channels.”

“That’s why I’m negotiating with Father, or you. I can provide seeds for Tulip Castle, but for every black tulip to be planted, I’ll be paid with a certain amount of money.”

“You mean that we’ll do the dirty work while you do nothing but count the coins in your castle?”

Liszt held the teacup and replied unhurriedly, “Basically, yes.”