Watching those sapphire-like eyes, Raven's heart stirred. "What's the condition?"
"Learn Elven by the end of half a year." Laxus's eyes held a hint of playful smugness.
"Good. It's a deal." Raven nodded with a smile.
"Huh?" Laxus froze. "But Elven is very difficult to learn. Shouldn't you—"
"No need," Raven said decisively.
Laxus huffed and turned her gaze away.
The elves' history was far older than humanity's, and their civilization had been established much earlier. They could be called the source of civilization across the entire Middle Continent. Thus, Elven had become one of the first languages humans mastered.
However, as humanity gradually prospered, it developed its own written and spoken language. Elven slowly disappeared from daily life, and only nobles, a few scholars, and priests still knew it.
Over the past thousand years, as humans became the dominant race on the continent, the transmission of Elven had weakened. Aside from a handful of great nobles, scholars, and priests, few people still knew it.
As a priest, Laxus had to master Elven, and the learning process was extremely painful. There was neither a language environment nor any practical use for it. Even hymns praising the Lord of Light were now sung in the Imperial language.
"What is it? Regretting it?" Raven asked with a smile. "Why don't you change the condition?"
"No!" Laxus turned back and stared at Raven stubbornly. "We agreed that I'd learn Elven within half a year. Otherwise, you'll have to give me back 2,000 gold coins!"
"Fine." Raven nodded firmly, then asked curiously, "If—just hypothetically—I changed my mind, what would you want me to change it to?"
Footsteps approached, and Patti brought dinner to the table before them.
There was pan-seared beef shoulder with pickled asparagus, a bowl of creamy mushroom soup, and a small basket of freshly baked white bread.
After a day of hard work, the aroma immediately drew Laxus's attention away.
"Thanks be to the Lord of Light for His gift." After praying, Laxus picked up her knife, cut off a piece of beef shoulder, and began enjoying her dinner. Clearly, she had no intention of continuing the topic.
"Thanks be to the Lord of Light for His gift." Raven did not pursue the matter either. He cut off a piece of beef and placed it in his mouth.
The butter's fragrance spread across his tongue. When his teeth bit down, rich juices burst between his lips and teeth. The beef's distinctive savor filled his mouth, bringing immense satisfaction.
The marinated asparagus was crisp, and its slight sourness perfectly dispelled the beef's greasiness, whetting the appetite.
Dipping white bread into the creamy, mushroom-scented soup made for a dinner that was not luxurious, but thoroughly satisfying.
After they finished eating, a maid came to clear away the dishes and serve dessert—two small bowls of creamy ice cream.
In this era, only nobles and a few wealthy merchants could obtain ice during summer.
"If you want me to learn Elven, you'll at least have to give me some textbooks and find me a teacher, right?" Raven said half-jokingly. "Preferably an elven teacher."
"Don't say you—I want an elven teacher too!" Laxus snorted. "The Elven Empire has been hiding in the Ancient Forest for hundreds of years. There are hardly any elves traveling the continent. How could you meet one just because you wanted to?"
"You can't expect me to learn it out of thin air, can you?" Raven spread his palms. "Do I have to trouble the Lord of Light with this too?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Laxus shot him an unhappy glance. "In a couple of days, I'll have someone send you an Elven dictionary and textbooks. Once you return to Eagle Fortress, I'll teach you personally!"
As she spoke, dimples appeared on her cheeks. "If you can't learn it by then, I'll be giving you a hand spanking~"
Looking at her innocent smile, Raven could only nod with a smile. "All right. I'll listen to you."
Laxus yawned tiredly, and Raven also felt drowsiness welling up in him. He rose and said, "Then, good night, Miss Laxus."
"Good night." Laxus nodded with a smile.
That night, Raven did not ask Patti to serve him and slept peacefully.
Early the next morning—the thirteenth day since Raven had arrived in Shining Gold Town—Laxus politely declined Raven's request that she stay. She boarded a carriage with her daily necessities and returned to the Church in Shining Gold Town.
At the same time, a furtive figure slipped away.
Her name was Jenny, Nancy's trusted maid.
She returned to the manor southwest of Shining Gold Town. After reaching Nancy's bedroom, she took a deep breath and nervously knocked on the door. "Miss Nancy."
After a while, the door creaked open, and Nancy appeared before Jenny.
She wore a slightly childish plaid nightdress and a pointed nightcap. Having just woken up, her hair was pressed messily against the back of her head like a tangled ball of yarn. Her pink fingers scratched at it, revealing a section of her fair, delicate arm. "Have you got news? Tell me!"
As she spoke, Nancy turned back into the room, swung her pale little legs, and sat before the mirror to begin dressing.
"Yes..." Jenny lowered her head as she reported, "Yesterday, Priest Laxus from Eagle Town went to see Raven. She toured the military camp with him and had lunch with him."
"That evening, Priest Laxus stayed at the Shining Gold Town government hall and did not leave until this morning."
With a crack, the wooden comb broke into two pieces in Nancy's hand. She turned and frowned. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because... nothing actually happened between them." Jenny spoke softly, afraid of angering the spoiled young lady. "After all, Laxus is a priest..."
Nancy understood what Jenny meant. She knew far more about Laxus's background than a mere maid ever could.
Though Laxus was only a priest in a tiny barony, her teacher was Seventh-tier Divine Spellcaster Crouch, the empire's most famous ascetic. He was on the verge of reaching the eighth tier and might even become a Saint-tier Divine Spellcaster.
Judging by background and status alone, Laxus was probably even above Nancy, the daughter of an earl.
A priest like that was not someone a mere baron such as Raven could offend.
"That damned Raven!" Nancy angrily threw half the comb into the wastebasket and slammed her fist on the table. "He's obviously nothing but a lowborn lecher. How did he manage to deceive a priest of the Lord of Light? And that Laxus must be a big-busted airhead too."
As she said "big-busted airhead," her eyes fell on the mirror. She straightened her waist and examined the barely visible outline before finally pouting helplessly. "Is there no other news? Has he really behaved himself all these days?"
Jenny nodded silently. "That is indeed the case, Miss. We've watched the government hall day and night, and Raven's life is very simple..."
"He's either in the government hall or at the training grounds, right? I've heard that seven or eight times already!" Nancy rolled her eyes. "A bunch of useless fools. Why is it so difficult for you to find something to use against him?"
"This month and next month, your wages are all docked!"
As she spoke, Nancy stood and rubbed her little bottom.
That hateful man!
Although it no longer hurt, after leaving the government hall, she had spent three whole days lying on her stomach in bed.
When she returned to the manor that day, her mind had been filled with grievance and despair. I'm finished. If news gets out that someone spanked me, how will I ever face anyone again?
But afterward, it was as though nothing had happened. There were some rumors among the commoners, but they were all baseless and vague.
Yet this also meant that Raven had grasped something against her. She constantly worried that he would expose the matter, or even use it to threaten her someday.
Being threatened by a Little Bee was terrifying just to imagine.
She wanted to complain to her father, but she had no reason to do so.
Could she tell him, "Raven bullied me—and the way he bullied me was by spanking me"?
Thus, she sent her maids to monitor Raven, hoping to catch him in the act.
Wasn't he called "Little Bee"?
Then she would catch him seeking out women. Shining Gold Town had no shortage of women who sold their bodies.
It was an open secret that nobles were promiscuous. After marriage, a little gossip meant nothing, but before marriage, such behavior would cause one's reputation to plummet and become a minor scandal.
Nobles known for being "lewd," regardless of gender, found it difficult to secure equal marriages. They could only marry downward. This too was an unspoken secret within noble circles.
By then, Raven would have leverage against her, and she would have leverage against him. They would be even!
Yet this man had not shown the slightest sign of such behavior.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Nancy said harshly, "If you can't find anything, keep monitoring him. I refuse to believe you can't find a flaw!"
Jenny's face filled with worry. Her profession was being a maid, not a spy, and spending every day exposed to the wind and sun was truly exhausting. "Miss Nancy, I don't think this can continue..."
"Oh? What do you mean? Are you saying I'm stupid?" A flame ignited in Nancy's hand.
"I wouldn't dare!" Jenny hurriedly pressed her head to the floor. "I only think that since his nickname is 'Little Bee,' collecting this evidence really... is it useful?"
A cool breeze passed through the room. It became so quiet that even the sound of a needle falling could be heard.
Nancy was stunned for a long while. Then her breathing grew faster, and her small face flushed bright red as she realized she had been thinking in the wrong direction. "Damn it, why didn't you remind me sooner?"
For a pure and well-behaved girl like herself, reputation was naturally important. But for a scoundrel from a commoner background like Raven, what did it matter if his reputation was ruined?
"Then, Jenny, what do you think we should do now?" Nancy asked somewhat sheepishly.
Jenny really did not want to spend any more time outside in the wind and sun. Her mind raced. "I think... judging by Baron Raven's current behavior, he seems to be short of money."
"Then shall we rob his treasury?" Nancy's eyes lit up, but she soon shook her head. "No. He still has an army. It would be disastrous if we were discovered."
Still, this gave her an idea. She began pacing around the room. In her loose nightdress, she looked like a lively morning glory.
"I've got it!" Nancy clapped her hands. "You said before that he was meeting those merchants to build a workshop, right?"
She wore a mysteriously confident smile. "He already created Angel's Tear. If he builds a workshop, he'll certainly make an even bigger move. Then I'll sneak inside and steal all his secret formulas. Angel's Tear will belong to me!"
She looked at Jenny, who was kneeling on the floor. "Why aren't you saying anything? Isn't my plan good?"
Jenny was speechless. Stealing secret formulas was hardly something a noble lady ought to do.
However, construction had not even begun. Even if the workshop was built, it would take at least a month or two. By then, Nancy might not even still be here.
Most importantly, this meant Jenny would not have to run outside every day.
Jenny raised both hands from the floor and gave two thumbs-up. "It's brilliant, Miss Nancy. Absolutely ingenious!"
"Hmph, I knew my idea was flawless." Nancy leaped to the window and pulled open the curtains. Facing the sunlight, she revealed a radiant smile. "Just wait, Raven. Offending me, Nancy Fox, will be the greatest mistake of your life!"
Under the same brilliant sunlight, the training grounds northeast of Shining Gold Town were filled with private soldiers training hard.
Raven, the lord, stood at the head of the formation. Whenever his gaze landed on a soldier, that soldier proudly puffed out his chest.
They all hoped Raven would select them as Personal Guards. After all, Personal Guards earned three times the wages of ordinary soldiers.
But Raven's attention was not on them.
He had stayed in Shining Gold Town long enough, and the recruitment of construction workers was nearly complete. Once the building materials arrived, the riverside workshop could begin construction.
Raven did not have to wait long.
On July 23, 1193 of the Era of Light, the first batch of building stones entered Shining Gold Town in a mighty procession along the main road. That same day, Raven ordered the newly recruited soldiers to escort them to the northern bank of the upper Golden Sand River, northeast of Eagle Town.
Over the past ten-odd days, Old Gordon had organized the residents and finished leveling the land. The weeds and rubble had been cleared away, and they had even laid a gravel road leading to Eagle Town.
That evening, Raven returned to Eagle Fortress, which he had not visited in some time. The moment he entered, he received surprising news. "What? Denise has left? When did this happen?"
"On July 9," Old Gordon replied.
"Nearly half a month ago..." Raven frowned slightly, his tone turning stern. "Then why didn't you tell me immediately?"
"Lady Denise said there was no need to inform you." Old Gordon spoke cautiously. "Besides, she is your aunt..."
Old Gordon had his own selfish motives regarding this matter.
Raven was always going to Denise's room. Old Gordon had seen it all. Although he never commented, he did not approve of Raven's behavior, and he deeply resented Denise's "impropriety."
Now that Denise had left, he felt it was good for both Raven and Denise. Naturally, he did not want to notify his baron immediately.
"Forget it. Let her go..." Raven sighed.
If not for Angel's Tear, Denise would probably have left long ago. Now that Angel's Tear production was becoming stable, her departure was no longer surprising.
Still, Raven felt somewhat lost.
His gaze fell on Old Gordon's face, and he said with slight displeasure, "Mr. Gordon, I hope this is the last time."
"I don't have many years left to live, my lord." Old Gordon bent over, his voice respectful and humble. "Your will shall be carried out."
A loud drum needed no heavy blow. Raven gave him no real punishment. For a clever man, a single sentence was enough. Anything more would only damage the relationship between master and servant.
That night, Patti was thoroughly worn out.
Early the next morning, construction of the riverside workshop officially began.
According to Raven's plans, the workshop would eventually become the center of Eagle Town's industrial district. It therefore occupied a considerable area: fifty meters long and fifty meters wide, fifteen meters from the riverbank for convenient access to water and firefighting.
However, on the second day of construction, a problem emerged. The site was too close to the riverbank, and the groundwater was excessively abundant. When the foundation reached two meters deep, filthy water gushed out like a fountain.
After careful consideration, Raven had no choice but to move the workshop fifty meters northwest, level the land again, and dig a new foundation. He also abandoned the idea of building an underground warehouse.
Still, the earlier work was not entirely wasted. The excavated foundation could be widened and turned into a small canal connecting the workshop to the Golden Sand River.
On the fifth day, the foundation had been excavated and most of the foundation stones buried, but then heavy rain arrived.
Buildings in this world were primarily made of stone, with wood as a supplement. Lime mortar was generally used to bind the stones, and it had to dry slowly in dry weather to guarantee adhesion and strength. It could not withstand rainwater.
In a single night, the buried foundation was soaked through and ruined. They had no choice but to dig drainage channels ahead of schedule and release the standing water.
Looking at the muddy construction site, Raven sighed inwardly.
I really want cement!
He had considered inventing cement in this world. The problem was that it went beyond the scope of nine-year compulsory education. Even though Raven knew its general formula, he had no way to determine the proportions. Besides, there was not yet a broad enough range of uses.
An industrial product like that had to be placed in the hands of a major power before it could generate profit. In Raven's hands, it would only lose money.
If he truly wanted to produce it, he would at least have to wait until he became a viscount.
Raven once again began living a life of traveling between two places. It had been the same in Shining Gold Town, and it was the same in Eagle Town.
Previously, he had gone between the government hall and the training grounds. Now, he went between Eagle Fortress and the construction site.
Although he did not need to remain at the site all day, he returned covered in dirt every time, keeping Patti extremely busy.
On the ninth day of construction, August 1, 1193 of the Era of Light, after the hard work of hundreds of craftsmen, the four walls had basically taken shape, and the foundations of the workshops inside had been excavated. Yet another problem arose during construction.
Raven had originally intended to build a huge workshop capable of accommodating more than a hundred workers at once. However, with the construction technology of this world—or more precisely, the construction skills of the people Raven could find—that was impossible.
The foreman said, "My lord, what you want is a palace, while the most we have ever built is a manor!"
In that case, they would change the plan!
The factory originally planned to measure forty by forty meters was changed into nine independent twelve-by-twelve-meter workshops arranged in a nine-square grid.
The planned warehouse and workers' dormitory, on the other hand, posed no major problems. The local craftsmen had at least some experience building inns.
Aside from construction matters, Raven also had many other affairs to handle personally, such as storing and distributing the livestock that arrived. Old Gordon did not dare make those decisions alone.
On the sixteenth day of construction, the riverside workshop had entered the proper rhythm. The plans had basically been finalized, and only details remained. Raven could finally shift some of his attention to other matters—such as learning Elven.
Picking up a book thicker than the Xinhua Dictionary, Raven's brow twitched repeatedly. For the first time, he felt his choice might have been a mistake.
This was only the Elven dictionary.
The actual textbook was two feet long, a foot wide, and thick as an entire rack of beef ribs. Raven had no doubt that swinging it could kill a pig outright.
Of course, he could not actually test that. He did not even dare show the book the slightest disrespect, because it was the Holy Word Record. It contained the teachings of the Lord of Light and the various miracles He had brought about, written bilingually in Elven and the Imperial language.
"Our Lord has said: Whoever beholds the light shall see the true meaning of goodness..."
He had to admit, Elven was truly strange. Raven had only read the first two lines before becoming drowsy.
"I've been tricked." Raven stretched and lightly slapped his cheeks to wake himself up.
He had thought Laxus would personally tutor him. With a beauty accompanying him as he studied, reading would no longer be dull.
But he had only guessed half correctly. Laxus had indeed agreed to be his teacher, but she was terribly irresponsible. After teaching him the basic phonetic symbols, she never came again, saying that the next stage would begin only after he could accurately recite a hymn praising the Lord of Light in Elven.
The problem was that Elven pronunciation was extremely strange, very much like the Slavic languages of his previous life. All the rolled and trilled sounds made Raven's tongue tie itself in knots. When he read quickly, it even sounded like he was rapping.
Forcing himself to continue, Raven read two more lines. Just as he was about to try saying them in Elven, a rapid knock sounded at the door.
"Who is it?!" His thoughts interrupted, Raven roared impatiently. "Didn't I say not to disturb me while I'm studying?!"
"Lord Baron... it's me!" Fili's cautious voice came from outside. "The things you requested have all arrived."
"This fellow came to report it himself. He really is good at sucking up." Raven smiled helplessly, slapped the book onto the table, and walked out. He saw a gold tooth gleaming amid Fili's brilliant smile. "You mean everything has arrived?"
"That's right, my lord." Fili rubbed his hands together. "Twenty first-tier Demon Cores and two sets of alchemical equipment have been delivered to your warehouse."
"Common Demon Cores of Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, steel, blood, and the like cost between 2.9 and 5.7 gold coins. Besides that..."
"Well done!" Raven patted his shoulder, interrupting the price list. "Go find Old Gordon and settle the remaining payment."
With the sound of wind trailing behind him, he strode outside and ordered, "Volkov, take the Demon Core to the dungeon at once!"
"Moxigan, bring me one live pig, two live chickens, and two rabbits. Take them to the dungeon as well, and put them in different cells!"
Anticipation flickered in Raven's eyes.
It was time to test whether the Demon Core could be used on other living creatures.
Before you continue