"Teacher Gortai, how is the search for suitable places to settle the Elf Bugs coming along? They've been asleep for a month. I hope we can wake them as soon as possible, instead of letting them waste their potential."
Elf Bugs were magical little creatures.
They could bond with a master. All it took was a bite to the finger and a drop of blood to seal a magical contract—they were nature's spirits, the essence of plants, and messengers of magic.
Planting their Bug Grass could influence the growth of the surrounding plants.
Bug Grass was the plant from which an Elf Bug was born. It could be considered the Elf Bug's own treasured artifact, one it could summon or put away. It could be planted or put into dormancy.
The growth of Bug Grass was the growth of the Elf Bug.
If the Bug Grass died, the Elf Bug would die with it.
The Bug Grass was now inside the bellies of the four Elf Bugs. Without a supply of nutrients, they could only sleep. That not only wasted their labor, but also delayed their chance to evolve. No Elf Bug could evolve into a Little Elf simply by sleeping. They had to keep absorbing nutrients and influencing the growth of crops in order to evolve.
The odds were slim.
Still, Liszt wanted to try and see if his Elf Bugs could evolve into Little Elves.
Gortai replied, "The Alfalfa Bug would do well at the Dairy Farm. There's a large pasture there, and we should be able to replace the grass with alfalfa. It'll be hard to find a suitable place for the Millet Bug. Flower Town mainly grows wheat, and no one plants millet. The Tulip Bug should of course go at the Flower Farm, even though that place is nearly abandoned... As for the Thorn Bug, Liszt, you know it's not worth much."
"I don't care whether it's worth anything. What I need is for every one of them to have a field to grow in!"
"I can start by planting alfalfa and tulips. The lazy serfs should get moving, but Liszt, I need more hands. The clerks are a bunch of lazy fellows. They can't get anything done!"
"You can recruit commoners from town as you please. The castle will pay their wages."
"Oh, the castle will pay their wages? You're a truly generous lord. But there are hardly any literate people in Flower Town. You also want me to organize a census, but they can't even write their own names. I can guarantee they won't get anything done. We can't rely on the commoners."
That was a problem.
Flower Town had no school and no education. Having illiterate people serve as officials really wasn't reliable.
"Then, Teacher Gortai, do you know any literate people who would be willing to settle in Flower Town? If they're willing to come and serve as officials, I can pay them—at least twice what officials in other towns earn... My castle should still have plenty of gold coins."
No matter how little affection he received, Liszt was still the son of a count. After being granted his fief at his coming-of-age ceremony, he had received a fair number of gold coins.
Gortai fell silent for a moment, apparently weighing his words. "Liszt, I can see that you have great ambitions for Flower Town. And I do know some learned people who haven't found success. But as your tutor, I have to remind you that Flower Town already struggles to support one lord. If another group of people comes here, the town won't be able to bear the burden."
"I understand. Don't worry; I'll take care of it. You can invite them all over." Liszt spoke casually. Give him talent, and he could create wealth.
In his eyes, Flower Town was an untouched land waiting to be developed.
Without Elves, it would be hard to get rich through farming, but farming wasn't the only way to create wealth.
At the same time, another voice spoke in his heart: I have the Smoke Mission, my own cheat. Maybe it can bring me even more wealth!
As they were discussing matters,
the old butler Carter knocked and came in. "My lord, Old George from Peanut Hamlet has come to see you."
"Oh? What is it?"
"He says the peanuts in Peanut Hamlet turned green again overnight. And in the central field you specifically told us to watch over, one of the peanut plants has grown a large bud."
"Really? Let him in." Liszt was delighted.
He had only just spread fertilizer, and already the peanut field had returned to normal. He could hardly wait to find somewhere to zone out and see whether the Smoke Mission had updated.
By the time Old George came nervously tiptoeing into the castle, Liszt had regained his composure. "Old George, tell me everything about Peanut Hamlet in detail."
"Yes... My lord... Your glorious radiance... has shone upon every corner of Peanut Hamlet..."
Just as Carter had reported, the peanuts in Peanut Hamlet had turned green again overnight, and one had mutated, growing a large bud. The serfs were overjoyed. Old George had forgotten all about his lame leg and run here as fast as the wind, gasping for breath as he asked to see the lord. Hope had replaced the numb despair in his eyes.
Gortai had already caught on. His mouth hung open. "Oh, heavens, Liszt, could this mean that a... a Peanut Bug has been born in the peanut field?"
Liszt smiled faintly. "It's very possible."
"Oh, heavens, Liszt, you truly are a noble favored by the heavens! For an Elf Bug to be born in a remote little country town like Flower Town—it's incredible!"
"Whether it's incredible or not, we'll know when we see it. Mr. Carter, prepare a horse for me. I'm going to Peanut Hamlet."
"As you wish, my lord."
At the castle gate,
Liszt and Gortai each mounted their horses. Carter asked, "My lord, your Retainer Knight hasn't arrived yet. Should we wait a while?"
Thomas stepped forward, seeming to want to say something, but not daring to speak.
Liszt noticed him. After a brief glance at Thomas and Old George, he said, "Thomas, ride with me. And have Old George ride with us too."
Thomas was so excited he trembled, as if he'd just heard heavenly music. "Thomas is at your service, my lord!"
This was the first time the lord had asked him to accompany him on an outing. A personal servant's role was much like that of an attendant: always at his master's side, ready to serve, and a trusted companion to the nobility. Many great nobles' personal servants were knights who had fought alongside them on the battlefield.
Four people, three horses.
The Fire Dragon Horse led the way, racing like the wind until they reached Peanut Hamlet.
As far as the eye could see, the peanut fields that had been a patchwork of green and yellow just yesterday were now lush and green. Every peanut plant was stretching out its leaves.
It was spring, not yet the season for flowering.
But on the largest peanut plant in the middle of the field, a fist-sized bud had appeared on the stalk above its roots. It was a delicate, tender green, and a pleasing sight.
"This really is an Elf Bug's bud. The heavens favor you, Liszt! Flower Town is a place favored by the heavens!" Gortai cried, his voice tinged with exaggeration.
Liszt was actually very excited, but he still maintained a noble's composure, smiling warmly. "Elf Bugs are vital to Flower Town's agriculture, so this peanut field must be protected. Old George, you and the farmers must send someone to watch over it every day."
"My lord, Old George would guard it even if he had to go without food and drink!"
"There's no need to go without food and drink. Just take turns keeping watch." Liszt turned to Thomas behind him. "Tell my Retainer Knight later that I need one of them stationed at Peanut Hamlet every day to guard the Elf Bug."
"Of course, my lord!"