Marcus and the Sneak-Attacking Wild Dog

Once the Tulip Bug completed its assimilation, it could be placed back in the jade box and raised in the castle. It wouldn't need to be fed jade powder anymore; the Bug Grass could absorb nutrients on its own and nourish the Elf Bug.

The process would probably take a day.

Back at the castle,

Liszt began writing letters.

He spread out a thick sheet of Parchment, dipped a quill in ink, and began tracing Snake Script. There were no telephones or faxes, so he could only communicate through the most primitive means: letters.

He planned to write to the Count of Coral Island and the Baron of Falcon Town—his father and sister.

The Count had a Tulip Great Sprite, a Tulip Sprite, and several Tulip Elf Bugs, while the Baron had a Tulip Sprite. This meant the Black Tulips in Liszt's territory were vital to the sprites. The Count and Baron would certainly be willing to pay a price to assimilate this new variety.

Here, forget about brothers settling accounts clearly—even father and son had to keep things clear.

"Taking advantage of the assimilation, perhaps I can trade the Count for an Elf Bug, and get a batch of daily supplies from the Baron." He had already decided what he wanted in exchange.

Sprites were the foremost productive force. He couldn't let an opportunity to obtain one slip away.

Next came the scarce daily supplies. In truth, the castle lacked everything. Liszt wasn't the sort to endure hardship and live simply; he liked comfort.

"Next, I can discuss the cultivation and sale of Black Tulips with the Count. As a specialty product, Black Tulips can only be grown here. However, I can give the Count the sales rights. Hmm, taking twenty percent of the profits shouldn't be a problem... Still, even if Black Tulips are cultivated at full capacity, it'll take one or two years before they can be produced in bulk."

He paused his pen, considered for a moment, then continued writing.

"Perhaps I can ask for an advance. No, that's not right—I should collect a deposit from the Count for exclusive sales rights. I need to get more Gold Coins. Flower Town needs development, and without startup capital, it'll be difficult. Especially the road through Thorn Ridge—we have to open up a broad, safe route. If you want to get rich, build roads first."

That was roughly the content.

By the time the two letters were finished, Marcus had arrived. Only Marcus, as an Earth Knight, was suited to deliver them—Liszt had yet to train in an Intermediate Battle Qi Manual, so his combat strength was weak.

"Teacher Marcus, I have two letters here that I need you to deliver."

"Gladly." Marcus returned the courtesy. His tone seemed to have changed. Before Liszt had advanced to Earth Knight, he might have merely replied, "Yes." Now, however, it was "Gladly."

Liszt noticed the subtle change but showed nothing. "Also, I need an Intermediate Battle Qi Manual. Tulip Castle's Thousand Layer Waves doesn't suit me. Please bring back Flame Wave from the Knight Academy. Hmm, ask Steward Louis whether Tulip Castle has any other fire-element battle qi manuals."

"No problem."

"Rest well tonight and set out tomorrow. Be careful when crossing Thorn Ridge." Liszt thought for a moment. "Your Yellow-Gray Horse isn't good enough. Ride my Fire Dragon Horse."

Marcus bowed in thanks. "Thank you for the offer, but my Yellow-Gray Horse and I have been to war together. It's an old companion that understands me, and I'm better off riding it."

"As you wish."

"If there's nothing else, Baron, I'll take my leave."

"Go ahead."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Marcus." Tom Pigpen, carrying two buckets of water, ran into Marcus as he left the castle and respectfully greeted him.

Marcus gave a faint nod. "Good afternoon."

Tom was instantly flattered. Usually, Marcus and Gortai wouldn't say "good afternoon" to him. He was merely a male servant who did heavy labor in the castle. The only servants of lower standing were Jesse Rice-Wash, the servant assistant in charge of feeding horses, chopping firewood, and cleaning manure, and the kitchen maid Irene Four-Fingers.

He wanted to bow to Marcus, but forgot about the water buckets on his shoulders. When he bent over, the carrying pole slipped, and one bucket immediately spilled half its water.

"Be careful."

"Oh, y-yes, Mr. Marcus."

After Marcus rode away, Thomas appeared from nowhere. "You're really clumsy. You managed to spill half of two buckets of water, Mr. Tom Pigpen. Perhaps the master should have you feed pigs instead. That would suit you better."

Tom lifted the buckets again without looking at Thomas. "I'll fetch two more buckets."

He was a head taller than Thomas, yet he always kept his head lowered out of habit.

Thomas sneered. "Other than fetching water, what else can you do? No, you can't even fetch water properly. You'll be a laboring servant all your life! I'm the master's personal servant. Sooner or later, I'll replace old Carter and become the castle steward! When that happens, the first thing I'll do is send you off to feed pigs."

"You won't. Mr. Carter is the master's confidant," Tom argued softly.

"Hmph. The master has already allowed me to accompany him outside. He trusts me now. I'm still young—sooner or later, I'll replace old Carter!"

"You won't." Tom didn't want to say any more and turned away.

After pouring the water into the large cistern, the maid Debbie Window came over to draw water. She glanced at Thomas wandering outside the castle. "Tom, is Thomas giving you trouble again?"

"It's nothing."

"You shouldn't be afraid of him. He's nothing special. The master will see your efforts."

"I know. I'm not afraid of him. The master is a very, very good man. If I work hard, the master will see it, and so will Mr. Carter." Tom wiped the sweat from his forehead. "But thank you, Debbie. Do you need me to carry water upstairs for you?"

"Would that trouble you?"

"Not at all. Mr. Carter gave me very easy work."

"Tom, you're such a good man."

Early in the morning, Marcus ate breakfast and fed his Yellow-Gray Horse plenty of beans and hay.

He carefully checked Liszt's two letters and Gortai's five letters, then looked over the few words he had written on a piece of Parchment.

Those words were reminders of things he couldn't forget—Liszt needed a fire-element battle qi manual, old Carter had asked him to buy Parchment, Gortai wanted a box of cigars, and Oden Insole, the squire knight, had asked him to buy scabies ointment. He also needed bowstrings for himself.

When he encountered the Wind Blade Wolf, he had drawn his bow too fiercely, and the bowstring had snapped. He needed a replacement.

Then he wiped down his knight's lance and one-handed sword, counted the feathered arrows in his quiver, and found everything ready. He mounted up, left the town, and rode toward Thorn Ridge.

Thorn Ridge was a series of rolling hills.

In truth, it should have been two hills joined together. One ran north to south, the other east to west. The small road between them was the only route in and out of Flower Town.

Magical beasts roamed the mountain forests.

But there weren't many, especially during this season, when food was plentiful and magical beasts rarely ventured out. Thus, the road between the hills was relatively safe. As an Earth Knight, Marcus wasn't afraid of ordinary beasts.

He had traveled less than a mile.

Suddenly, he sensed the aura of a magical beast.

"Why am I running into a magical beast again? I ran into that Wind Blade Wolf last time. I really am unlucky!" Marcus gripped his knight's lance and watched the direction from which the beast's aura spread with tense focus.

He waited for a while.

The magical beast did not reveal itself.

Marcus narrowed his eyes. A magical beast that hid itself was more dangerous than one that confronted him openly. He patted the Yellow-Gray Horse beneath him and pretended to leave, trying to lure the beast into showing itself.

After traveling another half mile or so,

the magical beast following him finally lost patience and revealed itself, launching an attack. A tall figure shot out from the woods beside the path and pounced ferociously.

Marcus had been on guard the entire way, so he naturally couldn't be ambushed. Almost at the same moment, he reined his horse around and thrust out his knight's lance to meet the attack.

Then he saw the magical beast clearly—a gigantic wild dog.