The Long-Yam Family of Red Crab Island

The milk produced by the Dairy Farm was a rare luxury in Flower Town. Originally, all milk from the farm was used to produce powdered milk, which was handed over to the Count of Coral Island as tax once every three months.

Since Liszt's arrival, the daily milk yield had been sent directly into the castle.

There were ten cows in total.

Among them, three calves under two years old had not yet begun to produce milk; two old cows were no longer productive; one bull could not produce milk; only four adult cows provided a small amount of milk each day. It was unclear whether the breed was poor or if they were simply not being fed well enough, but the milk yield was very low.

"Big Flower is at her peak, and when milked three times a day, she produces 20 kilograms of fresh milk; Small Flower is in her low-yield period and only gives 4 kilograms a day; Big Black is also in a low-yield period, giving 5 kilograms; Big Yellow is currently dry." The steward, an old man who was not actually that old but appeared withered and hunched, spoke with a stooped posture.

Liszt approached one of the cows. It was very docile, slowly chewing on grass.

"Do you keep the cows that cannot produce milk?"

"Zhuangzhuang needs to ensure all the cows are impregnated, so he must be kept. Milk Flower, Milk Black, and Milk Yellow are still young and won't be able to conceive and produce milk until next year. Old Flower and Old Black are already aged; we have already reported this to you, My Lord, so you may come to slaughter them for meat at any time," the steward said respectfully.

Milk Flower, Milk Black, and Milk Yellow were the names of the underage cows.

Small Flower and Small Black were the names of the cows that had just reached adulthood.

Big Flower, Big Black, and Big Yellow were the names of the cows in their prime.

Old Flower and Old Black were the names of the elderly cows.

Zhuangzhuang was the name of the bull.

Liszt recalled that some time ago, the butler Carter had mentioned that there were two old cows at the Dairy Farm that could be slaughtered for meat at any time. Cows that could not produce milk were a waste of feed for every day they were kept, so they were usually slaughtered immediately—it sounded heartless, but cows produced milk their entire lives and were expected to contribute their meat in the end.

Since the castle was not hosting any large banquets for the time being and the current meat supply was sufficient, the two old cows were kept at the Dairy Farm for the time being.

"Is the pasture at the farm enough for the cows to eat now?"

"It is enough, My Lord. We only have ten cows, but we have 150 acres of grassland."

"Old Steward, how many acres do you think are enough for ten cows to graze?"

"In reply to you, My Lord, one cow needs ten acres of grassland to survive, but we often take the cows to graze in the wild fields outside, so eight acres per cow is enough."

"Eight acres per cow, so ten cows need eighty acres. In that case, Teacher Gortai, please clear seventy acres of Two-Leaf Clover first and replace it with alfalfa."

"No problem, leave it to me." Gortai patted his chest in assurance.

Liszt's swift and decisive attitude regarding the census project had created a sense of crisis for Gortai, and his work attitude had finally improved significantly. He had realized that Liszt was not the type of flamboyant, pleasure-seeking noble, but one who did things in a down-to-earth manner. If he wanted to gain power, he had to change his own style.

Feeding Dousen.

Inspecting the Peanut Bugs.

Two days passed in a flash. The third day was a rainy one.

Spring was in full swing, and summer had yet to arrive. Rain was as precious as oil, and agricultural production in every village was being pushed forward busily. The alfalfa seeds had already been sown, and the millet fields had been marked out from the wild land, ready for reclamation and planting. There was still no progress on the thorn forest; they would have to wait for Marcus to return so they could go to Thorn Ridge to search.

The fourth day.

After eating lunch in the castle, the butler Carter hurried into the study: "My Lord, Mr. Marcus has returned and is waiting outside the castle for your summons."

"Invite him in quickly."

"Baron, Marcus pays his respects to you!" The travel-worn Marcus brought the two intermediate battle qi manuals that Liszt had been looking forward to.

One was the Flame Wave that Liszt was familiar with, and the other was the Fire Dragon Drill obtained from Tulip Castle.

After accepting the two manuals, Liszt turned to ask: "Teacher Marcus, I handed my letters to the Count and the Baroness; how did they reply?"

"These are the replies from the Count and the Baroness, as well as the ten Narda exchanged from the sale of the Violent Earth Dog furs."

"Please sit, Teacher Marcus. Let me read the letters first."

He opened the Count of Coral Island's reply first. Because not much could be written on the thick parchment, the content was brief. Leewilliam Tulip replied to Liszt, stating that he intended to send people soon to complete the assimilation of the Black Tulip and to discuss how to sell it.

He also promised to purchase a batch of scarce supplies for Liszt as a deposit for the transaction.

The other letter was the reply from the Baroness of Falcon Town. Lvera congratulated Liszt on discovering a new variety of tulip and stated that she would accompany the Count to exchange supplies for the right to assimilate the flower.

They were both official, polite replies.

There was little familial affection involved. After Liszt's mother—the Count's first wife—passed away, the bond between the three siblings, lacking maternal love, had gradually faded. As for the Count, because of Liszt's appearance, his hope had turned to disappointment, making their relationship even more distant.

"But that is fine. I can accept this kind of distant relationship better. I wouldn't be able to stand anything overly intimate." Liszt felt a slight emotion after reading the letters.

He put the letters down.

Liszt said gently: "You have worked hard, Teacher Marcus. Did you hear any fresh news on this trip?"

"Coral Island is as calm as ever, and there is no war in the Grand Duchy. However, there is one thing—I am not sure if it counts as fresh news—it concerns the Baron's maternal family."

"My maternal family?"

Liszt had almost forgotten that his mother came from a noble background as well. He asked: "What happened at Long-Yam Castle?"

"The master of Long-Yam Castle, the Marquis of Red Crab Island, has fallen ill and resigned from his post as captain of the palace fleet to return to Red Crab Island. The Count is preparing to send someone to visit him. Perhaps when the envoy comes to assimilate the Black Tulip, he will discuss this matter with you, Baron."

"Perhaps." Liszt searched the memories of his predecessor, recalling Long-Yam Castle.

The Sapphire Grand Duchy was an archipelago nation, with many nobles enfeoffed on islands of various sizes. Among them was a large island, Red Crab Island, owned by the Long-Yam Family. The lord was the hereditary Marquis of Red Crab Island of the Grand Duchy—Merlin Long-Yam, who was Liszt's maternal grandfather.

The Long-Yam family's surname originated from the Long-Yam Great Elf they possessed.

The castle they resided in was Long-Yam Castle, a fortress palace far more massive and luxurious than Tulip Castle, standing in magnificent splendor atop the mountain range.

Marquis Merlin had one son and two daughters: his eldest son Messiro, his second daughter Melinda, and his third daughter Melissa.

Melissa Long-Yam was Liszt's mother.

Back when Leewilliam Tulip was still a viscount, Marquis Merlin had recognized his extraordinary potential and married off his third daughter, Melissa, to the Tulip Family, who then gave birth to three children: Levis, Lvera, and Liszt. To this day, Liszt would travel to Long-Yam Castle every year to celebrate his grandfather's birthday.

However, ever since Leewilliam remarried a new countess, the relationship between the Long-Yam Family and the Tulip Family had gradually grown distant.

But regardless of the circumstances, Marquis Merlin was still Liszt's grandfather.

With his grandfather struck by illness, it was only right for his descendant to pay a visit.