Serpent Script Formed of Smoke

Pan-seared goat meat, boiled lamprey, a small portion of applesauce and pear slices, ale with hops, and white bread made from fine wheat flour.

This was Liszt's dinner.

The Western-style meal didn't quite suit his palate, but he couldn't cook at all and couldn't whip up the home-cooked dishes he craved. Moreover, in the social climate of this world, nobles were strictly forbidden from entering kitchens or storehouses—places where servants belonged. To go there was a breach of noble etiquette and would invite ridicule.

Of course, the royal court was an exception.

The court's chefs and servants were all filled by nobles from various minor fiefs. Liszt's father, the Count of Coral Island, had served as a groom for the previous generation of Grand Duke Sapphire. He was responsible for feeding the Grand Duke's beloved mount, a prized steed with a trace of dragon blood.

Even now, the Count of Coral Island would occasionally enter the palace to serve as a groom.

He did so with pleasure, terrified that some other noble might take his place as groom and hinder the intimate relationship he shared with the Grand Duke.

Likewise, the Grand Duke Sapphire had served as a personal valet to his suzerain, the King of the Iron Ridge Kingdom, attending to his every need.

Essentially, commoners were servants to nobles, and minor nobles were servants to greater nobles.

Only by becoming a king could one truly be considered a master.

It's fortunate that here in Flower Town, I am the only master and don't have to wait on anyone, Liszt thought contentedly while eating his mediocre dinner.

The Count was his father, but since he didn't like him, he wouldn't come to bother him.

After finishing dinner, the old butler, Carter, directed the maids to clear the tableware, while the personal valet brought over water for Liszt to rinse his mouth.

Once the routine concluded, Carter led the servants away. "I shall be just outside the door. If you or the two gentlemen need anything, please do not hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Mr. Carter." Liszt offered a smile full of gentlemanly charm. Regarding noble etiquette, he was influenced by his predecessor; he didn't need to learn it actively, as it flowed naturally.

Even when dealing with lowly servants, one had to be polite and respectful—privately, it didn't matter if you beat, killed, or acted in any perverse way, but on the surface, one had to maintain noble decorum.

"It is my honor to serve you." Carter closed the door behind him.

"Liszt," Gortai said, taking a sip of tea laced with honey, "the Elf Bug should be put to use as soon as possible, but the town's finances are truly dire. The previous administrator was a fool who did nothing but oppress the serfs. He left us a complete mess!"

"I know. Teacher, please investigate as soon as possible to see where it is suitable to house the Elf Bug."

"Of course, that is my duty."

Liszt turned to look at Marcus. "Will it be difficult to survey the magical beasts in the area of Thorn Ridge near Flower Town? As the lord, I must take the issue of magical beasts harassing the farmers seriously."

Marcus replied, "Thorn Ridge is vast, and the movements of magical beasts are not fixed. You only have four squire knights; even if I map out all the beasts, there is no way to defend against them. The patrol team is utterly useless. They are just a bunch of thugs and ruffians who would only wet their pants when facing a magical beast."

Flower Town was located at the northeastern tip of Coral Island and was surrounded by Thorn Ridge. Because there were many magical beasts, very few merchant caravans were willing to come here to trade.

They could only produce and consume locally. Without the help of elves, the farmers struggled to feed themselves, let alone pay taxes to the rulers of Coral Island, the Tulip Family.

And the nobles only cared about how much tax they could collect; they didn't care about the farmers' survival at all.

The Tulip Family was no exception.

Liszt, however, could not remain indifferent. After all, he was a young man bathed in the glorious banner of collectivism. Since he had become a lord, saving the people from their plight was something he had to do—only when Flower Town became prosperous could he, as the lord, enjoy a better life.

For both public and private reasons, he had to develop Flower Town.

"There must be a way to cope, Teacher Marcus. Tomorrow, after the knight training, accompany me for a walk through Thorn Ridge. As the lord, I haven't properly seen what Flower Town looks like yet."

"Liszt, that is not a good idea. Just stick to touring the town; you shouldn't go to Thorn Ridge. Don't forget, you nearly died there." Gortai immediately blocked the idea.

Liszt shook his head. "Last time, I accidentally ate a poisonous fruit. This time, I will be careful."

Marcus said bluntly, "I will notify your four squire knights tonight to arrange a route for patrolling Thorn Ridge and ensure your safety."

"Thank you."

"You should be cautious," Gortai said helplessly.

Liszt didn't say anything more. His two teachers didn't know his true intentions. His body hadn't fully recovered, and according to his personality, he would certainly want to be fully healed before going out—but when nobles went out, they either took a carriage or rode a horse. Unfortunately, he didn't have a carriage.

Riding a horse, according to his memories, was not an easy task because there were no saddles or stirrups here—knights possessing battle qi didn't need auxiliary equipment to ride horses or any other mount.

On the contrary, a saddle would restrict the connection between a knight's battle qi and their warhorse... but without a saddle, it's always a bit hard on the rear, isn't it...

After seeing his two teachers off, Liszt pondered.

"My Lord, when do you intend to retire for the night?" the personal valet asked as he entered.

"After ten o'clock, Thomas. Add another candle to my study now; I want to read." Liszt dismissed the valet.

A flash of disappointment appeared on Thomas's face. For several days in a row, he hadn't had the chance to prove himself. Liszt always dismissed him rather than needing him to attend to him personally.

As a personal valet, he felt he hadn't gained the Baron's favor and worried about his job.

The truth was indeed so. Liszt didn't like his personal valet. Every time Thomas helped him dress, it made Liszt's skin crawl—the wretched noble system!

Why couldn't a male noble have a personal maid!

As Thomas brought in a candle and left, the study became bright. Liszt stood up and pulled back the curtains. Through the castle window, he could see a few faint lights in the town not far away.

It was very dim.

In a town where people couldn't even get enough to eat, there was no such thing as nightlife, only boundless silence.

Is this my territory? Poor, backward, but it belongs entirely to me. The area of a whole town is my independent kingdom... I will build it into a paradise!

In a daze.

Before Liszt, faint smoke swirled. The smoke twisted, forming abstract characters one by one. The characters looked as if they were coiled together by countless little snakes. This was the common script of the Iron Ridge Kingdom—the Snake Script. Its origins were lost to history, as there was no custom of recording it here.

As a soul-transmigrator who had inherited all the memories of his predecessor, Liszt could read this Snake Script.

It was a passage that had puzzled him for a week.

"Task: As a lord, you need to understand everything about your territory. Please tour Flower Town, understand the crises facing the territory, and prepare for future development. Reward: The sublimation of battle qi."

The content was brief and not complex.

But what Liszt didn't understand was why he could see the smoky Snake Script. Searching his predecessor's memories, the script had appeared since childhood. But back then, the smoke was very faint and blurry, so much so that he couldn't see what the script said at all, and he had always assumed he was hallucinating.

It wasn't until after his soul transmigrated that Liszt could clearly see the content.

He froze for a moment and reached out to touch the smoke, but it vanished instantly, which supported the idea that it was a hallucination.

But the current Liszt didn't think it was a hallucination. Perhaps this was a benefit for transmigrators, the manifestation of some system? It was hard to say, so he decided to verify it.

As long as he toured the territory, he could complete the task. Whether he could get the reward would be the proof.

If he didn't get it, it meant it was just a hallucination.

If he did, it meant it was a benefit.

Was it a transmigrator's golden finger—the golden finger arriving before the transmigrator even made a move?