Chapter 167 – Free to Fly

By the end of October, the weather got really cold.

The atmosphere of the castle was becoming more and more bleak, mainly because the master Liszt's mood was also getting worse and worse.

Flower Town was flouris.h.i.+ng and more than 400 new serfs were quickly settled into the town. The autumn harvest gathered a large amount of grain every day and the warehouse was full.

In such an atmosphere, Liszt should be happy.

However, there was finally news from the caravan. Although his face was calm, his tone was dreary,  “Harpagon, the Flower Caravan covers so many small towns as part of the seafood business. It has formed a very large news channel,and yet you cannot find even a single thorn specie? "

Harpagon was on his knees, frightened.

His master, an elite earth knight, had an angry voice and a dissatisfied tone. It was enough to put him under such enormous pressure.

“Sir  Lord, I deeply apologize. This one has disappointed you. I have asked the caravan merchants to release the information to come up with new thorn varieties in exchange for rewards, but the thorns they sent were all ordinary types. There is no variety that meets your requirements. “

“Have you really searched all the areas covered by the Flower Caravan?”

“Birch City, Snake Spear City, Gravel City and the other surrounding towns have all been searched, Sir. If we would continue the search, we will have to go to the villages in the south".

“Then go to those villages one by one and search them one by one.” Liszt's temper was not directed at Harpagon, but he was very upset. “You can take a tenth of the Flower Caravan's money and use it to find new thorn varieties.”

Only when Old Grandet got promoted was Harpagon given the opportunity to be promoted to be the captain of the Flower Caravan. If he couldn't do a good job now, Liszt would probably have him thrown back to the farm.

“Go on and get to work.” 

Liszt waved and ordered Harpagon to leave.

Liszt sat on his chair and rubbed his temple with his hand. Not only did the Flower Caravan not bring any good news, Shylock's Thorn Caravan also turned up empty handed. He thought that the caravans would just casually ask around about new thorns. Who would have thought they would not find a single one?

“The caravan offered a lot of rewards to anyone who presents  new varieties of thorns, Civilians would have gone crazy trying to look for thorns. But it has been several days without results, this indicates a great possibility that Coral Island has really no new thorn species.. We can only wait for Marcus' news. “

He let the caravan and Marcus go in separate ways.

One has to find more thorn species, in order to increase the chances of thorn sprite worm breakthrough.  The more information collected, the greater the possibility of an evolution.

“If Marcus doesn't bring good news, where should I look then?” 

When something cannot be found in Coral Island, then the only choice is to source out. As a small aristocrat, his circle is basically limited on the island. The Count is a n.o.bleman directly under the Grand Duke. Most of the surrounding islands are marquis and/or followers of the marquis. However, their relations.h.i.+p with Coral Island is not very harmonious.

Contacting the other lords is a taboo.

But there is an island he can come in and out at will-Red Crab Island.

Liszt is the bloodline of Red Crab Island, his mother was  the daughter of Merlin Longtaro, a follower of the Grand Duke and one of the seven lords of the Sapphire Grand Duchy. When he visited Marquis Merlin, he was greatly accepted by the Longtaro family.

“If I asked Grandpa Merlin…, no, I just need help from Cousin Meopal, and I should be able to get the job done.”

Red Crab Island was the size of a Chinese province, doesn't it have other different species of thorns?  "I'm afraid there are a lot of different kinds of thorns in the hedge of Taro Castle."

He thought about it more deeply.

His heart was anxious,  “If I won't make it here in Coral Island, I will go to Longtaro castle. I believe that grandfather will at least arrange for me a fief of a viscount. “

However, Red Crab Island has a bigger business connection and is doing so much better than Coral Island.

Also, one shouldn't get too close with one's relatives.

Liszt suddenly remembered Athena Salmon, and his mood slightly warmed up. "It's been months.. She's probably holding hands with other n.o.bles now… Ah.. I'm just remembering this like the memory of running in an afternoon sun. It's all just part of my lost youth." He was fondly remembering the n.o.ble lady who boldly showed her interest to him.

Maybe soon.

His nostalgia moment was interrupted by a sad and bitter cry.

The sound came from outside the castle, and it was like the sound of someone or something being tortured.

His gloomy mood faded and he immediately got up and went to the falcon room. Elkson was sitting across the platform with bloodshot eyes.

Seeing the arrival of Liszt, Elkson hurriedly said, “Baron Liszt.”

“Mr. Elkson, Blessedcurls, has it bowed its head?”

“Your wind beast is so arrogant. It's pride.. It's beyond my imagination.” Elkson explained with embarra.s.sment. He thought he had the magical beast subdued.

But the falcon was resilient, it would rather starve to death than lower his head.

Suddenly, Liszt saw red blood stains on the corners of Blessedcurls' mouth, “Is it vomiting blood?”

“Yes, it's been starving for a long time hence its body is already in danger. If you repeatedly hurt the wind beast a few times and it still won't surrender, then you have failed…. Sorry, Baron Liszt, this is a situation I haven't encountered in my career of domesticating a common hawk."

"Are you saying… that Blessedcurls might starve to death now?"

"It's possible.. But it's also equally likely that it will keep its head high until then. After all, Sir, it's still a magical beast. It will succ.u.mb to the threat of death. Maybe with a few more training, it will surrender to being your pet."

“Waaah……”The Falcon's blood was on the platform. It let out sad scream.

But its eyes was without the look of submission. It remained stubborn still. Liszter looked past the eyes and searched if he could see a hint of disdain of its fate.

Destiny.

It is probably the effects brought by the smoke dragon. He had often a.s.sociated everything with destiny. There was something causing all of these like a person holding a car's stick. He thought about the cause and effect of fate.

Fortunately, the materialistic values that have been ingrained in him since childhood were still on the forefront.

“I don't think Blessedcurls will surrender to anyone.” Liszt shook his head. The falcon is not a bird in a cage. He saw from the beast's early years that it will yearn and will always long for the sky. "That's it for now, I need you to worry more about the Flame Mushroom Magic Potion. “

“What!?”

Elkson snapped, “Baron Liszt, if you give up now, all the efforts we've made before will be in vain. When the beast reaches adulthood, it is no longer possible to have a second chance to tame the falcon."

"Rest a.s.sured, I will still pay you for your efforts." Liszt decided to settle with what was done and move on to another project.

Liszt said, "Untie the chain on Blessedcurls."

He brought with him meat and water to feed the falcon. The monster really had  a strong resilience, he expects it will recover a lot of energy in only half a day.

"Fly! Be free!"

After opening the door, Liszt had to push Blessedcurls out. The falcon must've forgot the feel of suns.h.i.+ne as it flickered its eyes.

But after a few moments of hesitation, it spread its wings  and jumped off the platform.

Soar.

Boom.

It started to fall.

But it quickly found its flight instinct , and for the last time, using its wings as support, it jumped off the ground with its wings beating, two feathers fallen off, and Blessedcurls shot off to sky.

“Waaaaaah!”

Blessedcurls cried for the last time and never turned back as it rose to the blue heavens.