Chapter 227 – Banquet on the First Floor

Ice had arrived.

The sea near Flower Town, however, did not ice up and the Flowers successfully returned to the pier without any trouble.

This time, a s.h.i.+p of volcanic gla.s.s ore was brought back, along with some pieces of dragon bones.

Marcus reported to Liszt in the castle study. "The bone fragments in the burial site have been cleaned up, and the volcanic gla.s.s between the rock pillars has also been mined. If we would continue to mine, the gra.s.sland will be destroyed. “

"Pause any activity. The gra.s.sland cannot be destroyed. The reproduction of black blood dragon horses is very important. Besides, we have excavated so many volcanic gla.s.ses that are probably enough for our use. This is a strategic resource we must consider for the future of Black Horse Island.”

“So what's next for Black Horse Island?” 

Liszt thought about it. “I will build a residential area near the port so we can increase the number of immigrants in the island. The port town can take shape as soon as possible and the population there will facilitate the development of Black Horse Island.”

Black Horse Island is his future base, Flower Town is just a temporary home.

The first part of his plan was to build a small town on Black Horse Island-Port Town, as a frontier position for the development of Black Horse Island. Before, the count developed Coral Island with the resources that he has acc.u.mulated for generations, but he started from scratch and solidified his plans step by step.

Black Horse Island needs to be kept a secret and can only be entrusted to Marcus for the time being.

Talks about the Port Town were finished.

Marcus expressed his doubts. “Sir, have you studied the magic of volcanic gla.s.s?” He has been responsible for mining the gla.s.s, but does not know what the volcanic gla.s.s was for.

Liszt did not keep it a secret. “Mr. Marcus, I have discovered the magic inside the bubble, it can be used as a constant source of heat.”

He took out the design he had drawn and handed them to Marcus.

“This is my bath house plan. There are a lot of projects in Flower Town in winter. But,everyday people work and sweat. They need a bathhouse to drive out the cold and reduce the dangers brought by the cold. Children who are practicing fighting for combat also need the benefits of a bathhouse. The Fire Dragon Magic is perfect for it. “

After looking at the design map, Marcus handed back the thick leather paper. “Baron has produced a very good design!”

In truth, he couldn't understand Liszt's abstract architectural scale design at all.

Putting away the design, Liszt asked Thomas, the servant, to call for Gort for a small meeting. The meeting was about the selection of a new group of able-bodied serfs to work on Black Horse Island.

“With this plan, the number of serfs in Flower Town is just not enough.” Gort mourned.

Liszt was  already dealing with the slave trade like a daily routine. "I haven't bought enough yet, but I believe it is a good time to buy serfs. As for the lack of gold coins reserved by the castle, let me find a way. “

He intends to sell the group of Mithril mines- a precious strategic commodity that he was originally reluctant to sell. But Flower Town was still far from being able to cast armor from it. Even if he formed a knights squad, they could only be equipped with standard armor produced by Tulip Castle, not Mithril armor.

Anyway,there are smoke missions, which means there is still much wealth to be harvested in the future. What's more important now is town development.

There was no need to consider the immediate gains and losses.

Gort did not have bad opinions about buying and selling serfs so he said with ease, “Yes, the prices of serfs now will be very cheap, and there may be a few more 'Paris'.”

“Paris?” Marcus wondered.

“A female mercenary whose sister was trafficked into Flower Town, and she followed her…… Now, she is the Baron's personal guard. She's very powerful, an elite earth knight.”

 Marcus asked cautiously, “Can she be trusted?”

Liszt pounded on the table and muttered, “What basic information I have on her is true but trust is still far from being reached. There are many secrets you must guard against her.”

“I see.” Marcus nodded and reminded, “However, I recommend that the Baron recruit followers from Coral Island. The Tulip family has cultivated Coral Island for 20 years. This is a force that can be trusted.”

Liszt understood clearly.

But Paris is a smoke mission reward, and was related to dragons. He dropped the topic and said, “Speaking of recruiting followers, Adviser Gort, how many people have aspired to go to Flower Town recently? ” As the Baron's adviser, Gort was Liszt's representative.

Gort replied, “There are many n.o.bles and semi-n.o.bles who have exchanged letters with me but not many are determined to go. You know, the knights who are in business have already followed the Count and the rest have either lost their initiative, or have insufficient strength. “

“Choose as many as possible, especially those young earth knights, and the n.o.bles who are familiar with business.”

Young earth knights can be trained to prepare for the upcoming Knights Squad. The semi-n.o.bles who are familiar with the business can start working in Flower Town and be later transported to Black Horse Island in the future.

“As you wish. By the way, my Lord, do you remember Zambrotta? “

“Leighton's teacher who was stripped of his t.i.tle. What about him?”

"These past few days he wrote in the hope that he could come to Flower Town to relax. He has been impatient about hoping to find a job here."

“You receive him first. I will then look into his expertise and if I'm satisfied, I won't deny him the job. But if all he is is a bad name, I'm not going to crash with the authority of my father.”

—–

 At the restaurant on the first floor, Marcus met Paris.

There was no tension. The two just nodded to each other as if they already knew each other beforehand. Since then, Paris devoted herself to the food. She was attracted to the castle food such as scrambled eggs, egg soup, bread with varying tastes, and scented milk.

Her sister lives in Mrs. Harriet's house while Paris lives alone. She did not bother to cook at all.

Of course, she wasn't qualified to enter the second floor banquet for dinner in the castle. All of them were eating at a table with the knights Randy, Russel and Liszt on the first floor.

Only n.o.bles and family teachers can be seated on the second floor.

Liszt often organizes banquets on the first floor in order to engage more with his subordinates. With this style, they could all gather at a table for a drink.

He had, of course, hosted Karl and Romm on the second floor before when his understanding of the aristocracy was not yet very strong. It was no longer the case now, since most of the time, it is a rigid hierarchy that reflects the authority and n.o.ble character of the lord.

It's like a bowing gesture, which can win people's hearts.

After eating in the same pot for a long time, some people may not understand that being a good friend does not always merit a close bond, and they might  overstep their status.

Don't let your a.s.s dominate your brain.

Liszt is a n.o.ble. Of course, his a.s.s is on a chair on the second floor but eating downstairs is nothing but a win.

 “The law and order in the territories must be strictly managed. Carl, the patrol team must be expanded. At present, there are too few people on the team, only 30. More than 100 people are a.s.signed to a single patrol. We will try to expand the recruitment with 90 more people, with 40 people a.s.signed to one patrol. Still, this ratio even barely meets the standard. “

Liszt said seriously, "I am not asking you to completely end Flower Town activity at night, but forms of crime and fighting must be eliminated. "