The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Chapter 0422 Why Work So Hard (Fifth Update, Additional Chapter for 2800 Monthly Votes)

In three days, Liszt was busy writing his book "Three-Phase Magic Array and Reality Interaction Theory". At the same time, the officials in the acting administration had already drafted the industrial transfer plan.

The plan established that within a year, all Elf Cordyceps would gradually be relocated to Black Horse Island for protection. Plants like Tulips, Thorns, Flame Mushrooms, and Dragon Hollyhock, which are ingredients for Magic Potions, will also be progressively moved for cultivation on Black Horse Island. Fresh Flower Town would only retain ordinary crops, relying on compost for irrigation.

As for workshops, the Bone Craftsman Shop, Magic Workshop, Crystal Workshop, Brewing Workshop, and Soap Making Workshop, all would be moved to the Port Town. Most of the craftsmen would also relocate to the Port Town, leaving the shops and workshops of Fresh Flower Town to the apprentices.

The plan was detailed.

Liszt didn't have much to add, obviously agreeing with the plan and delegating its implementation to the officials.

He was more concerned with the Smoke Mission.

"Complete the mission, reward: Oily Mutated Variety Corn Grass."

"Hmm?" Seeing the Serpent Script for "oily", a look of disappointment flashed across Liszt's eyes, "Isn't this just corn cobs? Oily mutated variety, is it going to turn into soybean oil or sesame oil, or will it compete with peanut oil?"

The oil currently consumed in the castle was extracted from soybeans and peanuts, both of which Liszt could accept, and he had no more particular demands in terms of taste.

Therefore.

Oily Corn Grass was not really a reward to get excited about.

He turned to the new Smoke Mission: "Mission: Resurrecting Fire Dragon Bones—have you forgotten that the parched dragon bones need the nourishment of magic power? Only then can they nurture a result that makes your heart flutter. Please organize the serfs to mine 10 tons of volcanic glass. Reward: Agitation of the Rubber Bug."

After reading it, he immediately had an inkling: "Volcanic Glass, Fire Dragon Bones... it seems like something good is about to be born. I must complete this mission quickly, no matter what!"

"Only."

"Why is the reward the agitation of the Rubber Bug, not the agitation of the Corn Grass Bug? I always thought the previous two missions were linked tasks related to the Corn Grass Bug."

Based on his understanding of the Smoke Missions, continuous rewards of the same type indicated the arrival of a chain mission. Therefore, the previous two rewards of mutated Corn Grass had led him to anticipate that perhaps the Corn Grass Bug was about to evolve, much like Jela's evolution before.

But then, suddenly, the reward for the mission became the agitation of the Rubber Bug.

"What exactly are these triplets agitated about? Could they be preparing to evolve? It shouldn't be possible; they've only been born for half a year... So, what are they agitated about?"

He could only wait until the Smoke Mission was completed to observe the Rubber Bug triplets—who at the moment were residing peacefully in the castle, calm in both mind and action, showing no signs of abnormality.

With a trace of disappointment,

Liszt went to check the Corn Grass fields, in search of Oily Corn Grass. However, compared to the previous corn and sorghum, Oily Corn Grass was harder to find.

After setting the serfs from Barley Hamlet to search for two days, they still hadn't found the Oily Corn Grass he was hoping for.

His only choice was to issue an order: "To expand the cultivation area of Corn Grass, harvesting of Corn Grass is prohibited for one month. Wait for the Corn Grass seeds to mature before considering the harvest." Strictly speaking, the administration hadn't immediately planned to expand Corn Grass cultivation, but the officials had grown accustomed to Liszt's occasional arbitrary decisions.

And so, the Corn Grass was protected.

They could slowly search and wait for the appearance of Oily Corn Grass.

...

As time flies, the mares in the stables gave birth one after another. The first batch of mixed-breed foals with Black Blood Treasured Horse lineage was born.

On the other side, the Fig Bug, Blackberry Bug, and Pea Bug had also been born, and news had come from Black Horse Island that the Green Tea Bug had been born as well.

Liszt had made a trip to Black Horse Island. While overseeing the mining of volcanic glass, he also contracted the Green Tea Bug. With that, he officially owned 24 Elf Bugs.

The newly contracted Fig Bug, Blackberry Bug, and Pea Bug had been brought to Black Horse Island and planted in the agricultural area planned by the port town. These areas would gradually be turned into vast farmlands.

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Not only these Elf Bugs.

The Alfalfa Cordyceps from the grasslands outside the castle had also been relocated to the expansive grasslands at the center of Black Horse Island; the four Serpent Blood Fruit Bugs and their cordyceps had been planted early in the subsidiary agricultural land of the port town, and a large Serpent Blood Fruit orchard had been planned; the Fragrant Coconut Tree Cordyceps had also been moved to Sandy Beach Island, a subsidiary island of Black Horse Island.

The Fragrant Coconut Trees in Fresh Flower Town were distributed in long strips along the beach, which limited the influence of the cordyceps, so Liszt simply relocated them to Sandy Beach Island.

Sandy Beach Island was full of Fragrant Coconut Trees and was not large in size, fitting perfectly within the area of influence of the Fragrant Coconut Tree Cordyceps.

Most of the other cordyceps would need to wait until the harvest at the end of autumn, or until the farmland on Black Horse Island was ready, to be relocated.

"Sir, we have collected a large number of mangrove saplings from Mangrove Island and are now transporting them to the mouth of the Red River for planting. The breeding of Green-headed Ducklings is also underway with hand-feeding. With Green Caterpillars as feed, the ducklings are growing well," Blair, who had become the Administrative Officer of the port town, respectfully reported.

The Red River was the largest river on Black Horse Island. Its name had no special significance, decided simply because of the planting of mangroves.

It originated from Ice Grass Hill, passed through the Burial Ground, and eventually flowed toward the eastern sea, forming a small delta at the mouth, piled with silt.

Mangroves thrived in the muddy estuary, making it possible to develop a new mangrove forest there.

"Till the land as quickly as possible and then breed the Green Caterpillars. These bugs are treasures," Liszt said.

Blair agreed wholeheartedly: "Yes, the green fur of the Green Caterpillars is more suitable for weaving blankets than the wool of the gazelles from Eagle Perch Mountain. It can be used as food for Magical Beasts and also for making clothing. It's extremely valuable."

The green fur of the Green Caterpillars might not look appealing in color, but it was very suitable for making clothes, warm and comfortable.

Blair continued to report: "However, there is a severe shortage of serfs in the port town. Sir, we need to continue purchasing serfs, preferably five thousand or even ten thousand at a time. The vast land on Black Horse Island can absorb these serfs, and with the Knight Squad formed, the serfs would not be able to resist our rule."

Liszt did not respond to that remark, but instead asked, "How is the sale of rubber going?"

"Currently, we have dealt with Tulip Castle, Shattered Stone Castle, and Beer Castle. The price is double that of glutinous rice, and the response is not bad, barely enough to cover the gold coins needed for the territory... But the production of rubber is still too slow, even with the Rubber Bugs recovering. The stock is shrinking day by day, and soon we won't have enough for ourselves."

When it came to gold coins.

Liszt felt annoyed: "Let's just endure this period for now."

Despite having piles of good things and the tremendous potential of his territory, which promised immeasurable achievements in the future, he still couldn't change the current embattled situation—he was poor!

Every time he came to Black Horse Island and looked at the empty plot for the future castle, he would feel heartbroken—contemplating over five hundred different design schemes, but all could only be drawn on heavyweight paper.

Out from the range of Black Horse Island.

The gloomy mood brought on by poverty hadn't yet recovered when Butler Carter brought another worry: "My lord, you will soon be attending the wedding of Sir Meioubao and the Little Princess. What do we need to select as a gift? Should we prepare the gift according to the standard you set for Young Master Levis's grand wedding?"

"Mr. Carter, what do you think if I only send a few bars of Fresh Flower Soap and a few bottles of Fresh Flower Brew as gifts, would that be acceptable?"

Carter showed an embarrassed yet polite smile, "That is..."