The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Editor: Henyee Translations

The milk produced by the dairy farm was a rare luxury in Fresh Flower Town. Originally, the milk from the dairy farm was used to produce milk powder, and every three months, it was given to Coral Island’s Count as a form of taxation.

After Liszt arrived, the milk was sent to the castle daily.

There were a total of ten dairy cows.

Among them, three were not yet two years old and had not started producing milk yet; two old dairy cows were no longer able to produce milk; one male dairy cow was also unable to produce milk; only four adult female dairy cows could produce some milk daily. It was unclear whether the breed of dairy cows was not up to par or if their diet wasn’t good enough, but their milk production was very low.

“Dahua, at her peak milk production, could be milked three times a day and produce 20 kilograms of fresh milk; Little Hua, during the off-peak period for milk, could only yield 4 kilograms per day; Dahei was also in the off-peak period, at 5 kilograms a day; Dahuang was currently in the dry period,” the steward, an old man, said. He wasn’t very old, but his back was bent, and he looked quite aged.

Liszt approached one of the dairy cows, which was very docile and eating grass slowly.

“Will you continue to raise the cows that can’t produce milk?”

“Zhuangzhuang needs to ensure that all the female dairy cows can conceive, so we must keep it. Little Hua, Little Black, and Little Yellow are still young and won’t be able to conceive and produce milk until next year. Old Hua and Old Black have already aged, and we have reported to Lord Landlord that they can be slaughtered for meat at any time,” the old steward said respectfully.

Little Hua, Little Black, and Little Yellow are the names of the underage dairy cows.

Little Hua, Little Black are the names of the newly adult dairy cows.

Dahua, Dahei, Dahuang are the names of the adult dairy cows.

Old Hua, Old Black are the names of the elderly dairy cows.

Zhuangzhuang is the name of the male dairy cow.

Liszt recalled that Butler Carter had mentioned to him some time ago that there were two old dairy cows on the farm that could be slaughtered for meat at any time. Feeding a cow that could not produce milk for an extra day was equivalent to wasting food for an extra day. Usually, they would be slaughtered immediately—it was ruthless to think that dairy cows that had produced milk their whole lives had to contribute their meat in old age.

Since the castle wasn’t hosting any large banquets at the moment and the meat supplies brought in were still sufficient, the two old dairy cows continued to be raised on the dairy farm.

“Is the farm’s pasture enough for the dairy cows to eat?”

“Yes, Lord Landlord, we only have ten dairy cows, but we have 150 acres of pasture.”

“Old Steward, how many acres of pasture do you think are enough to sustain ten dairy cows?”

“Reporting to Lord Landlord, a dairy cow needs ten acres of pasture to be sustained. However, we often take the dairy cows out to the wild fields to graze, so only eight acres of pasture are actually needed to sustain one.”

“Eight acres per cow, ten cows need eighty acres. Well then, Teacher Goltai, start by clearing seventy acres of two-leaf clover and replanting it with alfalfa,” Liszt said.

“No problem, leave it to me,” Goltai assured, patting his chest.

Goltai had started to feel some sense of crisis due to Liszt’s decisive and swift approach during the population census project, and his work attitude had finally become more serious. He realized that Liszt was not the type of noble who was ostentatious and indulgent but rather one who was pragmatic and down to earth. To gain power, he would have to change his style.

…

Feed Douson.

Inspect for peanut worms.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and the third day was a rainy one.

It was deep into spring, and summer had not yet arrived. The rain was as precious as oil, and agricultural production in all the hamlets was busily moving forward. The seeds for the alfalfa grass had been sown, and cornfields were marked out from the wilderness in preparation for cultivation. There was still no progress with Thorn Forest; they had to wait for Marcus to return from Thorn Ridge to search.

The fourth day.

After having lunch in the castle, Butler Carter hurried into the study, “Master, Mr. Marcus has returned and is waiting outside the castle for your summons.”

“Please have him come in.”

“Baron, Mr. Marcus sends his regards!” The travel-worn Marcus arrived with the two Intermediate Dou Qi Manuscripts Liszt had been expecting.

One was the familiar “Flaming Wave”, and the other was the “Fire Dragon Drill” obtained from Tulip Castle.

After receiving the two manuscripts, Liszt turned to ask, “Teacher Marcus, what was the response from the Earl and Baron to my letters?”

“Here are the replies from the Earl and Baron, and also the ten Naldas exchanged for the Fierce Earth Dog pelts.”

“Please take a seat, Teacher Marcus; I will read the letters first.”

The first one he opened was the reply from Coral Island’s Count. The letter was brief due to the thick papyrus not allowing for many words. Li Weiliam Tulip replied to Liszt, prepared to send someone soon to complete the assimilation of the Black Tulip and to discuss the sale of it as well.

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

The other was the reply from the Baron of Falcon Town. Li Vera replied to Liszt, congratulating him on discovering a new variety of Tulips and would accompany the Earl to exchange supplies for the right of assimilation.

The replies were official and courteous.

Lacking the warmth of kinship, the relationship between the three siblings, who had lost their mother, the First Lady of the Earl, had gradually grown cold. The Earl, disheartened by Liszt’s appearance, had become even more detached.

“But that’s also good, I can accept this kind of lukewarm emotion. Being too affectionate, on the other hand, I cannot stand,” Liszt reflected with slight emotion after reading the letters.

Putting down the letters.

Liszt spoke gently, “Thank you for your efforts, Teacher Marcus. Did you encounter anything new on your journey?”

“Coral Island is as tranquil as ever, and there’s no war in the Grand Duchy. However, there is something that might be considered news—it’s regarding the maternal clan of the Baron.”

“My maternal clan?”

Liszt had almost forgotten that his mother came from a family just as noble and inquired, “What happened at Long Taro Castle?”

“The Lord of Long Taro Castle, the Marquis of Red Crab Island, has resigned from his post as Captain of the Court Fleet due to illness and has returned to Red Crab Island. The Earl is preparing to send someone to visit, and it’s likely this will be discussed with the Baron when the envoy arrives to assimilate the Black Tulip.”

“Perhaps,” Liszt searched through the host’s memories, recalling Long Taro Castle in his mind.

The Grand Duchy of Sapphire was an archipelago with many Nobles distributed across its numerous islands, both large and small. Among them was a large island called Red Crab Island, the domain of the Long Taro Family, whose hereditary title was Marquis of Red Crab Island—Merlin Taro, Liszt’s grandfather.

The surname of the Long Taro family originated from the Greater Elf of Long Taro they possessed.

They lived in Long Taro Castle, a fortress far more grand and luxurious than Tulip Castle, splendid and magnificent, perched upon the mountains.

Marquis Merlin had one son and two daughters: his eldest son, Mesiro; his second daughter, Melinda; and his youngest daughter, Melissa Taro, who was Liszt’s mother.

When Li Weiliam Tulip was still a Viscount, Marquis Merlin foresaw his potential and married his youngest daughter, Melissa, to the Tulip Family. From this union came Levis, Li Vera, and Liszt. Up till now, Liszt had visited Long Taro Castle every year to celebrate his grandfather’s birthday.

However, since Li Weiliam remarried to a new Countess, the relation between the Long Taro and Tulip families had gradually become distant.

But no matter what, Merlin Taro was still Liszt’s grandfather.

As a descendant, it was proper to visit an ailing grandfather.