The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

After lunch, Liszt said to Goltai, “There’s a farmer in Tomato Hamlet named John Bian Dan whose tomatoes are especially large and fine. Let’s go take a look together and see what interesting factors there might be.”

Goltai was puzzled, “Liszt, how did you know about that?”

“By paying attention and listening to what others say, Teacher Goltai, a qualified landlord can’t be ignorant about his territory; one must be mindful of all aspects.”

“Okay then.”

Goltai still couldn’t figure out why he didn’t know what was going on in town, yet Liszt did—perhaps Liszt had arranged for surveillance personnel in town?

Considering the secretive actions from that morning, as well as the tunnel excavation matters,

he felt that he had to work earnestly since every move of his surely fell under Liszt’s scrutiny.

This was not a good sign, as it meant he could lose the landlord’s trust at any time.

“Lord Landlord, this is John Bian Dan,” the clerk introduced, pointing to a simple-minded serf.

John Bian Dan hastily brought his wife and two children to kneel before Liszt, “Lord Landlord.” At the same time, he was extremely nervous; he had no idea why the landlord was seeking him out.

If it had been the previous tax-collecting knight who had sought him, he might have wet himself out of fear, for no good ever came from a visit by a noble. However, since Liszt arrived in Fresh Flower Town, he had a very good reputation, so John was just nervous.

Indeed.

The landlord of Fresh Flower Town gave him a gentle smile and said, “Don’t be nervous, John. I’ve heard that your tomatoes are the best, is that right?”

“Yes, yes, Lord Landlord,” he replied.

“Why are they the best, do you know the reason?”

“I don’t know, Lord Landlord, but this season, my tomatoes have been getting better and better. The freemen in town, they all like to buy tomatoes from my farm. Even Mrs. Abbie from your castle has praised my tomatoes as the best,” said John with considerable pride.

For serfs, no praise could be more gratifying than an acknowledgment from the castle.

Liszt dispensed with further questioning and went straight to the point, “In that case, take me to your tomato field.”

Following John Bian Dan, they quickly arrived at the vast tomato fields of Tomato Hamlet. Unlike wheat which is sown over large areas, tomatoes were planted in small, segmented plots. John’s allocated tomato plot was situated right in the center of Tomato Hamlet, and it was noticeably better than the others.

Of course, no matter whose plot it was, it all belonged to Liszt.

“Lord Landlord, these are my tomatoes,” John said, his face lighting up with enthusiasm, “The town officials taught us how to farm, and every day I go to dig pond silt and collect manure to fertilize them, and they’ve been growing better and better.”

The tomato seedlings in the field were all robust, and it was impossible to tell which one might be nurturing an Elf Bug.

However, today’s Liszt had his own way of discerning.

He swiftly activated his Eye of Magic and focused on the tomato field. Very quickly, he found one seedling where a faint, greenish magic power was circulating—surely a Cordyceps.

“I think I’ve figured it out,” Liszt dismissed the Eye of Magic and turned to Goltai, “This is a sign of an Elf Bug being nurtured, Teacher Goltai. You have work to do again. Protect John’s tomato seedlings, especially this one; it will be a Cordyceps.”

“Oh, my goodness, is this true? Another Elf Bug is to be born in our little town?” Goltai exclaimed, “The glory of knighthood lingers on you, Baron. Fresh Flower Town is on the rise! Rest assured, I will protect this lovely little fellow and let it breed in peace.”

Following along, Marcus also expressed his amazement and praise, “To nurture two Elf Bugs in such a short time, my lord, you truly are beloved by the glory of knighthood!”

He felt his loyalty to his following was worthwhile.

Every sign indicated that Liszt was no ordinary minor Noble. His temperament, his ideas, and especially his fortune, all pointed to something greater.

And as for fortune—sometimes, fortune is more important than strength.

Liszt smiled faintly. With the Smoke Mission around, surprises were never far off. He remained calm and announced in a gentle tone, “The Tomato Elf Bug is about to breed and bring forth life; its existence will bring a brighter future to Tomato Hamlet. To reward John Bian Dan for his consistent attentive care, I’ve decided to gift him a Gold Coin.”

“Lucky Serf.”

Goltai couldn’t hide his envy. His salary was ten copper coins a day, and it took over three months to save up one Gold Coin—provided he abstained from wine and meat.

“Elf Bug?”

“A Gold Coin?”

“Lord Landlord rewarded me with a Gold Coin?”

Long after Liszt had left with his entourage, John still felt dizzy, as if in a dream. He had merely been growing tomatoes, and now, as if by magic, he had produced a Gold Coin? To know that a Serf, after a year of toiling in the fields, might save less than a silver coin, in a lifetime might never see a Gold Coin, yet now he owned one.

“Daddy, Daddy, let me see the Gold Coin, wow, I’ve never seen a Gold Coin!” his eight-year-old son clamored, trying to snatch the coin from his hands.

John finally snapped to his senses, holding onto it tightly and giving his son a stern look, “Get lost, a Gold Coin isn’t for you to touch!”

He turned to his wife, shaking as he handed it over, “Annie, look, a Gold Coin, given to me by the Lord, we’re rich! We have a Gold Coin!”

Annie was equally trembling, out of excitement, “Oh my, John, is this real? Am I dreaming?”

“You’re not dreaming, I’m not dreaming either, this is real, handed to me by Lord Landlord himself! Annie, we’re wealthy now!”

“Oh ha ha, oh ha ha, our family is rich now!” their four-year-old daughter cheered, clapping her little hands.

“Dad, let me see the Gold Coin quick!” his son continued to reach for the coin.

John paid his son no heed, focusing instead on discussing excited future prospects with his wife, “Thank heavens, thanks to the glory of the Knight’s favor upon Lord Landlord, our Fresh Flower Town will only get richer.”

Annie took the Gold Coin and rolled it in her palm, a soft expression spreading across her plain face, “John, we could use this Gold Coin to buy our freedom as Freemen!”

“Buy our freedom as Freemen?” John shook his head. “I don’t want to.”

“Why not? Didn’t you always want to become a Freeman and leave Fresh Flower Town to live in another village?”

“That was because we could never get enough food in Fresh Flower Town, but Annie, what about now? We have seafood, incredibly cheap seafood, one copper coin buys a pile of clams. Look at Karl and Lucy, they’ve put on weight! That we can fill our bellies in Fresh Flower Town is all thanks to Lord Landlord, and so is this Gold Coin!”

With the fervor of a zealot, he spoke, “I believe Lord Landlord will make Fresh Flower Town even better, I want to farm for Lord Landlord all my life! Annie, will you support me?”

“You’re the head of the family, John; you decide, and I’m used to life in Fresh Flower Town as well,” Annie responded with a smile, “I’ll go prepare dinner; how about we have white bread tonight?”

“Ha ha, of course, I miss the soft and sweet white bread from our wedding anniversary.”

Their little daughter laughed and clapped, “Oh oh oh, we’re having white bread tonight!”

The oldest son started to whine, “Mom, let me see the Gold Coin, Mom…”