The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

“Brother, how are your skills at tasting spirits?” Liszt took a bottle filled with Primeval Floral Brew from the servant’s hand, unscrewed the cap, poured a glass and pushed it in front of Levis, “Try this spirit and give me an evaluation.”

“I’m quite good at evaluating liquor, hmm, what kind of spirits is this, and where did you get it?” He picked up the glass, sniffed it, “It tastes awful, there’s a rancid smell, it looks like inferior spirits. The diluted spirits I drank during the war in Eagle Kingdom were better than this!”

Having said that, he put the glass to his lips and sipped just a bit, “It’s sour, lacks strength, this liquor is really poor quality.”

He put down the glass and said no more; his meaning was clear without words.

Liszt’s expression remained unchanged as he continued to ask, “Brother, how much do you think a bottle of this spirit could sell for?”

“How much per bottle?” Levis squinted, “Liszt, don’t tell me, is this spirit brewed in Fresh Flower Town?”

“As you said, this is exactly the self-brewed spirits, Fresh Flower Brew, that I am studying. Although it’s not yet successfully brewed and the quality of the obtained spirits is very low, but anyway, I have already researched the technology for distilling spirits, haven’t I.”

Upon hearing this.

Levis’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t wait to speak, “What? You’ve already researched the technology for distilling spirits? Oh my God, Liszt, don’t lie to me, okay, do you know how valuable the technology for distilling spirits is? In the Grand Duchy, there are only five kinds of spirits, with three in the hands of a Marquis and two in the hands of the Grand Duke.”

The Earl considered Levis mature for having been on the battlefield.

But at this moment, Levis was still the same Levis, his impatient eyes reddening, “Even our grandfather hasn’t mastered the technology for distilling spirits!”

“Don’t be too surprised, brother. It’s just the business of spirits. Compared to magic potions, the business of spirits is nothing,” Liszt responded nonchalantly.

“It’s nothing!” Levis breathed heavily, “Of course, magic potions are valuable, but they are barely enough for our own use. Tulip Castle’s magic potions are needed by our father, by me, and perhaps Lidun will take a part in the future, and Li Vera, she will definitely have the nerve to take some away!”

With the magical powers of the Tulip Great Elf, the Black Tulip can produce a large amount of magic potions, but there are many who rely on these potions.

Indeed, the business of the Black Tulip was signed by the three siblings.

But once the power of the Greater Elf is used, the share that must be handed over to the Earl can’t be lessened by a bit, leaving Levis at most to consume all the increased revenue.

As he spoke, he said with some envy, “I’m not as lucky as you, with intermediate magical beasts, the Black Tulip, Flame Mushroom, and Magic Medicine Thorns all for your own personal benefit!”

“It seems you don’t make much money from magic potions, brother.”

“Of course, I don’t, not a single Gold Coin. All the money from my other business is thrown into magic potions. Do you know I wince every time I take a bottle of magic potion… and you are not an Elite Earth Knight, you can’t understand the pain and pleasure of an Elite Earth Knight.” His expression was almost contorted.

“So, you’re really short of money, brother.”

“Asking knowingly.”

“What if I am willing to share the spirits business with you, brother?” Liszt cast the bait he had prepared, simply tossing it out—truly tired of continuing the charade.

Levis’s exaggerated expressions and tone were all an overblown act, unconvincing at heart. He probably guessed something about the situation as soon as Liszt asked him to taste the spirits—Levis was never a fool, advancing to Earth Knight status as a youth, hailed as a genius.

If it were an outsider, Liszt might have had to feign politeness.

But since it was his own brother, he decided to be upfront.

Indeed, upon hearing Liszt’s words, Levis immediately dropped his exaggerated act and adopted an eager tone, “What, Liszt, are you saying you want to share the white liquor brewing technology with your brother?”

“The value of the white liquor brewing technology has been made clear to me by my brother. Before I split from the family, it doesn’t matter who holds it, but if the day comes when I do, I’ll be sure to hand over the white liquor brewing technology to you first. My idea is that I’ll handle the brewing, you take care of the sales, and we split the profits fifty-fifty…”

After some haggling.

The brothers had essentially settled on their method of cooperation.

Levis would provide protection for the white liquor business, supply the necessary raw materials for brewing, and handle external sales, taking sixty percent of the profits; Liszt was responsible for brewing the white liquor, taking forty percent of the profits—a 60/40 split, which Liszt was quite satisfied with. It was normal for the distributor to take the larger share, especially since they also provided protection.

If one day, the two brothers truly parted ways.

The cooperation would cease, and the technology would be shared.

“As of now, the white liquor brewing technology is still being improved. There’s some time before we can truly brew a qualified white liquor. Most importantly, we urgently need a batch of iron tools for the brewing equipment, but Fresh Flower Town is extremely short on iron. I hope you can help me solve this problem.”

“So, you’re eyeing the spoils of this battle?” Levis stroked his chin, knowing that if he wanted a part of the white liquor business, he would have to cough up a big favor. “Iron has always been one of the most coveted spoils of war, and we didn’t bring back much ore this time. I don’t have much to allocate… Three thousand catties of iron ingots is all I can spare.”

“Three thousand catties, that should be close enough.”

“Don’t complain about it being too little, this three thousand catties will be enough to make Viscount Trick and Viscount Jonas green with envy. Oh right, I forgot to ask you—why has the production of Fresh Flower Town’s Magic Flame Mushroom stopped?”

Liszt pondered for a moment before replying, “I want to stock up on magic potions.”

“Ah?”

“Don’t be surprised, brother. Although I’m not as gifted as you, with Jela, I yearn to reach further. Even if I might fail, I still want to try my hand at it, then I’ll be content.” Liszt said, half in earnest, half in jest, but no one knew he was already an Elite Earth Knight.

“What about the Black Tulip and Magic Medicine Thorns?”

“The Black Tulip will continue as usual, I’ll supply it to you; I plan on stockpiling the Magic Medicine Thorns.”

“That’s a real shame… I find it difficult to dissuade you from trying, just as with Li Vera; I can’t stop her willfulness. However, I still hope you’ll consider it more. If you change your mind, come back to me for a partnership. As your brother, you must trust that I may take advantage of anyone else but not of you.”

“Of course, I have unwavering faith in this.”

Then, the two turned to the topic of serf trading. With the white liquor business as a foundation, neither was too nitpicky, and they quickly struck a deal to purchase two thousand five hundred serfs for five hundred Gold Coins.

“I’ll give you the Gold Coins later.”

“Just make sure to deliver them before the fleet departs,” Levis didn’t ask where Liszt had got so many Gold Coins from. He was finding his own brother more and more incomprehensible.

Gone were the naivety and timidity, replaced by shrewdness and generosity.

As Liszt took leave, Levis couldn’t help but think, “Liszt has come of age, and Fresh Flower Town can no longer contain his ambition. From the way he speaks, he’s even considered splitting from the family… Is he confident he can reach our father’s stature?”