The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Thorn Cordyceps was located at the edge of Thorn Ridge, close to the dairy farm, within a not-so-large area of Thorn Forest. Thorn Ridge got its name from the abundance of short thorn bushes that surrounded it. However, the thorn bushes rarely grew in large clusters, typically appearing as small patches here and there.

Liszt had investigated this and theorized that one possible reason was that thorn bushes are shrubs—without a significant main trunk and tend to stay low to the ground in clumps.

More accurately, the area should be called a thorn bush thicket.

Clinging to the edges of a forest of tall trees, the lofty canopy blocked out the sunlight, limiting the shrubs’ growth.

“The Thorn Bug’s restlessness might stem not only from inadequate nutrition but also perhaps due to the limited expanse of the Thorn Forest; the trees overshadow the spread of the thorn bush thickets.”

To the south of the Thorn Cordyceps lay the dairy farm.

Liszt would not possibly shovel away the pasture grass to plant the utterly worthless thorn bushes.

Therefore, he planned to organize another lumberjack team to fell the trees surrounding the thorn bush thickets, enabling the thorns to expand outward. The more thorn bushes there were, the wider the range the Thorn Bug could influence, the more pheromones it could collect, and the greater the possibility of evolution—although he understood that the Thorn Bug’s chances of evolving were next to none.

The variety of thorns was too limited, making the collection of pheromones challenging.

The likelihood was too low.

“Even though I can’t discern the true essence of Elf Bug evolution, it often seems that the more plant varieties a cordyceps belongs to, the greater the potential for the Elf Bug to evolve. The extent to which plants grow also increases the chances of the Elf Bug’s evolution.”

This was evidenced by experience.

The Tulip Family had managed their operation for generations, amassing a considerable variety of tulips, and with these varieties, they had cultivated the Greater Elf Xiangxiang, along with three Little Minor Elves and eight Elf Bugs.

Of course.

It wasn’t to say that the Thorn Bug had no chance of evolving whatsoever.

One should always harbor dreams, for what if they were actualized?

“I’ll do what I can, and the rest is up to the Thorn Bug itself, to see if it truly harbors any discontent and wishes to challenge its fate.”

After patting the Thorn Bug, Liszt left the Worm Room.

Around four in the afternoon, the leader of the North Valley City Caravan came to the castle to bid Liszt farewell.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a large beard named Gabriel, who gave a deep bow: “Honorable Baron, under your governance, Fresh Flower Town has emanated a dazzling light. I thank you for your generosity and kindness; the caravan has spent a wonderful day in Fresh Flower Town, and now, Gabriel bids you farewell.”

“Are you satisfied with the caravan’s trade in the town?” Liszt asked with a smile.

“Very satisfied, Baron. The faces of the caravan members are brimming with the joy of their gains. We sold much more goods than imagined and also acquired some of the specialties of Fresh Flower Town. Personally, I am very fond of the business district environment, now that we are free from the trouble of dung.”

“So, Gabriel, does the caravan have plans for when it might visit again?”

“Not yet, but I think, now that the road through Thorn Ridge is safe, the caravan won’t wait too long. Perhaps in a month, we will return, laden with goods, to trade in Fresh Flower Town.”

“Fresh Flower Town welcomes the caravan’s visit at any time.”

“I thank you, Baron!”

Gabriel bowed and left the castle.

Returning to his team, which had already packed up their wares in the business district and was setting off at a leisurely pace, the horses pulled carts one by one along the road paved with a mix of pebbles and sand. Illuminated by the glow of the setting sun in the west, they made their way toward Thorn Ridge.

They arrived with cargo in abundance.

They left with laughter and cheerful voices in abundance.

And the delightful sound of Gold Coins, silver coins, and copper coins clinking against each other.

A moment later.

Old Geronte came to report the shopping situation this time, three Gold Coins in total. Apart from two small ponies, there was a pile of things, all handed over to Butler Carter, to be stored in the castle’s cellar.

Liszt did not like these worldly affairs and went directly to the stable to see the small ponies.

In the stable, the two small ponies, which seemed to be newly born not long ago, were very shy and hid in the corner of the stable, not daring to run around. They were both very ordinary Nags, one with a reddish-brown coat and the other with a brownish-yellow coat. Even without knowing how to judge horses, Liszt could tell that they were not fit for the battlefield.

“Are they mares or stallions?”

“One mare, one stallion, my lord,” Jim, who was feeding the ponies, answered.

“Take good care of them, don’t let the other horses bully them.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Afterward, Liszt took another turn through the separate enclosure, a few pregnant mares were eating bran and peas, not showing any change yet.

The Fire Dragon Horse, seeing his arrival, affectionately approached and stuck its head out of the fence.

Liszt patted it, looking forward to the foal it would bear, wondering if it would be as majestic as the Li Dragon Horse. Perhaps with the blood of a Magical Beast mixed in, its foal might be even more majestic than the Li Dragon Horse.

The banquet.

A celebration of the caravan’s successful transactions at Fresh Flower Town, it was also a moment to report on work.

“Baron, the total transactions amounted to 7 Gold Coins, 63 silver coins, and 12 copper coins. According to the low tax rate incentive scheme you have established, with the fixed stall tax and twenty-plus-one fluid tax, a total of 18 silver coins and 15 copper coins were collected…” Isaiah reported the details of the tax collection.

The caravan transactions would certainly be taxed.

Generally, landlords’ taxation of foreign caravans was a standard ten percent, meaning one-tenth of the total transaction valium. Some more demanding landlords might adopt a standard of one-fifth. However, at Fresh Flower Town, Liszt had significantly reduced the tax rate to attract caravans.

He set two standards.

One was the fixed stall tax; after paying a silver coin for the stall, no matter how much money you made, there would be no additional taxes.

The other was the twenty-plus-one fluid tax; that is, not paying according to the stall but extracting one-twentieth of the total transaction amount as tax.

This gave merchants a choice; if they believed their transactions could exceed twenty silver coins, they would save more by paying the fixed tax. If not reaching twenty silver coins, it was more economical to pay the fluid tax.

Considering the situation in Fresh Flower Town, the commercial tax collection was minimal, and Liszt did not intend to get rich from this aspect.

“There’s no need to add this commercial tax to the castle’s accounts; use it directly for the construction of the commercial district. Aim to complete the construction of stalls, parking spaces, livestock spaces, as well as inns and toilet facilities promptly. Also, the wells and sewers must be planned together. While there is plenty of time, I hope the work will be completed as soon as possible.”

“Rest assured, my lord,” Goltai nodded in agreement.

“Karl, tell us about today’s security issues.”

“Yes, my lord!” Karl was not attending the banquet for the first time, but he was still nervous, “The Patrol Team generally performed well. We apprehended thirteen merchants for urinating and defecating in public, who were then punished with whipping; additionally, a thief was caught and redeemed by Gabriel. Among the townspeople, two were caught for theft, and three for coercive trading.”

Liszt asked, “Did you tell the caravan leader Gabriel that the first time a thief is caught, they can be redeemed with a fine, but if caught a second time, they will be detained and demoted to hard labor in the territory?”

“I have already notified Gabriel. He said that after returning, he would reprimand the thief, and the next time the caravan returns, absolutely no one will violate your lordship’s rules,” Karl hesitated, then continued, “My lord, how shall we punish the five criminals from the town?”

“Freeman or Serf?”

“Among the crimes of theft and coercive trading, there is one Freeman each, and the remaining three are Serfs.”

Liszt looked towards Goltai.

Goltai immediately said, “My lord, you place great importance on caravan transactions, and despite repeated publicity, there are still bold civilians who disregard the regulations. They must be severely punished! I think, the Serfs should receive fifty lashes, with all their possessions confiscated; the Freeman who stole should receive ten lashes and a tenfold fine. If unable to pay the fine, they should be demoted to Serfdom.”

“Proceed as you suggest,” Liszt consented.

The town had no real laws; his will was the law. Those who did not abide by his will had to accept punishment—breaking the law knowingly made the crime one degree worse.