103 – A Talk of Cooperation Between Siblings

“Liszt, have you seen? I've cultivated ten mu (mu=666.7 m2) worth of the Black Tulips!”

The great sprite Little Fragrance flew amid a sea of tulips. Behind it was a tract of tulips that had yet to blossom. Under the glaring sun, the rows of tulips stood there a bit listlessly.

At noon, apart from people, plants would also become dispirited. Only sprites would still be this unrestrained and energetic.

“Waah!” “Waah!” The two lesser sprites following behind Little Fragrance made some meaningless sounds. Although sprites were not social creatures, but sprites of the same type, would play together and even share the different types of plants they a.s.similated among themselves. These two tulip lesser sprites were the followers of Little Fragrance.

The Tulip Castle hoped that these two lesser sprites would break through their fetters and evolve into new greater sprites.

“It hadn't even been two months since the seeds were planted at the end of June, yet they have already budded.” Liszt walked between the rows, looking at the budding Black Tulips. He felt excited. In about a month's time, these tulips would turn into gold and flow into his coin pouch.

Little Fragrance raised its beautiful head, saying proudly: “That is only natural. These tulips are being cultivated by me, with each seed germinating under my care.”

Its expression quite clearly said – ‘praise me'.

Liszt praised it with a smile: “Little Fragrance, you are really amazing.”

“Hee hee, I am amazing!” Little Fragrance gave two somersaults midair.

“Waah!” “Waah!” The two lesser sprites mimicked the movements of Little Fragrance and also somersaulted midair.

“Liszt, these Black Tulips grow unusually well and contain plenty of magic power. Their magic power has no distinct attribute. Compared to the Tulip Castle's two types of magic ingredients, they are even more outstanding. There have already been wizards placing orders.” Levis' household teacher Frank accompanied Liszt.

“These tulips will become the Tulip Castle's new backbone, allowing the family to grow further. By relying on them, Levis will follow in Father's footsteps and become a Sky Knight.”

“I couldn't agree with you more. Levis is extremely talented and, without a doubt, can become a Sky Knight.”

At this moment, the noisy Little Fragrance flew before Liszt and said laughingly: “I will help Levis break through. Afterwards, I will take him flying, just like I took you guys flying when you were little!” When Liszt and the others were little, Little Fragrance liked to grab them and then take them flying. It liked to see the small children cry from fear.

But when they got used to the heights and no longer cried, Little Fragrance lost the interest in taking them flying. 

This sprite was quite the mischievous one.

Liszt felt comfortable as he recalled these memories. Although Little Fragrance loved to play tricks on others, but it did so without the intention of doing any harm. Because of the contract, it felt intimate with the lineage of the Tulip Family.

“Remember to scare Levis to tears.”

Little Fragrance said regretfully: “Ugh, I can no longer scare Levis to tears, let alone when he becomes a Sky Knight. At that time, he will be capable of conquering the sky.”

The reason why Sky Knights were called Sky Knights was because they had grasped high-ranked qi. By releasing their qi in bursts, they could leap into the air for a short period of time. Although they could not fly alike birds, but by leaping into the air for a short period of time already ensured that they could almost instantly attack anyone, whether man or beast, several hundred meters away.

When Liszt finished visiting the Black Tulip field, Levis had already seen off most of the aristocrats, with only those that were truly on good terms with him staying behind.

Liszt had no intentions of stating in the Tulip Castle overnight. Therefore, he invited Levis to the study for a chat.

“Liszt, do you have something to say that can't wait until evening? There are still many people in the living room that require my hospitality.”

“Brother, I won't be staying overnight. I'm going back after finis.h.i.+ng discussing a few things with you.”

“Why so anxious?”

“There are a lot of matters awaiting my return in my fief.”

“Very well. What do you have to discuss with me? Teacher Frank had already shown you the Black Tulips, while the fleet with slaves will still take more than a month to return.”

“Of course, I have other things to discuss with you.” Although Liszt wanted to talk about seafood, but doing that outright would not be too impactful.

He had to first lay some groundwork for Levis to work up an appet.i.te before discussing seafood shares.

After thinking it over, he said: “I have a new magic ingredient.”

“What?” Levis was shocked, “You have a new tulip magic ingredient?”

“It's not a tulip but a mushroom magic ingredient – the Flame Mushrooms.” Liszt was very pleased with Levis' expression, “Dear Brother, do you want to cooperate with me?”

“I do! We are brothers and therefore, are the best cooperation partners, aren't we?”

“Of course we are.”

“So, how do you plan to do this cooperation? Do you want to follow the Black Tulips' model? Do you want to cooperate with just me?”

“I don't like to give benefits to Madam Marie and Lytton. Therefore, I still want to cooperate with just you, Brother. This time, however, I am only going to provide you with the finished product, the Flame Mushrooms, and you will be responsible for selling them. You will not be involved in the cultivation of the Flame Mushrooms.” Liszt stated his desired cooperation plan.

He wanted to develop the Flame Mushrooms into the Flower Town's specialty product and thus, had no intentions of selling their cultivation method.

“That won't do. How many Flame Mushrooms can the Flower Town cultivate? Sell me the cultivation method and in return, I will give you a share of the proceeds.”

“As I am short on gold coins to buy serfs, a share of the proceeds is not on the table. But if you can give me five thousand gold coins, then I can directly sell you the cultivation method without requiring any subsequent share of the proceeds; I will just ask you to help me sell the Flame Mushrooms produced in my fief.”

“Five thousand gold coins?” Levis sighed, “Currently, I can't even come up with one thousand gold coins. Forget it. Just sell me the finished product directly.”

Without haggling too much, an agreement was thus reached.

Next, Liszt said: “Brother, have you found any saltpeter mine?”

“I haven't, I searched each city inside out, yet to no avail. You're such a lucky fellow… Why are you the one to come across all the good stuff?”

“One reaps what one sows, perhaps.”

“Ha ha.”

“That's right, Brother, I still have another deal for you.”

Levis' eyes shone: “What deal?” This younger brother of his, who had suddenly become mature, had already brought him too many surprises. Just the Black Tulips and the Flame Mushrooms were equivalent to raising his chances at promoting to a Sky Knight by 20%, cementing his confidence in turning his body into a medicinal pot.

“It's about seafood. I am preparing to have caravans peddle seafood in every city of the Coral Island. However, catching seafood has not much technique to it and therefore, there are bound to be people fighting over this piece of meat with me. Thus, Brother, I want to give your a 20% share and in return, you will help me out with a seafood sale statute.”

He wanted exclusive rights to the sale of seafood, directly severing the possibility of compet.i.tion.

“The seafood market is not small. Reportedly, you can earn several gold coins per day.” Said Levis indifferently.

“Brother, I don't know where you heard that, but for now, I can't even earn a gold coin per day. Perhaps later, when I start selling to all the cities, I might be earning two gold coins per day.” Liszt first feigned to have it hard and then followed up with a threat, “If you don't help me out, then I'll ask Father for help. I just want to make some money to buy white bread to eat, Brother.”

Although the count might not like Liszt, but if Liszt were to really plead with him, the count should not refuse him. After all, Liszt was the one that developed this business.

“Alright, but I want 30% of the shares. The statute will be officially introduced tomorrow. When Father left, he temporarily left me with the administrative authority over the Coral Island.” Levis took out a cigar and said with a beaming smile.

“Greedy!” Although Liszt was secretly disdainful, yet he said: “Alright, 30% then.”

Next, Liszt took out a handkerchief from inside his pocket and unfolded it, revealing a fist-sized black pearl. He put the black pearl gently on the desk: “Brother, take a look at this.”