The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Fresh Flower Soap and Fresh Flower Brew obviously couldn't be considered the main gifts, as it would greatly diminish Liszt's stature, who was now the Viscount of Black Horse Island, a mid-tier noble.

Moreover, the person getting married was his own cousin with whom he had a good relationship.

Specialties, food, resources, these three things fundamentally make up the gifts exchanged between nobles in this era.

"Aside from gourmet food, the specialties of Fresh Flower Town include Fresh Flower Soap and Fresh Flower Brew, and I'll definitely choose a good amount of these three. As for resources, I can gift a few small Black Pearls, and pick some Jade, Crystal, and Mithril respectively. The total value of the gifts should properly convey my sentiments."

Interactions among nobles, especially big nobles, tend to be quite generous.

Liszt was rather helpless but he had no choice but to give a gift, and it couldn't look shabby either; he could only painfully gather a batch of resources: "If I don't get married soon, it seems unlikely that I'll be able to recover these gifts... With the custom of gift-giving, it doesn't seem like I have many opportunities to receive gifts either."

As a bachelor, he had neither weddings nor funerals to organize, nor occasions to celebrate a longevity, at most he could celebrate a birthday.

After giving it some thought.

He instructed the butler, "Mr. Carter, I'll prepare a batch of precious gifts myself, please help me choose some supplementary gifts, preferably some novel specialties, mainly delicious food."

"Yes, my lord."

And with that, the matter of the gifts was mostly settled. Splurging was inevitable, but Liszt was willing to pay that price. Not to mention that Meioubao had treated him quite well, just the Sword Saint's Notes given to him by Marquis Merlin were worth reciprocating — he often read it and had committed it to heart.

The experiences summarized by the Sword Saint at the Completion Level were invaluable.

He rose to his feet and went out the door, mounting the now fully recovered Fire Dragon Horse, and headed for the Magic Workshop in Little Wheat Village. At the Magic Workshop, Chris was extracting Magic Potions while teaching Paris magic.

"Viscount."

"How is the magic learning progressing?"

"Paris has shown outstanding affinity for Light System Magic; what she lacks are only casting plans. Despite this, she has already started working on the Magic Array... Thanks to you for bringing the 'Three-Phase Magic Array and Reality Interaction Theory', it has opened the door for me to advance to Grand Magician."

"Is that so, you're about to advance?"

Chris Truth said modestly, "I am trying, but I can't guarantee when I will succeed."

"Chris is remarkably skilled in magic, and she is also an excellent teacher," Paris praised without reservation. "I've learned a lot of magic knowledge following her... Viscount, you know I'm not fond of reading, and Chris always explains magical knowledge to me like she's telling a story."

"Hmm, teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, that's indeed a very good method." Liszt suddenly asked, "Chris, which field of Advanced Magic are you focusing on to be your pathway to becoming a Grand Magician?"

Chris shook her head, "I haven't made a choice yet, currently there are casting plans for Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Ice High-Level Magics, any of which could be the breakthrough point."

The magics brought by Chris and Elkerson combined, amounted to seven kinds of Advanced Magic—Water System's Water Wave Shield, Waterfall; Earth System's Rock Grenade, Rock Wall; Fire System's Resist Flame Ring; Wind System's Tornado; Ice System's Permafrost.

Actually, Paris' innate abilities obtained through the Light Dragon Magic Power, "Light and Shadow Tug," could be categorized as an Advanced Light System Magic—Invisibility Technique.

However, this was her instinct, lacking a systematic casting plan.

Paris suggested, "I think, Chris, you could learn Permafrost. It's so hot right now, by mastering Permafrost you could place a large block of ice in the Magic Workshop for cooling."

"I can already create Ice Blocks with my regular Ice Freezing Spell, Paris," Chris rejected Paris' suggestion. "I can make ice cream on my own workbench; for a Magic Technician who isn't biased towards any particular system, summer isn't too difficult... Ice System Magic is quite challenging, I should choose a simpler Advanced Magic."

Liszt suggested, "I suggest choosing the Water System or Wind System as the breakthrough point, as the Duchy of Sapphire is an archipelago nation where sailing is an important component. The use of advanced Water System and Wind System magic is significant."

"Then I will choose the Wind System. If Viscount brings me along when sailing, I can help speed up the journey," Chris quickly decided.

And she cast a covert glance at the strikingly handsome Liszt.

As a magician who esteemed the Truth and was prepared to dedicate herself to it, she had no intention of continuing with the secular institution of marriage. Instead, she was prepared to devote her finite life to the infinite study of magic.

However, it didn't prevent her from working for a lord who made her heart flutter, frequently seeing his confident smile was enough to console her during the lonely nights—no matter if it's a man or a woman, as long as one has hands, one could fend for oneself.

Thus.

After a brief chat with the two "Lis'", Liszt got down to business, "Chris, how much of this batch of magic potions have you completed? I'm about to leave for Red Crab Island to attend a wedding and need a batch of magic potions as backup."

"I've completed the majority, enough for you, Viscount, to use for a week," she replied.

"I will depart in three days. Can you prepare two weeks' worth for me by then?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Then I'll leave it to you," he said.

Chris smiled, "You're too polite, Chris is always willing to serve the Viscount."

...

Three days later, a well-prepared Liszt set off for Tulip Castle with his Retainer Knights. Riding the landwalker bird Loki, he led the Blizzard Beasts Storm and Flame.

Douson, together with Rock, Surge, Thunder, Light, Ice Snow, and Shadow, stayed in Fresh Flower Town.

He was now consciously training the discipline of the eight tiny ones during outings. As Intermediate Magical Beasts, they must adapt to various environments and maintain absolute obedience to Liszt.

Only in this way could he command the Blizzard Beast Squad at will and sweep through the enemy forces on the battlefield of the knights' charge.

No one yet knew that they were all Intermediate Magical Beasts, but they would learn soon. At that time, the name Liszt would once again astound everyone—with nine Intermediate Magical Beasts as pets, military exploits would be within easy reach, and the title of Earl was almost assured.

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As long as his strength could break through to that of a Sky Knight—the Grand Duchy's regulation stated that an Earl must be a Sky Knight and if for three generations none can become Sky Knights, the title would be revoked.

A noble's strength was explicitly linked to their title.

"Liszt, have you prepared my birthday gift?" Levi's asked after a hug at Tulip Castle, "This time I'm afraid I won't be able to celebrate my birthday at Tulip Castle. I'll either celebrate at Long Taro Castle or on the way back."

His birthday was on August 19th.

The wedding date for Meioubao was August 17th, just two days apart.

"Oh, I forgot. Since we can't hold a birthday party, let's just skip it then. You can make up for it with a grand birthday party next year," Liszt suggested somewhat gloomily.

Levis laughed, "The birthday party can be skipped, but I must definitely receive the gift."