Chapter 221: Chapter 0221: The Strategy of Retreating When the Enemy Advances (4th Update, Alliance Hierarch Extra 15/22)
Riding Douson.

When Liszt arrived at the clearing in Barley Hamlet, he surveyed the children of all ages as they attended knight training classes.

He did not ride a Li Dragon Horse because Douson provided him with a sense of security. Moreover, it added to the Lord Landlord’s imposing image, imprinting nobility in the hearts of these children—riding an Intermediate Magical Beast, the Lord Landlord was unbelievably strong, and it was incredibly fortunate to be able to farm the lands for the Lord Landlord.

Allowing an assistant to continue instructing the girls, Rom saluted Liszt, “Good day, my lord!”

“Good day, Rom.”

Then Rom began to report on the training progress of this group of girls, distinguishing between those with talent and those without it, which was basically evident from the training.

The so-called talent consisted of two aspects: physical and mental qualities.

Talented children were certainly those who were tall, well-built, and able to endure hardships. As for intelligence, that was of secondary importance—after all, Liszt was merely cultivating female serfs who could farm and do heavy labor, not real female knights.

“Rom, pay close attention to the health of the girls. When training in the snow, take care not to let them catch a cold. After working up a sweat, bring them back immediately,” Liszt instructed.

Rom replied, “There’s a resting room nearby with a stove. Whenever they rest, we bring them in to warm up by the fire.”

Liszt nodded.

Although it is true that training in the heat of summer and the cold of winter may be beneficial, these were still little girls, and their training should not be too harsh.

He thought of a plan and said to Rom, “This wasteland is still too rudimentary. I plan to turn this area into what I’ll call Knight’s Square this winter, used specifically for knight training in the future.”

“Rom supports the lord’s decision. Having a specialized Knight’s Square will be convenient for both the instructors and the children, making the training more professional,” Rom responded.

Along with a dining hall and classrooms, future cultural classes will be held here as well,” Liszt considered further. He wanted not only serfs who could farm but also clerks who could read and write.

The upcoming large-scale development of Black Horse Island would require many talents, and relying solely on purchasing them would not assure a complete talent pool. Therefore, it made sense to start cultivating them now.

After discussing the construction of Knight’s Square for a while, he quickly turned his attention to Maggie, who was training alongside the girls.

The nine-year-old maid servant Maggie was diligently performing her exercises with meticulous attention to detail.

Last night, Liszt had called for Old Geronte and talked with him for a considerable time, mainly about Maggie. He asked Old Geronte to interact more with Harriet’s family, subtly hinting at messages like “the Lord Landlord holds Maggie in high regard,” “the way mother and daughter on contract get along is very good,” and “I hope you can continue to love and care for each other.”

In essence, he was indicating to Harriet’s family that Maggie’s importance could not be overlooked.

Then they would naturally know what to do to retain Maggie—if Swann intended to forcefully take Maggie away, this would be a foreshadowing. If Swann had no such desire, the foreshadowing would not cause harm. If Liszt chose to expel Swann but Maggie remained, this could prevent retaliation.

He was intently watching Maggie.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Liszt saw Swann approaching.

He turned his head and nodded distantly to Swann as a greeting, neither warm nor overly courteous, simply natural.

Swann came straight over, and as she drew near, Douson sniffed the air with its nostrils and suddenly began to growl deeply at Swann. Had it not been for Liszt’s soothing presence, it might have pounced on her directly.

“An Intermediate Magical Beast, the Fierce Earth Dog, a rare variant bloodline—the Baron’s lands abound with surprises,” Swann said, seeming unafraid of Douson.

Some of her actions were deliberately enigmatic, but the mixture of truth and deception made it difficult for Liszt to discern, “Diligence in managing a territory naturally reaps rewards. Miss Swann seems to have extensive experience. Could you evaluate Fresh Flower Town for me? Compared to other small towns in various countries, how does it fare?”

“Far from prosperous, but it has potential. The variety of goods in the territory is rich, and I’ve heard you have a Little Minor Elf that produces Magic Potions. The development of Fresh Flower Town will soon arrive.”

“Not soon, but already underway,” said Liszt, quite proudly. “When Fresh Flower Town was granted to me, it was extremely poor, with less than two thousand hungry people, especially in winter, when they could only starve. Now, Fresh Flower Town has over three thousand five hundred people, all well-fed and unique across Coral Island.”

Swann sneered, “But half of that population consists of serfs that you’ve trafficked. If you hadn’t bought them, they might still be living peacefully in their hometowns.”

“If I hadn’t bought them, someone else would have. The ones who disrupted their peaceful lives are not me, but those incompetent landlords who cannot protect their people. A knight has spears and swords and enjoys the support of the people, so naturally, they must also protect their safety. Once they come to Fresh Flower Town, I take the responsibility for their protection.”

Without trade, there would be no killing.

Liszt directly switched the concept, turning it into without killing, there would be no trade.

“But are you certain that you can protect these people, and that they won’t be sold into serfdom once again someday?” Swann asked, her gaze burning into Liszt.

Was this a test?

It seemed like a routine from before joining sides, a thought flashed through Liszt’s mind.

He chuckled softly, “I can’t guarantee that I am so powerful as to be fearless, but in the Duchy of Sapphire, it’s not difficult for me to shelter Fresh Flower Town. My father is Coral Island’s Count, my grandfather is Marquis of Red Crab Island, my mount is an Intermediate Magical Beast, my Longsword is a Gemstone Weapon, and I have a Little Minor Elf that produces Magic Potions.”

He looked off into the distance, his handsome face shining brightly in the sunlight, radiant as the blazing sun, “There is no one better suited to bring them peace and tranquility than I am.”

His words were full of conviction.

However.

The female mercenary was not so easily fooled, “Maybe one day you’ll fall in battle, and without their landlord, the fate of Fresh Flower Town might not be any better than those territories where serfs have been abducted.”

Liszt continued to smile, “That’s why I must accumulate strength and practice diligently every day. My talent may not be outstanding, having only become an Earth Knight after coming of age, but six months later, I am already capable of defeating an Elite Earth Knight in direct combat. I will continue to recruit knights to form a Knight Squad and safeguard Fresh Flower Town!”

“Really, I detest the hypocrisy and belligerence of nobles,” Swann remarked with a touch of melancholy in her calm demeanor, “Although you’re also a hypocritical Noble, at least you do not indulge in the vices of the nobility… Small towns like Fresh Flower Town on overseas islands may indeed enjoy a bit of tranquility.”

Before Liszt could speak,

She regained her composed tone and went straight to the point, “Baron, I hope to take my sister with me, or rather, to buy her freedom with twenty silver coins.”

“You are mistaken in two aspects,” Liszt, seeing her retreat mentally, knew it was time to advance. He spoke earnestly, “First, I do not buy or sell any of the commoners of Fresh Flower Town. Second, I have inquired with Eileen, who has no sister, and have sent people to Coral City to ask her parents. I am more inclined to believe her parents.”

“I’m not talking about Eileen!”

Liszt exclaimed, “What?”

She admitted with less confidence, “I’m talking about a female serf you bought. She is my sister, which is why I’ve come from afar to Coral Island.”

The moment for confrontation had arrived.

A triumphant smile appeared on Liszt’s lips, quickly hidden as he assumed the moral high ground and bore down, “My spear and sword target my enemies, and my kindness and patience are reserved for those around me! You, a liar spying on the Castle, a Thief—why should I believe you?”