Elf Lord, intelligence updated daily.

Chapter 8 She is your sister

After settling the caravan in, Loren summarized the current situation of Sandstone Town based on Xuefu's report.

The biggest problem in Shashi Town right now is that grain production can't keep up.

With the help of the rye worms, a batch of rye in the fields will ripen in a few days, and the residents' food and clothing needs will be met.

However, the tax issue still exists.

Many farmers were unable to pay their taxes, causing the castle to be in dire financial straits.

It will take a long time before potatoes can be grown on a large scale.

We still need the fairy insects.

One rye fairy worm is far from enough.

Alternatively, if we could obtain additional funding from elsewhere...

Loren thought of the bandits on Tieling.

If we can wipe out all those bandits, we might be able to gain something!

Perfect timing! The caravan will depart tomorrow morning and will definitely pass by Tieling.

Loren decided to use a trick to lure the snake out of its hole!
Loren visited Triss again.

"Your Excellency Triss, there is something I forgot to tell you: there may be bandits on the way through Tieling Town."

I have decided to send three knights to escort you to Tieling tomorrow.

However, it is hoped that the knights in the escort team can remain hidden during the journey.

Triss understood what Loren meant.

"My lord, do you intend to take this opportunity to wipe out the bandits in the mountains?"

"good."

Triss pondered for a moment, "We can't work for you for nothing. How about we split the spoils from eliminating the bandits fifty-fifty?"

"No problem! I hope you will bring more caravans here in the future, and it would be best if you could collect more exotic plants or plant seeds."

Tris readily agreed.

He rarely passed through Shashi Town before.

I took a detour on a whim today, and I didn't expect the lord of Sandstone Town to be so easy to talk to.

He also discovered that the lord had prepared a dinner for the caravan consisting of the meat of a ferocious dog.

This is a very precious ingredient from magical beasts.

This is enough to prove how generous the local lord was.

As a businessman, I naturally prefer to do business with generous people.

The caravan left Shashi Town the next day.

At noon, Loren obtained the intelligence.

[Intelligence 1]: You completed all the training yesterday afternoon, and Xuefu's impression of you has improved slightly. She finds you much more agreeable now.

[Intelligence 2]: Yesterday afternoon, Liz led two knights to explore the Monster Mountain Range and discovered two caves.

[Intelligence 3]: The knights you sent out are traveling with the caravan and are currently suppressing bandits. They are expected to earn 400 gold coins.

[Intelligence 4]: A new variety of rye, more suitable for brewing, has been bred near the Cordyceps militaris field.

[Intelligence 5]: Three days later, a barley sprite will emerge from the new barley field in Nearshore Town.

Loren organizes the information.

With a little calculation.

The castle's monthly expenses are around 200 gold coins.

The castle currently has approximately 800 gold coins remaining.

Taxes were collected in October of the fall, and the town had a total population of 2000 households.

Each household paid an average of 4 silver coins, which is equivalent to 0.2 gold coins.

(1 gold coin = 20 silver coins = 400 copper coins)

The annual tax is around 400 gold coins.

Including the spoils from the bandit suppression, the total is 1600 gold coins, which will only last until the end of February next year.

This money clearly won't last until next year's tax revenue.

This year, the rye field has seen a bumper harvest, so perhaps we can collect more gold coins.

But this is far from enough.

We must find ways to continue generating additional income.

A new variety of rye and barley worms from a nearby town...

We might be able to try and get the Spirit Bug from the coastal town!
Loren found Shirley.

"Xuefu, I'd like to pause today's training."

Xuefu frowned.

"You can't even keep up after just two days of training? I was so..."

She shouldn't have had any expectations of Loren!

“No,” Loren explained, “I’m going to Nearshore Town, you’ll come with me.”

Xuefu asked, puzzled, "What are we going to the coastal town for?"

Loren's lips curled into a slight smile, "Steal the fairy insects!"

Xuefu's heart skipped a beat. "Steal... Do you think your sister is a pushover? How could she let you steal the fairy insect?"

Near-Sea Town is my sister Loris's territory. "That elf insect hasn't been born yet, there's a chance."

Xuefu suddenly realized.

She had realized that Loren possessed the ability to foresee the birth of the Elf Worm.

If it's an unborn sprite bug, it might be possible to trick it into giving away through a trade.

"What do you plan to do?" Xuefu asked.

"You come with me."

Loren brought Shirley to the rye field.

Just as the intelligence report stated.

Many of the rye plants near the cordyceps grew taller than other rye plants, and their ears of grain were fuller.

"Did you see it?"

Xuefu's eyes widened in surprise. "This is... a new variety?"

"That's right, the fairy insects, along with fertilizer, cultivated a batch of brewing rye."

This is the power of the Spirit Insect!
The Elf Kingdom often uses rye to brew wine.

However, regular rye is of poor quality and its brewing effect is not excellent.

Brewing rye is specifically designed for brewing, and its advantages are very obvious.

"You plan to exchange these new varieties for seeds with Lady Loris?"

“That’s right! She has a batch of new barley that’s almost ripe, and the fairy insects that will soon be conceived are among them.”

Listening to Loren's plan, Xuefu's heart pounded wildly.

"That's not a good idea, she's your own sister..."

That's what she said, but Xuefu's eyes were clearly shining.

She was very tempted.

"Because she's our younger sister, we can also ask her for some money."

Xuefu's face flushed slightly.

After all, she was a noble lady; she had never done such a thing before.

She did hate it when Loren did bad things, but these kinds of bad things were perfectly acceptable.

This is for the future of Sandstone Town!

"When do you plan to leave?"

"Now!" Loren said, "Go quickly and have the farmers transplant a few stalks of brewing rye, I'll go prepare the horses!"

"it is good!"

Xuefu immediately ordered the farmers to transplant five brewing rye plants.

As a new variety of rye, this is more than enough.

Loren was also prepared.

Loren summoned a knight to accompany them.

"Why are there only two horses?" Xuefu asked Loren.

Loren spread his hands. "What do you think?"

Xuefu then realized what was happening.

Loren can't ride a horse.

They also did not have horse-drawn carriages.

She glared at Loren fiercely. "Who told you to be lazy before?"

"Sigh, there's no other way, you'll have to give me a ride."

The knight's task was to carry rye plants.

Therefore, Loren needs to ride with Xuefu.

Xuefu felt depressed.

She felt like she had fallen into Loren's trap.

"Are you sure you're not lying to me? Is there really a chance to get the Spirit Bug this way?"

"of course."

In the past, Xuefu would have thought this was Loren's trick.

Now, she felt that Loren wouldn't take advantage of her.

Xuefu handed the rye plant to the knight standing beside her.

She mounted her horse and looked at Loren, "Come on up..."

Loren mounted his horse and embraced Xuefu's slender waist.

Xuefu trembled, her face flushed, "You...don't move around too much later."

She has never had physical contact with any man, including Loren.

She believed Loren wouldn't do anything reckless, but she was still a little scared.

Just as Loren was about to answer, his horse suddenly reared up, startling Xuefu into letting out a gasp.

Loren secretly praised, "Good buddy! Well done!"

It seems this horse is quite intelligent.

(End of this chapter)