Elf Lord, intelligence updated daily.

Chapter 9 The Second Elf Bug!

Near the sea.

The coastal town is connected to the Elf Sea by land and sea.

This territory includes not only land areas but also a small portion of sea areas.

It is several times the size of Shashi Town.

Here you'll find farmers, fishermen, and artisans skilled in various crafts.

Many merchants who ventured out to sea would pass through coastal towns.

Compared to the backward Shashi Town, the coastal town is significantly more prosperous.

This can be seen from the residents' housing alone.

Most residents of Shashi Town can only live in farmhouses, and some even live with their livestock.

The residents of the coastal town live in row houses.

This is the difference between rural and urban areas.

Loren and Shirley arrived in the coastal town.

Xuefu's face flushed red, and she muttered softly, "Vulgar!"

"What does the uneven road have to do with me? Besides, we're engaged, you should get used to it sooner rather than later."

Xuefu ignored her.

A short while later, Loris came to greet them, followed by two knights.

"Sherry greets Baron Loris." Sherry bowed respectfully.

Loren opened his arms wide. "My dear sister, it's been so long!"

He tried to go forward and hug her, but was stopped by a knight.

Loris glared at Loren with disgust.

Turning to look at Xuefu, he smiled and said, "Miss Xuefu, welcome to my territory. How has life been in Sandstone Town lately?"

"It's a little better than before."

Loris was somewhat surprised. "It must all be thanks to Miss Xuefu."

Xuefu smiled and shook her head. "It was Loren. He discovered a rye sprite worm and even cultivated a new batch of rye."

Loris was even more surprised.

She looked at Loren, her surprise mixed with disgust. "Looks like my stupid brother is actually quite lucky."

"Loris, are your eyes bothering you?" Loren asked. "Why do you always look at me with such a strange expression?"

Loris didn't want to talk to Loren.

"Miss Xuefu, let's go to the castle and sit down to talk."

As evening approached, Loris instructed the kitchen to prepare dinner.

“Miss Xuefu, I heard you came here to exchange seeds?” Loris asked.

"Yes, the new rye variety has plump, uniformly sized seeds, making it more suitable for brewing than winter rye. We named it brewing rye."

Loris doesn't know much about farming.

"I will send someone to inspect the plants, and if they are indeed a new variety, I will agree to the deal."

"Also...we'd like to borrow some gold coins from you," Xuefu said softly.

Loris's eyes flickered slightly. "Isn't this your main objective?"

Xuefu seemed to have her thoughts read, and remained silent.

Loren secretly praised her acting skills.

Their true purpose in coming here is, of course, the seeds.

It is possible that the seeds of the Fairy Bug will be born.

Exchanging seeds is not uncommon.

But to come all this way on horseback is hard not to arouse suspicion.

Xuefu's offer to borrow money was merely a distraction from Loris, thus concealing her true purpose.

"How much do you want to borrow?" Loris asked.

“One thousand gold coins.” Loren held up his index finger.

"Who asked you?" Loris looked at Loren with displeasure.

"Miss Xuefu, I have to say something unpleasant."

Shashi Town will likely struggle to survive until next winter.

How do you plan to repay this money?

“Sprite bugs,” Xuefu said. “If Sandstone Town really can’t hold on, we’ll have no choice but to use sprite bugs to pay off our debts.”

This was Loren's decision.

He believes that Shashi Town will definitely develop.

Forget about the elf bug, he'd be willing to risk his life for it.

However, in Loris's eyes, his life was worthless.

“Not just the sprite insects, I also need the talent from your town,” Loris said.

In this way, she won't lose out no matter what.

If Loren really can't repay the money, she can actually make a fortune.

Loren sneered, "Sister, it's been so long since I've seen you. You've not only become more beautiful, but your heart has also become darker."

Loris scoffed, "I didn't force you, you foolish brother."

"No problem, I hope you can prepare the gold coins tomorrow."

“I never believe in verbal promises; you have to sign a contract.” Loren sighed. “It’s disheartening that you can’t even trust your own brother.”

"Come on this."

After signing the contract, Loris stood up.

"Butler, please take them to their rooms."

"Okay, Lord."

Loris knew that Loren and Shirley had not slept together.

She asked the housekeeper to prepare two rooms.

Loren sighed inwardly.

His sister is less sensible than a horse.

Early the next morning.

Shefie pulled Loris along to learn about town building techniques.

Loren then followed the knight to the barley fields near the sea city to select seeds.

The land in the coastal town is not very fertile.

The town's high grain yield was entirely due to the magic of the sprites.

The new variety of barley discovered by Loris is purple barley, which has a higher nutritional value than ordinary barley.

Purple barley is a recently discovered crop and has not yet spread widely.

Even the coastal town only has half an acre of land.

Loren was selecting plants in the field.

While selecting, he secretly took out the rye fairy insect and placed it on his fingertip.

As magical creatures, the sprites can sense the presence of magic.

This method allows for the accurate identification of plants capable of producing the fairy insect.

"found it!"

The rye worms are reacting!

This barley plant will give birth to a fairy insect in two days!

From the outside, this barley plant looks no different from other barley plants, except that it is slightly plumper.

There are many more barleys like this, plump and full.

Loren selected five stalks of barley and returned to the castle.

……

Inside the castle, Loris and Snow were still chatting.

Loren had the knight wait outside with barley.

"Xuefu, it's getting late, let's go back."

Loris had already prepared the gold coins.

She escorted Loren and Shirley out the door.

After leaving the house, Loris glanced meaningfully at the five barley grains in the knight's hand.

"Let me see how good the barley my foolish brother has picked is."

Loren's heart skipped a beat.

“Of course.” Loren pulled out a barley stalk and handed it to Xuefu. “Xuefu, take a look too.”

Loris snatched the barley from Loren's hand.

She took out a jade box.

The box contained the fairy insect.

Loren and Xuefu's expressions changed slightly.

The fairy insect sensed the magical aura emanating from the barley.

Loris smiled slightly.

"Loren, you've become a bit smarter than before."

"Leave this barley stalk; you can take the rest."

Loren glared angrily at Loris.

What a disrespectful kid!

"Xuefu, let's go."

The horses are waiting downstairs.

Loren stormed off with Xuefu.

Loris looked smug.

She summoned the knight at the door.

"Let the farmer replant this barley plant and take good care of it; it might just give birth to a fairy insect."

"A sprite insect!?"

The knight looked surprised.

"Lord Loren, did you already know that purple barley could breed elven insects?"

"Who knows..."

Loris's lips curled up slightly.

“My older brother seems to be a little different.”

(End of this chapter)