Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 104 80%
After quickly arranging military affairs, Reyes, accompanied by a few close attendants, strode toward the castle.

As soon as they arrived at the castle gate, a petite figure rushed out like a gust of wind, threw herself into his arms, and hugged his waist tightly.

"Father! You're finally back! I missed you so much!" Elena buried her face in her father's breastplate, which was covered in dust and frost, her voice choked with sobs and endless longing.

Sensing his youngest daughter's warmth and dependence, Reyes's stern face instantly melted, revealing a rare tenderness. He carefully avoided the hard armor, and with his gloved hand, gently stroked Elena's hair, his voice unconsciously softening a thousandfold: "My little Elena, your father misses you too. Have you been a good boy/girl at home, listening to your brothers?"

As he spoke, he looked up and saw Kruse standing on the steps of the castle gate.

The eldest son stood tall and straight, his face composed, his eyes filled with satisfaction and a hint of barely perceptible weariness. A little further behind Kruze, Rezal also stood there. Unlike his sister, he didn't rush over, but silently watched his father, his eyes filled with complex emotions. His lips moved, but in the end, he only whispered, "Father."

Reyes keenly sensed that his second son's condition was different from before; his usual carefree and flamboyant nature seemed to have been worn down, replaced by a sense of melancholy and worry.

He knew in his heart that this must be related to his experience of encountering the dragon.

He put one arm around Elena, his gaze sweeping over his three children, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The vitality his territory showed under the threat of foreign enemies, the obvious changes and growth of his children... This time, upon his return, what awaits him is not only a heartwarming reunion, but also severe challenges and a complex situation that requires his careful understanding and consideration.

“Alright, don’t stand outside anymore.” Reyes patted Elena on the back, signaling her to let go, and then said to the children, “We’ll talk inside the castle. Kruze, Rezal, tell me everything that’s happened recently in detail.”

His tone regained its composure and strength, carrying the authority of a head of household and guardian of the territory.

Back in the castle hall, he dismissed all other people and left only the core family members and two old ministers.

Baron Reyes removed his dust-covered outer armor, sat in the main seat, and calmly looked at his eldest son, Kruze.

Kruze began to give a methodical report on the events that had occurred in his territory during his absence, from clearing out small groups of rebels to encountering cave lions, and then to the earth-shattering appearance of the giant dragon.

His narration was calm and objective, but every word made Reyes' heart pound, especially when he heard about the dragon's destructive power, his fists clenched involuntarily.

As Kruze's report drew to a close, casually mentioning that "the territory now has three additional elf insects," Reyes's solemn expression was instantly replaced by immense shock, and he abruptly sat up straight in his seat.

“Three elf insects?!” Reyes’s voice was filled with disbelief and astonishment. His gaze instinctively turned to Wilstone and Butler Buffel, who were standing to the side. “Why didn’t you mention this at all in your previous communications?”

Such a significant increase in resources absolutely deserves to be reported through the most urgent channels.

Wilstone and Butler Buffet also showed a hint of embarrassment and helplessness. Wilstone bowed and said, "Sir, this matter is of great importance. The young master thinks it may be inappropriate to mention it in the letter and insists on waiting for you to return so that he can report it to you in person."

In reality, this was a surprise Kruze wanted to give his father, which was why the two elders agreed to help keep it a secret from the lord. Reyes immediately understood his eldest son's caution, nodded slightly, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and looked at Kruze again, his eyes burning: "Continue! What about... Green? How is it?"

The Emerald Pea Sprite has selflessly contributed to Liontooth Territory for so many years, and Reyes has developed feelings for it, so its condition is of utmost importance.

Kruze's face showed a confident and serious expression: "Father, please rest assured, Qingcui is in very good condition. With the help of the jade powder I prepared and the new type of compost, it has not only fully recovered its vitality, but has also entered the fat pupal stage in the best condition."

He paused, met his father's eager gaze, and gave a judgment that made everyone present's hearts race: "Based on my observation and calculations, the probability of Qingcui successfully transforming into a little elf this time is... over 80%!"

"Eighty percent?!"

This time, not only Reyes, but also Wilstone and Butler Buffet, who already knew that Green had entered the cocoon stage but were unsure of the exact success rate, exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with extreme shock and ecstasy!
While the Elf Insect is indeed precious, with a value roughly between one and two thousand gold coins, it is an important source of income and a symbol of the territory.

But the little elves are completely different!
That is a leap in the level of life, a treasure that can truly benefit a region and serve as a strategic foundation!

The value of a single Pokémon starts at tens of thousands of gold coins, and if it has special abilities or great potential, it is not uncommon for it to sell for tens of thousands of gold coins!
More importantly, the lifespan of the little elves far exceeds that of the elf bugs, reaching over a hundred years.

In many baronies and even viscounties, a little elf that has been passed down for generations is often the core and most precious heritage of a family, and a symbol of the family's prosperity!

If Qingcui can successfully advance to become a "little elf", then for Lion Fang Territory, the significance will be no less than the birth of another Golden Knight in the family!
A brief silence fell over the hall, broken only by the heavy breathing of a few people.

Baron Reyes took several deep breaths to barely suppress his excitement. His gaze toward Kruze was filled with complex emotions: pride, relief, and an indescribable sense of awe.

This eldest son not only stabilized the territory and dealt with the dragon crisis while he was away, but also quietly laid such a solid foundation for Lion Fang Territory!

"Good! Good! Good!" Reyes exclaimed three times, slamming his hand heavily on the armrest of his chair. "Kruze, you did a fantastic job! Where is the verdant pupa now? It must be protected with the highest level of security!"

"Father, rest assured, I have placed it in the insect house in the castle, where Rezal and I take turns guarding it," Kruze replied calmly.

“And me, I often go to the insect house to take care of them,” Elena quickly raised her hand and shouted.

Upon hearing this, Reza and Kruse couldn't help but shake their heads and smile wryly.

Elena's verbal care was torture for Huang Deng and Zi Zi. Even Zi Zi, who liked Elena very much, has recently started avoiding her.

(End of this chapter)