Starting Life as a Baron

“Amy!” Amy said.

Amy was lying on top of Alan’s head and playing with his hair. Elon stared at Amy for a long time before asking Alan a question.

“Alan, can I exchange my Bramble Flower Nature Spirit for Amy?”

Alan smiled upon hearing his words.

“I do not think so. I am only selling the magic plants.”

“It is a pity,” Elon sighed. “I want to make a long term deal with you. I need a lot of magic plants!”

“Yes,” Alan agreed with a smile. “As long as you can give me a good price.”

“I can buy a rose at 20% the premium market price,” Elon said with a slightly solemn expression.

Alan thought about Elon’s words. He owned a brand new magical plant variety, so the price would definitely be higher. This was especially true for someone who was resistant to other plants. Every new variety of magic plant would be sold at a price much higher than market price. 20% extra is not much. Alan decided to sell the plants at that price considering the relationship between him and his brother.

“Okay, but I have one request,” Alan said with a smile.

Elon breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Alan’s words. He originally thought that Alan would counteroffer, and was ready to increase the price.

“What request?” Elon said with a smile.

“I have been collecting the fur and bones of Archfiends recently. Of course, I do not need much materials, just some. I hope that you can give me some fur or bones. Also, I would like it if you spread word about Rose to merchants. After all, you can see that it is too remote here and my people are poor. This needs to change.”

The first condition Alan presented was nothing to Elon. He had collected a lot himself, so it would be no big deal to give him some. The second condition was that roads to business needed to be opened up.

Elon hesitated a little at this part as it was not a small task. But after a short while, Elon nodded and agreed. He also needed to send people to Rose in order to buy magical roses. He would need his people to have a safe passage. There were many beasts in this remote country. Without the protection of knights, very few people would dare to come in.

“Great, my dear brother. Do not worry. I will not push all of the work to you alone. I will organize people to pave the way, but I need you to promote Rose,” Alan said with a smile. “You can rest assured.

Elon was in a good mood. After the first mature magic roses were taken away, he could not wait to leave. Before leaving, he spoke to Alan.

“Alan, it is too difficult to develop Rose. You might be wasting all of your efforts. With all of the gold and effort to develop this broken town, it would be better to renovate your castle.”

Alan did not care about this, as he believed that it made sense to develop Rose. Elon did not know that Alan was already a third level knight. The next time they meet, Elon would still be a fourth level knight and Alan would be a fifth level. This would be the result of developing the territory, you old coot.

Alan silently despised Elon in his heart and then sent him away. At the same time, he received a full five thousand gold.

“Damn, magical plants make money! One acre of magical roses earned me five thousand gold!”

It was no wonder many aristocrats dreamed of having Nature Spirits. With this kind of treasure, they would not need to worry about food and clothes for the rest of their lives. This influx of money bulged in Alan’s wallet.

The next batch of magic plants would mature in one month. Alan showed no dissatisfaction with the speed the crops grew. After all, he was about to have a second Nature Spirit. Then, another wave of gold coins would come in. Alan giggled at the thought.

“Amy!” Amy cheered.

Amy was sitting on Alan’s shoulder and looked at his smile, and could not help but to cheer too.

“Amy, take this magic crystal,” Alan said as he took a magic crystal out and handed it to his lovely and beautiful Nature Spirit.

“Amy Amy!” Amy’s eyes lit up as her mouth started to drool.

The magic crystal was brought from the dragon’s nest. Safi’s nest was full of this stuff, so it did not matter if some was taken out. Alan ground up the stone and fed a little to Amy until her stomach bulged. She then stopped eating and flew back to Alan’s room. She layed on the soft bed that Alan prepared and fell asleep to digest the magic crystal.