Chapter 178: I Can

Intelligence Five: The 45th birthday celebration of the current Marquis of Austin is imminent, but the Marquis's eldest son has encountered a significant problem.

Namely, a batch of honey originally ordered has been seized by pirates during sea transport.

This honey was specially ordered by the Marquis's eldest son half a year in advance for the celebration.

The banquet and celebration will take place at dusk one day from now; if sufficient honey cannot be acquired in time to make bread and sweets, the entire birthday celebration will be ruined.

Unfortunately, honey is not a staple grain with widespread stockpiles, and the Marquis's eldest son has already urgently issued a plea.

Whoever brings a large quantity of honey for sale will be offered double the price, and will earn a personal favor from him!

Intelligence Thirty-Six: After several months, a new area of mist will dissipate within the Death Mountains once again.

Another wonderful day begins with ding-ding-ding!

Hearing the system's intelligence in his mind, another useful wave has finally arrived.

Ten days have passed since the last reward granted in Baron Cain's territory.

In these ten days, the development speed of Stormhold has accelerated further.

Especially with seven thousand serfs joining, the previous labor shortage in Stormhold was immediately resolved.

Thus, projects such as reclaiming farmland, repairing irrigation, constructing dwellings, mending roads, and expanding the castle are all proceeding vigorously.

Of course, one of the most important expansions—the army—was completed several days ago.

Before the expansion, Stormhold had only one hundred and twenty-five guards.

After the expansion, all the slaves and pirates who participated in the campaign were merged, supplemented by additional serfs recruited from Baron Cain's territory.

Together, they formed a three-hundred-man guard legion.

Under normal circumstances, a viscount clearly could not afford to maintain such a force.

But with the intelligence system, along with telescopes and sugar production, substantial income is foreseeable.

Gervas feels he can afford to take bolder steps.

Even if he currently lacks funds to equip all guards fully, he can at least begin training them.

Moreover, this training has become significantly stricter.

In addition to combat techniques, formations and goose-stepping from his past life have been incorporated.

Not only for aesthetic appeal, but also to enhance the guards' obedience and cohesion.

Pulling the cord beside his bed, under the attentive service of the delicate maid Caroline, Gervas dressed himself and began his day's busyness.

First, naturally, the matter of the Lightning Silver Fish migration.

Gervas had heard of the Lightning Silver Fish before; its flavor isn't particularly exquisite, but due to the dense magic energy within its body, it holds great utility.

Once, a viscount's domain happened to have Lightning Silver Fish appear within its waters.

Within just five years, that viscount's family trained a hundred-member Order of Title Knights.

This was an Order of Title Knights—a full hundred strong—and during the kingdom's war, they earned great merit for the viscount, enabling him to be elevated to the rank of earl.

Later, it was rumored that he was deliberately sabotaged, causing the region to become unsuitable for Lightning Silver Fish spawning, which is why the earl's family never soared to greatness.

Gervas, as a severe case of power deficiency anxiety, lacks superhuman subordinates most of all.

So he absolutely will not let this opportunity with the Lightning Silver Fish slip away.

"Aquatic plants? Do we need to dredge all the lakebeds?"

"Correct. Dredge all aquatic plants from every lake except Silverlight Lake and Swan Lake."

"Once dredged, immediately dump them into Silverlight Lake—remember, speed is critical!"

Old John, though puzzled by the purpose, solemnly replied, "My lord, I'll dispatch men at once!"

Leaving the dining hall, Gervas headed to the training ground, where knights and guards were training rigorously.

"My lord!"

"My lord!"

Instantly, the training ground echoed with greetings.

Gervas acknowledged them all, then summoned Lei Meng and Mi Gen separately.

"My lord, if you have any orders, just give them to me!" Mi Gen, eager and hopeful, assumed Gervas had an important mission.

"Just follow me for now."

Soon, Gervas brought the two to the area housing the two Armored Fire Lizards.

The Armored Lizards have now grown somewhat, reaching about two meters and eighty centimeters in length.

Though still too small to serve as true mounts, never underestimate them.

These little creatures are now more formidable than crocodiles five or four meters long.

After all, they're magical beasts!

Roar! Roar!

Naturally, the two little beasts, upon seeing Gervas, were both fearful and delighted.

Fearful because they once misbehaved in their wild state and were punished by Gervas.

For instance, one of them once attacked the serf assigned to feed them without warning.

Resulting in the serf losing a forearm.

On that day, Gervas personally entered the enclosure housing the Armored Rhinos and beat the offending beast with his fists.

For the following days, both little beasts would show fear whenever they saw Gervas.

Of course, Gervas, as a transmigrator, knew how to wield the stick-and-carrot method perfectly.

Thus, in the following days, every time Gervas came, he fed them meat—including small pieces of magical beast meat.

Only then did the two little beasts come to both love and fear him.

Later, Gervas also renovated the animal pen.

Not only did he raise the stone walls, but he also, imitating zoos from his past life, installed a quarantine zone within the enclosure, separated by iron bars.

When caretakers need to feed or clean, they first lure the magical beasts into the quarantine zone to ensure safety.

"Hey, my lord, these two little ones have grown so big! I remember when we carried them back last time, they were only one meter and fifty centimeters long!" Mi Gen exclaimed in amazement.

"Correct. These two have grown considerably—and it's time to sign the master-servant contract." Gervas said smoothly.

"Master-servant contract?" Mi Gen froze, then his eyes immediately filled with envy.

"My lord, congratulations! Soon you'll be riding a magical beast mount!"

"Not me— you and Lei Meng. That's why I brought you two here."

"Me and Knight Captain Lei Meng? This…" Mi Gen was stunned.

He understood why Lei Meng might get this chance to sign a contract with a magical beast.

After all, Knight Captain Lei Meng was a Silver Knight, the strongest fighter under Gervas.

But him… he'd only become a Grand Knight for ten days—what merit did he have to earn such an opportunity?

"My lord, I dare not accept it. Let you sign the contract with the Armored Fire Lizards. I don't even have aura—I'd be laughed at if I rode one!"

Gervas was both irritated and amused. "Mi Gen, is that all the ambition you have? Such a golden opportunity, and you refuse it just because you fear gossip?"

"Besides, you think I should ride an Armored Fire Lizard? Are you looking down on your lord?"

"My mount, at the very least, must be a unicorn or a dragon—otherwise, I'd be too embarrassed to ride it out!"