Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 billion people

Chapter 99 Daily Life with Clay Merchant

Red Fox Castle.

Chamber of Secrets.

Xia Mingyu slowly opened his eyes and immediately felt a coolness all over his body.

He looked down and found that the clothes he was wearing had been burned into a ball of black ash on the ground in the process of absorbing the fire magic crystal.

"How can I get back to the room naked now?" The corners of his mouth twitched.

"Sun, fire, sphere."

Putting this problem aside for the moment, Xia Mingyu condensed the blank magic power on his fingertips and quickly drew three magic patterns in the air, overlapping them.

Crackling!

In an instant, a fireball with a diameter of about half a meter appeared out of thin air and hovered in the center of the secret room.

Fiery flames were dancing on its surface, with golden and red colors intertwined. Waves of heat were discharged from it, blowing Xia Mingyu so hard that sweat broke out on his forehead.

"The temperature of the fireballs is much higher than before, and the magic power in my body can release more than a dozen such fireballs. Based on this estimate, the magic power in my body should have at least doubled."

After reaching this conclusion, Xia Mingyu's mouth corners couldn't help but rise slightly.

After he learned the Moonlight Meditation method, he would meditate for at least six hours every day, and sometimes even the whole day.

But even so, the magic power extracted from meditation is not as much as absorbing a magic crystal.
No, if the magic power brought by the ice magic crystal was removed, it would probably be less than one-fifth.

At this moment, Xia Mingyu suddenly came to his senses.

If he wants to become a strong man in a short period of time, no matter how talented he is in practicing magic, it is impossible to do it by meditation alone.

The only way is to eat crystals. Eating one piece is equivalent to meditating hard for several months. The more you eat, the stronger you will be.

If he could absorb a piece of high-quality Fire Demon Crystal like this every day, Xia Mingyu estimated that it wouldn't be long before he could break a meter-thick city gate with a single magic trick like Iris did.

No, Iris cannot be promoted to Morning Star. If he had so much magic power, he would have been promoted to Morning Star long ago and awakened his own innate magic.

"I don't know what my innate magic will be."

Xia Mingyu held his chin and couldn't help but fall into fantasy.

All magic in this world is based on the authority of the Seven Gods: the sun, moonlight, storm, thunder, earth, deep sea, frozen soil, and dreams.
If he awakens his innate magic, it will also be attributed to these elements, but I don’t know whether it will be violent thunder, scorching torches, or cold frost?
"It's time to get out!"

Xia Mingyu stood up from the ground and subconsciously wanted to push open the door of the secret room.

The door opened a little, and a cool breeze blew in. The cool feeling all over his body instantly reminded him that he was naked at the moment!

"That's not good. I don't want to run around naked in someone else's house!"

The muscles on Xia Ming's cheeks twitched slightly, and he was in a dilemma.

"Your Highness, are you awake?"

At this moment, a female voice as gentle as a clear spring came from outside the door.

It’s Anlia, we’re saved now!

"Anlia, my clothes."

Xia Mingyu was about to speak when he saw a slender hand handing a set of clothes through the crack in the door.

"Your Highness, Butler Seris has told me that your clothes will be burned when you absorb the magic crystal, so I am waiting for you here." Anlia explained.

Is Seris the personal butler that Rosa prepared for him?

While thinking, Xia Mingyu quickly took the clothes and put them on.

"Your Highness, do you need me to help you get dressed?"

"No, I can do it myself."

"Oh" the girl's tone seemed a little resentful.

After walking out of the secret room, Xia Mingyu walked side by side with An Liya in the corridor of the castle.

The girl was wearing a light blue dress today, her shoulders exposed, her long golden hair casually tied up, a few strands of hair hanging down by her ears, swaying gently with her steps.

"Where's that kid Berg?"

"Your Highness, about two hours ago, he was already training with the knights at the Red Fox Castle's training ground."

What a diligent person! Xia Mingyu couldn't help but feel ashamed of his laziness.

After lying in the carriage for a month, he immediately went to look for a soft bed. He was a lazy person who didn't want to meditate anymore after knocking on the crystal!
He subconsciously looked out the window, but unfortunately there were only towering city walls outside, and he could not see the knights sweating profusely in the training ground.

This Red Fox Fort is at least three times larger than the Black Wolf Fort!

As they walked, they came to the end of the corridor, where an old man in a tuxedo was standing there quietly waiting for him.

His hair and beard had already turned gray, and he looked very old. He was a little thin, but his back was still straight.

"Respected Master Mingyu, I am Seris, the steward who has served two generations of masters of Red Fox Castle."

"Although I have resigned now, according to Lady Rosa's instructions, I will serve as your personal steward during your stay at Red Fox Castle, offering you all the assistance I can."

Seris placed his white-gloved right hand on his left shoulder and bowed slightly.

His movements and postures were as graceful as flowing water, as if they had been practiced countless times and were ingrained in his bones.

"Thank you for asking Anlia to deliver the clothes." Xia Mingyu said politely.

"Serving the master is a butler's duty. You can praise me, but please don't express your gratitude. That would be unbecoming of your noble status."

Seris said softly.

Although this old man is old, he seems to have a kind of vitality that makes people feel like spring breeze.

"Master Mingyu, Patriarch Rosa invites you to have breakfast with her. Would you like to accept?"

"Take me there."

restaurant.

The morning sun shines through the castle's towering stained-glass windows onto the rectangular oak dining table.

The table was covered with a crisp white linen tablecloth, and silverware was neatly laid out in front of the diners.

In the middle of the dining table was a tray piled high with white bread, the crust golden and crispy, emitting an enticing wheat aroma.

Next to it are three flavors of jam: strawberry, blackberry, and apricot. Then on both sides of the table there are honey tea, oatmeal, milk, ham, bacon and other drinks and food.

Rosa sat at the head seat at the long table, her silver hair neatly tied into a hairpin, looking dignified and elegant.

Although her face was covered with wrinkles, her eyes were still bright, with a sense of majesty and kindness.

"Your Highness, are you satisfied with the room prepared for you?"

Looking at the black-haired young man sitting in the main seat opposite, the old woman said with concern.

"Very good. This is the best room I've stayed in since I came here." Xia Mingyu said with a smile as he added jam to the bread.

"Your maid is so beautiful! Even an old woman like me feels pity for her when she sees her!"

After a round of greetings, Rosa looked at the blonde girl standing behind Xia Mingyu, pouring honey tea and milk for him, and couldn't help but sigh.

With blonde hair as bright as the sun and blue eyes as clear as the sky, this child is already comparable to her when she was young.

Being praised by Rosa, the most powerful person in the South, Anlia was a little nervous for a moment. Her hand holding the teapot trembled slightly, but fortunately she did not spill the tea out of the cup.

Rosa frowned slightly at this scene.

No matter how beautiful a maid is, if she cannot do her job well, it is not worth boasting about.

"Yes, Anlia is my precious treasure. If I could, I wouldn't want her to leave me for the rest of my life."

Xia Mingyu gently held the back of An Liya's hand and said softly.

Rosa was stunned for a moment, and instantly realized from his words that there was an unusual relationship between them, so her frown immediately relaxed.

"Haha, what a lovely child! I'm sorry that an old woman like me scared you just now," Rosa said apologetically. "No, no, it's my honor to receive your praise."

An Liya waved her hands repeatedly, then quickly put down the teapot and stood behind Xia Mingyu again.

After the meal.

"Your Highness, it seems that your absorption rate of magic crystals is quite high!"

As a magician, Rosa sensed for a moment and immediately discovered that the magic power in Xia Mingyu's body had almost doubled compared to before.

"It's all thanks to the high quality of the magic crystal you gifted me that I was able to achieve such a breakthrough."

Rosa chuckled and shook her head.

It is true that the quality of that piece of Flame Demon Crystal is high, but if someone else were to absorb it, it would definitely not achieve such a terrifying effect.

She began to understand why this prince would use precious high-quality magic crystals for cultivation. At first, she thought that he was used to his previous extravagant behavior, but now it seems that she would do the same.

After all, if she had the talent to absorb magic crystals, she could spend all her family fortune to offer a huge reward for the magic crystals.

I'm afraid it will take one year to break through to the New Moon, two years to the Crescent Moon, and three years to become a Shining Moon-level magician who can release city-destroying magic.

"Your Highness, I have posted notices throughout Twilight City, offering a large reward for high-quality magic crystals. I believe someone should deliver them soon." Rosa said.

"Thank you very much." Xia Mingyu's face lit up with joy.

As long as he has enough magic crystals, his cultivation speed will definitely increase to a level that will shock everyone.

"Your Highness, there are many entertainment options in Twilight City. If you're bored with your magic training, you can ask Seris to take you out for some fun."

"Haha, I'll definitely go check it out when I have time."

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After paying the entrance fee to the knight guarding the gate, a traveling merchant successfully entered Twilight City with several of his servants.

He was tall and thin, wearing a dark brown woolen cloak, and the most striking thing was his tall hooked nose, which gave him a shrewd and sharp look.

"What a happy people! They are indeed the only southern region that doesn't have to pay grain tax!"

Looking at the endless stream of people coming and going in the city with smiles on their faces, Urkus Clay took a deep breath and sighed in his hoarse voice.

"If I could turn these smiles into longing cries, that would be wonderful and would make me so happy."

Erkus said this to himself in his heart, but on the surface he just smiled mysteriously.

"It's time to meet the strange fox from the southern border." After glancing at the notice on the wall, Erkus strode forward.

Whoops!

During this time, a flower girl was accidentally knocked down by him, and the blooming flowers in the basket fell to the ground.

Looking at the flowers on the ground that were soiled by dust, the young girl was so sad that tears were about to come out.

She looked at Erkus pitifully, as if hoping for some comfort or compensation.

However, Erkus just glanced at her coldly and walked forward again.

This woman has a pretty face. She will definitely fetch a good price if she is sent to the Slave City. Unfortunately, I am in a hurry now. I will find a chance to sell her next time I see her.
The businessman thought secretly in his heart.

The girl behind him clasped her hands together and mourned for the flowers, completely unaware that she had just avoided a major crisis.
Red Fox Castle.

In front of the castle gate.

"You mean you want to see the Earl?"

The gatekeeper looked at the hook-nosed traveling merchant in front of him and frowned slightly.

People in this world don't have a good impression of businessmen.

"Yes, can you inform me?" Erkus said with a smile on his face.

"The Earl is the lord of the southern territory. How can an ordinary merchant like you meet him? Leave the castle immediately." The gatekeeper refused bluntly.

Erkus was silent for a moment, gritted his teeth, took out a silver sol from his pocket, and secretly handed it to the gatekeeper with reluctance on his face.

"Ahem, actually, the Earl has always attached great importance to the commercial development of Twilight City, so it's not impossible for him to meet with businessmen. Tell me what your purpose is?"

The gatekeeper took the silver coin calmly, cleared his throat and asked.

"I admire the Earl's reputation, so I came to Twilight City specifically and wanted to open a chamber of commerce here. Before that, I need the Earl's consent." Erkus explained.

Hearing this, the gatekeeper's expression suddenly changed, because if a businessman wants to open a chamber of commerce, it means that his professional rank has probably reached
As if to confirm his guess, next to Erkus's white civilian protection, there was another line of text - dark purple wealthy businessman.

"I'll inform you right away."

Seeing this, the gatekeeper stopped trying to stop him and ran into the castle.

After all, a businessman is a small matter, but a chamber of commerce is different. If the latter is successfully built, it can bring a lot of benefits to the entire city-state.

Not long after, Erkus was successfully summoned.

In the drawing room.

Rosa sat on the main seat, looking coldly at the businessman who was kneeling on one knee on the ground in front of her, with an aura of majesty that came without even being angry.

"Greetings, wise Lord of Dusk, respected Earl Martha, great Lord of the South. I am Urkus Clay, and I am honored to receive your summons."

Erkus said with a respectful look on his face.

Although his attitude was good, Rosa frowned when she heard the last name Clay.

After all, Clay Merchant's reputation in this world is really hard to describe.

"The notice said you want to establish a chamber of commerce. What types of goods will you mainly sell?"

Rosa continued to ask. She had already decided that if the goods involved people's livelihood, she would immediately refuse the other party.

If the business specializes in selling luxury goods to the nobility, it might be permissible.

Upon hearing this, Erkus immediately took out a bag of tea from his bag and carefully presented it to Rosa.

"My Lord, my main product is the tea I cultivated myself, which I named Rosa Tea."

"stop."

Erkus cleared his throat, but was interrupted by Rosa before he could finish.

"I don't like my name being named after tea, so you'd better save yourself the worry." Rosa said expressionlessly.

"Ahem, I named it dusk tea. I think its taste is no less delicious than the twilight tea unique to the southern region." Erkus said confidently.

After hearing this, Rosa became interested.

After all, she had been drinking the finest twilight tea since she was a child. After drinking it for decades, her taste had become so picky that she could no longer tolerate any other tea.

Since this businessman dared to say so, it seems that the tea he cultivated must indeed have some advantages.

Rosa clapped her hands, and a maid took the tea leaves handed to her by Erkus and soaked them in a silver pot filled with hot water.

After gently shaking and waiting for a moment, it was poured into the teacup. After someone came to check whether it was poisonous, this cup of evening tea was delivered to Rosa.

Smelling the fragrance of the tea in the cup, Rosa took a sip with anticipation.

As the tea went down her throat, she felt as if enveloped by the glow of the setting sun. A warm feeling spread from her chest to her whole body, inexplicably reminding her of the embrace her husband had once shared with her.

"It's very good tea, definitely not inferior to twilight tea." Rosa also praised after putting down the teacup.

"How much do you plan to charge per bag of such fine tea?"

Erkus smiled slightly and silently extended a finger.

"One gold sol is too expensive." Rosa frowned.

This is much more expensive than the top-grade twilight tea. Even the nobles wouldn't be willing to drink it.

"It's a copper sol, my dear Earl." Erkus said with a smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)