Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 450 Surprise
Rean never expected that the most fertile land of life within the kingdom would be a floating island.

The journey there was very comfortable.

The lake water is cool and surrounded by mountains and gentle breezes. Stepping into the lake, the winter chill disappears without a trace, and everyone feels as if they have returned to the most comfortable time between spring and summer.

Rean had experienced this kind of climate before, in that little paradise within the Demon Realm, which was also a man-made land of life.

"It's more comfortable than there. I only realized it when we compared the two. There felt a bit unnatural over there."

Compared to temporary lands of life, this place is a complete world with its own cycle. Even without being connected to the earth's veins, it probably has almost inexhaustible life force.

Was it provided by this dragon turtle? Or is it simply a self-contained cycle? Or perhaps, like that piece of land in the Demon Realm, there are some kind of divine artifact here? Rean didn't ask; he was interested in something more tangible.

"Three harvests a year? That's really enviable."

It was a fertile land as expected, which also proved that there were other mysteries in this land. For Rean and the kingdom, this was undoubtedly good news.

"Can we sell any surplus grain?"

"of course can."

Rean was overjoyed. In this day and age, food is always an irresistible hard currency.

This is undoubtedly good news. The town of Dania is now frantically exploiting the soil's fertility to force food production. However, from a value perspective, it is still more worthwhile to use it to accelerate the growth of potion ingredients.

Even so, the local area still suffers from a long-term food shortage. The city consumes too much food, and the granaries burned by the Dark Elves can only be replenished slowly. Meanwhile, unscrupulous merchants who speculate on goods remain an obstacle.

"Great! Finally, we can put those bastards from the Sunchaser Merchant Guild in check."

Rean and Dania have only recently come to understand why the Sun Chaser Merchant Guild, despite being a merchant guild, is so hated.

For most ordinary people, they are indeed high-quality merchants who can provide goods and convenience, and even the goods are priced reasonably. But from the perspective of decision-makers and managers, it is clear that they disdain making such small profits and are quite ruthless.

They are selling at market price, that's true. And as monopolistic grain traders, they have the ability to determine the market price!
The people they sent out sold grain at market price while also buying large quantities of grain. They lost some money at first, but gradually they managed to raise the price of grain.

It's harvest season now, yet grain prices have risen by more than 50% without anyone noticing.

By the time the royal family realized something was wrong, grain prices had already risen, and the local nobles who had grain were mixed up with them, so they didn't have enough grain reserves to deal with the situation.

Dania was so angry she cursed, but she couldn't even cause trouble for anyone. The Sun Chaser Merchant Guild didn't have a clear internal organization; it was just a bunch of unscrupulous merchants and unscrupulous merchants disguised as priests. It was unclear who was behind it all.

"Most likely, it was done by those bastards all at once."

When one unscrupulous merchant discovers that raising prices can make money, other unscrupulous merchants will naturally follow suit. Coincidentally, the local area is indeed short of grain, and there are no powerful local grain merchants who can compete with them.

"Small country, it's really frustrating." Rean was getting a little used to it. A country with such a weak government is really suffering from bullying everywhere.

He desperately wanted to arrest all these scoundrels who profited from the national crisis, but he feared that even if all those scoundrels were combined, the entire kingdom would be overwhelmed.

Although Dania and the local decision-makers were neither corrupt nor incompetent, the best they could do was merely hold on.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Aetherine. I welcome you on behalf of Princess Dania."

Rean couldn't refuse this mobile grain-producing area alone.

Rean strolled around the area. The wary and even hostile gazes he encountered made his journey anything but smooth.

Although the scenery is beautiful, the island's true secrets and powerful forces will not be revealed to our side.

“Take your time.” Rean thanked them for the “bribe” of a vacation spot. Giving gifts that lords would give to kings was quite common in this era. But Rean felt it was better to keep his distance from these half-elves.

At least, let's wait a while and see what their goals really are.

But while Rean and others were waiting, some were getting impatient.

"By the way, come and meet your junior sister." Rean's mage mentor, Alcaster, had originally come to see Rean, but ended up introducing an apprentice to him as well.

Looking at the half-elf in front of him, Rean was a little confused.

The short-haired half-elf wore a monocle, and his handsome face, combined with his sparsely clothed figure, gave a very neat first impression.

The half-elf was naturally beautiful, but the surrounding magical elemental fluctuations were even more intense. Was this an archmage? At least a fifth-rank or higher.

Junior sister? No, that can't be right. This adult half-elf's form, even if it's not over a hundred, is close.

"Hello, I am Ai Li Yan Yu. I've heard my father mention you many times; you are his most prized disciple."

Father? Yan Yu? Oh, I understand.

Li En suddenly realized that this was his teacher's daughter, so all his disciples could indeed call her senior sister or junior sister. But should he call her senior sister?

"Your junior sister used to be a court mage, and she's very skilled at teaching magic, languages, and literature. I heard you're hiring a private tutor?"

Looking at the teacher who was forcing herself to introduce her "daughter" to him, Rean sighed.

What else can I say? Take it over.

"That's wonderful, it's my honor."

What daughter? You, a red-haired person, have green hair? A high elf hybrid has given birth to a wood elf hybrid? Don't be ridiculous, they don't look alike at all.

Looking at this elegant archmage, Rean certainly wouldn't refuse. He was desperately short of combat power, especially high-level spellcasters.

Arranged marriage? Blind date? Rean understood them to be something similar.

The woman before me is a noblewoman who is half-elf, or perhaps she really is my master's adopted daughter. But the important thing is that the half-elf needs to establish connections with the locals.

When a nomadic tribe arrives in a new land, it is considered a basic practice to marry a noblewoman to a local powerful lord. This is an "offer of goodwill" that is hard to refuse, and both sides need it.

Rean, as the "lord," is perhaps the most suitable candidate; at least, that's what his teacher probably thinks.

"A local powerful lord, a disciple of a half-elf archmage, a mediator between the two sides, a powerful knight of the princess, a backbone of the royal faction, and a paladin of the pure good camp"—to be honest, Rean felt that he was a suitable candidate.

"It's a headache. Let's leave it at home for now." Since the teacher saw through it but didn't say anything, Rean couldn't refuse on the spot, so he could only take it one step at a time.

First, place it within your own camp; you can be considered a middleman in forming an alliance.

In a sense, only Rean's teacher would arrange a marriage. In most people's eyes, Rean was the son-in-law of the Sudar family, so there was no possibility of him marrying again through a marriage alliance.

But only those close to Rean knew that Rean's home was actually now "Rean Sudar's" home, and Suliman had actually married into his family; there was an unspoken understanding between them. Rean felt a chill run down his spine; he didn't know how to tell Suliman.

It's normal for nobles to marry each other; they can just stay at home and do their own thing. But Rean can't treat it normally.

"Let's take it one step at a time. Since the teacher didn't explain it clearly, this matter is naturally not settled yet. Perhaps there are other suitable marriage partners. If we drag it out, the situation will change." But soon, after confirming Miss Eli's abilities, it was Rean's turn to feel reluctant.

(End of this chapter)