Riley paused for a mont, then realized what had happened and explained to his father, "Nina has a very simple mind, like a child right now. She just doesn't like fire or anything too hot, which is why she took it upon herself to extinguish the fire in the fireplace."
Although the brightness in the room had dimd a notch, Rhett smiled wryly and waved it off, signaling that it didn't bother him. He even asked, "If she encounters fire or sothing too hot, would it harm the Snow Sprite?"
Riley sighed in relief and smiled, "No, it won't. Actually, since Nina recognized as her master, I've sensed that she's an extrely mystical being. She brings an entirely new sensation."
He added with a mysterious grin, "While she doesn't have strong combat abilities, her usefulness will definitely exceed your expectations."
"Oh? Like what?" Rhett's interest was piqued.
Riley eagerly explained, "First, she can influence the weather around her, but only to make it snow. And there's sothing even more impressive—Nina can accelerate the growth of water-based magic plants and magical beasts. How about that? Amazing, right?" Riley's eyes were filled with disbelief, even as he explained it.
As for how he knew about the Snow Sprite's abilities, the knowledge had naturally co to him after the sprite recognized him as her master.
"Can she really do that?" Rhett couldn't stay seated anymore. He walked over and placed his hands on Riley's shoulders, his eyes bright with excitent.
Riley nodded and then let the Snow Sprite hop onto Rhett's shoulder.
Feeling its presence up close, Rhett couldn't help but marvel at how incredible this creature was, a condensation of the laws of nature itself.
He gently squeezed it, finding it cool to the touch and quite elastic.
"Of course, tomorrow I plan to go to the back of the estate and test it out."
"In that case, we should reconsider the developnt plan for the territory," Rhett said thoughtfully as he gazed at the Snow Sprite.
After a mont of reflection, he asked, "Do you know how much faster she can accelerate the growth of water-based magic plants and beasts? Can you determine that yet?"
Riley paused, furrowed his brow, and after a mont said, "It doesn't seem like I can sense that. We might need to experint a bit to figure it out. I also suspect this ability has so limitations. After all, even though sprites are said to be magical, they aren't supposed to be too overpowered."
Rhett nodded in agreent with this assessnt. He stood up, leaving Riley with a quick "Wait here," and headed to his room.
When he returned, Rhett was holding a small cloth bag.
Riley watched curiously as Rhett explained, "These seeds can be planted tomorrow."
"Where did you get these, Father? I can sense a strong magical elent from them, and it seems like there are quite a few. The quality isn't low either," Riley remarked, his eyes lighting up with excitent.
"I exchanged so of my surplus rits for them before I left the front lines. No point in just letting them sit around collecting dust," Rhett said with a shrug.
Before his retirent, Rhett had exchanged his military rits for a few items, including potions to aid in battle aura cultivation and various magical plant seeds.
He had considered the growth of both his family and his territory when making these exchanges, focusing primarily on earth-based and water-based magic plant seeds, though he also acquired a few from other elental types.
The potions would help quickly train the family's knights, providing short-term benefits, while the magic plant seeds were an investnt in the family's long-term developnt.
In the military, it was easier to exchange for rare items, such as the dium-grade magical plant seeds Rhett had obtained. For a small territory like Hawk's Nest, it might take a year to collect just a few dozen seeds, if even that.
Rhett had also anticipated that after his retirent, he might face opposition from others, which could make it difficult for him to gather magical plant seeds in the future. He had feared a scenario where he had wealth but nowhere to spend it.
So, he had brought over five hundred seeds in one go, eliminating that concern and saving a lot of ti.
Although the family had already planted so magical plants, they were all the most common, low-grade varieties with diocre effects.
As Riley opened the bag, he found a wealth of rare seeds inside.
His primary focus was on the water-based seeds, as the Snow Sprite could accelerate their growth. These plants would undoubtedly beco a major economic asset for the family in the future.
"Ice Crystal Lilies, Water Moon Grass, Mist Lotus, Snow Vine, and Frost Pines—five different types of water-based magic plants. Not bad. Apart from Water Moon Grass, which is sowhat common, the other plants are hard to find, even in the noble territories or the rchant guilds of Twilight City," Riley said excitedly.
He then sifted through the other elental seeds. Despite being ntally prepared, he was still pleasantly surprised.
Magical plants differ from ordinary ones in that they concentrate their essence as they mature, producing very few seeds, usually only a handful.
Magical plants are primarily used to create alchemical potions or supply materials for enchanted equipnt, although the latter requires particularly rare specins.
Among the water-based plants Rhett had brought, only the Frost Pine and Snow Vine t the requirents for enchanting equipnt. If they were allowed to grow for long enough, they could beco excellent materials for water-elent magic staffs.
After calming down and considering the possibilities, Riley said, "Father, I have an idea."
"Let's hear it," Rhett replied.
"The seeds you brought are indeed precious, but there are only just over a hundred water-based seeds. With Nina's ability, wouldn't it be better to exchange the seeds from other elents with other nobles for equivalent water-based seeds? This way, we could maximize Nina's potential.
Once we've expanded our water-based plant collection and gained a reputation, we'll have a steady stream of inco. By then, trading for seeds from other elents, or even more valuable items, will be much easier, won't it?"
Riley's plan was well-organized and logically sound. After he finished explaining, he looked directly at his father, waiting for his response.
Rhett couldn't help but smile. Riley's thoughts were right in line with his own; he had been considering sothing similar.
The growth cycles of magical plants aren't quick—at least six months to a year, and in so cases, even three, five, or more years.
Only special plants, like Frost Pines, don't have a growth limit—the longer they grow, the more valuable they beco.
So, focusing their efforts on water-based plants in the short term was indeed the best course of action.
Riley's plan didn't disappoint Rhett. Nodding in approval, Rhett said, "This plan has a high chance of success. I'll leave it to you to handle. Keep only about ten percent of the seeds from the other elents and trade the rest for water-based seeds."
He added, "You've always managed the rchant caravans well, and I'm confident you'll handle this too."
"Thank you for trusting , Father," Riley said, holding the bag of seeds with great satisfaction. He seed to already envision Hawk's Nest becoming the wealthiest territory under Earl Brayn's jurisdiction.
This jurisdiction wasn’t about ownership but rather a stipulation of kingdom law: in tis of ergency, such as an orc invasion or external threat, an earl had the authority to mobilize viscounts, barons, and other nobles to defend the kingdom.
After discussing a few more details, Riley took the Snow Sprite and left.
Rhett remained in the hall, deep in thought. As he gazed at the flickering candle flas, he pondered the future.
After a while, he concluded that it was ti for another simulation.
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