"Ju Le will go to Helunhilde to see if there is any work to be had, I'll stay here," Abel replied.

"Very well."

The two Demon Hunters left, Laine sat in his chair without moving, seeing this, Kasenberg asked, "Baron, is there anything else?"

"Kasenberg, tell me, if I allow the Demon Hunters to establish a guild in this town, would that curb the spread and corruption of the Vampires?" Laine said, stroking his chin.

"It's best not to, my Baron." Kasenberg shook his head vigorously, shaking continuously: "When you need Demon Hunters, just post a task on the bulletin board. If there are too many Demon Hunters in our domain, merchants, travelers, or even nobles would have issues, my Baron, you need to find a balance in this."

"Hmm, I understand." Kasenberg made a good point, Laine also believed that too many Demon Hunters would indeed affect the economy.

"By the way, how is the construction of the tower going?" Laine inquired about the progress of the Lake Fairy's tower.

"It's still under construction, my Baron, the blueprints you gave to the craftsmen are too detailed, which caused some complaints. They think this progress is too slow and not conducive to their creativity, perhaps you can give them more freedom in the design," Kasenberg suggested, "If we proceed at the current rate, it may be finished by this time next year."

"Then aim for this time next year," Laine stood up, and he and Kasenberg walked to the window. A spire about thirty meters high was under construction, it was conservatively estimated to cost Laine over three thousand Gold Crowns.

The Baron's castle would have a corridor along the walls leading to the spire, besides that, there was no other entrance, it was built against the mountain, shrouded in clouds, appearing quite mysterious.

"Complete everything according to the blueprint, the craftsmen's intelligence will naturally have a place to be utilized, but not here," Laine said solemnly, "It's I who employ them, not they who employ us."

"Understood, my Baron, I will continue to supervise the progress of the project," Kasenberg immediately nodded, indicating his understanding.

"How is the preparation of the third-floor guest room?" Laine continued to ask.

"It's been tidied up, as per the Baron's instructions, we used the best carpets and artworks to decorate the room, and the furniture was custom-made with prime cherry wood by a craftsman from Helunhilde. I assure you that any guest arriving here will be satisfied." Kasenberg, with his hands behind his back, led Laine and opened the guest room.

This is a room of about fifty square meters, with soft carpets laid down, all the furniture is brand new, the glazed windows and varied wall pictures all reflect the host's enthusiasm and meticulousness.

"That's fine, just like this."

The lord's castle was being renovated in full swing, while the peasants of Baron Gene's Domain were also sowing winter wheat under supervision, which would only mature in May or June of the next year, generally in a state of being planted and then neglected.

The vast farmland was not all meant to be sown. Hundreds of years ago, under the preaching of the Life Church, humans learned about fallowing and crop rotation. Brittania was undoubtedly a livable land, otherwise the Elves wouldn't have colonized here before, but high taxes drained the peasants' income, and the entire nation's strength was used to sustain the Knights, leading to such social phenomena.

At this moment, Laine heard the neighing and landing sound of a Pegasus.

It was Surya, she had returned with Amelia again, Laine immediately got up and went out of the castle to greet them.

"Mr. Laine!" Amelia jumped down from the tall Pegasus, the girl had changed into her academy's thick winter uniform, seeing Laine appear, she happily ran towards him: "Mr. Laine, I'm back!"

"Welcome home, Amelia!" Laine, busy with battles, had not seen his young maid for quite some time, he extended his arms and gently hugged her petite body: "How's your studies at the academy?"

Before Amelia could answer, the Knight standing behind her spoke, Surya was wearing a lake-green winter coat and a black pleated skirt today, over-the-knee high-heeled boots paired with flesh-colored thick tights were the highlights, and seeing Laine inquiring, Surya smiled and said, "Amelia studies very hard. She ranked first in the Courtiers' exam this time, even Father praised her level."

"Ah! Surya Sister, don't say that, it's embarrassing!" Amelia shyly retreated continuously.

Seeing this, Laine and Surya exchanged a smile, Laine took the initiative to speak, "Then... come in for a seat? No need to leave in a hurry, Miss Surya?"

"Since it's your invitation, Laine, I must stay for a while," Surya seemed to be expecting Laine to say this; her smile bloomed like an iris flower, then walked to Laine's side and entered the castle with him.

Having frequently visited Laine's castle, Surya was already quite familiar with the internal structure of Laine Castle, and Laine had never considered her an outsider, the two of them entered the three-story living room one after another and sat down, Dark Elf Ollica served steaming hot coffee: "Miss Surya, please enjoy."

"Thank you, Miss Ollica." The female Knight smiled and received it with both hands, then held the coffee in her palms. She suddenly noticed that the Dark Elf seemed somewhat different than when she first saw her.

As for exactly how she was different, the nineteen-year-old female Knight couldn't exactly tell, she just had an inexplicable sense of hostility toward this Dark Elf.

Damn, what hostility could I have; she's just a maid, Surya immediately dismissed the thought from her mind.

Amelia quickly changed into a maid's outfit, standing at Laine's side. For some reason, the young maid also noticed that Ollica seemed somewhat different, but she held back from asking.

The Dark Elf merely responded with a smile, having shared a bed with Laine for several nights, she was different from her previous self, whether in temperament or physique.

The conversation between the Holy Grail Knight and the Duke's daughter was always very pleasant, but today something was different; after a few exchanges, the female Knight quickly sensed that Laine had something he wanted to say, and in her considerate manner, she took the initiative: "Do you have something you want to tell me, Laine?"

"Truly, nothing escapes you, Miss Surya." Laine felt a bit awkward. The usually composed and mature Holy Grail Knight nervously took out a letter that had already been opened: "A few days ago, I received this."

"Is this an invitation from Duke Boldro?" Surya took the letter, and after a brief glance, she understood the context but did not reveal it directly, instead, she deliberately diverted the subject: "To receive an invitation from His Grace Bodric, Laine, you're indeed outstanding, even Father didn't receive this letter."

"Even His Grace the Duke hasn't received it?" Laine's intended words were halted, feeling somewhat discomforted by this, he awkwardly laughed: "I thought the Duke had already received it."

"No... Father and Duke Bodric's relationship is just ordinary, Duke Bodric doesn't like Father's low tax rates, but since we have cooperation in exporting wine and several trades, we maintain an acceptable relationship." Surya shook her head, then paused, her bright sea-blue eyes just stared at Laine.

She was waiting for Laine to speak first; it was a necessary modesty.

Laine did not disappoint her, just after a brief hesitation, Laine stood up earnestly, adhering to the noble etiquette of an invitation, and extended his hand toward Surya.

"Then may I have the honor of inviting Miss Surya to be my companion at the banquet?"

"This..."

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