"Are you sure?"
Luo De was instantly intrigued.
Spellcasters are a general term for extraordinary individuals who use various energies or materials to cast spells. They are mysterious because they are not common.
There are witches born with spell-casting abilities, wizards who gain spell-casting power through research and learning, and warlocks who rely on dark and evil forces for power, all mixed together.
Spellcasters are very mysterious, and Luo De can't discern them not because he doesn't care, but because there's too little information about them.
"Lord Baron, there's no way to be sure..."
Durant smiled wryly with helplessness, "If we were sure, those Church Court people would be here by the scent."
All churches regard spellcasters as heretics and will directly kill them upon encountering them.
The situation in the Broken Rock Empire is somewhat better; the churches can't extend their reach too far, and there are still records about spellcasters.
If it were on the other side of the ocean, controlled by the Holy Council, even searching for information about spellcasters is a crime.
It is said that thousands of years ago, those powerful spellcasters disdained the gods and even wanted to slay them, resulting in a devastating war with the gods.
However, some say the gods feared the power of spellcasters and initiated the attacks first, forcing the spellcasters to retaliate.
No matter the process, the result is that spellcasters have since vanished without a trace, and the gods no longer perform miracles. Human rights took the opportunity to rise up and established various kingdoms in the Eastern Continent.
Afterwards came the orthodox history where Emperor Shuiyan rose to power, quickly defeating nineteen small countries with strong military and strategic abilities, establishing the Broken Rock Empire.
The remaining thirty-two countries realized the danger and quickly formed alliances, creating a military coalition, which finally curbed Emperor Shuiyan's invasion.
The Broken Rock Empire has continued for more than five hundred years, and the current emperor is the twenty-fourth generation.
Durant continued to explain: "She is a magician who performs tricks, mixed in with the circus, capable of instantly igniting the cards in her hands.
She also performed some flame control tricks, but I never smelled the scent of sulfur.
Moreover, when she was performing, I had an inexplicable sense of danger, wanting to rush up with my sword and slay her."
Durant hesitated for a moment, then added: "I had this feeling when I encountered Rein as well."
Luo De said nothing; Durant's words left him unable to draw a conclusion.
On one hand, he hadn't seen it; on the other hand, he had seen many magical flame performances in his previous life, including people who would rub flames back and forth on their nether regions without harm.
Such things are hard to prove that she is a spellcaster.
The only thing that made Luo De take it seriously was Durant's feeling.
"It's okay, no matter what she is, as long as she doesn't enter Black Pine Ridge, we won't worry about it for now."
"Hmm."
"Let's go. Let's study the Dragon Egg first."
...
...
The Dragon Egg of the Two-legged Flying Dragon is Luo De's most precious property right now, kept alone in a wooden house in the manor, guarded inside and out by the shrewdest guards.
The three books Durant brought back are all natural science books—
"Illustrated Guide to Common Monsters of Broken Rock Empire"
"Notes on Unusual Beasts"
"Collection of Legendary Creatures and Herbs"
If the content is accurate, they would be useful at any time while living in the Northern Wasteland.
To verify the authenticity of the content, Luo De flipped all three tomes to the part about the Two-legged Flying Dragon, comparing each entry to ensure the accuracy of the information.
The recorded features of the Two-legged Flying Dragon were quite similar to what Rein had mentioned.
Then Luo De also called Rein's wife, Luna, to identify the section on herbs, and most of the content was indeed true.
Lawrence's backside was safe for the time being.
Through similar tests, the likelihood that the book's recorded hatching information on the Two-legged Flying Dragon Egg was accurate became greater.
"The Two-legged Flying Dragon often finds caves with metal veins to lay Dragon Eggs, then begins incubating in the warm month of June, and will hatch after three months..."
Luo De did not want to wait until June.
Although it was still a bit cold in mid-April, lighting a stove in the house and sealing the windows could ensure warmth.
As long as someone kept an eye on the fire, the warmth could be maintained, creating a greenhouse environment.
To completely simulate the environment of a mother dragon hatching an egg, Luo De ordered to fill the box surrounding the Dragon Egg with iron ore.
"Is this really going to work?"
Durant looked at the two boxes with Dragon Eggs, nervously questioning.
"There's no choice if it doesn't; we killed the Two-legged Flying Dragon that could hatch the eggs, after all."
Luo De shrugged helplessly and said lightly, "It's okay, at worst it ends up as scrambled eggs."
If we try our best and still can't hatch them, then no one can do anything about it.
Luo De couldn't afford to waste all his energy on such matters.
After settling the Dragon Egg matters, Lawrence seized the opportunity to report,
"Lord, Rein just came to report that he has handled the Two-legged Flying Dragon corpses."
"Great, let's go see how things are."
Luo De, accompanied by Durant and Lawrence, went to Rein's courtyard.
Luo De had indeed confiscated all of Rein and his hunters' properties, but he provided them with a three-room big wooden house courtyard.
Also, there was no shortage of food, and their daily meals were self-arranged, which was not the treatment of slaves at all.
Of course, Rein's work was quite satisfactory.
"Good day, Lord."
Rein bowed and then introduced the materials on the rack, "The dragon scales are estimated to make two to three sets of leather armor, or if you'd like, a shield."
"The dragon claws and fangs can be made into daggers, short knives, or long spears. The sharp fang can be made into poisoned arrows."
"Some wing bones can be made into bows, and the tendons can be used for bowstrings, whose power will far exceed ordinary bows and arrows."
"As for the rest..."
Rein glanced at his wife.
Luna nodded in understanding, stepping forward to introduce, "There's roughly six hundred pounds of pure meat; the rest comprises heart, liver, lungs, and other organs mixed together without being processed."
Luo De pondered for a while, then suddenly asked, "Can the organs be eaten?"
"Other than the heart, the rest are toxic."
"Oh, right."
Luo De recalled that all three books mentioned that the Two-legged Flying Dragon's guts were poisonous, but he hadn't looked at them closely while researching.
Sigh.
He originally intended to stew a pot of spicy dragon offal.
It seems impossible now.
Luo De couldn't help but sigh.
"Since they're poisonous, leave them to Luna to handle. Maybe they can be made into medicine or poison by mixing with herbs?"
Luo De handed the "Collection of Legendary Creatures and Herbs" to Luna,
"This book cost thirty Silver Coins, bought from Lawrence's brother, Ores Goldsand. Perhaps it might help you."
"Okay, my lord."
Luna accepted the book with both hands, bowing in thanks.
She wasn't familiar with currency, so she didn't have much concept of thirty Silver Coins and didn't pay attention to Luo De's words.
However, standing beside her, Lawrence caught the deeper meaning in the lord's words and quickly said,
"Ores is just a profiteer! He must have paid only ten Silver Coins for that book!"
Lawrence leaned closer to Luo De, whispering, "Why don't I track him down, and you rob all his Gold Coins?"
Luo De glanced sidelong at Lawrence,
"That's a good idea, but there's no time now."
Luo De didn't continue with Lawrence's nonsense and looked at Rein, ordering, "Make me a set of leather armor first. Handle the rest properly and set them aside.
As for those bow and arrow, spear, dagger, and short knife weapons, make as many as you can. We are very short right now.
Regarding the meat of the Two-legged Flying Dragon, that book mentioned that eating it could temporarily enhance physical strength, so dry it all into jerky."
"Yes, my lord."
Rein nodded in response and turned to order some hunters to fetch things from inside the house.
"Please wait a moment."
"Is there anything else?"
As Luo De was wondering, the hunter Dolan emerged from the house holding the head of the Two-legged Flying Dragon.
"I've hollowed this out. You can keep it as a decoration to highlight your honor."
"This thing is wild enough; I like it."
Luo De examined the dragon head and then handed it to Durant.
Not lingering further, Luo De returned to the manor.
After hanging the dragon head on the wall, he stood with hands on hips admiring it for a moment.
The ferocious dragon head, bathed in the golden light of the evening sun through the window, lost some of its menacing aura and gained a touch of solemnity.
This primitive aesthetic had its own unique charm, indeed.
However, this charm was soon interrupted by Otto, who came to report.
A thousand acres of land had already been tilled.
Luo De considered it and looked at the vast expanse of fields stretching over the distant hills,
"It's time to prepare the seeds for planting."