Chapter 58: The Baron’s Trouble

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Baron’s Trouble

"Fandou Village doesn’t have to grow just beans. I’m planning to introduce some more profitable crops."

In fact, Vili had already been thinking about this shortly after arriving in Fandou Village. Both his Basic-level Gatherer and Junior Hunter titles had granted him extensive knowledge of plants and herbs.

There were some wild plants in Bole Forest and Morse Forest that could be cultivated on a large scale. The reason they were rarely seen outside the forests was that most people were unfamiliar with their properties. But Vili was different. He knew the growing conditions and characteristics of all sorts of plants and herbs. As long as he developed the right cultivation methods, he could turn them into mass-produced crops.

"You want to expand Fandou Village?"

Bamos immediately grasped the key point in Vili’s words.

Fandou Village’s current cultivated land could only support growing beans. If they wanted to plant other crops, they would have to expand.

"I’ve had the thought. After all, it’s something the Lord Baron has always encouraged."

Vili gave a diplomatic answer.

Bamos fell silent, chewing his food thoughtfully. After a moment, he spoke again. "Since you have your own ideas, I won’t interfere too much. It’s good for a young man to try new things."

Vili knew that while Bamos respected his opinion, he wasn’t very confident in him.

But Vili wasn’t in a hurry to explain himself. That would just make him seem flustered. ’It’s better to prove myself with actions later on.’

"By the way, the Snow Pattern Deer’s injuries have mostly healed. It’s being kept at my father’s manor now."

Bamos suddenly brought up the Snow Pattern Deer. Vili had played the main role in capturing it, so Bamos needed to give him an update.

Vili nodded. "The Lord Baron must be very pleased."

At this, Bamos chuckled, a look of resignation on his face. "Actually, my father isn’t pleased at all."

"Why?"

Vili was surprised. Back then, nearly everyone on the hunt knew how desperately the Lord Baron wanted the Snow Pattern Deer. Vili could still clearly remember the delighted expression on Baron Kessel’s face when he received his reward.

"My father’s intention in getting the Snow Pattern Deer was to tame it and turn it into a key combat asset. But as it turns out, the Snow Pattern Deer is completely untamable."

Bamos explained, expressing his father’s disappointment. "As it is, the Snow Pattern Deer is just a decoration."

"What methods did the Lord Baron use to try and tame the Snow Pattern Deer?"

Vili’s brow furrowed slightly at his words.

"My father tried two methods. First, he used a gentle approach, trying to build a relationship with the Snow Pattern Deer through daily contact. But it was completely useless. Aside from occasionally eating a little, the Snow Pattern Deer ignores everyone." Bamos looked exasperated. "And speaking of food, that’s another huge problem. Since it was captured, its appetite has been very small, almost like an ordinary animal. Although its injuries have been slowly healing, it seems listless every day."

"Seeing this, my father also tried harsher training methods. He used his Knight Power to suppress it directly and even set up a system of rewards and punishments to force it into submission, but nothing worked. In the end, he had no choice but to keep the Snow Pattern Deer penned up."

Bamos shook his head, his expression one of complete helplessness.

Vili thought for a moment. "What has the Lord Baron been feeding it?"

"All sorts of plant leaves and branches. We’ve tried feeding it almost every type of foliage we could find in Diamond Town, but unless it’s on the verge of starvation, it refuses to eat. I have no idea what it used to eat to survive."

Bamos replied, his tone full of complaint.

"Has no one tried feeding it meat?"

Vili said suddenly.

His Middle Level Beast Tamer title had given Vili knowledge about the habits and characteristics of Bronze Level Magical Beasts, so he knew exactly what the Snow Pattern Deer liked to eat.

The Snow Pattern Deer, despite being a deer, didn’t eat plants. It was a typical carnivore that fed on meat. In fact, it wasn’t just the Snow Pattern Deer. Even common livestock like cows and sheep, which most people saw as herbivores, were actually omnivores that would eat anything. In places with abundant fishing resources, small fish could be used as feed for cattle and sheep. Some would even eat baby chicks.

"Meat?"

The hand Bamos was using to cut his meat froze, and he looked baffled.

Neither Baron Kessel nor he had ever considered that the Snow Pattern Deer might eat meat. It wasn’t their fault, really. Magical Beasts were incredibly rare, and even when one did appear, each species was different. Baron Kessel was, at the end of the day, just a minor noble; it was perfectly normal for him not to know the habits of a Snow Pattern Deer.

"It’s just a guess, but if it won’t eat any plants, it might be worth trying meat. After all, even livestock like cattle and sheep are sometimes fed meat. And some herbivores in the forest will eat small animals to supplement their diet when they’re lacking certain nutrients. It’s just some experience I’ve picked up as a Hunter. It might be worth a shot."

Vili casually fabricated a reason.

Bamos nodded as he chewed. "I think your idea is worth trying."

’In any case, we can’t figure out what it eats. If it really does eat meat, then we could try the gentle taming method again. After all, if we were feeding it the wrong food before, it’s only natural that we couldn’t get it to warm up to us.’

"Vili, you have a peculiar way of thinking."

Bamos said with a smile.

Vili didn’t reply, merely responding with a smile.

The dinner didn’t last long. Afterward, Vili took his leave, knowing Bamos still had important matters to attend to.

Bamos didn’t try to make him stay. He had invited Vili to this meal for two main reasons. The first was to offer some guidance, to make Vili aware of his new circumstances after the change in his status. The second was to show Vili that he was valued. Just as Vili needed to win the hearts and minds of the villagers, Bamos needed to win Vili’s.

After leaving Bamos’s residence, the same coachman from before took Vili to the lodgings at the Personal Guard Bureau.

Olay had arranged a private, two-story loft for Vili. It was fully furnished and even had a small courtyard. It was said to be Olay’s former residence, which he had only moved out of after setting up a permanent home in Diamond Town.

After arriving at his new quarters, Vili went looking for Sopps.

However, he was told that Sopps and the other new recruits for the Personal Guard Team had been taken to the border for field training. They wouldn’t be back for another ten days.

Vili grumbled internally but didn’t dwell on it. ’It just means I’ll have to wait a while longer to learn Middle Level Knight’s Squire Fencing.’