Chapter 320 - 318: Fel Energy Crystal

Chapter 320: Chapter 318: Fel Energy Crystal

With Owington’s support, the development of the Silver Jade Territory proceeded very smoothly. Duane toured the camp and didn’t offer much guidance.

He simply told Owington to monitor the water level of the river in front of them and to finalize the location for the future town to prevent it from being affected by seasonal flooding.

Next came a series of namings: Jade Crossing, Starlight Valley, and Starlight Camp.

When a town was eventually built, it would be called Starlight City, a name that suited both his title as a count and his Meditation Skill.

Afterward, Duane and Kaelon traveled north along the border of the Territory.

Territory borders were mostly demarcated by natural features like rivers, mountain ranges, and canyons. Few areas used signs or stone markers, and even those were accompanied by descriptions of the surrounding environment.

This was to prevent Lords from arbitrarily altering their borders and encroaching on the territory of the Kingdom or other Lords.

However, the lines were blurred in places without obvious markers. For instance, if a river was used as a boundary, who did it belong to? How was its water to be divided?

This was one of the main reasons for territorial disputes between Lords.

Duane’s Silver Jade Territory was relatively straightforward. With no other Lords or towns nearby, he didn’t have to worry about territorial disputes for the time being.

Duane spent the next two days in the mountain forests, where he finally experienced what it was like to be swarmed by mosquitoes.

Though they couldn’t pierce his skin, the constant BUZZING was incredibly annoying.

During those two days, Duane used Wind of Inquiry to seek out the more dangerous Demon Beasts within the Territory’s borders. He then killed them to reduce the defensive pressure on Kaelon and his men.

However, this was the periphery of the Jade Mountain Range, so there weren’t many powerful Demon Beasts.

The greatest threat to the camp was a tribe of wild monkeys east of the border.

The troop numbered over thirty, and its leader had reached Level 5.

Individually, these creatures weren’t very strong; Kaelon could have handled one on his own.

But as a troop, the wild monkeys were extremely territorial, numerous, and highly aggressive.

If Kaelon and his men had rashly entered their territory, the consequences would have been dire.

Duane slew the troop’s leader and took care of several of the other stronger monkeys.

The remaining dozen or so scattered to the winds, vanishing without a trace.

’For a long time to come, these wild monkeys will probably flee on sight, even if they see humans.’

After patrolling the Territory, Duane started building a house for himself (even though Owington had already prepared two rather luxurious-looking rooms for him).

The Skill Level for Basic Construction, much like Basic Planting, had to be raised through extensive practice. There were no shortcuts.

He had worked for several days on the Southern Plain, and even now, his Skill Level was only halfway through the Skilled rank.

He was prepared to start grinding it out once this trip was over.

「Three days later.」

Duane’s visit to the Silver Jade Territory came to an end. He boarded a passenger ship once more, setting course for the Silent Shore.

Standing on the deck at the ship’s bow, Duane watched the bay recede into the distance. He couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly time had passed; in the blink of an eye, the day of George and Fiona’s wedding had arrived.

Over the past six months, the Kennedy Clan had been enjoying an unparalleled moment in the spotlight.

First came the engagement ceremony, then the announced alliance between Duane and Natalia, followed by the marriage of their second son, Lloyd, to the Third Princess, Emily.

This series of moves signaled that the Kennedy Clan had once again solidified its position among the Kingdom’s Top-tier Lords.

To highlight the grandeur of this union, Count Kais put on quite the political show.

On the day of the wedding, he would set up celebration sites in every town across the Silent Shore, distributing bread and beer to the commoners who came to cheer and offer congratulations. It was a display meant to showcase the harmonious relationship between the Lord of the Silent Shore and his people.

If this was how the commoners were treated, one could only imagine the reception for the Nobility who came to attend the ceremony.

The finest wines, a bounty of delicacies, a newly decorated Sea Cliff Castle, attentive service, and a dazzling Magic show...

Every guest who arrived at Sea Cliff Castle was met with an unprecedented level of comfort and warmth.

At the wedding banquet, Duane and Natalia watched as the newlyweds gave their speeches and received Blessings, all while conversing in hushed tones.

"This whole spectacle your father’s put on is on another level. What am I supposed to do when it’s our turn?"

’Never mind anything else, my castle on Black Forest Island isn’t even finished yet. Oh, wait—to be precise, it’s not even a quarter of the way done.’

Natalia chuckled. "Well, that’s your problem to figure out. But as long as we’re happy, that’s all that matters."

Duane laughed and teased, "Alright then. How about I just build a couple of thatched huts for our marital home?"

Natalia shrugged. "I really don’t mind."

The wedding ceremony wasn’t long-winded. Aside from speeches by the fathers of the bride and groom, there was a word of Blessing from His Highness Sigmund, representing the Royal Family, and a congratulatory toast from the assembled Nobility. With the formalities complete, it was time for the relaxed banquet to begin.

"Count Duane!"

Viscount Charlemagne approached enthusiastically. "My apologies for interrupting your conversation with Miss Natalia."

Natalia gave a slight curtsy and excused herself.

Duane raised his glass to clink with the viscount’s. "Congratulations, Viscount. I didn’t expect to see you attending this wedding in person."

Charlemagne had missed the last engagement banquet because of the foul stench emanating from his body.

This time, not only was he able to attend in person, but his wounds had also completely healed.

"It’s all thanks to your help!"

Charlemagne said, "I knew you’d be at the Silent Shore for this, so I brought some Fel Energy Crystal Stones with me."

Fel Energy Crystal Stones were crystals dropped by Secret Realm Elemental Creatures. Prolonged contact caused the human body to be corroded by Fel Energy, resulting in incurable decay, just as Charlemagne had previously experienced.

Normally, Charlemagne wouldn’t have wanted to touch the things for the rest of his life.

But knowing that Duane could provide a cure made him bolder, so he’d brought a case with him.

’If Duane could turn this trash into treasure, then for the Haydon Clan, it would no longer be a curse, but a jewel—the hope for our clan’s rise to prominence.’

Duane’s eyes lit up with immediate interest. "Where are they?"

"They’re just outside. I have Borso keeping them on his person."

Duane had a servant inform Natalia he was stepping away for a moment, then followed Viscount Charlemagne outside to a courtyard adjacent to the banquet hall.

Charlemagne beckoned, and Borso jogged over, carrying a small case.

"Count, long time no see!"

Borso offered his greeting before opening the case. Inside were at least a dozen Fel Energy Crystals.

The Crystals varied in size. The largest were the size of an egg, while the smallest were no bigger than the tip of a thumb.

Charlemagne explained, "The Elemental Creatures vary in strength, so the Crystals they drop vary in size."

Duane picked up the smallest Crystal. It was so clear and translucent it looked like a piece of jade.

"It’s actually quite beautiful."

Hearing this, Charlemagne couldn’t help but sigh.

’Back then, I was also taken by the crystal’s luster,’ he thought. ’I figured that even if it wasn’t a Magic Crystal Stone, I could have it made into jewelry and sell it.’

’Who could have known that such a deadly threat lurked beneath its alluring surface?’

Duane suddenly clenched the small Fel Energy Crystal in his fist and activated his Extraction Magic.

BOOM!

Corroded by the external Magic Power, the Crystal in his hand instantly exploded.

The muffled sound startled Charlemagne, Borso, and the servants and Guards standing nearby.

Fortunately, Duane had anticipated it and contained the force of the blast within his fist.

"What was that?" Charlemagne asked, puzzled.

Duane opened his palm, and a pile of fine powder trickled out, only to be scattered by the wind until nothing remained.

"It’s nothing. I’m just running an experiment to see if these Fel Energy Crystals are useful."

Next, he picked up a larger one. This time, he used Harmony Magic.

Bathed in the light of the Magic, the dark green crystal gradually turned an inky black.

Duane’s theory was confirmed—

these Fel Energy Crystals were identical to the Fel Energy Ore from the Secret Realm. Both were usable sources of energy.

The only difference was that Fel Energy Ore was larger and contained more energy.

These crystals before him were smaller and contained less.

Duane placed the altered Crystal Stone into Viscount Charlemagne’s hand. "This is similar to a Magic Crystal Stone," he said, "but it contains Fel Energy. To make use of it, you first have to purify the Fel Energy."

"Purify the Fel Energy?" Charlemagne asked, looking at the transformed Crystal Stone in his hand. "What kind of energy is left after it’s purified?"

"Still Fel Energy."

Duane added with a smile, "It just no longer poses a threat to its surroundings."

Hearing this, Viscount Charlemagne’s spirits fell, and a bitter expression crossed his face.

"The Arcane Energy in Magic Crystal Stones can help Mages cast spells, and Magic Crystal Powder can be extracted from them to create materials. That’s what makes them valuable—valuable enough to be used as currency."

He glanced at the Fel Energy Crystal Stone in his hand with disdain. "Fel Energy... Who can possibly use something like that?"

’In his view, even if the Crystal Stone was no longer harmful, it was also worthless. It’s not like you could actually turn it into a necklace, right?’

"Actually, I have a use for it."

Duane took the Fel Energy Crystal Stone back from his hand. "If you’re willing, Viscount, I believe we could cooperate."