Golden Summoner

Sitting in Mrs. Caitlin's carriage, Xia Pingan looked at the continuous manor outside the carriage, thoughtfully...

Mrs. Caitlin's manor is too big. The farms and vineyards outside the manor alone cover an area of ​​more than 4,000 acres. Mrs. Caitlin's manor occupies a large area of ​​hills and plains east of Corland. Golden wheat waves are flowing in the fields. There are ups and downs in the middle, the windmill of the mill is turning slowly, and there are neat grape trellises on the low hills. Everything in front of you is pleasing to the eye.

The golden carriage drove leisurely on the road of the manor. It felt like a lord was inspecting the territory. Many people working in the fields would temporarily stop what they were doing when they saw the golden carriage passing by. Live and salute the carriage. When the carriages and ox-carts pulling goods see the golden carriage arriving, they will take the initiative to park on the side of the road. The driver takes off his hat and respectfully gives way to the road.

Xia Pingan could see that those who worked in the manor sincerely respected the people sitting in the carriage.

Lady Caitlin, who was sitting in the carriage, was stroking the head of the black dragon squatting in the carriage, and seemed very interested in the black dragon.

"Madam, I can see that the people in this manor like you very much..." Xia Pingan said.

"Wealth doesn't mean much to me. I won't be able to spend all my current wealth in ten lifetimes..." Mrs. Caitlin raised her gaze, glanced at Xia Pingan, and replied lazily, "Every year I They will allocate 20% of the income from the manor to the people below. I originally thought that this would slow down the increase in my wealth. Unexpectedly, the more I share, the more I get. The increase in this manor The harvest has exceeded my share..."

"Madam, do you have no children?"

Mrs. Caitlin shook her head, "My first husband and I had a child, but the child died when he was very young. Later, my husband also passed away. Since then, I have not been pregnant again... "

Xia Pingan smiled apologetically, "Sorry, Mrs. Margaret hasn't told me this before, and I don't know much about your personal situation..."

"It doesn't matter. It's been a long time. I'm not sad anymore. Now everyone in Corland knows that I am the Black Widow, a woman who can't have children but can make every husband of hers short-lived. Many people say that I am Suffering a vicious curse, I will eventually die alone with a pile of gold coins in my arms..." A self-deprecating smile appeared on Mrs. Caitlin's face, "How many people covet my current wealth, but are afraid of my bad luck? My life is full of false flattery and pretentious greed and reserved hypocrisy. I have become accustomed to it. Compared with some of the upper circles of Colander, I actually prefer to associate with people in Margaret's circle. They will seem simpler. We can talk about flower arrangements, cooking skills, beautiful dresses, jewelry, and beautiful men. I'm sorry, I don't know why I am telling you these things today. I feel that you and those people are not the same. Same, you can trust..."

In order to find out how Mrs. Caitlin was poisoned, Xia Pingan agreed to visit Mrs. Caitlin to her manor. Before coming here, Xia Pingan knew that he had underestimated the wealth of this woman. Such a widow , it is estimated that there is no other one in the whole Corland.

Seeing the huge manor in front of him, Xia Pingan also vaguely understood why this woman was poisoned.

Except for Xia Pingan and this woman, no one knew the purpose of Xia Pingan's visit to the manor this time, not even Mrs. Caitlin's coachman. Mrs. Caitlin only said that she invited Xia Pingan to the manor for a two-day vacation.

After a while, the carriage stopped in front of a pool in front of a beautiful building. A servant came up and opened the door. Mrs. Caitlin got out of the car first, and then Xia Pingan followed, and then Black Dragon also got out of the car.

A steeple-like roof, white walls and gray tiles, a huge fountain and sculptures in front of the door. In front of the pool and sculptures is a large, neatly manicured open garden. On both sides of the garden are patches of vineyards, with grapevines running along the The trellises that were erected climbed upwards, forming a shady grape corridor surrounding the manor. The swirling fibrous roots on the vines extended and grew in all directions. Standing in front of the manor, you can smell the fruits of the surrounding grapes. Fragrant, Mrs. Caitlin's castle-like manor covers an area of ​​more than 50 acres. It is luxurious and elegant, full of wealth.

"Woof woof woof..." Heilong got out of the car and suddenly shouted in one direction.

Xia Pingan glanced at the black dragon, who stopped calling. Then an old man in his fifties with a straight waist and a black tuxedo came over from a distance. The old man was bald, a little fat, and looked friendly. Harmless to humans and animals.

"Madam, you are back..." The old man came to the carriage and bowed slightly to Mrs. Caitlin.

"Natas, this is Xia Pingan, my friend, who will be my personal fortune teller from now on. He is going to have a two-day vacation at the manor. You can arrange a room for him..." Mrs. Caitlin directly ordered, and the old man smiled. He greeted Xia Pingan with his face as usual.

Mrs. Caitlin introduced the old man to Xia Pingan again, "This is the housekeeper of my manor, his name is Natas. If you need anything here, you can tell him!"

Xia Pingan also looked at the old man and nodded.

"Okay, Natas, go prepare today's lunch. I'm going to take my friends to visit the manor now!"

"As you wish, madam, where would you like to dine?" the butler asked thoughtfully.

"Just in the attic restaurant!"

After giving instructions to the housekeeper, Mrs. Caitlin took Xia Pingan to visit the vineyards in the manor.

The vineyard in the manor is very large. The wine and other fruit wines brewed in the manor are an important source of income for the manor. Walking in the vineyard, Xia Pingan saw that many people working here were actually summoned by the summoner. farmer.

"Madam, there are many summoned farmers in your manor. Do you have a summoner here?"

"Oh, there are no summoners in the manor. Many farmers in the manor are purchased from the summoner market outside. Natas said that buying farmers summoned by these summoners is much more convenient than hiring servants and workers. , which can save a lot of labor costs every year. Natas originally planned to replace 80% of the people in the manor with farmers and craftsmen summoned by the summoner, and fire the others, but I think such a manor It lacks vitality. I still prefer more people. There is no need to save on this expense..."

The Summoner Market is where summoners make money. A summoner can summon various characters, such as farmers, craftsmen, doctors, servants, chefs, and even warriors or various pets, for sale in the market. The summoner can obtain Money and various rewards, but they have to give away the right to use these summons for one year.

The Summoner's Market in Corland opens every three months. Every time the Summoner's Market opens, it is very lively and attracts a large number of people.

"How many farmers are there who are buying summoners in the manor now?"

"Not many, less than a hundred, probably accounting for less than 20% of the number of workers and servants in the manor..."

Xia Pingan nodded.

Mrs. Caitlin took Xia Pingan to visit the vineyards, and then visited the wine cellar. After wandering around outside, the two returned to the manor for dinner at noon.

The dining room is located in a loft on the roof of the manor. This loft is the highest place in the manor. It has windows on eight sides. You can see the scenery of the entire manor from here. It is decorated into a unique style. Small Restaurant.

Xia Pingan came here with the black dragon. Natas, the manor's butler, looked at the black dragon beside Xia Pingan and reached out to take the black dragon away.

The black dragon bared his teeth at the butler Natas again.

"Madam, this dog is not very polite here. I can take this dog to another place first so that it will not affect your meal, madam..."

"It doesn't matter, I like this dog very much, just let him stay!"

As soon as Mrs. Caitlin spoke, the butler Natas stopped insisting and let the black dragon enter the attic restaurant.

Soon, plates of lunch were brought to the table by the waiters in the manor. Tas personally served them here. He took out the poison test needle to test each dish before bringing it to the table.

The lunch was very sumptuous, including beef tenderloin with foie gras in oil, caviar and seafood platter, vegetable soup, cheese and fruit salad with plum sauce, black horn mushroom steak, seafood and tomato sauce rolls, braised cod in chicken sauce, and then Plus desserts and a few wines...

The black dragon was particularly well-behaved at this time, squatting next to Xia Pingan, no longer barking, just wagging its tail.

Lady Caitlin’s favorites are vegetable soup and beef tenderloin with oil-soaked foie gras. The vegetables on the table, as well as the foie gras and beef tenderloin, are all produced on the farm of the manor. They are specially made for Mrs. Caitlin on the farm. Raised.

Xia Pingan remained calm and finished lunch with Mrs. Caitlin.

In the afternoon, Mrs. Caitlin took Xia Pingan to visit the farm in the manor.

After visiting the farm, the two of them strolled by the river of the manor. At this time, Xia Pingan was the only one with Mrs. Caitlin. Xia Pingan finally spoke, "Madam, I think I already know how you were poisoned?"

"Ah, how did I get poisoned?" Mrs. Caitlin stopped suddenly.

"The meal we had for lunch today actually contained poison!"

"Didn't you also eat lunch? You knew it was poisonous, but you still ate it?"

Xia Pingan shook his head, "If it's just a meal, it doesn't really matter, because the amount of poison is not enough and it has no effect on me. But madam, you live here and basically eat in the manor every day, day after day. Accumulated every day, those poisons will accumulate in your body, and that will be different."

Mrs. Caitlin's expression finally changed, "Who poisoned me?"

"It's your butler Natas!"