Battle Locusts

The little girl's words spurred the caravan to speed up. As if touching a taboo, the old man forgot all about his business.

Perhaps this is also related to the fact that these businesses are not profitable.

After all, the old man's business acumen was as sharp as ever. Maintaining a balance between income and expenditure was all thanks to "luck."

In his own words:

"The big money-making deals have long been monopolized by big shots."

Ordinary people who try to get involved will only bring disaster upon themselves.

Earning a living through hard work and staying safe and sound is the most important thing.

As night fell, the old man who left the convoy instantly transformed into a different person.

His aged skin became plump, and the wrinkles on his face gradually disappeared, making him look thirty years younger all of a sudden.

"Holy Lord, we have completed the task you commanded."

The locust bait, as you instructed, has been scattered Southeast Province, and now the locust army is continuously converging there.

However, the nobles reacted quickly and have now arrived in Qiaomu County, seemingly preparing to hunt down the Bug King along the way.

This noble squad is extremely powerful; reclusive experts like Magister and Earth Knight, who are rarely seen in ordinary times, have all appeared.

It's safe to assume that all of the top-tier combat forces in the entire Southeast Province have gathered here at this moment.

The mages participating in the operation were at least Advanced Mage. The knights were at least Great Knight, and each of them carried a magical beast.

With the support of the local noble armies of Qiaomu County, no one can say for sure whether the Bug King can break through the blockade.

The middle-aged man nervously gave his report.

Having witnessed firsthand the profound heritage of nobility, the middle-aged man's arrogance vanished without a trace. If it weren't for this locust plague, he might never have had the chance to witness it in his lifetime.

The Skull Society's petty squabbles are simply not enough to provoke them to go all out. Their overt forces alone are enough to suppress them countless times.

"Carlis, do not be blinded by temporary successes or failures."

Success or failure doesn't matter.

This is not our battle, and the nobles are not our true enemies. Their strength, in fact, may not be a bad thing for us.

It was just a transaction, but the locust plague has escalated to this point, which is enough for those bastards to go back and claim credit.

Even if the Bug King fails to enter the Southeast Province, the scattered locust army alone is enough to achieve our goal.

The nobles' attention is diverted, and they won't be able to bother us for the time being. Your next task is to find the Blood Moon Horn.

Dadir City was the last place where the Blood Moon Horn appeared, and the nobles who entered the city last year to quell the rebellion are all suspects.

This is the best opportunity to act. You must keep a low profile and avoid causing any trouble before finding the Blood Moon Horn.

It is ironic that anti- Church organizations are lurking within the ranks supported by the Church.

The more dangerous the place, the safer it is. Wearing the armor of the Skull Society actually conceals all actions, whether reasonable or unreasonable.

Heretical Cult, after all, never follow any rules. Changing their style wouldn't be surprising to anyone.

Suspicious behavior is just normal practice. If there are no problems, then can it still be considered Heretical Cult?

"Your Holiness, we've done things so cleanly, why not leave a trace and let the nobles and the Church fight like dogs?"

"Carlis asked, puzzled."

Instigating conflict between the Church and the nobility was a plan they had always dreamed of accomplishing. But when the opportunity presented itself, the Skeleton Lord did the opposite.

Not only did they not expose the existence of the Church, but they also deliberately erased any trace of human activity and concealed themselves as much as possible.

"Carlis, you're oversimplifying things. The Church may be corrupt, but that doesn't mean those guys are really stupid."

If we deliberately leave traces, wouldn't that expose us to them?

Now is not the time to fall out. We cannot do without the support of the Church until we gain the support of a new major power.

Even if they leave no trace, those nobles will still come after the Church. For powerful forces, evidence is never an issue.

mere suspicion was enough for them to draw their conclusions.

Didn't you learn your lesson the hard way last time?

The Skeleton Lord's words left Carlis in a very awkward position.

Those who live in the lower or middle classes value evidence and clues highly.

If you let your own perceptions lead you astray and impose your own ideas on other people's decisions, how can you not suffer losses?

After a simple division of Qiaomu County, several senior officials each led a group to be responsible for a specific area.

Each team was evenly distributed, including mages, knights, and local noble private armies who came to cooperate.

They were merely cooperating with the nobles' private army, which was using nets to capture locusts. Their main task was to report any sightings of the Bug King immediately.

Hunting?

No matter how weak a monster is, it's still a monster, and ordinary people can't deal with it.

Moreover, the Bug King is an exceptionally fast flying creature, faster than even the fastest warhorse, let alone an ordinary person.

As the youngest team leader, Hudson always gets the most attention wherever he goes.

It's easy to imagine that after this experience, he will become the "other people's child" in the eyes of many more parents.

Looking at the various equipment used to deal with locusts, although the tools were a bit rudimentary, they were generally quite experienced.

Besides the various nets, what Hudson valued most was the prepared smoke. Using thick smoke to repel locusts is arguably the most effective method for ordinary people given current technology.

Magicians aside, there were all sorts of magical devices. Although he didn't know how to use them, Hudson that these unassuming gadgets must be quite effective against locusts.

In addition to physical methods, there were also locust-repelling agents hastily prepared by Alchemy.

Its effects are similar to insecticides, and it works well against small swarms of locusts. However, it becomes ineffective against large locust armies commanded by a Bug King.

Hudson is also very confused about this. It's as if the Bug King has a unique talent. The locusts driven by it not only have increased drug resistance, but also their combat power increases dramatically.

If Bug Emperor appears, the situation will be even worse. It is said that under the Bug Emperor's command, these herbivorous locusts will not even spare meat.

Once the Bug Emperor is born, its presence leaves no trace of humans or animals, and very few creatures are able to survive.

Nominally, he was the team leader, but in reality, Hudson didn't need to give any orders.

The powerful individuals participating in this operation each had their own assigned area, and the mages were also protected by knights.

The noble private armies that came to cooperate were naturally commanded by the noble lords themselves.

As the nominal commander, the main task is to immediately go and capture or kill the Bug King upon discovery.

To improve efficiency, Hudson was accompanied by two Griffon Cavalry took turns taking to the air for patrols.

Hudson chose a stream to stop at, and, feeling rather bored, quietly watched Beldens play in the water.

Bear Kid are in the stage where their curiosity is at its peak, and everything seems new and exciting to them.

He would catch crabs one minute, fish and shrimp the next, and then show off his catch to Hudson.

To encourage the little guy to work harder in the future, Hudson transformed into a warm-hearted older brother, constantly praising the Bear Kid's achievements.

"Buzz, buzz..."

The sound of flapping wings rang out, and Hudson's expression immediately turned serious. It had finally come.

Thanks to the magician's efforts, the rising thick black smoke seemed to have grown legs, heading directly towards the locust army.

The war began.

Hudson reached out and patted the Young Bear on the shoulder, saying with a chuckle:

"Beldens, time to get to work."

Get all these annoying little bugs down, but don't let them hurt your own people.

Disturbed of his mood, Beldens rolled his eyes, slammed his paw on the ground, and the whole earth trembled.

This guy definitely did it on purpose. Before I could even blame Beldens for causing trouble, I heard a "swish swish..." sound.

Centered on the Young Bear, locusts fell from the sky as far as Hudson could see, as if they were drunk.

"Gravity Domain?"

Hudson asked uncertainly.

He vaguely felt that his body had become slightly heavier, but the increase was not significant.

The serf soldiers nearby who were netting locusts were also unaffected. If it weren't for the locusts constantly falling, Hudson would have almost overlooked it.

Such weak power is completely inconsistent with the name "Gravity Domain".

Seemingly sensing his thoughts, Beldens said irritably, "Is it worth going all out to deal with a bunch of little bugs?"

Besides, I have you as my contracted partner. If I accidentally crush you into a pulp, who will take responsibility for me...?

Seemingly realizing his slip of the tongue, Beldens swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

It's fine if they just brag a little.

If you accidentally trigger your long-term meal ticket and then go back to eating those hard, black, metal lumps of bread, that's not the life a bear can lead.

A partner that can provide food and help it improve its strength is not so easy to find.

Aside from being a bit weak in strength, Hudson is a perfect fit for the bear's requirements in every other respect.

"Stop spouting nonsense. Everyone knows what kind of bear you are. There are plenty of other annoying bugs out there. Come with me to patrol the defense zone."

As they were talking, Hudson had already climbed onto the bear's back.

Clearly, he was already immune to Beldens' boasting.

Theoretically speaking, Beldens did indeed awaken all of the Earth Bear's innate abilities. However, the power of those abilities was, well, somewhat underwhelming.

If the Gravity Domain is compressed to within a few meters, it might be possible to take Hudson away.

With the expanded range of application, being able to bring locusts down is already quite good.

At the very least, Hudson saw many insects struggle and thrash after landing, only to fall again.

If it could be resolved in one go, given this guy's boastful nature, this situation would never have occurred.

But if the locusts can be brought down, that's enough. A few that slip through the net are no big deal.

Unfortunately, there's only one Earth Bear, but there are dozens. If you put them in front of the locust army, not a single locust will survive.

Riding on the back of Bear Beldens, patrolling his defense zone, the locust army along the way landed one after another, and the man and the bear instantly became the most beautiful sight on the battlefield.

A preliminary estimate of the area affected by Beldens' Gravity Domain yielded results that greatly surprised Hudson.

Within a radius of one mile, not a single locust could fly. Most locusts, after suffering a sudden and heavy blow, would flutter a couple of times and their lives would end.

Even if they managed to survive, they would soon be dealt with by the serf army, their fates clearly laid out.

Further up, the weak locusts will fall, while the strong ones will remain standing.

In short, the closer the locusts are to the Young Bear, the worse their fate. They can only completely escape the effects of Gravity Domain after traveling more than two or three miles away.

The impressive results made Hudson want to ride Young Bear through the locust swarm. With just a few taps of his Gravity Domain, he could wipe out most of the locusts in the area it covered.

In terms of pest control efficiency, it is more efficient and environmentally friendly than any pesticide. It can easily subdue even the largest locust swarms.

But remembering his purpose, Hudson ultimately suppressed the tempting idea. After all that commotion, the locust army dispersed, but the culprit, the Bug King, also escaped.

For a species like locusts, whose reproduction rate is off the charts, as long as there is one Bug King in existence, it won't be long before another locust army is formed.

Becoming the Bug King of monsters grants both increased lifespan and increased intelligence.

If we let them live in the world for a while longer, their intelligence level might catch up with that of humans. At that time, they will become even more difficult to deal with.

If the struggle continues for a long time, the Bug King, having absorbed a large amount of Aura of Calamity, will have the opportunity to advance to become the Bug Emperor.

When they reach the Bug Emperor stage, the destructive power of the locust army reaches a level of annihilation.

The best course of action is to discover the Bug King and immediately take swift and decisive measures to kill it, preventing it from having the opportunity to unleash a locust plague.

Now that the locust army has reached this stage, killing the Bug King has become even more important.

According to news from the Governor's Mansion, there were slightly more Bug King appearing in this locust plague. Several neighboring provinces have killed multiple Bug King, but the swarm of locusts still hasn't dispersed.

Now the Royal Capital has even ordered the capture of as many locusts alive as possible, clearly indicating that there is more to the story behind this locust plague.

Hudson, not wanting to get into trouble, dared not disrupt the big shots' bug-catching plan at this critical juncture.

The battle against locusts continues, and it's not just the Earth Bear that's stealing the show on the battlefield. Other magical beasts, though not having it so easy, have also delivered some spectacular performances.

Count Pierce's Flame Lion is like magma saliva; a single spit is like a flamethrower.

The flames, dozens of meters long, emitted a delicious aroma of roasted locusts that could be smelled for miles. The sight of the serf army made their mouths water.

If it weren't for the noble lord who witnessed it all repeatedly emphasizing that locusts are not edible, these guys probably would have already gone up and tasted them.

The Mage Yuli, whom Hudson disliked the most, was also a formidable force on the battlefield. Not only did he possess Magic Array specifically designed to counter locusts, but his Magical Beast Mount also performed astonishingly well.

Even though everyone plugged their ears, the strange noise still sent chills down their spines.

The "Screaming Beast," which specializes in creating noise, possesses the most powerful innate ability to generate noise, and its strongest attack is also noise.

It is famous throughout the Aslant Continent for its powerful noise-making abilities.

The fairest assessment of the "Screaming Beast's" cry is that those who hear it wish they could skin it alive; those who listen to it wish they could grind its bones to dust.

Not only is it infamous in the human world, but it's also hated by beasts in World of Warcraft. Specifically, upon hearing the Screaming Beast's cry from afar, Beldens would want to go and beat it up.

This move was approved by Hudson, but he ultimately restrained his emotions. After all, they were still teammates, and they couldn't afford to turn on each other and become a laughingstock for the Locusts.

I reckon there are quite a few other monsters that behave similarly, but this one just unleashed its ultimate attack, attacking both friend and foe indiscriminately.

It was a trap, but the power of the sonic attack was undeniable. Anyway, after that sudden attack, the dense army of locusts that Hudson had seen vanished completely.

The most legendary moment was when two Bug King charged out from the locust army and went straight to fight the "Screaming Beast." The result, of course, was that the noble faction achieved a breakthrough in their battle record.

The noise attack infuriated the enemy, demonstrating its devastating power. Unfortunately, while killing a thousand enemies, it also resulted in five hundred casualties on its own.

Not to mention the serfs who collapsed and wailed, even someone as resolute as Hudson was constantly rubbing his ears.

These are still colleagues who are far apart; those who are close to each other have no idea how badly they've been tricked.

If someone had stubbornly refused to listen to the warnings, they would probably be feeling incredibly frustrated right now.

Frankly speaking, it's a miracle that such a hate-inducing monster has survived to this day.

Hudson now understands Yuri Magister a bit better. Dealing with such magical beasts every day, it's understandable that he'd be driven to mental instability.

Everything is subject to comparison. Looking at the group of unusual Warcraft creatures vying to show off, Hudson suddenly felt that Beldens was really quite good.

Although he's a little lazy, a bit boastful, rude and lacking in manners... overall he's still tolerable.

If it were Screaming Beast, and it suddenly let out such a roar when it was in a bad mood, Hudson couldn't guarantee he wouldn't kill it.

Fortunately, the "Screaming Beast's" ultimate move has limitations; after this heist, it needs to rest for several days. Otherwise, if it kept causing trouble, Hudson was very afraid that he would lose his temper and run away.

The black dots appearing on the horizon pulled Hudson back from his reverie. He had to admit, the locust army was incredibly determined; even after being tormented like this, they dared to continue their advance.

If this were a regular army, upon learning how terrible the situation ahead was, they would probably have already scattered and fled.

"Beldens, you've seen the Bug King before. Keep a close eye on him."

"We've finally managed to get out here; we can't let someone else steal all the credit. If word gets out, it'll be a disgrace to your Earth Bear clan."

Hudson vigorously encouraged the bear's heart.

But Beldens didn't buy it. Instead, they turned to look at him and stretched out a huge bear paw to indicate that they wanted a share of the profits.

Having a high IQ isn't always a good thing. Beldens was exceptionally shrewd when it came to keeping clear accounts, and to avoid being cheated, they even learned how to read the ledgers.

Glancing into the distance, Hudson spread his hands and said, "Don't worry, it's a 50/50 split. We'll split all the profits 50/50, you definitely won't be treated unfairly!"

Looking at the unmoving bear paws, he knew that this plan had not been approved by the Young Bear.

Hudson was exasperated; his own bear was becoming increasingly difficult to fool. Who could have imagined that this lazybones would grow so intelligently?

"Alright, the 1,000 gold coin reward is yours too. Don't rush to refuse, even though you'll be putting in the most effort to catch the Bug King next."

But I was the one who took on this deal. I also have to be the one to negotiate the subsequent rewards with them.

The extra thousand gold coins I get for each Bug King is already generous enough. If I ask for more, wouldn't I be working for nothing?

Just think, a thousand gold coins can buy hundreds of sheep, which can produce milk every day..."

There's nothing that can't be associated with animal milk; once the unit of measurement is changed, the brain circuitry of Young Bear changes.

This time was no exception. Beldens, who had started calculating how many sheep and cows he could exchange for, quickly withdrew his bear paw, turned his head, and focused his attention on the locust army.

Its burning gaze was terrifying. It was as if it were facing not an army of locusts, but basins of animal milk mixed with honey.