Ripples of Aftermath

Suddenly, Beldens' eyes lit up, and with a leap, he shot off.

Caught off guard, Hudson would have been thrown off if he hadn't grabbed the bear's fur in time.

At that speed, a rollover would result in serious injury or death, if not death.

He was crippled by his own mount, and those unaware of the situation might think he used despicable means to force the monster to sign a contract, which caused the backlash.

He had no time to settle scores with Beldens Stearns. The intense friction with the air forced Hudson to proceed with extreme caution.

Fortunately, he was a magician and quickly cast a magical shield on himself.

The speed of the charge was far too fast, far exceeding the falling speed of the locusts. If Hudson had reacted even a little slower, a close encounter with the locusts would have been inevitable.

Unlike his own bear, which is thick-skinned and unaffected by these tiny creatures, his little face coming into close contact with locusts would have unimaginable consequences.

The distance of several miles was covered in the blink of an eye; the bear's speed was practically like flying.

In fact, saying it could fly isn't wrong. Apart from the initial push-off with all four legs, Beldens' short legs basically never made contact with the ground.

Along the way, it even crashed into several bare trees, whose outstretched branches nearly pierced Hudson's magical shield.

When it comes to pit owners, this guy is definitely a professional.

No need for deliberate targeting; mere instinct or habit can be enough to ruin a person.

Perhaps this is why those who possess Magical Beast Mount on the Aslant Continent are all powerful individuals. Those who are weak simply cannot withstand the inherent tendency of their magical beasts to harm their teammates.

Before Hudson could adjust to the rapid "bear" maneuver, Beldens suddenly veered sharply to the left. The dramatic turn nearly made him vomit.

Before transmigrating, he had never experienced motion sickness, but unexpectedly, after transmigrating, he got motion sickness from riding a "bear" that was too fast, which made Hudson furious.

If it weren't for the fact that he could vaguely see a giant locust scurrying away in front of him, he would have...

Never mind!

The occasion is inappropriate; being on a bear's back makes it difficult to speak with authority.

As expected, after speeding and making sharp turns at high speed, he was met with another sudden stop.

The immense force of inertia allowed Hudson to grip the bear's fur tightly, pressing his body against its back.

Before he could figure out what was going on, he saw Beldens holding the stunned Bug King in his bear paw, showing off his victory.

From beginning to end, it was just one slap that brought down the arrogant Bug King.

At that moment, Hudson suddenly understood why the Monster Mountain Range had never suffered from locust plagues.

Even a juvenile Earth Bear could take down Bug King so easily. The entire Monster Mountain Range is teeming with high-level magical beasts; countless Bug Kings and Bug Emperor wouldn't be enough for it to kill.

If a swarm of locusts were to sweep through a monster colony, it would just be providing them with extra food.

The locust swarm is poisonous, but that only applies to ordinary people. Given the physical capabilities of magical beasts, they probably wouldn't even feel the slightest bit of toxin.

Beldens, what are you up to?

Why didn't you remind me?

Do you know how dangerous that was? It was almost...

Before Hudson could finish speaking, the Young Bear retorted in his usual tone, "Calm down!"

If you're so careless about such a small thing, how can you expect to achieve anything great?

You can't even endure a little hardship, yet you have the nerve to complain here. You're simply disgracing me.

Talking about danger? You're really shameless. You were just watching the show from the sidelines the whole time.

Everyone else fights alongside Warcraft, but you're just tagging along with me, a bear, trying to get credit. I have to protect you all the way. You're just a piece of rotten wood, utterly useless.

If it weren't for taking care of you, I would have finished my work and called it a long time ago.

Oh well, I guess I'm just unlucky to have run into a fighting partner like you.

If only..."

Hudson, left speechless after being preemptively labeled a traitor by a bear, began to question the meaning of life.

This idiot was supposed to be sleeping the whole time, so how did he manage to learn all these tricks?

Reason told him that he had to avoid this guy when handling official business in the future.

Otherwise, if we raise a politically savvy idiot, who knows what the future holds?

"Enough, Beldens! You did this on purpose!"

The Earth Bear clan is known for its honesty and good nature; how could such a rogue bear like you appear?

Hudson said irritably.

To say that the Young Bear did what happened just now is a bit of a stretch. If he really wanted to trick him, a magic shield alone wouldn't have been enough.

But seeing this guy's arrogant attitude, Hudson was furious. Watching his master make a fool of himself was simply...

Forget it, I won't bother arguing with a bear.

The main problem was that there was no way to argue about it. After handing the Bug King over to Hudson, Beldens set its sights on a new target.

As a bear rider, Hudson was devastated. The Earth Bear at full power was too fast, like riding a supersonic motorcycle at breakneck speed; it felt like he was about to fly.

Fortunately, this time the Young Bear had learned from experience and knew to cast Earth Guardian spell on him before taking action.

Finally, things are stable. No longer worried about being thrown off at any moment, and no longer worried about vomiting from the "bear" speed, Hudson can finally relax and enjoy playing "Bear Racing".

Being surrounded by millions of locusts, as if in a realm without insects, was an exhilarating experience. The incredible speed allowed Hudson, whose adaptability had improved dramatically, to undergo a complete transformation.

The man and bear, caught up in the fun, kept weaving through the swarm of insects, setting a bad example for everyone. Soon, everyone followed suit, neglecting even their defensive zones.

Watching the group of powerful figures struggle amidst the locust army, Count Pierce was utterly devastated. They were all a bunch of big shots; even his reputation as Governor wasn't enough to save face.

Gradually, he realized something was wrong. The locust army, which had been decimated by a group of powerful figures, was still heading towards the Southeast Province, despite its continuous disintegration.

Before this, the locust army had gathered together, and all they needed to do was block the army's path.

The locust army is now scattered and its range of activity is constantly expanding; the number of locusts breaking through weak points is also increasing.

"Someone has sabotaged things, deliberately leading the locusts to the Southeast Province!"

Once the thought took hold, Count Pierce couldn't shake it. Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough to summon all the strongest men he could from the province in the shortest amount of time.

If we follow the example of our neighbors and wait until the locusts have become a plague before organizing experts to kill them, then we're doomed.

They just didn't know which faction they had offended that would go to such lengths to cause trouble for the Dalton Family.

The pesticides used to lure locusts are not cheap. With such a large army of locusts pouring in continuously, it's like paving the way for the locusts with gold coins.

Count Pierce's decision to take the blame wasn't due to a lack of intelligence. On the contrary, it was precisely because he was so intelligent that he came to this conclusion.

Although there are many noble families, large and small, in the Southeast Province, only the Dalton Family has the power to offend a powerful force and leave that force helpless.

Knowing this is useless; the locust army is simply too vast. Even dealing with the Bug King would require immense effort. Eradicating all the locusts is virtually impossible.

In the Mountain Territory, preparations to combat the locust plague are proceeding smoothly. Any harvestable crops have been preemptively harvested. The remaining crops, which could not be harvested, will have to withstand the locust plague.

Tens of thousands of people prepared for the battle together without showing any signs of panic. The importance of talent cannot be denied.

In the past, if Lord Hudson hadn't been there, the territory would have been in chaos long ago in the event of such a thing.

The methods were nothing new; they all involved manual capture followed by smoking and burning. Advanced locust control methods, such as those using magical potions, were beyond the capabilities of the Mountain Territory.

The situation in the surrounding territories was generally similar. All the lords were preparing for war, although most knew that these primitive methods were not very effective.

However, the work to combat the locust plague must still be carried out. It's not important how many locusts are killed; the key is to make a strong statement and boost the confidence of the people.

The greater the disaster, the more necessary it is to appease the people. Heretical Cult lurking in various places have long been restless, just waiting for an opportunity to launch their attacks.

The counties of Wright and Huaidun, which had suffered greatly from the war, were in a relatively better situation this time. They had been thoroughly purged, and most of the Heretical Cult, large and small, had been wiped out in the last upheaval.

The noble lords who ruled the two counties, apart from a few whose abilities to inherit the family business varied, were mostly resourceful.

In Falling Leaf Town, Baron Cayo went to the Governor's Mansion to sign up for the fight against the locust plague, but was dissuaded by his own uncle because he was too weak, which made Baron Cayo lose face.

Fortunately, not many people knew about this, Baron Cayo was able to keep the news under wraps in time; otherwise, it would have been incredibly embarrassing if it had gotten out.

The assessment of "lacking ability" is incredibly hurtful. I originally thought my skills were pretty good among the younger generation, but reality has been a slap in the face.

It can only be said that talent is something that cannot be forced. Even with a large amount of resources, Baron Cayo can only reach an average level.

Bursting with pent-up anger, Baron Cayo naturally needed an outlet. His eyes fell on his neighbor.

"Young Master, this locust plague is coming on strong. According to the news from the Governor's Mansion, it seems that it will inevitably spread to the province."

Based on the available data, even if we do nothing, the locust plague will still affect Huaidun and Wright counties.

Deploying the medicine would undoubtedly worsen the disaster. Deploying it only in a few of their territories would likely alert others to the problem.

If we reveal even the slightest clue, we risk arousing suspicion. On the contrary, revealing even the slightest flaw would be a fatal blow to your reputation.

Alternatively, we could place the items in adjacent areas; that would achieve the same effect without arousing suspicion.

The old butler earnestly persuaded him.

Deep down, he opposed doing so. Although few people knew that these potions were personally prepared by Baron Cayo, secrets don't stay hidden forever.

If word gets out, all the nobles in the province might blame him for the locust plague. If things get to that point, even the Dalton Family won't be able to protect him.

"Don't worry, Uncle Fu. I'm not that stupid. There's always someone to take the blame for this kind of thing."

The harvesting work in the territory is over, and even if I lose everything, I can afford it.

Let's just use a self-inflicted injury tactic, temporarily wrong the local nobles, and let the Northern Nobles take the blame.

With the potency of these medicines, no matter where they are placed, the surrounding area will be affected, and no one can escape them.

"If it weren't for an unexpected windfall, I wouldn't have been able to concoct this. This is the best opportunity; once we miss it, it will be difficult to regain control of two counties."

Baron Cayo said coldly.

Being ruthless to others is nothing special; the key is being ruthless to yourself. He doesn't even spare his own territory. If word got out that he poisoned it, probably no one would believe it.

The Dadir City, which had just begun to recover from the locust plague, was plunged into desolation once again as news of the locust plague arrived.

The grain stores controlled by the lord's manor have begun to ration supplies daily based on the number of people, and prices have skyrocketed.

The high cost of living forced countless merchants to relocate. Baron Ciss was also helpless; he had purchased high-priced grain, with no room for price reduction.

Most importantly, after the news of the disaster spread, the nearby nobles and lords tightened their belts and suspended all unnecessary spending.

All entertainment venues closed down. Luxury goods and discretionary consumer products also lost their market overnight.

The best-selling items right now are grain and cloth, followed by salt. Ironware and farm tools are also selling well. For other non-essential items, there are more sellers than buyers.

Not making money is a minor issue; the real problem is losing money even after opening the business. Merchants are adept at weighing pros and cons, and after assessing the risk tolerance of the local nobles and lords, they quickly concluded that things were going to turn out badly.

If you don't leave while order still exists, once the locust plague sweeps over and famine strikes, and bandits roam the land, you won't be able to escape.

Everyone was worried that if they really couldn't make ends meet, the seemingly kind Lord Ciss would be the first to raise his sword against them.

Prejudice is that severe. Even though Baron Ciss has always done a good job, prejudice against the Northern Nobles has long been formed.

Baron Ciss casually crushed a flying grasshopper, then asked with considerable resentment, "Feron, do you really think this locust plague is unavoidable?"

No one wants to give up the hard-earned results, but when faced with natural disasters, human power is simply too insignificant.

"Young master, these scattered grasshoppers are no threat now. But if these insignificant little creatures gather into an army, they will be the most terrifying disaster."

What's even more worrying is that there are signs of human intervention behind this locust plague. This makes containing the disaster even more difficult.

Everyone is preparing for the worst, and some territories have begun to deliberately reduce the number of Beastfolk slaves in order to reduce food consumption.

The Mountain Territory you're most concerned about is now seeing a massive harvesting of grasshoppers within its borders, which are being dried and stored. It's supposedly for livestock feed, but I suspect it's mostly intended for the Beastfolk.

Once the locust plague strikes, the Mountain Baron, under pressure to secure food supplies, will likely have no choice but to artificially reduce the number of Beastfolk slaves.

Almost all the lords issued orders forbidding male and female serfs from marrying or having sexual relations. These were all preparations for the possible famine that was to come.

If the local nobles reacted so strongly, what about us outsiders? Several nearby provinces have also suffered from locust plagues, making it impossible for us to purchase grain from outside.

Things have come to this point, and we have no choice but to prepare for the worst. If the merchants want to leave, let them go; it will reduce some food consumption.

Let's leave some lingering affection behind, and invite them back once the disaster is over. This experience will likely strengthen their confidence in the territory in the future.

Butler Feren tried to persuade him.

In years of great disaster, we must increase revenue and reduce expenditure.

However, this requires sufficient food reserves. Unfortunately, Dadir's reserves are severely inadequate.

Even if all this work is done, it will still be extremely difficult to sustain ourselves until next spring.

In an effort to increase food reserves, countless nobles organized hunts in the mountains and forests. Various wild animals suffered catastrophic losses in this wave.

Including wild vegetables in grain reserves is just routine practice. Some meticulous lords even factored in tree bark and grass roots.

"Let's gradually reduce the number of slaves, and try to keep the reduction as normal as possible, so that it doesn't get out and damage our reputation."

Sell everything that can be sold inside. Including those dancers; get rid of them while they still have some value.

From now on, the food rations for all non-working citizens will be reduced by another 20%. Only the most basic survival supplies will be retained.

We must mobilize all the connections we have secretly cultivated to purchase as much food as possible.

Send people to keep an eye on the movements of the major grain merchants, and seize any opportunity to make a risk-free profit. At this point, there's no need to pretend any longer.

Baron Ciss said expressionlessly.

It was as if they were completely unconcerned about the terrible consequences this order might cause.

"Yes, young master!"

The old butler answered promptly, without offering any advice. Indifference, decisiveness, ruthlessness... these were all fine qualities of nobility.

To thrive in this highly competitive world, one must abandon any sense of compassion and approach this cruel world with the utmost rationality.

In Qiaomu County, the nobles who had successfully repelled the locust army were not jubilant. Instead, they were worried about the ever-growing locust horde.

Human strength has its limits, and even the strongest will tire. Sure enough, several top experts who were fighting so fiercely at the beginning have now been replaced.

Having just returned to camp, Hudson was once again the most eye-catching creature. For no other reason than that he was covered in the Bug King's armor.

He single-handedly defeated five Bug Kings and captured them all alive; this achievement is almost equal to the combined total of everyone else.

All I can say is that the allure of animal milk and honey was too great; if it weren't for Hudson pulling him back, Beldens wouldn't want to come back now.

The bear could take it, but the man couldn't. After all that commotion, Hudson was completely exhausted and had to drag Beldens to a halt.

Of course, the main reason is that the Bug King is harder to catch at this time. Even if some escape, they all hide far away.

Intelligent creatures wouldn't knowingly go to their deaths when danger is ahead.

The fact that the locust army, which was originally a single, unified force, has now dispersed into several smaller groups is the best proof of this.

Although gathering together may help them advance, when it comes to life, their own lives are more important.

"The locusts' target is very clear: my Southeast Province. Even if they are forced to detour, they have no destination. It is now confirmed that someone has released locust-attracting powder in the Southeast Province."

Fortunately, everyone intervened and scattered the locust army, preventing the birth of the Bug Emperor. Otherwise, this disaster would have truly spiraled out of control.

The identity of the thief is currently unknown. We can only keep this score in mind for now and settle accounts with them later once the truth is uncovered.

"Now, I can only ask that you all continue your efforts and eliminate the remaining Bug King. The kingdom will not forget your contributions."

It was clear that Count Pierce was truly exhausted. He had even skipped the usual pleasantries.

Hudson felt that this was also related to the fact that the people present were not easily fooled.

Making grand promises is easy, delivering on them is difficult. And these powerful figures are prone to being stubborn and inflexible; if they dare to go back on their word, the Governor will be retaliated against.

Instead of resorting to tricks and creating trouble for yourself, it's better to be sincere and you're more likely to win people's favor.