Neighbors Didn't Stockpile Food

With Hudson's return, the Mountain Territory quickly became lively again.

The widely publicized poisoning incident had already sown seeds of resentment among the local nobles, who were all seething with anger and were just waiting for someone to take the lead and stir up trouble.

Truth is unimportant when interests are at stake. Who cares to investigate whether a competitor's accusations are unjust?

The locust plague has caused such great losses, we must find a way to make up for it, right?

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. If we don't make a big fuss, how will the big shots notice us?

As a key figure in the local aristocratic faction, Hudson was naturally held in high regard.

"Gentlemen, the timing is not right. The kingdom is conducting a thorough investigation into the locust plague and has preliminarily determined that the mastermind behind it is a major power on the continent."

We don't have enough evidence to prove anything right now; it's just a matter of the severity of the disaster. They can easily pin the blame on the mastermind behind it all.

This matter involves far more than you can imagine; even the Governor's Mansion has little say in this issue.

At this critical juncture, our priority should be disaster relief; we must not invite trouble upon ourselves.

Most of those present were his own people, and Hudson didn't want them to be used or to step on a landmine at this critical juncture.

If his underlings get involved, he, as the boss, won't be able to escape either.

Verbal battles and real fights are two completely different concepts.

Hudson has been locked in a war of words with the Northern Nobles. It may seem like a life-or-death struggle, but in reality, it has no impact on either side.

Businesses can continue as usual, even on the private side.

When it comes to actually fighting, things will be different. Outsiders mistakenly believe that the Mountain Territory are strong and well-equipped, but Hudson knows very well how weak his own forces are.

Apart from those veterans who had seen bloodshed and were trained into true elites, the rest were just for show.

They're good at arranging ranks and formations, but when it comes to a real fight, all they've ever done is kill cattle and sheep.

Their combat strength was higher than that of ordinary serf soldiers, but how much of a gap was there between them and the true elite? Only after fighting them could one know.

Without continuing training for another year or two, Hudson simply didn't have the confidence to send his own soldiers into battle.

"Baron Hudson, are we really going to let such a good opportunity slip by?"

Baron Ezekiel asked unwillingly.

As the loser in the previous struggle, Baron Ezekiel gained nothing except some fame.

As time goes by, even these empty titles are slowly fading away.

When faced with problems, the nobles in reality would first think of Baron Cayo and Hudson, two powerful figures.

Fame only brought Ezekiel convenience in interpersonal communication; when it came to tangible interests, his opinions became irrelevant.

"The kingdom needs stability; it's essential for the overall situation. As nobles, we must prioritize the kingdom's interests."

We can settle our scores with those guys in the north later. Right now, the most important thing is to fight the locust plague.

Despite the significant reduction in autumn harvest, we can still strive to secure the next spring's grain harvest.

This locust plague is extraordinary; not only will this year's autumn grain harvest be greatly reduced, but next year's autumn grain harvest will also be unlikely to be plentiful.

The food crisis alone is enough to keep those guys busy.

Isn't it better to just watch them suffer?

Why should we step in to help them out?

Wasn't the lesson learned last time enough?

Hudson sneered.

Trying to use him as a tool is simply a pipe dream.

Now that we're fighting the Northern Nobles, they'll have to fight tooth and nail. Only if we win will those guys have enough food to survive the famine.

As far as Hudson knew, in order to reduce food consumption, the Northern Nobles were artificially reducing the number of slaves under their command.

Some ruthless individuals ground locusts into powder and added it to bread making, causing many serfs with weak immune systems to die as a result.

That's enough to prove how tough life was for those guys.

Although the Mountain Territory started making locust powder, Hudson only targeted lone locusts; he didn't dare to take the large, swarming locusts.

Even if locust powder is made, it is only added in small amounts, accounting for less than one percent.

Such a small dose is enough to withstand even the presence of toxins.

They were forced into this situation; after reducing food rations, they had to ensure the slaves' nutritional needs were met.

One grasshopper a day is enough to satisfy my craving for meat.

Seeing that none of the nobles responded, Baron Ezekiel was immediately embarrassed.

They were just talking about how to put pressure on the Mountain Territory Baron and force him to lead the charge against the Northern Nobles.

When the time came, Hudson's few words were enough to make a group of wavering "temporary allies" back down.

Whether they were persuaded or simply unwilling to confront the Mountain Baron, no one could say for sure.

In short, nobody was willing to step forward.

Faced with Baron Ezekiel's pleading gaze, everyone seemed lost in thought, as if they hadn't seen anything at all.

Having once again felt the importance of strength, Baron Ezekiel was even more eager to break the deadlock.

In the existing political landscape of Laite County, the local nobles followed Hudson, and the Northern Nobles followed Baron Ciss, leaving them with absolutely no room to maneuver.

The situation was similar in neighboring Whitton County. Although the Northern Nobles were divided, most of the native nobles were subservient to Baron Cayo.

His birth meant that Baron Ezekiel could not play happily with the Northern Nobles, and among the native nobles, Hudson and Baron Cayo kept a close watch on him.

Baron Ezekiel was not included in any of their respective small teams.

They wanted to form cliques, but they also faced joint attacks from all sides.

Neutral nobles aren't stupid; why would they associate with someone like him who only has a hollow reputation?

No matter how skilled he is at persuasion, it can't compare to people weighing the pros and cons.

If this situation continues, it won't be long before his hard-earned reputation is completely depleted.

In Dadir City, influenced by the changing situation, a group of Northern Nobles also sat down together to discuss countermeasures.

However, the topic they discussed was not who to fight, but how to gather enough food.

"Your Excellency Baron Ciss, I can't take this anymore. Please help me think of a solution!"

Due to the locust plague, less than one-third of the autumn grain harvest in Botling was stored. The planted area was already small, and this locust plague hit them hard.

To reduce food consumption, I have ordered all my subjects to stop having children and have reduced the food supply.

Even my food allowance as a lord was reduced.

Now I don't even dare to eat barbecue anymore, I've switched to stewing soup instead, just so my subordinates can have a little bit of meat.

But this is still a drop in the ocean.

Based on the current food reserves in the territory, we can only hold out for a maximum of three more months before we run out of food.

Unfortunately, the locust plague is still raging, and everything in the territory that can move has joined the fight against the locusts.

But the locusts seem to come in an endless stream; one wave is killed and another comes, making it impossible to completely eradicate them.

Given the current situation, there's no hope for autumn planting. I have no idea how we're going to get by from here on out.

Baron Bazel said with concern.

While the claim of running out of food for three months may be an exaggeration, the food shortage was indeed a reality.

In response to the crisis, Bazel did everything in his power. Now, the slaves in his territory have begun catching and eating locusts.

Even knowing that locusts are poisonous, it's better to be poisoned than to starve to death.

Thanks to their strong physical resistance, some Beastfolk survived, while many more lay in Beastfolk groaning in pain.

If nothing unexpected happens, these guys who are lying down are now considered eliminated.

Not only were the slaves miserable, but the serfs were also suffering terribly. Their food rations were drastically reduced, and driven by hunger, many of them resorted to eating locusts.

Baron Bazel watched all of this unfold without taking a second look.

For Botland, if no new food source can be found, then reducing the population is the only effective way to deal with the crisis.

"Alright, Bazel. At least you have a small river in your territory, so you can get some fish to supplement your catch."

My territory is much worse; there's nothing there except barren land.

Those damned locusts, they even eat wild vegetables.

If this keeps up, I'll be eating dirt.

Knight Justin said with a bitter smile.

There's no limit to how bad things can get.

Perhaps the local nobles felt that the locust plague had lessened for the northern lords, but the losses they all suffered were devastating.

Listening to the endless complaints of the crowd, Baron Ciss felt a chill run down his spine.

"If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight; if you want to hold a rose, you must bear its pain."

Those who enjoy the benefits of being the leader must also bear the responsibilities of being the leader.

Putting aside everything else, the previous commercial prosperity of Dadir City was supported by these underlings.

Now that his underlings are almost starving, how can he, as the boss, not offer any assistance?

Unfortunately, Baron Ciss was also short of food. Although he managed to buy a batch in time, the locust plague seemed endless!

If one's own territory is cutting back on food supplies, how can one have the resources to help others?

"You are all facing similar situations, and the biggest problem in the end is still the lack of food."

The locust plague has affected such a wide area that nobles in various regions have suspended grain sales. It will be difficult for us to procure enough grain from the Southeast Province in the short term.

For now, our only option is to organize caravans to travel to other human kingdoms and see if we can make any gains.

The closest country to us is the Black Forest Kingdom, but unfortunately, the Black Stone Mountain Range block our way, so we have to take a long detour.

Sending people over is easy, but transporting large quantities of grain back is a major problem.

Not only does it take a long time, but more importantly, half of the food will be consumed along the way.

The simplest way was undoubtedly by waterway, but unfortunately, most of the coastal ports were controlled by the Dalton Family.

Given Governor Pierce's hostility towards us, the likelihood of him granting us passage is extremely slim.

Even if they could find a way through, the vast ocean is incredibly dangerous. It wouldn't be surprising if the entire fleet were wiped out at sea.

Baron Ciss's words were undoubtedly a bucket of cold water for everyone.

It's not that the boss doesn't want to find a solution; it's just that he's exhausted all possible solutions, but he hasn't come up with a reliable one.

We can't buy enough food internally, but we can buy food from outside, but the problem is that we can't transport it back.

The combined population of the Northern Nobles present was around 70,000 to 80,000, and if slaves were included, the population would exceed 100,000.

Livestock must also be considered. Leaving aside cattle and sheep, the rations for warhorses cannot be cut. To solve the food shortage, at least tens of millions of pounds of grain must be imported.

With such a huge shortfall, and having to detour nearly a thousand miles, land transportation is simply a waste of time.

By sea, unless the Dalton Family provides support, no matter how many people go out, they will all perish.

Within the kingdom, everyone needs to be mindful of their table manners and not go too far.

In the vast ocean, the disappearance of a fleet is all too common. Even if the kingdom wanted to investigate, it wouldn't know where to begin.

"Just because we have no food doesn't mean others don't have food either. Instead of lamenting here, we should have an open and honest talk with them."

"Either sell us food to get through this crisis, or we all perish and go to hell together."

"Baron Keterai said menacingly."

I've been accumulating too much resentment lately and desperately need an outlet. Anyway, I'm deeply embroiled in the July Association's troubles, and whether I can extricate myself is anyone's guess.

The others worried that doing so would have negative consequences, but Baron Keterai didn't care.

If you win the bet, you can continue to live as a nobleman here; if you lose, you can simply run away and leave.

Anyway, once the July Association's bombshell explodes, he'll still have to be a fugitive.

Having so many people with you a little earlier might not be such a bad thing.

Things haven't come to that point yet.

We can also ask the kingdom for help.

Everyone should leverage their connections and put pressure on the Dalton Family. Our Governor will not be able to withstand such pressure.

At that point, he will naturally choose to compromise.

Baron Ciss quickly reassured him.

Reason told him that now was not the time to provoke conflict.

While the local nobles did have grain in their hands, it did not mean that their newly acquired territories also stored large quantities of grain.

"My neighbor hoards food, I hoard guns."

The prerequisite is that the neighbor has stockpiled food.

If the enemy doesn't have much food in stock, even if you win the battle, you're unlikely to get the expected results and will only get into trouble.

Baron Keterai, having suffered a series of setbacks, was ready to give up entirely, but Baron Ciss, who still had a bright future, had no intention of joining him.

Background aside, Caesar III was not someone to be trifled with.

What right does someone who only causes trouble and can't maintain local stability have to be appointed as a prefect?

Let alone the Grand Duke's illegitimate son, even his own son, if they are unworthy of being raised, will only become parasites.

A conflict instigated by someone with ulterior motives was tacitly suppressed by the two major figures in Laite County.

However, the real problems caused by the locust plague still need to be addressed.

Those with connections should leverage them; those without connections can only rely on themselves.

Hudson suddenly became busy, or more precisely, Beldens became busy.

When faced with swarms of locusts, manual locust control is simply too inefficient.

Switching to the Earth Bear would be much simpler; it could not only wipe out the current locusts, but also eliminate the insect eggs in the ground.

Locust eggs, in particular, are a persistent problem.

Traditional methods rely on manpower and natural resources such as water and fire to kill the fish, which is not only inefficient but also results in many fish escaping.

After all, locust eggs are so small that they are easily missed by the naked eye when mixed in with the soil.

Burning is the most effective method, but you can't burn all the land, can you?

Magical potions are also quite effective at killing insect eggs, but unfortunately, they are not only expensive but also produced in very low quantities, not even enough for the great nobles.

Beldens, with its exceptional pest control skills, quickly came into the public eye.

Under the influence of Gravity Domain, even locusts cannot withstand it, and their eggs are naturally no match for it either.

Now everything is bare, and there's no worry about accidentally damaging the flowers and plants, so the Young Bear can do whatever they want.

There is no doubt that killing locusts will cost money, and if the eggs are also taken care of, there will be an extra charge.

Hudson was at his wits' end, having encountered a bear that only cared about money. If things continued this way, who knows what the outside world would say about him.

The monster caused the trouble, so its owner has to take the blame!

To facilitate bargaining, Beldens learned to speak in advance, leaving Hudson no chance to act as a middleman and profit from the difference.

There was some success, though; everyone thought that Lord Hudson's bear had grown up!

The deterrent power of Mountain Territory +10086...

No matter how much they try to cover it up this time, it's useless. Only Earth Bear can use the common language of the mainland. This is a universally acknowledged "truth".

Beldens, who was originally only two years and three months old, now has to be announced as two hundred and thirty years old.

As for Hudson, he was incredibly lucky to find an Earth Bear was about to reach adulthood.

Whether Hudson himself believed it or not, the outside world believed it.

This time, no one doubted that Beldens was the Earth Bear captured by the Church, as their ages simply didn't match.

The Earth Bear, nearing adulthood, possesses formidable fighting power, making it virtually impossible to capture alive.

In this dog-eat-dog world, the allure of the strong is unparalleled.

Hudson, who now resembles a bear, receives the warmest welcome wherever he goes.

Even the nobles, who had previously complained about the high fees, stopped saying anything.

The top experts on the mainland are willing to help eradicate locusts, and the offer of only one Silver Coin per acre is incredibly generous.

Even if you're unwilling, there are plenty of people waiting in line.

If it weren't everyone's territory, and if it weren't measured in tens of thousands of acres, this fee standard wouldn't be high at all.

Although it was a bit faster, that only shows high efficiency. In any case, Mr. Beldens still had to go and take a stroll there himself.

In a single day, he could resolve the troubles of over a dozen noble families. Watching Beldens rake in money every day, Hudson suddenly realized that he was a poor man himself.

He used to be the one working for the bears, but now the tables have turned and he's the one working for the bears.

Although a good price was secured, calculated according to the highest appearance fee standard for "Divine Bow Knight", it is 500 gold coins per day, with overtime pay to be calculated separately.

But Hudson was not happy at all.

Reason told him that he had to empty Beldens' coffers as soon as possible, otherwise the guy would get too cocky.

After a deep self-reflection, Hudson realized he wasn't dark enough.

The expenses for cultivation were reported too low, since the energy was stored in their own Compass anyway. Even if they overstated the consumption of Magic Crystal Stone by ten times, Beldens wouldn't know.

Reason: With increased strength, a higher purity of energy is required.

That makes sense. Energy purification inevitably involves some loss; this is common knowledge in mainland China.

Essential services are subject to monopolistic pricing, leaving no room for negotiation.

Pasture rental and after-sales service only require a small additional fee; these visible costs are no longer something that can fool bears.

Perhaps luring the bears to develop the swamps would be a good option. If Beldens is willing to put in the effort, the development progress will definitely increase significantly.

For example, before digging a ditch, use magic to temporarily harden the silt on both sides.