A Person on Terra, With No Books to Read

One kilogram of bread, the words were immediately seized upon by everyone.

"Information registration? What's that?"

"Why worry about it? We'll get food from His Majesty once we get there!"

"Yeah! One kilogram! That's enough to feed the kids a full meal!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The hungry people immediately converged on Kazdel's central plaza. Absolvers and Banshees had already set up temporary work facilities there, along with a huge insulated iron pot. Cooks and helpers, brought from the royal residences, were carrying buckets of freshly baked bread and pouring them into the containers.

"A very good method of guidance."

"Thank you. To receive praise from an elder means my efforts were indeed effective. I am very pleased."

Theresica wore a polite smile as he accepted the compliment from Outcast. Today was the day they were leaving Kazdel, but considering the enemy and friendly forces in the civil war, he had specifically come alone to see them off.

Most of the people in the crowd had very indifferent expressions, but there was a young girl, who looked to be around his age, whose eyes were filled with scrutiny. Seeing this, a mercenary group commander named Hedley quickly walked over and whispered an apology.

"Please forgive her rudeness."

"It's alright, I don't mind."

Theresica waved his hand dismissively and then asked curiously, "Are you also going to Leithanien?"

Kal'tsit was going to establish a pharmaceutical company. He couldn't understand what use a mercenary group would have following along.

"No, we want to go to Ursus. They are currently at war with Kazimierz, and we mercenaries should be able to find some work there."

"Is that so... I wish you all the best."

After hearing Hedley's words, Theresica expressed his good wishes to them, then watched them board the landship and saw them off.

He had secretly used a shapeshifter to observe Hedley's mercenary group. They were a group of well-equipped and battle-hardened soldiers. If possible, he would have liked them to stay, but there was truly nothing to attract people to Kazdel right now. Ursus, on the other hand, was a complete military power and allowed foreign nationals to join its combat units. People like them would shine brightly there.

"Your Majesty..."

The Banshee chieftain and Absolver, who had been hiding in the shadows, finally revealed themselves at this moment.

"How is it? How is the registration work going?"

"Very smoothly. Your method has made all Sarkaz actively cooperate with our work. The collection of information on the city's residents and the gathering points of various races in the vicinity is expected to be completed within two days. The soldiers' information will all be collected today. Once all information is verified, I will submit it to you."

Theresica was satisfied with the Absolver's work efficiency, but he was also a little worried. If human labor could complete the census of the entire population in two days, then how many people were there in Sarkazil!

At this moment, the Banshee beside him spoke, "Your Majesty, your method is very effective, but distributing food for free throughout the entire Sarkaz population will cause enormous resource depletion. There is no arable land near Kazdel, and we don't have anyone who understands agriculture."

"It's fine, we'll buy it from elsewhere! The funds for gathering food will come from me. We can't let them starve. The Sarkaz have already endured enough suffering."

Theresica's voice was unwavering. Since the money he had previously acquired for school admission couldn't be spent, he might as well use it here.

"Don't neglect the educational aspects either. Get the school facilities set up first. Both information gathering and education work need to be carried out as quickly as possible. These are the most important matters."

"Understood, but the funds left to you by Lady Theresia and Lord Theresis are limited."

The Banshee and Absolver nodded and reminded him. Although they had to obey the king's orders, they still felt a little uneasy. The Sarkaz, who had always lived a life of poverty, had never engaged in the free distribution of food.

Theresica had nothing to say about their discomfort. He had not experienced those days, and he believed that doing his best to preserve the Sarkaz race was the right thing to do.

"However, speaking of funding issues..."

Theresica thought of the purified Originium transaction agreement he had signed yesterday. He had spent the entire night in the royal library and now had a more comprehensive understanding of Originium.

Originium is the dominant and sole energy source on Terra. It can be used for civilian or military purposes, and everything that requires energy is driven by it. The consumption of purified Originium at various levels in Terra is immense.

In other countries, the purification of ore relies on machine assistance. A small amount of Originium energy is first provided to attract ore activation. It is then converted into a temporarily inexplicable gel, and impurities are gradually removed, before being reshaped into pure Originium ore.

Thanks to their affinity with Originium, Sarkaz do not need machine assistance to activate Originium directly. They also have very high efficiency, and can even process Originium with a purity of over 95%, which is rare on Terra.

Originium possesses material exclusivity. Internal impurities cause the Originium's energy to constantly dissipate, eroding the impurities, which is also the root of infection. Originium with a purity of over 95% has very few impurities. At this point, the Originium enters a stable 'static' state, stops energy dissipation, and is completely non-infectious. It can even be held and played with for an entire day.

Therefore, even though Kazdel is built on a desert, as long as Sarkaz's affinity with Originium can be utilized for efficient Originium purification and refining, Kazdel can become like the Middle Eastern oil-rich countries on Earth, obtaining a large amount of funds by exporting high-purity Originium.

However, Originium is not oil after all. Its initial production stage involves severe damage similar to radioactive ore. The long-term premise is the ability to solve the infection problem, otherwise, it is akin to drinking poison to quench thirst.

But solving the infection problem requires advanced medical conditions, and constructing related facilities requires funds, and obtaining funds can now only be done through Originium transactions.

This is a dead end!

"Kazdel, do you have any way to curb Oripathy? To stabilize the condition rather than letting it worsen."

Since there was no cure, Theresica intended to settle for the next best thing. If those infected with Oripathy could live peacefully into old age and then die, his psychological burden would also be greatly reduced.

"No, Kazdel hasn't had a medical research and development institution for a long time. All resources were tilted towards war capabilities."

The Banshee chieftain shook her head regretfully. "We currently only have a small amount of painkillers produced by Warfarin, which can be given to soldiers in the late stages to grant them a peaceful death."

"She actually has that capability?"

Theresica was a little surprised. He hadn't expected this Blood Demon, with whom he played games every day, to possess such an ability?

"Ms. Warfarin studied in Columbia and Victoria over a hundred years ago. Perhaps you can ask her if other countries have related medications."

Upon saying this, the Banshee chieftain paused. "Our current supplies are entirely obtained through trade with surrounding refugee settlements. Special items like medicine are not available in refugee settlements. They even have to buy some bandages, disinfectants, and other trauma medicines from us. As for those countries... even if they have them, they won't sell them to us, and not many of us can afford them..."

"It's alright, as long as we have it."

Theresica looked at them and said with excitement and determination, "No matter which race, I will find a way to ensure that all infected Sarkaz can use suppressive medication. I will find a way no matter what!"

Naive.

Listening to Theresica's declaration, the Banshee and the Absolver couldn't help but show a hint of a helpless smile.

These were truly childish words, to equip all Sarkaz with Oripathy containment drugs. Even the former king and Lord Theresia, when they still had the strength, hadn't achieved this. And today, with Sarkaz having withered to this extent, how could it be accomplished?

PS: Please vote, I beg you all!!!

Chapter 8: Acquiring the Mine

Besides naturally formed Originium veins, Terra also has some that were formed artificially.

Outside Kazdel city, there is a massive crater. However, its bottom has been hollowed out, becoming the entrance to a bottomless mine.

Many weak, elderly, or disabled Sarkaz work here, digging, sorting, and transporting. Amidst them, a team leader shouts at the top of his lungs.

"Move faster!"

"You're not digging enough ore! You'll work overtime for an hour tonight!"

The shouts were distant, yet clearly audible. The somber atmosphere in the lounge lasted for a short while before a Feline walked in.

"Your Majesty, I am the owner of this mine, Andrew."

"Oh, hello."

Theresica withdrew his gaze, which had been fixed on the distance. "Apologies, I was so engrossed. I didn't expect the owner of this mine to be a Feline."

"It doesn't matter, Your Majesty. My father was a Feline, and my mother was Sarkaz. When my father came here, he had some money, so he set up this mine, and now it's in my hands."

The Feline took out some drinks from a cabinet and placed them on the table in the lounge, along with a children's beverage. Then he spoke, "My name is Andrew. What brings you here? The monthly Originium ore quota should have been met."

He had just been supervising his subordinates at work when the mine's guard suddenly ran over, excitedly telling him that the King of Sarkaz had arrived and urging him to go take a look.

To be honest, he wasn't Sarkaz, and he couldn't understand why these people revered royalty so much. In his eyes, the former Theresis and Theresia were great figures in history, so it was normal to revere them. But was it necessary to do so for such a child? It seemed a bit amusing.

He disliked this feeling of being respectful to a child. After all, he was the sole energy producer in this city.

"Mr. Andrew, it's like this: I wish to acquire your mine."

"Ah?! What did you say?!" Andrew was stunned.

"I wish to acquire your mine."

Theresica repeated with a smile, looking at the bewildered Feline.

Upon learning that Terra had Oripathy containment drugs, he immediately inquired about the ore vein situation near Kazdel from the Banshee and the Absolver. When he learned there was only one mine, he came here immediately, intending to inspect it and discuss increasing production. However, before he could even meet the owner, he witnessed the terrible conditions.

The meager meals, the poor resting environment, and the complete lack of protective equipment for the miners. If production were to increase, it likely wouldn't end well.

He wanted to increase the mine's production but didn't want the worst-case scenario to occur. At the same time, he harbored a natural distrust towards people like this. Theresica couldn't believe that such a person would fulfill all his requirements properly, so he decided to take over the mine directly.

"This is the business my father left me... Alright."

Andrew's hesitant words couldn't be spoken because when Shining placed a small box of 100% pure refined Originium ingots in front of him, he was rendered speechless.

The Feline took the small box without any hesitation, ran to the storeroom, started his small car, and left immediately.

"Is Kazdel really not worth remembering?"

Theresica was astonished. His actions were too sudden.

"You are too merciful, Your Majesty. You could have confiscated everything if you disliked him, and this mine isn't worth the price you offered."

"His father was Sarkaz too. We should at least show some consideration."

Theresica felt the Absolver's reaction was excessive. A hint of casualness that slipped out from a person was nothing. He didn't want to earn a bad reputation for himself; he just wanted to do something praiseworthy.

The acquisition was simple, requiring only one person to be dealt with. However, how to operate it afterward was a problem.

Theresica wanted to improve the mine's management plan but couldn't come up with any solutions. The people around him were all fanatics skilled in warfare. Helplessly, he could only let everything remain as it was. However, the workers' meals and accommodation had to be raised to appropriate standards, and the Gendarmerie was additionally commissioned to supervise the execution.

"Mining is strenuous work! The refining personnel are also working hard! Make sure they eat enough! And their resting places must be properly arranged!"

Theresica instructed the mine management personnel on the various adjustments needed. Initially, the mine workers were a bit distrustful. But when Sarkaz soldiers delivered various supplies from the Kazdel warehouse, cheers erupted throughout the mine.

In Kazdel, the young and strong all became soldiers. Only those with average or below-average physiques came here to mine or become ore refiners. They never expected to be valued by their King.

Some excited miners even pushed past the soldiers' obstruction and came before him, earnestly requesting, "Your Majesty, we can't eat this much."

"It's fine, eat more to nourish your bodies and don't contract Oripathy!"

Theresica persuaded them, then carefully examined all the miners and tentatively asked.

"Who here has worked at the mine for the longest time?"

"Old Wenk."

"That's right! Old Wenk, he was mining here before I arrived!"

"Old man, His Majesty is looking for you."

The miners shouted in a chorus, the crowd stirred, and an old Sarkaz squeezed out of the throng with difficulty. He was covered in dirty clothes and bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty."

Theresica stepped forward, observed him closely for a moment, then reached out, avoiding the Originium crystals on him, and carefully dusted him off. He even found something for the old Sarkaz to sit on.

"Elder, may I ask you a few questions?"

"It is my honor to be able to answer Your Majesty's questions."

"How long have you been working here?"

"Your Majesty, I can't recall exactly... perhaps several decades. My parents... also worked here. Back then... there were no mines. We just knew... we could dig out ore with a pickaxe and exchange it for food."

The old man spoke as he reminisced, "I watched this mine being dug out bit by bit. I could walk through it with my eyes closed."

"But... I see the Originium crystals on your body seem smaller than others."

Upon hearing his question, the old Sarkaz turned up a corner of his clothing. It wasn't smooth fabric, but seemed to be made up of densely packed small pouches.

"Your Majesty, you see, I've filled these with this."

Theresica reached out and took the small cloth pouch handed over by the old man. Upon opening it, he found it filled with an unknown powder.

"What is this?"

"It's Originium bugs. I kill them, pry off all the Originium crystals, then empty their insides and remove the outer shell. After that, I dry their flesh and shell, grind it into powder, and pack it into these tightly sealed cloth bags."

Old Wenk said, "My father told me this would protect me."

Chapter 9: Originium Bug Powder

Theresica took a bit of the powder and examined it in disbelief. The Banshee and Absolver beside him couldn't help but come closer, picking up a bit of powder to observe in their hands.

Could this reduce the harm Originium causes to the human body?

"Old man, are you the only one who knows this method? Why are you the only one using it?"

He asked curiously. If there was a way to slow down infection, why wasn't it being promoted?

"No, I told the people I worked with, and I also told Mr. Andrew, who manages this place."

The old Sarkaz sighed helplessly, "Making these things takes time. My father also said it's best to replace them every so often, but even if they aren't replaced, the powder will slowly leak out of the clothes. Raising Originium bugs also takes time... all of this would delay ore extraction, and the young people don't believe in this sort of thing."