Grain (Part One)

With complicated feelings, the two rode into the city. The caravan did not head for the castle where Earl Elliot was staying; instead, it made for the Land, Sea, and Air United Merchant Guild's branch in Pangtuo City.

The caravan's enormous size immediately caught the public's attention. When people heard it was a grain convoy from Gannan Province, they hurried home to gather all their money, ready to buy food. Among them were no shortage of people hoping to turn a quick profit.

Everyone knew how important grain would be in the future, except fools. Before long, even money might not be enough to buy it.

After storing the grain in a warehouse, assigning guards, and issuing strict orders that it was not to be sold to the public, Merman followed Major Rona to meet Earl Elliot.

Every resident they saw along the way looked sickly. When they asked about it, they learned that Pangtuo City had begun rationing grain two weeks earlier.

But the grain being distributed was not free. People had to pay for it.

The soldiers ate communally, so at least they were guaranteed enough not to go hungry.

Ordinary residents could eat only until they were half full. Those with money could manage to get about eighty percent full, while those without had to go hungry.

There was a way to avoid going hungry: risk a trip into the mountains to scavenge for food.

But the mountains were extremely dangerous. Besides the terrifying demons, there were countless bandits and outlaws. Of every ten people who went in, two or three never came back.

Hearing all this, Merman couldn't help sighing. He vaguely recalled what had happened thirty years ago.

He had been barely in his teens when the Demon Disaster broke out, and he had fled