Chapter 205

Chapter 205

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 205: Chapter 4 (5)

Prince Murloc, who had returned to the capital, took the national project proposed by Allen to the elderly Emperor. Above all, the Emperor seemed satisfied that the payment wasn’t needed immediately.

There was an extended discussion between the Emperor and various officials regarding this project that Allen had painstakingly designed. The decisive factor was the conflict of opinion between the Emperor and the officials.

The Emperor wished to elevate the Empire’s prestige through this construction, while the officials argued against wasting precious food on excessive relief efforts. However, with the approaching winter, they couldn’t possibly let all the citizens starve to death!

Relief efforts were inevitable. Therefore, they needed to engage in work that would make the grain worth the effort.

Thus, the project was eventually approved.

As expected, the workforce was fully recruited in less than half a day once the recruitment notice was posted, even though it was announced that only meals would be provided without pay.

…And soon, as winter approached, the construction began.

Working in the harsh winter cold was no easy task, yet the employees persevered. From their perspective, merely not starving to death in the food-scarce winter was a miracle and a blessing.

Still, wintering wasn’t easy. Especially for households with many mouths to feed.

…And so, the harsh winter slowly drew to a close.

On the barren fields, cracked by drought, sparse but fresh green shoots began to sprout.

Spring.

It was the new spring that everyone had so desperately longed for.

As expected, numerous deaths from starvation occurred over the winter. Even in the capital, where conditions were relatively better.

Of course, just because winter ended and spring arrived didn’t mean it was all over. Starvation would continue until the harvest season…

Still, in spring, there was slightly more to eat than in winter. Even those meager blades of grass sprouting from the cracked, rough earth could be picked to make porridge.

On an early spring day when the chilly wind still blew sharply.

The clear sky gradually became overcast, and a few raindrops began to fall.

And soon, it turned into a downpour.

It was rain.

The first rain in one year and two months.

Even when people witnessed the rain falling from the sky with their own eyes, they could hardly believe it. Wondering if this wasn’t a dream.

The precious rain fell on the capital, the Holy Kingdom, and Vermandois as well.

“Group Leader, Group Leader! It’s raining! Rain! It’s raining, I’m telling you! Damn it, it’s finally raining!!”

Geese, who was on guard duty for the Group Leader, shouted until his voice cracked, watching the rain pouring down outside the window. His eyes even turned red despite his large build.

Allen was just as moved. He threw aside the paperwork he was looking at and immediately ran outside the building. The few people remaining in the guild house all heard the news of the rain and ran out like him.

Allen was drenched head to toe in the rain pouring down from the sky, completely…

Rain.

It’s raining.

Regardless of rank, regardless of age, everyone in Vermandois came outside to look up at the sky and feel this miraculous rain.

Everyone ended up looking like drenched rats, but no one laughed or ridiculed them for it.

They all expressed this overflowing joy and emotion in their own ways.

Some laughed.

Some cried.

Some shouted.

Some ran.

-It’s raiiin!

-It’s raining!!!

The long drought finally came to an end, and the river, which had shriveled pathetically, now roared loudly.

The road construction, which had been ongoing for nearly half a year, proceeded smoothly without any issues. The road stretching from the Imperial Palace to the eastern gate was completed.

The old Emperor, upon hearing the news that the eastern road construction was completed, embarked on a night journey.

The magical lights installed like roadside trees on both sides of the road brightly illuminated the way as if it were daytime. The Emperor, running between those bright beams of light, couldn’t hide his admiration for the road’s functional beauty and elegance.

-During this dark and rough time, the Empire will overcome brightly like this.

The officials who had opposed the construction also realized that the project was right after seeing the changes to the road.

There was no longer any opposition to the road construction extending to the western, southern, and northern gates.

Unusually, the Empire also reduced taxes by half just for this year. It was a decision considering the severe damage suffered by the cities due to the drought. At least, they needed time for their wounds to heal.

…Nevertheless, the continent experienced another wave of extreme hunger and famine during the lean season, leading to another mass funeral.

Having passed through the last hurdle, the continent finally faced its first barley harvest. Although the harvest was less than half of the usual amount because almost all the seeds had been consumed, the situation was much better compared to the previous year when the harvest had plummeted due to the severe drought.

Soon, grain harvested from the vast plains of the South began to spread across the entire continent. Although grain prices were still extraordinarily high, the fact that trading was happening was very encouraging.

…Thus, the famine recorded in history came to an end.

The famine that swept across the entire continent brought significant changes to the mercenary world as well.

Numerous mercenary groups fell, reducing their numbers to less than half.

The most shocking of these events was the bankruptcy and collapse of the Ponporo-Mercenary Group of the Top 10.

Due to their reckless business expansion before the drought, the Ponporo-Mercenary Group became financially unstable and eventually couldn’t survive the winter, declaring bankruptcy.

With debts snowballing, the leader of the Ponporo-Mercenary Group couldn’t even manage the mercenaries’ meals, let alone salaries, and ultimately declared the disbandment of the group.

And this was an unexpected opportunity for Allen.

There was no denying that the Allen-Mercenary Group was now closest to the Top 10.

However, due to the continent’s grim situation, the Top 10 gathering was continuously postponed, even though a spot was vacant well into spring.

Of course, Allen did not act hastily. He didn’t want to ruin everything by jumping the gun.

While he quietly waited for the right time, a visitor came to see him—someone he knew who would eventually arrive.

“It’s been a while, Group Leader Allen.”

Elizabeth Belver, the noble lady whose beauty had now reached its peak.

Her platinum blonde hair shone like gold, and her skin, as white as if it had never seen the sun, gleamed brightly. She looked like a person from another world.

“It’s nice to see you, my lady.”

“Today, I’ve come as the Vice Group Leader.”

As soon as he heard those words, Allen could gauge her intentions without needing to read her status screen.

So, she’s trying to draw me in.

She must have been holding back out of pride, but now that the Top 10 seemed truly within reach, she couldn’t restrain herself any longer.

“You must have heard that the Ponporo-Mercenary Group has gone bankrupt….”

“Yes, I have.”

“You also know that to become part of the Top 10, you need the agreement of the majority, right?”

“I’m aware.”

Elizabeth crossed her legs and smiled charmingly.

“Then this will be easy. Let’s get straight to the point: I can support you.”

The Vice Group Leader had previously made the Pesial-Mercenary Group, which was practically on her side, one of the Top 10. If she set her mind to it, making the Allen-Mercenary Group one of the Top 10 would be no trouble at all.

“Do you wish to make a deal?”

“Deal, you say. Why be so formal between us?”

The corners of the Vice Group Leader’s lips rose further.

“I’m not asking for much. Come to the East.”

It meant to come under her command.

“Are you asking me to become one of your people?”

“Oh my, do you think you’re someone I can control? I’m just asking you to join me. Instead of staying here, in Vermandois, come to the more splendid East.”

She had taken a step back for now. But her ambition to make him one of her people still existed.

“If you come to the East, I’ll fully support you. Of course, being in the Top 10 will be a bonus. What do you think? Isn’t this quite an exceptional offer?”

Frankly, it was a tempting proposal. But would being in the Top 10, gained by cozying up to the Elegant Mage, be meaningful?

Allen didn’t want to associate himself with a woman who wanted to have everything under her feet. Such women didn’t listen to reason or common sense.

“Well, I’ve already settled here.”

“I can compensate for all of that. Ha! I’m from a duke’s family, a duke’s family!”

That’s your father’s power, not yours, woman.

Allen wanted to shout that, but he held back for now.

“Thank you for your proposal, Vice Group Leader, but it seems difficult for me to go to the East.”

“…Don’t you want to become one of the Top 10?”

The face of the lady hardened menacingly, but Allen responded with a smiling face.

“If it doesn’t work out, then it can’t be helped. It must mean it’s not my place yet.”

“…Fine, seems like you have something to rely on. Let’s see how well you do.”

Vice Group Leader Elizabeth stood up abruptly in irritation. Allen called out to her as she turned to leave.

He sincerely advised her.

“My lady. The world doesn’t revolve solely around you. Accept things as they are.”

“…What are you saying? Who do you think you are?”

Hmph, just because you’re doing a bit well, you think you own the place! Let’s see if you come back again!

Elizabeth snorted, dismissing his heartfelt advice, and left the room.

…Ugh, that damn girl. When will she come to her senses?

If she were a bit less greedy, she could become a cooperative colleague, but it’s just unfortunate.

Allen considered asking Group Leader Grenzo to help correct her behavior next time. If that wouldn’t work, he’d have to discipline her himself.

In truth, he wasn’t particularly eager for this unexpectedly vacated Top 10 position. Opportunities would come again in the future, so there was no need to force it.

He had been thinking of trying it out with a light heart—if it works, it works; if not, so be it. However, thanks to Vice Group Leader Elizabeth, he adjusted his thinking a bit.

Taking this opportunity, he decided to put that bitch in her place.