episode_0010

“I have come to meet Lady Selene.”

“She is currently in a tea time session. Could you please wait for a moment?”

Tea time was probably just an excuse. Like the Golden Adran, Selene of Grace also despised me to the extreme. After I sent Karia to brutally massacre the rebels and attempted to assassinate Emperor, my own uncle, and failed, I was executed as a result.

As expected, that damn tea time seemed to last forever, and Selene didn’t even bother to acknowledge my presence for half a day. It was around the time when Karia’s face twisted with anger while waiting beside me.

“I apologize, but Lady Selene is not feeling well at the moment. You should come back tomorrow.”

“What are you talking about right now!!!!!”

I could accept Selene’s very polite yet unmistakably dismissive response. Karia was furious, but I calmed her down. I had no intention of giving up. If I retreated now, there would be no space to accommodate the peasants flocking to the Elond domain, just as Karl Hansen predicted—a slum would be created.

Elond domain is a cold place. If a slum were to be formed there, people dying from the cold might become a common occurrence. When the Golden Plains were cultivated into farmland, not a single farmer was willing to bear such losses.

“I apologize, but could you convey a message to Lady Selene? If she doesn’t yield like this, thousands of peasants will flock to the Elond domain seeking employment and die in the cold. Surely, Lady Selene would bear responsibility for that.”

After hearing my words, the maid who came to relay the message respectfully bowed her head and returned to convey the message. I knew well that even though Selene hated me, she genuinely cared for the people.

She was the only character in this wretched novel who possessed common sense and represented virtue, along with the Golden Adran.

No wonder.

Whether it was due to my words about thousands of people dying or not, Selene changed her mind within five minutes and agreed to meet me. Karia and I were guided to her room to meet Selene.

As soon as I opened the door and entered, I saw a stunning beauty looking at me with a haughty gaze. It was Celeine, the embodiment of grace and keen observation.

Dressed in a splendid gown, she was a genius among geniuses, holding complete control over the Empire’s alchemists and scientists. However, her scholarly knowledge and expertise couldn’t stop the ambitious Rendor and Karia.

In the end, she faced execution by fire, and the numerous wizards, alchemists, and scientists who followed her met the same fate, with their lives hanging in the square. Rendor was considered the most pitiful creature dwelling in the Empire’s cheapest dung.

“An honor to meet you, Lady Celeine…”

When I tried to greet her, Celeine replied in a cold voice, “Dispense with the formalities. I have no desire to receive greetings from you.”

Celeine, with her beauty and observational skills, also held a firm grip on the capital’s social circles. Like someone who had rolled through society enough times, she skillfully cast an arrogant tone that left the listener feeling dirty.

“Sister, if only we could be rude to Rendor once more…”

Karia growled and reached for her sword, but I stopped her. I desperately needed Celeine’s help right now. We must not fight. If she demands us to kneel, we must kneel.

“Dispense with the formalities. It’s obvious that you detest them, so let’s keep it brief. Would you care to see this?”

I showed Celeine the precious soil and weeds from the Golden Meadow that I had carefully brought with me. Perhaps anticipating bribes and jewels, Celeine’s face, which had been poised with a cold smirk, slightly contorted upon seeing the grass and dirt, a look of confusion crossing her features.

“What is this?”

“It’s soil and weeds from beyond the Laco Mountain Trade Route. They come from the Golden Meadow in the western continent. When I asked the farmers who migrated to the Elond Territory to analyze it, they said it has the soil quality, weather conditions, and humidity needed for growing crops, but lacks nutrients. They mentioned a tremendous amount of fertilizer is required.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Selene, I need your help. A tremendous number of farmers from all over the country are coming to the Eldond region every day in search of employment. It is expected that in three months, the population will exceed the capacity of the Portu commercial city and the Eldond region. I am considering developing the Golden Plains into agricultural land.”

It seemed like unexpected words. Based on what I had seen so far, it was natural to expect bribery and manipulation if I were to bring out bribes and jewels. However, she was saying something completely different about farming and the people, which could be bewildering.

But as someone who had long wandered in social circles, she concealed her confusion as much as possible and maintained a dignified expression, asserting her superiority.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Traditionally, we cannot produce enough food to cultivate this vast Golden Plains using conventional methods. We need new technology. Selene, you possess the greatest intelligence in the Empire. Under your command, there are numerous scientists, alchemists, and wizards. I came here hoping that you might have a solution.”

Selene burst into laughter.

“You’re repulsive, just like any other human. Are you planning to exploit the farmers by cultivating the Golden Plains?”

It seemed like she believed I would definitely do something bad.

“Why should I help you? From the perspective of the farmers, the only change would be that instead of being plundered by nobles, they would be plundered by you. Even if I have the technology to convert the entire Golden Plains into farmland, there is no guarantee that it would benefit all the farmers, only you. The owner of the Golden Plains changes, that’s all. I plan to lease it to the farmers and return 90% of the profits from the crops grown on that farmland to them. I will only take 10% as taxes.”

“Where is the guarantee that someone as wicked as you would do that?”

“I am already the wealthiest person in the empire without having to plunder the peasants. The merchants in the capital make in a day or two what they would earn in a year. There is no reason to plunder the peasants. I…”

“I can’t trust you. Teach me the technology to create new farmland. Ha! The superficial pretext is truly admirable. Just like it has always been. However, I don’t have confidence that you will use that technology in the right and true way. It has always been like that. Behind your grand excuses, there has always been unimaginable malice.”

Selene looks at me with fiery eyes.

“Instead, send the peasants flocking to your territory to the capital. Grandfather and I will take care of them somehow. I can’t trust you.”

“How dare you… How dare you to Randor!!!”

Karia can’t hold back any longer and draws her sword halfway. The knights who were escorting Selene also unsheathe their weapons simultaneously, but their expressions showed tension.

The Empire’s strongest sword.

Known not only for her command of the army but also for her invincible personal strength, Karia, who is considered the strongest, knew that even if all the knights here rushed at her, they would have no chance of winning.

I quickly grab Karia’s hand and make her sheathe the partially drawn sword.

Selene’s distrust runs deep.

And it’s understandable.

Because I, as a puppeteer, have watched closely as I completely made the Emperor and Karia mine for several years and made the Empire sick. Even if I try to convince her now, her distrust won’t disappear in an instant.

I look straight at Selene.

Selene also stares at me without flinching.

Even though she knows that if I give an order to Karia, I can tear apart everyone here, she still maintains that expression.

Truly a resolute woman.

That’s why most readers liked her and felt sorry for her when she was sentenced to death by Randor.

I understand her mistrust.

But I desperately needed her help.

What was regrettable was on my side, and I remembered the saying that the thirsty one digs the well.

I look directly at her and suddenly kneel down, banging my head on the ground.

“Randor!!”

Karia hurriedly approached me, but I didn’t raise my deeply bowed head. It was a humble pose, having put down my pride and all, but I didn’t care at all. I had to change the bad ending. What’s the use of caring about pride when it eventually leads to a tragic and torn ending? “Please help me. I understand that you can’t stand me. I am mostly at fault. I understand that. But even if you hate me, please help, even if it’s just by looking at the business I’ve created and the people who are being saved by it.” “Randor! Don’t do this!” Karia tried to lift me up, but I didn’t raise my deeply rooted head. “I will bring Prince Adran’s officials to my territory. I will entrust the administration of Elond and the Portu Commercial District to them. They will monitor whether they oppress the people or truly work for their benefit. I will only accept the promised amount. 90% of the income from the Golden Plains’ agricultural land will go to the farmers, and I will take only 10% as taxes.” I raised my head slightly and looked at Selene. Even the queen of high society, who had experienced everything, couldn’t hide her bewilderment at my act of abandoning pride. What symbolized Randor was his cunning and ambition, as well as his pride. He was never someone who would sacrifice his pride for others. He was a villain who sacrificed other people’s lives for his own pride and ambition. Such a person kneeling and begging for basic farming technology was quite shocking to the princess. “I want to create a world where the people are well-fed and happy, Your Highness. I can’t achieve it with my strength alone. I need your help. I want to turn the Golden Plains into a land where real gold is produced, not just in name. Please help me.” “Randor!” Karia didn’t know what to do and was fidgeting beside me, while Princess Selene remained silent for a long time. It seemed that even she needed time to digest this shocking situation. “Please stand up, Randor.”

And after a while, Selene responded. I stood up and soon saw the princess’s face soften.

She still had a confused expression, but she seemed determined to help.

“There was once a person who was both an alchemist and a scientist who developed a technology that could produce soil cultivation materials. I will introduce you to that person.”

“Really? Thank you so much!!”

As I bowed to express my gratitude, Selene spoke firmly.

“I still don’t fully trust you. I will keep an eye on you. The moment you show any signs of corruption, I will mercilessly take away the technology I provided. You will have to atone for your past actions for the rest of your life.”

“Of course!! Absolutely! Haha!! Thank you, Your Highness!! Can I meet that technician?”

The princess looked at me for a moment and then got up and took me and Karia to the mausoleum.

There, I was able to meet an alchemist.

“My name is Leoric. Haha. I’m not from a noble family, just a humble peasant household.”

The innocent-looking bachelor in his 30s was the epitome of a scientist drawn in a picture.

“Lately, the trend among mausoleums, alchemists, and scientists is the refinement of magic stone processing technology. There is a lot of interest in refining it to make teleportation more widely and affordably available. I focused on a slightly different aspect in my research. Thanks to that, no one recognizes me, though. Hahaha.”

Being talkative like a scientist, he mumbled various stories without being asked, and led us to his laboratory.

“This is it. The technology I developed. Since my parents were peasants, I thought it might be helpful and developed it in my spare time. Well… no one acknowledges it within the mausoleum, but I wonder if it will be of any help to Lord Randor…”

Embarrassed, he showed us his experimental equipment and the items that could be produced from it, stumbling through his explanation. After listening to Leoric’s explanation, I was able to firmly grasp his hand.

“You are… You’re a genius! Leoric!!! A genius!!!! I do know what you’ve developed right now!!!!! Uhahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Amidst my crazed laughter and joy, Leoric and Princess Selene, as well as Caria, wore puzzled expressions. However, it didn’t matter.

As someone who frequently watched science-related YouTube channels, I could instantly recognize what Leoric had developed. It was a method of synthesizing ammonia using iron catalysts in an environment of 200 atmospheres and temperatures between 400-500 degrees Celsius. What Leoric had developed was the chemical process of the Haber-Bosch method.

It was a technology that enabled the mass production of fertilizers, sustaining humanity.