Chapter Twenty-Nine

The next day, as expected, the swarm came back. Everyone held their breaths as a part of the sky turned black as the insects flew past by. 

Lark stood on the watchtower inside the town. From his position, he could see some of the teams spread all throughout the northern farmland. 

The preparations were set. All that's left was the Young Master's orders. 

"Sound the gong," said Lark. 

The soldier next to him breathed in a gust of air, and with his entire might, struck the gong in the watchtower. The first strike was followed by several others, its metallic roar reverberating throughout the land. 

Upon hearing this, the different teams in the northern farmland started igniting the barrels prepared by Lark beforehand. Each of these barrels contained sticky, putrid substances inside. They did not know what it was, but it burned nicely upon fire's contact. Thick white smoke swirled up into the sky as numerous barrels started burning one after another. 

"The locusts are coming down!" shouted one of the farmers. 

True enough, the swarm started coming down, their aim were the crops spread all throughout the northern land. 

The farmers turned pallid as they embraced themselves for the worst. They did not expect that the crops they painstakingly cultivated for the past several months were going to be consumed by the damnable bastards.

"Eh?" 

Voices of surprise escaped their mouths.  

A surreal scenario unfolded before their eyes. 

The insects, which were about to devour the crops, started falling down one after another. The amount falling down the sky was so numerous that it temporarily created an image of a black haze – a black rain. 

"W-What's happening?" 

"The insects are dying! They're falling down! They're falling down!"

The different teams stationed in different parts of the northern farmland were bewildered. Soon, they all stared at the barrels. They were still burning fiercely, its thick smoke swirling up towards the sky. 

They realized that the death of the swarm must have been due to the white smoke now covering the sky. They could not believe that these demons – these insects that had infested the entire Kingdom – were falling down like dead flies. 

Inside the watchtower, the soldiers next to Lark could also not believe their eyes. After the gong was rang, smoke from different parts of the northern farmland swirled into the sky. Moments after, the insects were dying one by one.

"What do you call those insects?" said Lark. 

It was peculiar that a man who knew how to kill the damnable bastards did not even know its name, but the soldier next to him answered regardless, "They're called Desert Locusts, Young Master."

"Desert Locusts, huh?" repeated Lark. He gazed at the black rain falling from the sky. 

"Those insects never spare the farmlands they pass by. Without exemption, the crops wither after a while. In just a few days, a previously lush land will resemble a desert. A land devoid of life." The soldier explained how the insects acquired its name. 

It was amusing that such easy-to-kill insects were given such a terrifying name. These insects were called Kelnup Flies back in the Magic Empire, despite their obvious semblance to locusts. The reason was simple: it was because they easily died from the smoke of a burning kelnup, the same substance which filled the barrels Lark asked the farmers to burn up. Once exposed to the smoke of a burning kelnup, they would immediately drop dead like flies. 

After an hour passed and the swarm previously hovering above had all fallen down to the ground, Lark went down the watchtower. He called Gaston over. 

"You called, Young Master?" 

"Ask the farmers to retrieve the insects' dead bodies," said Lark. "Afterwards, store them in barrels half-filled with dirt."

Gaston had become used to Lark's eccentric orders by now. He no longer questioned them. "This old servant shall obey."

Lark nodded.

After half a month, the dead bodies of the insects would start decomposing, leaving behind nothing but their shells. Those shells were valuable materials in making strong adhesives. All Lark had to do was ask the servants to melt them under intense flames, then retrieve the sticky liquid it would leave behind. 

Although those adhesives could not cement stones together, it was very effective in gluing wood, to the point that one could build a wooden cabin if he had enough adhesives. 

Jackpot.

A subtle grin started forming on Lark's lips. The insects numbered hundreds of thousands, if not millions. The amount of shells they'll be able to collect would be enough to build thousands of wooden houses. 

The Black Famine feared all throughout the Kingdom and the Empire was actually a blessing in disguise for Lark. 

"Young Master?" 

Lark turned around when someone called his name. 

It was a middle-aged man wearing a worn out tunic. He bowed his head the moment he made eye contact with Lark. 

He went straight to the point. "Sir, the thing which killed the Black Famine. The substance the farmers burned to kill those insects… Could you tell me its name and how to make them?"

Those around them were momentarily taken aback when the man suddenly asked the Young Master how to make the product. It was easy to realize how valuable that information was, since it could potentially save the entire Kingdom. Any sane man would ask compensation in exchange for that piece of vital information. Yet, this man was asking for it straightforwardly. 

They expected the Young Master to refuse, but contrary to their expectations, Lark answered after a pause. "Kelnup. That's the name of the substance. It's easy to make them, actually. Freshly picked larendew grass, monochrome stone grinded into dust, fresh manure of any farm animal, and magworth roots. All in equal proportions. Mix them thoroughly. Afterwards, add castrel oil. Same amount."

The man's eyes widened for a moment after hearing the ingredients from Lark. He probably did not expect the Young Master to divulge such information easily. 

Lark chuckled upon seeing this. "What? Do you think I'm lying?"

The man shook his head. "No... That's not it. It's just that…"

I didn't expect that you'll tell me how to make that thing this easily. 

The man did not voice his thoughts out loud. He simply stared at Lark for a moment, then bowed his head. "Thank you."

Lark smiled. "You'll need a lot of it to kill an entire swarm though." He looked at the open gate of the town. Some of the farmers tasked to burn the kelnups were coming back, probably to report what they found. 

Lark stared at the man wearing worn out tunic. Although the man was suppressing his mana from leaking out, Lark could sense it. He was sure that this person was not ordinary. He knew that this man would probably leak the method of creating kelnups to another party. 

But such a trivial thing did not matter. 

On the contrary, he would like it if such a thing were to happen. The method of killing these pests should be spread all throughout the entire Kingdom. It was time to end the so-called Black Famine. 

The farmers' blood and sweat. The time they sacrificed to cultivate the lands. I cannot let mere insects destroy that.

"I'm going to take a look around," said Lark. "It'll be great to see those damnable insects sprawled all over the ground."

***

After Lark left, Mikael immediately went towards the direction of the Mines. He went towards the forest, at a place devoid of people. He took out the gemstone entrusted to him by his Majesty. 

After channeling mana into it, he started writing down the method of dealing with the Black Famine to the King. 

Your Majesty, I have found the method to kill the Black Famine. 

Anyone would be stunned speechless upon seeing his opening line. 

Mikael enumerated the ingredients stated by Lark. Each of them were fairly common goods. With the power of the sovereign, it would be easy to gather them en masse. 

Even now, Mikael could not believe that such an easy method to kill the black insects existed. 

But he saw it with his own eyes. He saw how the swarm dropped dead like flies. 

"Lark Marcus," he mumbled the Young Lord's name. 

Mikael's eyes glimmered for a moment. 

He was sure now. 

That young man's horrible reputation was nothing but a façade. 

My daughter, Elaine. You told me that I was assigned to the worst candidate. You told me that it'll be nothing but a waste to go to this place.

Mikael clenched his fists. 

But it seems that you're wrong. We're both wrong. Lark Marcus is a genius.