Ice Vapor Goddess

Chapter 92 Signs of an Approaching Famine (Part 2)

Sam's expression was very serious, but what he didn't know was that just a few layers above him, Ryan's expression was just as solemn.

He tried to angrily smash the sculpture on the table, but thinking about the things he had recently broken and the Guardian Tower that was under repair, he reluctantly withdrew his hand, his veins bulging and muscles bulging like dragons.

The agricultural area, originally designed to support 40,000 people, has revealed a huge deficit. They say the temperature control system is not working because the differential engine department is not cooperating, and that the church forcibly seized the agricultural area, disrupting their plans.

They even suggested converting the livestock area into an agricultural area, so that they wouldn't have to grow feed and could grow more crops. However, they ended up having a big argument with the local administrators and the matter was hastily dropped.

Raine politely asked Sheena about the temperature control system, but she immediately exploded, saying things like "it has design flaws," "make them integrate the data first," and "the five-zone division scared her," which shut Raine down.

Then he went to the pastoral area to mediate the conflict, but the other party was unmoved by either soft or hard tactics. He complained about how much he had done for Speyer and said that the petty people in the agricultural area were just jealous of him and that's why they resorted to such a tactic. Then he gave Rennes a ham and respectfully escorted the governor to the agricultural area.

He angrily went to ask the agricultural area manager what was going on, only to find that they were boiling potatoes and asking him if he wanted a spoonful. As a result, he ate the worst potato he had ever eaten in his life.

It felt like a bunch of dead starch was attacking him in his mouth; Ryan never imagined he'd get punched twice by potatoes.

Fortunately, the hardships he endured during his military service decades ago were still etched into his bones, which prevented him from spitting this thing out.

The landowners in the agricultural area each ate a boiled potato, and everyone had tears in their eyes. Seeing this, Renne also had some doubts. Had they really done their best?
After finally getting rid of the puzzled Raine, the managers all leaned over the pot and vomited profusely. Their tears were genuine; having grown accustomed to the exquisite food in the salon, they were already in tears when they put a mouthful of boiled potatoes in plain water into their mouths.

Back in his office, he was in a state of utter confusion, feeling as if the entire Speyside was collapsing, yet there was nothing he could do about it.

Food is the foundation of any organization, and he couldn't even imagine the chaos that would ensue if the news got out.

The guards who had gone out to search for Newport refugees had sent scouts with news that they had not found any Newport refugees, but had found refugees in a small town to the west, numbering about a thousand, and requested logistical assistance.

The number of people is increasing, and it's conceivable that it will continue to grow in the future.

For the first time, Raine wished that his talent was not to control lightning but to control plants, so that at least more people could survive.

His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a corner of the marble desk, where an opened letter lay, its sealing wax bearing the Queen's portrait, with a picture of the Queen on horseback on the reverse.

He could recite that letter by heart—"Former Third Army General Ryan Hoffman is hereby appointed Governor of Speyside..." When he received that letter, he was overwhelmed with emotion and wished he could kneel before the Queen on the spot to offer his loyalty. After decades of conflict, she finally knew what she wanted.

Unfortunately, he could not have imagined that he would one day be sitting at his desk, lamenting helplessly.

After hesitating for a long time, he decided to talk to the livestock area and see if they could give up some land for growing crops. It wouldn't matter if they ate less meat, as long as no one starved to death.

But just then, a voice came from the megaphone.

"Your Excellency, Mr. Schneider has come to pay a visit."

He didn't know why Schneider had come at this time, but suddenly a second report came through the intercom: "Your Excellency, the bishop has also arrived and wishes to speak with you."

Renn remained silent.
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Xilen glanced at the potted fern in the corner and sat down opposite Renn.

Beside them, Schneider sat at the far side, holding documents, seemingly wanting to report something to the governor, but told them to talk first.

Silen found it strange. When he arrived at the door of Rennes to say he wanted to meet him, the valet said he needed to report something first. So he went to the next room and made a call using a megaphone for a while. Then Schneider rushed over and said he had something important to report to the governor.

Then the valet contacted Renn in the office from the waiting room to announce their arrival. Strangely, he first said Schneider had arrived, and then said the bishop had also arrived. He then told the two of them to come in together.

Xilun glanced at Schneider, who stood beside him without giving a single clue, and then at Ryan, who remained expressionless, wondering what kind of act they were putting on.

However, these are all minor matters. If it was arranged by Renn on purpose, it would only prove that he was showing weakness. After all, with his strength, he shouldn't need to care so much about himself.

"How much do you know about the frost giants?" Siron asked bluntly.

Ryan raised an eyebrow, but didn't utter the opening line he had prepared: "A lot."

"Information obtained from refugees?" Siren asked, without the slightest surprise.

Renn remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

“Listen, I’m not going to play a game of who’s more powerful with you.” Siren slammed his hand on the table. “We need to exchange information. The Frost Giants are likely to attack in the near future.”

Renn's expression turned serious: "Why?"

“Based on my guess, on the day the apocalypse came, they allocated the intensity of their attack according to the amount of red mercury around the world,” Xiren said quickly. “Divine power is the only thing that can kill them, and red mercury carries a lot of divine power, so they must destroy the red mercury first.”

Ryan pondered for a moment, remaining expressionless, but he had clearly figured something out.

Suddenly, Schneider's expression changed, and he abruptly asked, "So, bringing that cartload of red mercury back to the city will attract the frost giants, right?"

Xilun glanced at him: "Yes."

Raine's expression turned cold, and a terrifying pressure spread out. In just an instant, he transformed into a ferocious beast that would devour its prey, sitting on the other side of the stone table, looking at Xiren with the eyes of someone eyeing their prey: "So, you have brought disaster to this place."

“No, I brought weapons,” Siren said, pulling several brass bullets from his pocket, engraved with sacred runes of the Church.

"Red mercury bullets contain five grams of red mercury. Once fired into a frost giant, they will automatically ignite, causing massive, irreparable damage. They are engraved with heat-insulating runes to prevent the red mercury from boiling due to excessive heat."

Ryan picked up the bullet, examined it for a moment, then turned his head and said slowly, "But according to your guess, Speyside shouldn't have been attacked, so you're going to produce your weapons and make my soldiers risk their lives?"

Xilun sneered: "If we shouldn't be attacked, then where did the previous two waves of frost giants come from? Just because you're not the main target doesn't mean you'll never be attacked. If you want, I can throw away that cart of red mercury, and then you can stay in the shelter and wait for the end of time."

Raine didn't speak, but just stared at the bullet, the shadow of the liquid inside showing through the light.

“As a soldier, you should know that when the enemy asks you to lay down your weapon, the best option is to pick it up,” Siren said.

Raine put down his bullet and looked at Siron: "Indeed, to fight the Frost Giants, we must study Red Mercury, but Your Excellency, you should admit that Red Mercury is not just a weapon, but also a necessary strategic material. You will use it in boilers, machinery, and weapons, but only a portion of it will be used against our common enemy."

Xilun breathed a sigh of relief. This meant that they wanted to discuss conditions; in terms of defending against foreign enemies, both sides should at least make equal contributions.

He had been prepared for this for a while; as long as Ryan was willing to talk, things would be fine.

He then took a document out of his pocket and gave a gentle smile.

(End of this chapter)