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Chapter 20 – Confrontation: The White Plague Stirs
—Three Months Until Revolution—
Scratch... scratch...
The soft sound of charcoal dragging across parchment filled the quiet chamber like a whisper through a cathedral. Stacked documents surrounded the large desk, and the air smelled faintly of ink and burnt oil.
Stacian stood at the doorway, arms crossed, her crimson eyes glinting beneath the hood of her cloak.
"Is it even possible to fix an economy in three months?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with doubt. "You're not dealing with bandits this time, Leornars. This is bigger than one city."
Seated amidst a sea of scrolls and schematics, Leornars didn't look up. His hand continued to move, drawing with eerie precision.
"It's possible," he said flatly. "Difficult. Risky. But not impossible."
Stacian stepped forward, heels tapping against the stone floor. "So, what mad genius plan are you cooking up this time?"
He paused, then lifted the parchment slightly. "Same strategy I used when I rescued you. Fast. Precise. Brutal. But this time with logistics, engineering... and a little patience."
She peered at the scroll, blinking in surprise. "Wait—is that... a waterwheel?"
"Modified for continuous grinding. I'm mechanizing fertilizer and grain processing. Bone powder. Ash. Anything to amplify crop yields."
Stacian gave a low whistle. "You even factored in soil chemistry?"
Leornars glanced up, a slight smirk curving his lips. "Smarter than you look."
"Oh please," she snorted, walking away. "I'll talk to the king. We need to gather the farmers. I want to examine their soil directly."
She paused, her hand on the doorframe. "Also—don't forget green manure."
Leornars blinked. "Green what?"
"Organic. From vegetation. It enriches the soil and strengthens root systems." She looked over her shoulder. "Try not to collapse. You're still recovering."
He watched her go, then sighed and dipped his pen again.
"…Green manure. Weird name."
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⚔️ Durmount – Hero Training Grounds
Steel clashed against steel under the morning sun. Sweat drenched the earth as summoned heroes swung, thrust, and shouted across the sparring fields.
One dark-haired boy stood apart, his aura flaring.
With a single furious slash, he cleaved a training post clean through.
"I'll kill him…" Kylie growled, panting. "He killed my father… and said I'd need to grow stronger first. Three months… I've trained for this. I am stronger now."
But then his expression twisted. "Of all people… why did they summon him? Why Leornars?!"
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🏰 Back in Lurtra
Achoo!
Leornars sneezed suddenly, blinking at the air around him.
"...Someone's cursing my name again."
He sniffed and went back to sketching.
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👑 Royal Audience Chamber
The moment Stacian stepped inside, silence fell.
Wings folded neatly behind her, her chin held high, she made no move to bow.
The royal chancellor's face turned purple. "You filthy chimera! Show respect before His Majesty!"
"I only kneel to Lord Leornars," she said coolly. "And he forbids me to bow to anyone."
"You dare—!"
He lunged—
But never reached her.
A wave of invisible pressure slammed into the chamber. Stacian's bloodlust unfurled like a tempest.
The chancellor fell to his knees, gasping, eyes bulging.
She stepped over him slowly, pressing her boot to the back of his head.
"Worms shouldn't bark."
Far away, Leornars chuckled.
"…Why do I suddenly feel impressed?"
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"King Edmund," Stacian said, turning toward the throne. "I need to speak to the farmers. Their tools, soil quality, storage methods—everything."
The king blinked. "That... can be arranged."
"Thank you, Edmund," she replied bluntly, turning to leave.
The chancellor staggered to his feet. "You insolent—that's His Majesty! You call him Your Highness!"
Stacian paused. "He may be king. But Leornars... is Lord."
She shut the doors.
"WRETCHED WHORE!!" the chancellor shrieked.
The king sighed and rubbed his temples.
---
🪧 Outside the Castle
Crowds swarmed the gates.
"Free the White Plague!" they chanted.
Stacian blinked. "What's going on?"
A man beside her turned. "We're protesting! We want Lord Leornars freed!"
"…He's already Prime Minister," she muttered.
"He's what?!"
"I won't repeat myself," she said, leaping casually over the seven-meter wall.
The man blinked. "...You know we can't do that, right?"
She ignored him, wings spreading.
Julian watched her soar.
"So... she can fly. Neat."
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🌾 In the Fields
"Does anyone here know what nitrogen, phosphate, or calcium are?"
Stacian scanned the group of farmers. Blank stares.
She sighed.
"...This is going to take a while."
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One Hour Later
The fields smelled of compost and hard work.
Stacian knelt in the dirt, sketching diagrams with a stick.
"Three-Field System. One plot wheat. One legumes. One left fallow. Rotate every cycle."
She tapped the ground. "Potassium from ash. Phosphate from bone meal. Lime neutralizes acid. And manure—go easy or your crops will rot."
"This is basic?!" one farmer cried.
Stacian smirked. "Farming is like war."
"But we're farmers!"
"You're more important than warriors. No food, no army. No army, no kingdom."
They stared.
Then they cheered.
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⚰️ Castle – Audience Chamber
Leornars entered calmly.
"Is there an abandoned graveyard nearby?"
The king blinked. "A... graveyard?"
"I need workers. Undead don't complain."
His gaze shifted to the chancellor. "You look worse than usual. Who beat you?"
"You heretical scum—!"
" I wonder what you are doing here, can you leave" Leornars said coldly to the chancellor as his eyes glowed red crimson, the chancellor flinched as he hurriedly left
" I know there's something you need from me,am I wrong?" The king asked
"You are a smart one, I'll get straight to the point, I need two thousand six hundred miles of land, i know your nation is over a hundred and sixty thousand in miles ,i want only that proportion, it has to be near the sea, the spirit forest and the wasteland, that's all I want" Leornars said
" I can easily arrange that" the king said calmly
" No, no no, words are words ... Lies and truth are both words they just depend on how you use them and I am not naive enough to fall to it, I need a contract entitled that I own it,it's not a part of your nation so it will need to be removed from your nation's map and territories" Leornars Said calmly as he sat on the floor.
The king laughed out loud
" I underestimated you, now I know what you are... you are terrifying " the king said
" I despise lies , underestimate me and probably your nation will be mine " Leornars said casually as he turned to leave
" That I will do " the king said
"And I need my land in two weeks from now " Leornars said as he left
"Take over my nation? I'm sure he can, but will he?" The king thought
"You have two weeks."
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Streets of Lurtra
Leornars walked with his hands behind his back, lost in thought.
Tap. Tap. His fingers rhythmically struck his thigh.
Then—
"Hello, Plague Boy."
He looked up.
A man in black robes approached, face obscured.
"…And you are?"
"Zaryter Daternum. Black Acer."
Leornars narrowed his eyes. "So, you're here to abduct me?"
"You're sharp," Zaryter said. "Just as he said."
"Oh, so you are not the man incharge, just a pawn,huh? I can use that" Leornars thought
Zaryter leapt forward.
Leornars drew twin daggers, blades flashing.
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