HTLCCBFT Chapter 226

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 226

“Kaendi[mfn]凯恩迪(Kǎi ēn dí) – ‘Candy'[/mfn], don’t go!”

In front of a residence located between the third and fourth city walls of the royal capital, a woman called out anxiously and urgently.

Startled by his mother’s sudden cry, the little boy who hadn’t even turned four yet was so frightened that the half piece of black bread he was holding slipped from his hand.

Though it was just half a piece of hardened bread, before it could even hit the ground, it was snatched up by a vagrant who had been crouching nearby, watching intently. The man eagerly stuffed it into his mouth, chewing laboriously with his sparse, uneven teeth.

“Stop staring at him!”

The woman scolded in a low voice, hurriedly pulling her young son back into the house. She felt both angry and fearful: “Didn’t I warn you not to run around? And you got so close to that man – what if you catch his sickness?”

But seeing her child’s bewildered expression, and remembering the impoverished man who was too filthy to recognize and as thin as randomly assembled dry sticks, her anger dissipated.

After all, if that man truly was diseased, it was already too late.

Thinking of the rampant plague that caused one’s skin to rot away completely, oozing pus until death came amid agonized screams, she couldn’t help but shudder.

If she had to die in such a painful manner, she’d rather hang herself.

Yet more pressing than such terrifying thoughts was the immediate concern of food supplies.

Everything had erupted without warning, and their household provisions were running dangerously low. Her husband, a merchant who frequently traveled between major cities, had left for Gregor City a month ago, leaving her alone to care for their child.

Normally, they employed two maidservants, but when the epidemic broke out, both parties – the servants worried about their own families’ safety, and her concerned about potential contamination – had mutually agreed to terminate their employment.

Now managing unfamiliar household chores, and with their food stores nearly depleted, she had no choice but to wrap cloth around her head – though uncertain if it offered any protection – and risk a trip to the shops.

But the usually bustling alleyways stood empty, with few pedestrians and even fewer open shops.

Returning empty-handed left her utterly disheartened. Gathering her composure, she spoke seriously to her son, who was cautiously trying to please her: “From now on, don’t go outside until I say you can.”

Similar conversations were occurring in many homes throughout the neighborhood: food shortages, rampant disease, nobody knew what tomorrow might bring, yet everyone sensed the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.

This was undoubtedly a vicious and highly contagious disease, with a fatality rate that made one’s hair stand on end. What terrified people most was that the initial outbreak hadn’t occurred beyond the fifth wall where conditions were worse, but between the fourth and third walls!

No one knew how dockworkers, spinners, blacksmiths, and even a knight page – people with no connection to each other – had contracted the cursed illness. Only when these unrelated individuals each developed symptoms in their own homes and died in similarly miserable states did people gradually realize the severity of the situation.

But by then, it was already too late.

From onset to death took a full five days. Five days was more than enough time for family members living under the same roof, or friends who came to visit, to bring home the brutal gift of death.

At first, funerals were still held for the deceased. But as bodies piled up, entire families frequently fell ill and died together.

Corpses lay everywhere, and everyone feared for their own safety. After even those collecting bodies fell victim, no one dared touch the horrifically dead anymore—

Leaving them scattered haphazardly in homes, rapidly rotting and stinking in the hot afternoons, oozing thick, dark brown liquid through door cracks that emitted a nauseating, pungent stench.

The King’s decision this time was unprecedentedly swift and “correct,” successfully blocking the messengers of the God of Death from entering his “Sacred Royal Court.” This nobility-first action surprisingly gained unanimous approval and praise from his courtiers: though he worried about the unattended ripe wheat in the fields, it was far better than facing the highly lethal plague.

As for others?

He didn’t care: the “commoners” among his subjects were the least valuable. Everyone clearly knew that even if all those living outside the second city wall perished, it would be worthwhile as long as the plague was eradicated.

The Royal City would never stand alone, nor would nobles face a shortage of servants: soon enough, new residents would arrive from other territories, dreaming of being closer to the center of power and willingly sacrificing all they’d worked for to chase this delusion.

Their arrogance was natural: the Royal City’s supreme status was irreplaceable.

But after successive outbreaks in the city, the plague entered its most vexing phase for the nobility: seemingly dormant, yet omnipresent.

“Can we go out today?”

From the 20th day of the outbreak, the King—unwilling to miss the final autumn hunt—asked daily.

His courtiers patiently gave negative replies each time, drawing regretful sighs from the King.

Though they knew well his real question was: Have those infected paupers all died off yet?

Hearts scattered in fear, people fled recklessly in all directions. Some abandoned hard-earned livelihoods, taking only minimal belongings and family to hastily escape the Royal City.

Frequent conflicts at the northern border deterred them, making the south the choice for most.

Unfortunately, the seeds of plague had secretly latched onto them, shadowing their journey south as the invisible calamity spread rapidly.

By the time Oliver received news of the Royal City’s plague, it had already reached unprepared Riche territory.

“The plague from the Royal City will likely reach Gregor City soon—it may already be here.” Once confidants gathered and Spire finished explaining the basics, Oliver cut straight to the point: “We must implement protective measures immediately, strictly blocking all people, animals, and even goods from the north or those detouring through western mining territories from entering.”

0He spoke methodically: “From today onward, close the city gates and inform the people of the emergency. No matter what happens, only allow exit, not entry. Meanwhile, have the guards outside cease patrol duties and return to their territories. As for those travelers stranded on the roads…” He hesitated, then said, “Depending on their numbers, set up temporary shelters as quarantine zones, permitting them to reside there temporarily. Provide regular supplies of clothing and food for relief nearby, but under no circumstances allow them into the city. Similarly, establish internal quarantine zones near the city gates for those showing similar symptoms—if even one person falls ill, all who have had recent contact with that individual must reside there for at least ten days.” Though it was called the five-day fever, that was merely a simplistic judgment based on symptoms; everyone knew there might be a sinister incubation period.

This was an unavoidable measure.

If there were any other choice, Oliver would not have coldly stood by, ignoring the capital’s calamity while focusing solely on self-preservation.

Yet he clearly understood that relying on his own strength alone, it was impossible to overcome the terrifying plague that had swiftly brought the capital to its knees—especially without knowing the source of the outbreak. His decision to block external travel might ultimately prove futile.

After all, such measures could only stop travelers, not the rats and insects equally adept at spreading disease.

Fortunately, this was an era where subjects absolutely obeyed their lord’s authority; he did not need to worry about his orders facing much resistance. Coupled with the limited and backward means of transportation, few people had the ability to travel: many, from birth to death, never journeyed farther than the distance from their village to the nearest town.

Moreover, aside from the already affluent Gregor, the other two territories under his governance had reached a state where the vast majority of resources were self-sufficient. A complete blockade, at least in the short term, would not severely impact the lives of his subjects.

After giving instructions to Fosse and Noel, Oliver turned to Loyel and Spire, speaking earnestly: “This has happened too suddenly. In such tense times, I suspect there may be opportunists spreading rumors—from minor crimes like theft and robbery to inciting unrest and creating chaos. I entrust the tasks of prevention and intervention to you with full confidence.”

Without hesitation, the two bowed: “Yes, Your Highness.”

With an increasing number of loyal and reliable subordinates, Oliver no longer had to micromanage every detail as he did when he first arrived in Laina. Even Steward Fosse had it easier—despite assisting Oliver in managing Gregor, which was nearly ten times larger than Laina, he showed little fatigue and even appeared to handle it with ease.

This was fully demonstrated now: Oliver only needed to clearly express his ideas and set the general direction. The specifics of planning and implementation would be systematically delegated by his subordinates.

The urgently convened meeting soon adjourned. Oliver paced to the window and, as expected, did not have to wait long before the massive, heavy city gates began descending one by one under the sheriff’s command.

Almost simultaneously, the bell towers of Havest’s divine temple and the God of Wealth’s divine temple rang out, their deafening chimes causing people who had just begun their day’s work to halt their tasks in confusion and look up.

It wasn’t time for rest yet, and this was the first time the bells had continued for so long—could it be an alarm?

The sheer density and urgency of the ringing itself heralded something ominous.

They exchanged glances but found no answers in each other’s eyes—even the steward didn’t know.

So they had no choice but to suppress their inner unease and gather in the square.

Oliver watched all this through the castle window, once again delighted by his subordinates’ outstanding work ability and efficiency.

Being far away, he couldn’t hear what the people in the square were saying, but after gazing at the bustling crowd for a while, he suddenly said, “Cat god, I’d like to request… well, I hope you can grant me a wish.”

Hearing Oliver’s rephrasing, the God of Wealth was in extremely high spirits and replied without hesitation, “Alright.”

“Before that, I’d like to ask you one more question.” Oliver turned around, his hand still resting casually on the windowsill. His delicate profile was exquisitely beautiful, his skin glowing white under the sunlight, with a smile at his lips so enchanting it could intoxicate even a deity. “Dear God of Wealth, can you protect me from the terrible plague?”

The God of Wealth’s divine sense trembled slightly before resolutely answering, “Yes, but I cannot protect all of Gregor’s people. However, I’ve heard Havest say that both Plage and Helf[mfn]赫尔夫(Hè ěr fū) – ‘Health'[/mfn] can do so.”

As the God of Plague, Plage could both release and recall plagues.

Yet his “archnemesis,” the God of Medicine Helf, was far less powerful: shortly after his divinity formed, he severely lacked faith power and could barely exist only through the god-king’s favor.

And when the god-king’s glory departed, Helf soon fell into deep slumber.

Having received the expected answer, Oliver’s heart immediately settled.

He wasn’t concerned about those two deities who seemed to have long been dormant—as a human, he had no power to demand anything from gods, nor did he wish to exploit the cat god’s favoritism toward him to make this simple deity incur unexplained debts.

“Then I’d like to go to the royal capital under your protection.” The blond lord, who rarely made excessive requests, seemed somewhat embarrassed, turning his head away somewhat awkwardly before revealing a smile that appeared incredibly adorable in the deity’s eyes. “Of course, we’ll need to be disguised like that time… just the two of us flying there together, is that alright?”

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