A Desolate Dominion and Explosive Wares

[Time remaining until death]

[75:16:33]

The street was desolate, devoid of any human presence.

Sparse wooden shacks dotted both sides of the road, while in the distance, a dense fir forest remained lush and green, despite the onset of winter.

This was supposedly the most prosperous town under Lockwood’s dominion, named Linchang Town because its inhabitants primarily made their living by selling timber.

However, this so-called “most prosperous town” merely resembled a dilapidated hamlet, a sight that immediately deflated Rachel’s spirits.

Incidentally, both Rachel and Vera had changed their attire, now appearing like young ladies from affluent merchant families.

“Didn’t you say today was market day? Why are there so few people?”

Rachel’s voice held a note of dissatisfaction as she questioned Vera, who walked beside her.

It was a rare excursion, only to be met with such a disheartening scene—anyone would feel a touch of resentment.

Vera looked troubled.

“The market doesn’t begin until the afternoon, Your Ladyship. Moreover, this truly is the most prosperous town under your rule; other places would have even fewer people.”

“Why is that?” Rachel frowned. “Where have all the people gone?”

“Most of them have either sought refuge in the mountains as vagrants or fled to neighboring territories to work as indentured laborers.”

“Hiding in the mountains at this time of year?” Rachel paused, momentarily stunned. “It’s already winter; aren’t they afraid of dying out there?”

“Well, that…”

Vera looked as if she had something more to say but was hesitant.

Seeing her expression, Rachel frowned in displeasure.

“Speak plainly. Are you afraid I’ll devour you?”

“Yes, Your Ladyship.” Vera took a deep breath, resignation etched across her face.

“Ever since the tax rates were raised last year, an increasing number of people within the territory have accumulated debts due to their inability to pay taxes.

Compounded by a poor harvest this year, many homes have been confiscated as collateral for these debts.”

“Having lost their places of residence, they…”

Vera did not continue, but Rachel already understood her unspoken words.

Rachel also grasped why Vera had been so hesitant and guarded, wanting to speak yet daring not.

The decision to raise the tax rates had been hers—or rather, the previous Rachel’s.

Most residents of Lockwood’s territory could not bear such exorbitant taxes.

Unpaid taxes would transform into debts, eventually offset by their homes, land, and other possessions.

For those who had lost both their houses and their livelihoods, there were only two paths.

They could either sell themselves into servitude, becoming slaves to the Lockwood family and laboring for their lord until death, or they could find a way to leave Lockwood and seek a new life elsewhere.

However, given Rachel’s dreadful reputation as the current head of the Lockwood family, the so-called “two paths” effectively amounted to only one.

In other words, the very culprit responsible for Linchang Town’s desolation now stood right here.

Suddenly, Rachel felt a weariness settle deep within her.

She wasn’t inclined to criticize the practice; for nobles of this era, exploiting the populace of their own territory was standard procedure, and Rachel was not so virtuous as to object.

Yet, the sheer brazenness with which Rachel—or her predecessor—had driven people to their deaths was undeniably rare.

She had a premonition that in a few more years, the territory would be completely deserted, leaving her, the Baroness, as nothing more than a commander of an empty domain.

Nevertheless, matters concerning the territory’s development could wait.

For now, her priority was simply to survive past the next three days.

Lost in these thoughts, Rachel continued her leisurely stroll forward.

While Vera perceived Rachel’s sudden desire to go out on inspection, emphasizing a low-key departure, as a mere whim, Rachel’s true intention was to find a solution that would allow her to legitimately evade the banquet three days away.

More precisely, she was searching for an alchemist who sold magical artifacts.

Magic undeniably existed in this world; it was said that the first emperor, who vanquished the dragon calamity a millennium ago and single-handedly founded the Holy Loga Empire, was an extraordinary magician.

However, in the current era, the number of magicians had dwindled to a precious few, their place largely taken by magical artifacts.

Magical artifacts, wondrous items crafted with the aid of magic crystals, could unleash effects akin to true magic.

Consequently, they were universally sought after, from nobles to commoners alike, which explained why even at a village-level market like this, one might still spot an alchemist peddling such wares.

Nonetheless, Rachel suspected her trip today would likely be in vain; if she were an alchemist, she certainly wouldn’t choose to do business in such a place.

Yet, returning offered no better solutions, leaving her with no choice but to proceed one step at a time.

As these thoughts consumed her, a melancholic expression settled in Rachel’s eyes.

“Oh my, young lady, you seem to be in a spot of trouble. Do you need some assistance?”

“Who?”

A strange voice suddenly chimed in near her ear.

Rachel looked around, spotting the speaker squatting in an alley at the street corner, beckoning her over with a wide smile.

It was a young girl dressed in a loose, coarse linen coat, her hood pulled up, allowing a few strands of pink curly hair to escape.

Her stature suggested she was half a head shorter than Rachel, possessing the innocent appearance of a child, yet her squinting smile exuded the cunning air of a shrewd merchant.

After a moment of hesitation, Rachel led Vera to stand before the young girl.

“Were you just speaking to me?” Rachel asked, her brow furrowed as she eyed the girl. “Who are you?”

“Don’t be so wary; I merely wish to conduct some business with you.” The girl replied with a smile, extending a hand. “My name is Miriam. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

“A merchant?” Rachel’s expression was tinged with doubt, and she pointedly ignored Miriam’s outstretched hand.

“You’re a merchant? Are you here for the afternoon market?”

“The market? What’s the point of attending something like that? Besides timber, there’s nothing else to buy here, and the residents are all impoverished.

Only a fool would do business with them.” Miriam remained unfazed by Rachel’s cold reception, maintaining her cheerful, squinting smile.

She withdrew her hand, then lowered her voice, adopting a mysterious demeanor.

“I’m here to gather information.”

“Gather information?” Rachel frowned. “What kind of information?”

“Oh my, I can’t elaborate further on that; it’s a trade secret, after all.” Miriam made a shushing gesture. “Let’s talk about your affairs instead.”

“My affairs?”

“Oh, come now, for two young ladies to venture into such a desolate backwater at this hour, you must certainly be facing some predicament.” Miriam nodded as she spoke, her face a canvas of “I understand you” expressions. “Youngsters, pursuing freedom, I get it.”

‘What exactly do you ‘get’? And you, looking no older than a child, are calling others ‘youngsters’?’

Rachel was brimming with retorts, but she suppressed them for the moment, choosing to play along with Miriam.

“Hmm… so how do you intend to help me?”

“That depends on what you two ladies require.” Miriam replied, chuckling. “I am a merchant, after all, and fulfilling my customers’ needs is my sworn duty!”

“Is that so? Then show me what you’re selling.”

No goods were visible around Miriam, which was precisely why Rachel felt puzzled.

Miriam merely squatted there, her bulky attire making her appear, from a distance, like a stone statue.

Rachel was genuinely curious as to where Miriam would produce her supposed merchandise.

Then, with a wide smile, Miriam stood up and dramatically flung open the coarse linen coat she was wearing.

“Ah—!”

Vera, standing beside Rachel, let out a gasp and covered her eyes, while Rachel herself looked utterly stunned.

Inside Miriam’s open coat, countless small, miscellaneous items hung densely, clattering like bells with every gust of wind.

Rachel finally understood why Miriam had been squatting there; the coat was likely so heavy that crouching offered some relief.

Witnessing this peddling style, reminiscent of street vendors selling pirated CDs at the turn of the century, Rachel was momentarily moved, offering Miriam a thumbs-up.

“You’re truly something else.”

“Oh, you flatter me,” Miriam said with a modest expression. “These are just a fraction of my wares; there’s simply too much more to carry.”

Then, lowering her voice, she leaned closer to Rachel, adopting a conspiratorial air.

“These are all top-grade magical artifacts, impossible to find anywhere else. I’ll sell them to you cheap—what do you say?”

‘So, she’s a peddler then,’ Rachel thought, nodding impassively.

She then pointed to a small bottle hanging on the left and inquired,

“Magical artifacts, you say… What’s this one for?”

“The contents here are for oral consumption; drinking it has a laxative effect.”

“I see…”

“But it will explode if shaken vigorously, so proper storage is essential.”

Rachel instantly pulled her hand back.

“…And this one?”

Rachel pointed to another small bell.

“The sound it emits can calm the mind and induce sleep, making it perfect for hanging by your bedside!”

“However, it will explode if shaken too frequently, so you must be careful.”

“Then this stone…”

“It’s for warmth. It explodes when thrown.”

“This charm…”

“It can ward off evil and bring blessings, but of course, it also explodes.”

“What about this scroll…?”

“This is a bomb disguised as a scroll.”

“Finally, one that actually serves its intended purpose…”

“Though there’s a chance it might misfire after activation.”

Rachel sighed, a hint of helplessness in her voice.

“So, everything you have here is defective?”

“Oh, that’s a rather harsh way to put it, Your Ladyship. How could they be defective? They merely have significant side effects.” Miriam maintained her beaming smile. “Besides, they’re cheap!”

“So, do you have anything that doesn’t explode?”

Rachel pressed on, unwilling to give up; surely not everything was junk.

“Something that doesn’t explode… Well, there’s only this.”

Miriam rummaged through her coat for a moment, then produced a small, fingernail-sized pellet.

“What’s this for?”

“It induces a state of suspended animation.”

“Suspended animation?”

Rachel’s interest was immediately piqued.

She had been struggling to find a plausible reason to avoid the banquet three days away, and upon reflection, what excuse could be more convincing than “I’m dead”?

Surely no one would question such a thing.

Nevertheless, Rachel quickly regained her composure, eyeing Miriam with suspicion.

“Its side effect wouldn’t happen to be turning a feigned death into a real one, would it?”

“How could it be? I would never joke about a customer’s life!” Miriam declared righteously. “It has no side effects; it truly is just suspended animation.

You’ll wake up after a day.

I’ve tested it myself!”

“Really?”

“Truly! …It just doesn’t taste very good.”

“…How bad is it?”

“Roughly like dying once for real.”

‘…’

Rachel stared at the pellet, profoundly suspecting that its “suspended animation” effect was merely a euphemism for being so utterly foul-tasting that it induced unconsciousness.

Still, it was a method.

While feigning death to avoid the upcoming banquet wasn’t an ingenious plan, there truly weren’t any better alternatives at the moment.

In such uncertain circumstances, a conservative approach was probably best.

“How much is this? I…”

Before Rachel could utter the word “buy,” the familiar stinging sensation returned to her forehead.

Rachel swayed, nearly collapsing, but Vera swiftly stepped forward to steady her.

Rachel felt the entire world plunge into a blood-red hue as the black countdown reappeared uncontrollably.

[Time remaining until death]

[50:21:03]

‘The countdown… it jumped forward?’