Looking at the locusts in the oil pot, Calvin swallowed, only those who have actually eaten them know the deliciousness of locusts...... However, if they eat every meal, they will probably get bored quickly.

With two pieces of bread and wild vegetables, the fried locusts are sandwiched in the middle, out of sight and out of mind, and when you bite into it, you can feel the crispy texture burst out in your mouth, and it is not at all as ugly as it seems.

This was not a recipe from Lolandal, but the product of a common man's whim, but as the plague spread, people were only able to get enough food by hunting locusts, and when this diet appeared, it was quickly spread by the local priest of Radiance.

Calvin and Gregory were naturally able to eat ordinary food, but ...... This world is a desert of food!

In just two months, Calvin actually felt that he had gained a little fat, and his once well-defined abdominal muscles were almost covered with a layer of fat.

"Otherworldly knowledge...... That's a good thing!"

After another bite, Calvin ate his mouth full of oil, and while chewing, he sighed with emotion: "I can think of a good way to fry locusts, and the king of light is ......."

After a pause, Calvin licked his lips with a complicated expression, and then sighed: "To be honest, I really admire His Majesty the King of Light, there are so many gods in the world, but he and His Majesty the Sword of Justice are the most respectable ......."

Gregory, who was sitting next to him eating the Scorpion Locust Castle, glanced at him and nodded silently in agreement.

When it was discovered that locusts could be fried, it was as if the door to a new world had been opened.

Although the oil used for frying needs to be used repeatedly, this has not stopped people from finding hope of survival – locusts do not stay in the same place forever, they leave once the crops have been eaten, and people can only catch them while they are still around, or they will have to wait until the next time the locusts pass by to get enough food.

The people of this era were very powerless in the face of the locust plague, and if it had been before, I am afraid that they would have starved to death all over the wilderness.

Even opening the granary to help the refugees will not save too many people, after all, this drought and locust plague have affected almost an entire continent.

If it weren't for the maid's rescue, let alone continuing to build the railway, it is doubtful that anyone would want to steal the parts of the railway in exchange for food.

Locusts eat very quickly, so people hit other insects with their ideas, and since locusts have eaten them, there is no reason why other insects can't eat them, right?

So, the Scorpion Locust Castle in the hands of Gregory was born!

As long as it is handled well, then there will be no fishy smell, and the taste is not bad, although it is not as good as the food at the aristocratic banquet, but compared to many commoner foods, it can be regarded as a good taste.

Eating bugs may cause diarrhea, but if you don't eat them, you won't be able to survive.

In the years of famine, which Calvin had never seen, and even Gregory had only heard of, it was said that there were hungry people who would eat human flesh...... Now the situation is already very good.

As a result of the drought and locust plagues, the railway system was also able to continue to be built.

After the signs of famine, various industries were affected to varying degrees, even if there were locusts to eat now, even if the locusts were eaten and exterminated, it would not be able to save the whole continent.

Now, the attack of the orcs in the north has suddenly increased, because the locust plague has also affected the northern grasslands, and after the food has been greatly reduced, the orcs can only slaughter livestock to ensure that they have enough food, but even so, the food pressure has not been reduced much.

In order to keep themselves alive, many orc tribes have chosen to raid the northern part of the empire to get enough food to fill their stomachs.

This also makes the northern nobles miserable, their territories are here, and the commoners in the territory can escape, but if they escape, they will have nothing, and they will not choose to abandon their territory and flee until the last moment.

The northern aristocracy, which had been hindering the construction of the railroad, suddenly changed their attitude, not only increasing the investment of Calvin and them, but also providing them with much-needed labor and steel at a low price.

Now that the famine has just appeared, in winter, the orcs will attack even harder.

But even now, the Orcs are far more aggressive than in previous years, if it's winter...... That's unthinkable.

But seeing that the railroad was almost finished, Gregory and His Majesty would not have been so slow if they had had involved the mages in the construction earlier.

Calvin couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the hot construction site not far away.

However, with the railway, the mobilization capacity of their empire will probably be much stronger, although now there are only two railways of 'coming' and 'returning', and only two steam locomotives can run on these two railways, but it is also a big breakthrough.

With these two steam locomotives, presumably the influence of His Majesty and the royal family will gradually expand, and if they also start a 'newspaper' like the Duchy of Sadness...... No, maybe the bulletin board would be more suitable, because the literacy rate in the empire is still very low, and even if a newspaper is issued, not necessarily many people will read it.

In this way, perhaps they will be able to slowly take control of the northern part of the empire.

But at this moment, Calvin, who was imagining a better life in the future, was suddenly stunned, Huo Ran stood up, and threw the bread in his hand on the ground.

"What?!"

A scream blurted out, attracting Gregory's attention.

Gregory turned his head to look and saw that Calvin's expression was already solemn, so he frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Calvin, tell me, what happened?"

It must not be a trivial thing that can make Calvin show such a solemn expression......

"It's the plague ......"

Calvin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The message hidden in the wind was captured by him, and for fear that Gregory would not hear it, he repeated in a low voice: "There is a plague in many parts of the empire......"

Calvin sighed and looked down, but was startled by Gregory.

He had never seen Grigory's face so distorted, and if it had been before, even if he had been angry again, Grigory would still have maintained basic decency.

But now......

"The Plague God, the Plague Church—"

Gregory gritted his teeth, his face distorted, his eyes flashed fiercely, like a beast that had chosen to devour, and a terrifying wail welled up from his throat: "Damn it!!"

Calvin shuddered, took a breath, and then pursed his lips and whispered to Gregory, "The Church of Radiance has come up with several antidotes to the plague, and I am going back now to preside over the analysis and production of those antidotes...... Anyway, here you can watch!"

“...... Good!"

After receiving Gregory's answer, Calvin turned and walked away, but before leaving, he glanced back.

Gregory's head hung down, and he didn't know what was going on in his whimsical head......

After a few glances, Calvin walked away quickly.

"Humph!

............

Calvin opened his eyes suddenly, and found a blood-red liquid in front of him, which was rapidly being withdrawn.

Through the liquid, he could see a blur of what lay ahead.

The crowd gathered in front of him, their mouths open and closed as if they were talking, but he couldn't hear what they were saying.

I want to raise my hand to cover my aching head, but I can only move my fingers slightly?!

Consciousness is slowly becoming clearer, and the memories brought back by the soul are gradually revival......

Suddenly, Calvin's eyes widened, and he remembered—he was dead!

He was attacked on the way back, so he died, that is, there were moles among them!

This is his spare body, a spare body cultivated by using [cloning], his original body died on the way back, and the spare body was activated.

Who is the 'mole'?

If there was no traitor, he would not have died - this time he rushed back to preside over the research, so he must have touched the interests of some people.

"What did you say, Secretary Calvin?"

The mages gathered outside the cultivation tank seemed to hear the sound coming from the tank, and their expressions were excited, and they hurriedly asked questions.

"Plague...... Pestilence...... Church!"

The height of the blood-red liquid containing powerful life force slowly decreased, and Calvin's words made everyone present hear clearly.

"The Plague Church, the Plague God, damn it!"