Chapter 420: Jigen
ARTHUR MOVED SWIFTLY after leaving the estate. He knew the country’s storage facilities were vital, especially given the recent disruptions. Without food reserves, the people would suffer, and that could destabilize the entire region.
So he headed straight for the storage yard, which was not far from the estate. The place was a mix of raised granaries and underground pits, designed to protect their crops and foodstuffs from pests and the weather. It was a typical setup, straightforward but functional.
Already he began a quiet scan of the area. The storage was well-maintained, divided into sections for rice, grains, and preserved foods. This made sense considering what time period he was in.
As he took in the scene, he noticed a worker sitting at a nearby table, seemingly lost in thought. This was perhaps the one in charge. After finding a needful object close by, Arthur knew that this was his opportunity to strike. So he snuck into where the main food storage was located.
’Black lightning: drilling hand of sage lightning...’
A crackling noise quickly filled the air as a bolt of energy surged from Arthur’s hand and pierced the unit nearby.
The worker jumped up, startled and confused. Chaos erupted suddenly. Flames burst from the storage units, billowing smoke into the sky. The worker’s eyes widened in shock, and he bolted outside, shouting for help. The villagers nearby also rushed over, but none of them had the ability to control chakra. Their skills were limited to basic tools and manual effort.
Some tried to beat out the flames with buckets of water, but it was clear they had no chance. The fire spread quickly, consuming the stored food, and the crowd grew frantic.
"We need help from the emperor!" one of the villagers yelled.
"Call the monks quick!"
Another responded, "I shall!" He ran off, leaving the others to try and contain the fire with what little they had. But it was no use. It would take at least half an hour for any trained monk or chakra user to arrive—if they arrived at all.
The villagers watched in horror as more than forty percent of their stored food was consumed by flames.