Chapter 102: Plague (2)
The initial test of the power plant’s capacity to supply green energy to the heavy machinery factory was a resounding success. Project Power demonstrated that the future can move away from fossil fuel dependency and toward green energy in a groundbreaking shift of history.
The news sent a jolt of excitement through the family; House Moore was finally stepping out from the shadow of House Grayson’s oppressive coal trade practices and the archaic restrictions of the Schism. While the Royal Family remained oblivious to the groundbreaking energy project—or perhaps naively underestimated its potential—Count Moore wasted no time in making his presence known at the power plant and its accompanying factory.
While the power of coal cannot be completely discarded, as 99% of the machinery was still powered by it, this electrical 1% was about to make a wide leap in the coming couple of days, as Lord Julian signed the decision to replace as many machines as possible and acquire many facilities to build more power plants.
Of course, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, just as the wind at sea blows contrary to what ships desire. Thus, on many occasions, the wind would slow down and cause the power plant’s productivity to deteriorate, but it was still manageable as is, and the project members started working on other forms of generators that require fossil fuels for emergencies.
Vivian could finally take a hands-off approach regarding the project and could finally return to her usual R&D scouting and funding. But while everyone was celebrating the great success, she remained alone in the head office watching the river and drinking her tea in silence.
She couldn’t take those messages she saw off her mind and even if she did, she still had one annoying reminder right at her face.
The System had a name for it, the Blackthorn Event.
It is as if she is in some sort of a predetermined game. Now, there is a scripted event that she must survive.
The "Survive" quest has never reacted like that before, despite Vivian knowing that every SP she earned from killing a foe was due to this quest. It had always been that ominous quest, leaving her with a chilling sense of foreboding.
But what weighed her mind wasn’t just that. The name "Blackthorn" is akin to saying Satan in this world.
It is a legendary figure, a demon from all the tales of old. In the national myth of Elgard, it is the same Demon that turned the son of Saint Arthur, Mordred, against his own father, causing the demise of the First Empire of Elgard, the destruction of Camelot, and the departure of Arthur.