Fallen Leaf Town has changed greatly in recent times.
Once upon a time, Fallen Leaf Town, like other territories in the Wastelands, was plagued by famine.
Barren land, scarce water sources, and the frequent onslaught of wind and sand.
With such geographical conditions, it was inevitable that the people of Fallen Leaf Town and the other settlements of the Wastelands would spend their days worrying about food.
But at some point, everything changed.
To be precise, it was when the Lord suddenly abandoned his old flamboyant ways and started to live in seclusion.
The townsfolk were astonished to discover that the former prodigal son had suddenly changed his nature and become a Research Maniac, tinkering endlessly with all kinds of inventions.
Even more surprising…
His inventions actually worked?
Lord’s Residence.
A crowd drawn in by the latest announcement was gathered and chattering noisily.
“Hey, did you hear? The Lord has invented something new again?”
“Wow, that’s really great! That thing Lord Green made before, what was it called again—the Automated Irrigation Machine? That thing is damn useful! Ever since we got it, we haven’t had to worry about water shortages.”
“That’s right! And that Windbreak Forest—I never thought just planting trees could hold back the wind and sand like that!”
The residents, all beaming, approached the Announcement Board, clicking their tongues in amazement as they discussed the various strange yet incredibly useful inventions the Lord had come up with.
“Hehe, thanks to the Lord, our lives are getting better every day.”
“Yes, yes! Did you hear that the Neighboring Town is suffering from drought again? So many refugees have come to our town to make a living.”
“Hmph, never mind the Neighboring Town—those arrogant fellows in Glorious City might not even be living as well as us right now!”
Sitting high beside the Announcement Board, Green de Fallen Leaf listened to the waves of praise from the crowd, and for once, a faint smile appeared on his face.
“Miss Sophie, did you hear that?”
He glanced at the cloaked figure beside him, her face entirely hidden, and asked softly, “They’re all praising you.”
“Praising me?”
The voice from beneath the cloak was weary. “Sir Green, please don’t joke with me. They’re clearly praising you.”
Green’s smile didn’t fade at her words, and he gently patted the witch Sophie on the shoulder.
“Honestly, Sophie, you should learn to appreciate humor outside of your research experiments sometimes.”
Green said, half-smiling, “Besides, all those inventions they’re praising came from your own experiments. As for me? I’m just a fraud—an impostor who claims credit for others’ work.”
A fraud?
Sophie looked deeply at Green.
Yes, this Lord really was a great fraud.
He defied all expectations, a superlative swindler beyond imagination.
She thought of Green’s frivolous demeanor on the surface, and his earth-shaking ambitions for the territory behind the scenes…
Sophie could no longer see through Green at all.
Once, as a witch with a natural gift for inspiration, Sophie believed she could see through anything in the world.
But her ability to read faces and understand hearts seemed useless when it came to Green.
Enigmatic, impossible to understand.
Sometimes, he seemed just like any other prodigal nobleman, no different from any of the other blood-proud Lords of this land.
Yet at times, he was like a seeker, bearing all the world’s sorrow and pain, pursuing truth and searching for answers.
Green.
Which one is the real you?
With this confusion, Sophie watched silently as Green walked up to the front of the stage amidst the cheers of the townsfolk.
“Dear subjects, I am your Lord, the heir of the Fallen Leaf Family, Green de Fallen Leaf.”
He wore a haughty expression, gazing down upon his people and basking in their shouts of adoration and awe.
At this moment, he was no different from the typical Lords of the Wastelands.
But in the next instant, as Green announced his latest invention, his expression shifted once again.
“Today, my dear subjects, I am honored to announce to you my latest invention…”
Green reached into his Bag and pulled out a pale yellow, oval object. “A miraculous crop that can thrive even in barren soil and harsh climates, and fill the belly—Potato.”
Whoosh!
The moment Green announced his latest invention, the crowd erupted with shrieks that grew louder and louder.
“Did you just hear what Lord Green said?”
“A crop that grows in barren soil and fills the belly?”
“By the God of Light, this—this is a miracle!”
If it had been the Green of a few months ago making such a claim, the people would have sneered with scorn.
But after months of Green’s inventions building up his reputation, no one doubted his word now.
Their eyes burned with excitement as they stared at the Potato in Green’s hand—as if he held not a mere food, but a treasure worth more than gold.
For people who had long suffered hunger and cold, who rarely had enough to eat, a crop like this was life-saving.
Compared to such a divine gift, what value did gold and jewels hold?
However…
As the excitement died down, a question began to rise in everyone’s heart.
What would they have to pay for such a wonder?
Green’s inventions had always been useful, but they weren’t cheap.
Of course, given their value, the price was always worth it.
“My Lord.” An elderly man, dressed as a gentleman from the countryside, was the first to step forward. “May I ask, how much will you charge for this Potato?”
“Our Howard Manor is ready with enough funds…”
“No need.” Green cut the squire off.
“N-no need?”
The squire from Howard Manor was stunned for a moment, then suddenly nodded in realization. “Of course—a miracle like this can’t be measured in mere coin.”
“In that case, my Lord, what must I offer in exchange for the right to grow such a new crop?”
The squire’s eyes shone with longing as he stared at the Potato in Green’s hand.
“You misunderstand, Mr. Howard.”
Seeing the restless mood all around, Green smiled faintly.
“Everyone, when I said there’s no need, I meant…”
He paused deliberately, waiting until the sound of the crowd’s breathing had doubled, then said slowly, “It’s free. Ladies and gentlemen, this new crop will be promoted and grown in the territory entirely free of charge.”
F-free?
Hearing Green’s answer, everyone was dumbfounded.
A miracle that could withstand drought and save lives during famine—for free?
Was this possible?
But looking at the Lord’s calm smile, it hardly seemed like a joke.
“Whew…” Mr. Howard took a deep breath and only recovered after a long pause. Bowing excitedly, he declared, “My Lord, you—you are truly a messenger sent by the God of Light!”
“Long live the Lord!”
“Loyalty to the Lord, unto death!”
As the shouts grew louder and louder, Green nodded in satisfaction.
Very good.
It was not in vain that he and Sophie had toiled for months.
Though it seemed at first glance that food had nothing to do with making his territory rich,
Green understood one thing well.
Only when people have enough to eat and wear do they know honor and shame—prosperity could only be built on a foundation free of famine.
Smiling, Green looked at the witch beside him, still hidden beneath her cloak.
He leaned in and whispered in Sophie’s ear, “Just wait, Miss Sophie. I promise, one day you’ll be able to remove your disguise and stand proudly by my side to receive their cheers.”
Sophie looked up in surprise.
Openly… proud?
Honestly, she’d never considered it.
In the past, Sophie devoted herself to research not for grand ambitions, but simply for the pleasure of solving puzzles and strengthening her bloodline powers.
But now, Sophie suddenly felt as though she had found her direction.
Her former confusion was gone like smoke.
Listening to the cheers, even knowing they weren’t for her, she realized—as Green said—the crop truly did come from her research.
So, my inventions can really help people like this?
Perhaps…
Sophie wondered, if she kept following this Lord, would she one day truly stand openly and accept people’s cheers?
Whoosh!
But just as Sophie was lost in that beautiful daydream…
A loud shout interrupted her thoughts.
“Wait, I object!”
The voice came from the other side—the direction of the town’s Temple of Light.
Priest.
Since being thoroughly humiliated by the Lord, the Priest had shut his doors and seen no visitors for months.
“Devout followers of the God of Light, do not be deceived!”
The fat Priest strode resolutely to the front of the crowd, his eyes full of hatred as he stared at Green. “A crop that can resist drought? There’s no such thing that goes against the laws of the God of Light!”
“This must be the Demon’s Fruit summoned by that witch he’s harboring, using Witch’s Forbidden Black Magic!”
At the word “witch,” the Priest couldn’t help but show a smug smile.
The lively mood of the scene instantly froze.