The flood was finally held back through the united efforts of thousands. The embankment now stood reinforced, layered thick with sandbags.
Joyful smiles lit up every face.
Jett leaned close to Kael and whispered, "Lord Count, we've weathered this disaster, but many hidden dangers remain. The common folk of Laifei City have almost no farmland to cultivate—food shortages will soon become a dire problem..."
Kael nodded, his eyes glinting. He had anticipated this long ago and had already tasked Amelia with a solution. Results would soon follow.
With a calm smile, he raised his voice to address the crowd. "Listen well, everyone! I know you're still worried about survival after this ordeal. But rest assured—within three days, a shipment of grain will arrive to help us rebuild our homes!"
His words struck like a rallying cry. Though the flood had been repelled, anxiety for the future lingered. Yet Kael's promise of imminent provisions ignited renewed hope.
Jett's eyes widened in disbelief. Where does this confidence come from? he wondered. Is this young Count truly so unfathomably capable?
Logistics made no sense. Transporting grain into the Laifei Plains was no small feat—both the Guyi Empire and the Mide Kingdom strictly banned large-scale food exports. Small quantities might slip through, but enough for tens of thousands?
Jett shook his head. He couldn't believe it.
More puzzling: Kael had no visible supply lines. How could he possibly pull this off?
"Long live the City Lord!"
"Long live the City Lord!"
The citizens, however, harbored no such doubts. To them, Kael's word was absolute—trust and reverence for the young Count had taken root without them even noticing.
Kael smiled faintly. Their needs were simple: food in their bellies and roofs over their heads.
"Return to your homes for now!" He waved dismissively. The floodwaters had receded; the skies, for once, were clear.
The crowd dispersed as commanded, leaving only Kael, Amelia, and a lingering Jett—who stared expectantly, waiting for the Count's next move.
"General Jett, are there any strategic locations in Laifei City where military fortifications should be deployed?" Kael asked.
Jett was momentarily surprised by the question but answered truthfully, "Of course. Laifei City is backed by the Laifei River on one side, but the other three sides are open plains with no defensive strongholds. If war breaks out, our enemies could easily breach the city..."
He spoke without hesitation—this was one of the territory's greatest vulnerabilities. Flat terrain offered no natural barriers, leaving them exposed in battle.
Kael nodded, signaling for Jett to continue.
To his credit, Jett had clearly studied Laifei's geography thoroughly. His military acumen was sound, and he quickly sketched a rough map of the city's surroundings, marking key points.
Kael studied the annotations and gave an approving nod.
"I see. So these three locations would be optimal for fortifications," he mused aloud.
"My lord, are you… planning to build defensive forts?" Jett was baffled. What is this young Count thinking? Constructing even a single military fortress would cost hundreds of thousands of gold coins. Does he have that kind of wealth? And even if he did, such spending seemed reckless.
Kael only smiled mysteriously. With the Seeds of Sinflower in hand, he could essentially plant an entire forest at will—and these trees' aggressive nature meant a forest would double as a living fortress.
"Come with me. We'll head to the first marked location," Kael said, seeing no need to hide the planting of the Sinflowers. The scale of this endeavor would speak for itself.
Though confused, Jett obeyed. As a seventh-tier expert, his speed was considerable, and within minutes, they arrived at the first site.
Barren land stretched before them, dotted sporadically with weeds—but not a single tree in sight.
"This is the place," Kael shrugged.
"My lord, what exactly are you planning to do?" Jett asked, bewildered.
Kael smirked mysteriously. "Watch closely!"
Bringing Jett along served another purpose—to fully win over the general's loyalty. As the military commander of Laifei Plains, Jett's allegiance was crucial. To secure it, Kael needed to demonstrate power so overwhelming that Jett would pledge himself without hesitation.
And these Sinflowers were the perfect opportunity.
With a flick of his will, Kael chanted the Levitation Spell. Though its incantation was notoriously complex, he completed it in the blink of an eye. His body grew weightless, soaring into the dim sky as if winged.
"Levitation?!" Jett's eyes widened, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. He knew enough to recognize what this spell signified.
From his vantage point, Kael surveyed the land below. Reaching into his spatial ring, he retrieved a handful of Seeds of Sinflower. The treasure chest he'd once plundered had been filled mostly with these seeds—neither Ethan nor Amelia had claimed them, leaving Kael with the entire stock.
One by one, the seeds slipped from his fingers. They glowed with an emerald purity, pulsating with life energy as they descended.
"What in the—?" Jett staggered back, sensing the overwhelming vitality radiating from the falling specks but unable to comprehend their nature.
Amelia, standing nearby, chuckled softly. "They're seeds. Relics of the elven race."
Jett's shock deepened. To think Lord Kael possesses artifacts from the elves themselves…
But what could these seeds do?
As his confusion peaked, the seeds finally touched the earth. The moment they made contact, they took root—instantly.
Green light erupted as the seeds sprouted before their eyes. Roots burrowed, shoots unfurled, and tender leaves burst forth—all at a speed that left Jett gaping.
The growth wasn't just rapid; it was terrifying. Even Kael, who'd expected acceleration, felt a jolt of alarm.
No wonder they're called Sinflowers. Their unchecked expansion could overrun entire continents, displacing all other flora. Yet this very horror filled Kael with exhilaration.
The seeds in his possession were neither abundant nor scarce—just enough to cover the three strategic points around Laifei City, ensuring Sinflowers would take root in each location.
Kael's eyes gleamed as he watched the planted seeds grow at a staggering pace. Each passing minute brought visible changes—roots spreading, shoots sprouting, and within moments, the seeds had transformed into saplings.
"This is beyond excessive," Kael muttered, momentarily stunned. No wonder the Snowbear Beast claimed these could turn the area into a forest within weeks. The growth speed wasn't just impressive; it was ludicrous.
Jett stood frozen, his awe bordering on reverence. He had officially become Kael's staunchest supporter, resolved to follow this young Count—a man of limitless potential—to the ends of the earth.
In barely over a dozen minutes, swathes of vibrant green now dotted the barren plains, a striking contrast to the desolation that had once dominated the landscape.
With the first batch of Sinflowers successfully deployed, Kael wasted no time replicating the process. Accompanied by Amelia and Jett, he scattered the remaining seeds across the other two marked locations. In what felt like an instant, the foundation of Laifei Plains' new defensive stronghold was complete.