After an entire week observing the practical operation of the cultivation fields and understanding the dynamics of the marine currents, I realized that the real problem with the property was not the workers' lack of effort, but the complete absence of an integrated logistics system. The old method depended on the individual effort of each farmer, which created severe bottlenecks and wasted precious supplies.
Early in the morning, I called an emergency meeting with the local administrators at the underwater farm's sorting center. The space, bordered by limestone coral columns, was soon filled with the tired but attentive faces of the leaders of the neighboring villages. Taran stood at the front, holding some recording shells that served as the kingdom's archive.
My companions positioned themselves around me, ready to provide the necessary support for the changes I was about to implement. Elara already had her new zoning maps spread across the large smooth stone counter, while Liriel and her assistant organized the hydrostatic mana containment flasks. Lyannis and Rai'kanna observed the posture of the administrators in the back, ensuring that the tone of the meeting remained focused and respectful. Near the entrance of the pavilion, Scarlett and Vespera secured the perimeter, keeping their eyes on both the interior and the external routes.
"I appreciate everyone's presence," I began, letting my voice sound clear and measured so that it could travel without distortion through the aquatic environment. "I spent the last few days working alongside you and identified that production is fragmented. If we continue planting without a unified schedule, we will lose half the harvest to seasonal tides and the proliferation of parasitic algae. We need a complete restructuring."
The administrators exchanged glances with a hint of legitimate skepticism. Taran stepped forward, nervously cleaning the scales on his hands. "Lord Takumi, we understand your concern, but we have always managed the land by dividing it among families. Changing that now could cause confusion among the older workers."
"This isn't about taking anyone's rights away, Taran, but about optimizing everyone's efforts," I replied, gesturing for Elara to take over the explanation of the first technical point.
Elara lightly tapped the stone map, activating the magical ink markings she herself had developed. "Starting today, we will divide the property into three rotating production sectors. Sector Alpha will focus on food algae, Sector Beta on medicinal corals, and Sector Gamma on bioluminescent fruits. Instead of each family taking care of a random piece of land while mixing the species, each group will specialize in a specific management technique."
Liriel intervened immediately afterward, pointing to the blue lines crossing the logistical layout. "My assistant and I mapped the three main nutrient currents entering the valley. Sector Beta, the magical coral sector, will be positioned exactly along the route of the coldest and mana-richest current. This will eliminate the need for you to channel energy manually every day, reducing the physical strain on the farmers."
Liriel's assistant raised a small flask containing biological samples, showing it to the local administrators. "We also discovered that healing plants grow thirty percent faster when they are cleaned by small schools of cleaner fish. We will introduce nurseries for these creatures into the irrigation channels of Sector Beta."
The local leaders began leaning toward the counter, genuinely attracted by the mathematical and biological logic of the proposal. The initial resistance began to give way to a vibrant curiosity.
"What about storage?" asked another administrator, a robust fish-man responsible for the transportation networks. "Many times we harvest more than the capital's merchants can buy in the same week, and the surplus ends up rotting in the mud."
"That's where the new storage system I planned comes in," I interjected, taking command of the meeting again. "We will build three hydrostatic vacuum warehouses at the base of the hill. Elara and Liriel will install time-slowing runes on the doors of these storage facilities. All harvested algae that isn't sold immediately will be preserved in a state of absolute freshness for up to six months."
Lyannis stepped forward, crossing her arms with a confident smile that captivated the attention of those present. "This means you will no longer have to slash the prices of your harvests out of desperation to avoid losing your merchandise. You will control the capital's market, selling at a fair price when scarcity reaches the other farms."
Rai'kanna made a sound of approval, striking the edge of the table with the palm of her hand. "It's a war strategy applied to family economics. You will work fewer hours per day and produce twice as much with half the waste of seeds."
The silence that followed in the pavilion was broken by Taran, who stared at the detailed map for a long moment and then at his fellow council members. A broad smile appeared on his aged face, reflecting the relief of finally seeing a clear direction for the future of his people. "This is... revolutionary, my lord. No ruler from the surface has ever looked at our work with such technical precision. We approve the plan without hesitation."
The other administrators struck their hands against their chests in a traditional gesture of loyalty and unanimous agreement. I felt an enormous weight lift from my shoulders when I realized that leadership had been consolidated not through the strength of the sword, but through respect for collective intelligence.
Without wasting time on empty celebrations, I ended the meeting and led the group back toward the transition fields. Scarlett and Vespera approached our rear guard as we began moving toward the demarcation quadrants.
"The plan is solid, Takumi," Scarlett commented, maintaining the pace of movement underwater. "Dividing the workers by specialization will also make our security easier. Now we know exactly who should be in each sector at every hour of the day, making any intruder or anomaly immediately visible."
Vespera nodded, adjusting the position of her dagger at her waist. "I've already selected the patrol routes around the new storage warehouses. No saboteur or wild creature will get near the stored harvests."
We walked to the edge of Sector Alpha, where the first teams of workers were already waiting for instructions from the administrators to begin relocating the seedlings according to the new zoning system. The atmosphere of uncertainty that had hung over the property had been replaced by a vibrant energy of renewal.
I looked at my companions, who were already positioning themselves strategically to guide the local leaders through the first practical steps of the transition. I gave the order to begin with a firm nod to Taran. The first excavation work on the new trenches and the installation of the runic nets began without delay, marking the birth of a new era for those submerged lands.