The period of rest served to renew our energies, but consolidating my leadership over those lands required a definitive step: establishing a fixed base of operations within the estate. Until then, we had been using the temporary facilities of the palace or the sorting center, but for the administration to function with long-term autonomy, it was necessary to occupy the official residence that had been built on the highest part of the territory.
In the early hours of the morning, I led the group along the stone path that wound up the hill of white coral. At the top, perfectly integrated into the underwater terrain, stood the new estate. The architecture combined the practical engineering of the surface with underwater elegance: external walls made of polished limestone that reflected the bioluminescence of the valley and large reinforced crystal windows that offered a panoramic view of all the cultivation sectors.
As soon as we crossed the main gates, we were greeted by the new staff of local employees. There were about twenty fish-men and fish-women, dressed in neat tunics made of marine fiber, standing in two perfectly organized rows in the entrance hall. At the front of them, a housekeeper with an impeccable posture and fine bluish scales made a deep bow upon noticing my approach.
"Formally welcome to your residence, Lord Takumi," she said, with a clear voice that resonated effortlessly throughout the acclimatized environment. "My name is Coralina. We were selected to serve you and your companions. We are ready to receive your operating guidelines."
I thanked her for the reception with a firm nod, walking toward the center of the hall to observe the internal structure. My companions spread throughout the space with technical curiosity, evaluating the potential of each room for the weeks we would spend there.
Elara stepped forward, holding her inseparable notebook, and began coordinating the management of the house directly with Coralina. "We need to establish a strict internal supply routine. I will inspect the pantries and kitchen to ensure that the storage of surface and marine supplies follows the same efficiency standard we implemented in the valley warehouses."
Coralina nodded respectfully, immediately leading Elara toward the service areas. I knew that, under Elara's meticulous supervision, the residence's internal logistics would be impeccable within a matter of hours.
Meanwhile, Scarlett and Vespera took responsibility for the security of the new headquarters. Scarlett walked along the external balconies, testing the old lines of sight and the resistance of the gates against possible large-scale impacts. Vespera, in turn, gathered the three local guards assigned to internal security in the rear courtyard.
"The security of this residence is not limited to the gates," Vespera instructed, with her cold and cutting tone that immediately made the local guards straighten their posture. "I want patrol reports every two hours at the blind spots of the hill. Any change in the water pressure flows around the property must be reported to me or Scarlett immediately."
In the large meeting hall of the house, Liriel and her assistant were already analyzing the magical ventilation channels. Liriel used her staff to gently touch the central rune that controlled the temperature and oxygen purification of the environment. "The runic engineering of this place is ancient, but very stable," she commented, looking at me. "I will attune the house's defense core to the valley's main barrier, creating a unified alert network."
Her assistant took notes on the geometric patterns of the wall runes, amazed by the efficiency with which the palace had planned the construction. She finally seemed to understand how structural magic applied to the daily life of a ruler.
Lyannis and Rai'kanna approached me, watching the employees begin transporting our sealed luggage to the main rooms. Lyannis ran her hand along the pearl-shell handrail of the staircase with a slight smile. "This house has a much more imposing energy than I imagined, Takumi. It is the perfect place for us to plan the alliance's next steps without outside interference."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms, nodding as her golden eyes gleamed in the comfortable dimness of the hall. "A leader needs a firm throne to rule, even if that throne is underwater. Now the people know exactly where to look when they need orders."
I spent the following hours meeting with Coralina and the heads of each household sector, assigning responsibilities clearly and directly. I defined who would be responsible for maintaining the crystal barriers, who would organize the daily reports brought by Taran, and how rapid communication between the residence and the royal palace in the capital would be carried out. No detail was left to chance; the estate needed to operate like clockwork.
At the end of the afternoon, with all duties properly delegated and the employees working autonomously and silently, I met with my companions on the immense balcony on the second floor. Before us, through the large transparent viewing window, the underwater valley stretched out in all its phosphorescent glory. The lights of the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma sectors blinked rhythmically, showing that the entire mechanism was perfectly well-oiled.