The news from the battlefront turned the last twenty-four hours at the estate into a race against time. There was no room for lamentations or hesitation; the urgency on the surface demanded that the administrative system we had built at the bottom of the sea gain complete autonomy so that we could leave without creating operational gaps.
At dawn, the great meeting hall of the official residence was filled with the territory's main leaders and staff. Taran led the group of elders, accompanied by the heads of production from the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma sectors. The atmosphere was extremely serious, but the fish-men's attitude was not one of fear, but rather of readiness and commitment to the system they had learned to master.
My companions worked on finalizing their respective areas with military efficiency. Elara commanded the central table, where large accounting books and distribution maps were arranged impeccably. She passed the final stock guidelines to the local administrators, detailing the harvest quotas that had to be kept in reserve and the portions that would be allocated to trade in the capital.
"The records are unified," Elara explained, stamping the final document with the estate's runic seal and handing it to Taran. "From today onward, the council of elders has full authority to manage the rotating work schedules. The hydrostatic vacuum storage system is operating at maximum capacity; you only need to follow the supply intake and distribution schedule I left attached to the main door of the storage buildings."
Taran held the documents firmly in his hands, looking at Elara and then at me with deep gratitude. "Do not worry, Lady Elara. We will guard every grain of algae and every medicinal coral sprout as if they were our own lives. We know how vital these resources are to the armies up there."
In the northern quadrant of the hall, Liriel and her assistant were making the final adjustments to the residence's magical communication network. Liriel used her staff to seal the master rune that connected the house's defenses to the valley's protective barrier, ensuring that the mana flow would remain stable even during our prolonged absence. Her assistant closed the technical journal and handed a detailed copy of the maintenance enchantments to the resident mage whom the palace had sent to assist the local council.
"The network is locked in autonomous mode," Liriel declared, brushing a small amount of magical dust from her hands. "The system will purify the water and regulate the temperature of the healing nurseries without the need for manual intervention for the next six months. Any severe fluctuation will be reported directly to the royal palace through the emergency channel."
While the bureaucracy and magic were being stabilized, Lyannis and Rai'kanna organized the transportation of our belongings and combat equipment. Sealed wooden crates and backpacks reinforced with marine leather were lined up in the entrance courtyard, ready for the return convoy. Scarlett and Vespera supervised the local guards who would provide internal security for the estate, ensuring that the peripheral patrol routes they had created were maintained with the same rigor.
In the middle of the afternoon, the movement in the courtyard was interrupted by the arrival of an imposing delegation from the capital. The King of the Fish-Men, dressed in his official ruler's attire and accompanied by his personal guard, climbed the limestone steps of the residence to make a final inspection visit to our lands.
I walked toward the monarch, giving a respectful bow that he promptly returned with a friendly smile and a firm handshake.
"Lord Takumi," the King began, observing the coordinated movement of the staff and the impeccable organization of the central courtyard. "I heard about the urgent reports you received from the surface and your decision to return to the front lines. I came personally to assess the state of the lands before your departure."
"Your Majesty," I replied, leading him to the panoramic balcony from where we could see the entire extent of the valley. "We have left the estate one hundred percent functional and self-sufficient. The Alpha, Beta, and Gamma sectors are producing above their targets, and Taran's council is fully capable of managing the economic logistics and perimeter security."
The King gazed for a long moment at the underwater forests that swayed rhythmically with the currents, impressed by the structural improvements we had implemented in such a short time. "What you have done here in just one month, Takumi, many of our nobles have failed to accomplish in decades of traditional governance. You have transformed an ordinary territory into a true pillar of support for our alliance."
My companions approached the balcony, taking their positions beside me as the King turned toward the group with an expression of profound political and military recognition. The transition was formally complete; the house was organized, the staff knew exactly how to proceed, and the local leadership had been established upon unbreakable foundations of mutual respect.