56: Chapter 56 Don't panic, it's just a technical adjustment.

This thought, like a block of ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, instantly froze the blood in Levi's entire body.

The warm air within the Council Chamber seemed to have been sucked dry, leaving only a piercing chill and the heavy, blood-bubble-laced gasps of the orc scout.

The gleam of the gold coins no longer represented wealth, but had transformed into golden tombstones, coldly foretelling the death that was to come.

Commotion, panic, and whispered conversations surged like a tide from every corner of the Council Chamber.

Even Sophie, the financial officer who had always maintained professional composure, turned deathly pale in an instant; the knuckles of her fingers gripping the ledger lost all color from the excessive force.

Levi's vision narrowed in an instant, as if the whole world had condensed into the despair-twisted face of the orc scout.

A buzzing filled his ears, all other noise filtered out, leaving only the drumbeat of his own heart.

It's over.

That was everyone's first thought.

But for Levi, this thought only existed for zero-point-three seconds.

Countless times in his previous life, facing the brink of project collapse, trapped in desperate situations squeezed from three sides by clients, bosses, and subordinates, had long since tempered his nerves like steel cables beneath ice.

The closer he was to the edge of collapse, the calmer his mind became.

"Evelyn!"

His voice wasn't loud, even a bit hoarse, yet it pierced through the chaotic noise in the Council Chamber like a sharp ice pick.

The succubus steward appeared at his side like a ghost, her purple eyes flashing with alertness, showing not a trace of panic.

She waited for instructions, like a blade forever drawn and ready.

"Seal the Council Chamber! No one is to enter or leave!" Levi's voice regained its usual composure, carrying an undeniable tone of command. "Guards, take this warrior away for 'protective treatment' with the best physician! Remember, protective treatment. Until his injuries are stable, no one except me and Evelyn is allowed to visit or speak with him!"

"Yes!" Two personal guards immediately stepped forward and carefully lifted the nearly unconscious orc scout.

The scout tried to struggle and say something, but was stopped by a stern look from Levi.

He understood a command from that look that went far beyond words, and finally slumped his head in defeat, allowing the guards to lead him away.

The heavy wooden door slammed shut behind the scout, completely sealing off the outside wind, snow, and prying eyes.

A deathly silence fell over the Council Chamber. The gazes of everyone present were fixed on Levi, filled with fear, confusion, and a sliver of hope that had not yet been completely extinguished.

Levi's gaze slowly swept over each person present, finally landing on Ella Radiance's bloodless, pretty face.

The Princess's deep blue eyes were filled with horror. Her mouth was agape, as if a thousand words were about to pour forth.

"Today's meeting ends here for now," Levi's voice was terrifyingly calm. He stopped Ella's impending questions with a look, his tone gentle yet unyielding. "Everyone, return to your posts. Keep your subordinates in line. I do not wish to hear any unnecessary rumors on the streets. Remember, business as usual."

This "business as usual" acted like a powerful sedative, temporarily steadying the teetering morale.

The people exchanged glances. Though their hearts were filled with dense clouds of doubt, the Lord's unflappable demeanor, as if Mount Tai collapsing before him wouldn't change his expression, made them instinctively choose to obey.

Soon, only Levi, Evelyn, and Ella remained in the Council Chamber.

The oppressive atmosphere fermented in the empty stone hall. The flames in the fireplace danced, casting the shadows of the three on the wall, twisting and elongating them like struggling ghosts.

"You..."

"Come with me."

Levi directly cut off Ella, turning to walk towards a side room in the Council Chamber used as a temporary interrogation chamber.

Evelyn followed closely behind. Ella hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted her teeth and followed.

She had to know the truth, know what kind of abyss this man was leading everyone towards.

In the chamber, the orc scout's broken arm had been temporarily immobilized by a physician, his pale lips moving slightly.

Levi waved for the physician to leave, personally poured a cup of warm water, and handed it over.

"Drink some water."

The scout trembled as he took the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Now, tell me all the details," Levi's gaze was as sharp as a blade. "How far is the ambush site from here? How many Ogres? Are you sure... there are no other survivors?"

"Dragons Tooth Pass, about... two days' journey from here," the scout's voice was hoarse, filled with deep-seated hatred. "It was the Bloodtooth tribe. At least three hundred Ogres, and their dire wolves! They knew our route like the back of their hands, as if... as if they were waiting for us there! The brothers... they're all dead. To cover my escape, they... they all died. I was the last one. I'm sure of it!"

Two days' journey.

Three hundred Ogres.

No other survivors.

Levi's mind raced, connecting these key pieces of information.

This meant the news was physically cut off at Dragons Tooth Pass.

Those muscle-brained fools of the Bloodtooth tribe, after seizing the grain, would absolutely celebrate right there first, not send people to spread the news everywhere.

He had won the most precious thing—a time difference.

For at least two, maybe even three days, the outside world would not know that Blackstone Territory's lifeline had been completely severed.

"You did well," Levi patted the orc scout's shoulder, a rare touch of warmth in his tone. "Blackstone Territory will remember your contribution. Now, rest well. Don't think about anything, don't say anything. I will take care of your family."

With that, he turned and left the chamber. Evelyn understood immediately and stayed at the door, personally taking up guard duty.

As soon as Levi stepped out of the chamber, he was met with Ella's eyes, which seemed almost capable of shooting flames.

"Liar! You're a complete and utter liar!" The suppressed fury finally erupted completely at this moment, Ella's voice trembling with agitation. "The grain is gone! Everything was a lie! You used my reputation, everyone's trust, to build a castle in the air! Now, it's going to collapse and crush everyone beneath it!"

She rushed up to Levi, her hands clenched tightly into fists, nails digging deep into her palms.

"You must tell everyone the truth immediately! Let them know there's no grain! Let them figure it out themselves, flee or plunder, at least... at least give them a chance to choose! Instead of being kept in the dark by you and starving to death!"

Levi watched her quietly, letting her accusations hail down upon him.

His face showed no expression—neither guilt nor anger—only an unfathomable calm.

Only when Ella was breathless from her emotional outburst did he slowly speak, his voice as flat as if discussing the weather. "And then? Your Highness."

"What 'and then'?" Ella was taken aback.

"Tell them the truth, and then what?" Levi countered, his gaze dissecting her logic like a scalpel. "What will happen the instant tens of thousands of Blackstone Territory's subjects, plus several thousand soldiers and craftsmen, learn the grain is exhausted? Will they calmly pack their bags and evacuate in an orderly fashion? Or will they immediately storm our last remaining grain reserves and slaughter each other for half a sack of moldy wheat? At that point, stampedes, looting, riots... the entire Blackstone Territory will become a living hell. Tell me, will that process produce even a single grain of food?"

Ella's lips moved, but no words came out.

The scene Levi described flashed through her mind, sending a chill up her spine.

She knew he was right.

In the face of absolute famine, the ugliness of human nature would be magnified infinitely, and so-called order would vanish without a trace.

"Confessing is meaningless, except to make everyone die faster and more miserably," Levi's voice was cold and clear. "Panic is more deadly than hunger itself. As long as order remains, as long as they still believe the granaries will open tomorrow, I still have time. And time is the only thing right now that can be exchanged for grain."

He walked past the despondent Ella and headed straight for his study.

"Evelyn, go to the archives and bring me the 'Special Talent Reserve Files' I personally compiled," Levi's footsteps didn't pause, his voice coming from ahead. "Section B, third row, that black iron cabinet."

Evelyn's figure silently disappeared down the corridor.

Ella stood frozen in place, feeling as if she had fallen into a cold abyss constructed of lies and calculations, with that man's back at its very center.

In the study, Levi spread out the military map of Blackstone Territory. His gaze lingered on the location of Dragons Tooth Pass for a moment before shifting away.

He slowly traced his finger across the map, countless plans generating, simulating, and then being rejected in his mind.

Purchase from other lords?

Impossible. Augustus's blockade net was still effective, and distant water couldn't quench a nearby fire.

Send troops to seize it?

Three hundred Ogres. With Blackstone Territory's current military strength, even a victory would be pyrrhic, and there wasn't enough time.

Evelyn soon returned, placing a heavy, magically locked black dossier case on Levi's desk.

Levi deftly unlocked it and pulled out the very bottom file from a pile of meticulously categorized dossiers.

The cover of this dossier was dark red, marked with conspicuous ink: "High Risk - Agriculture."

On the cover was only a single, elegant name: Mia.

Beneath the name was a line of cold, small print: Nature Druid.

Charge: Abusing forbidden life-catalysis techniques, causing permanent desertification of thirty miles of land south of Greenvale.

Holding this dossier, Levi said to Ella, "Come, Your Highness. I'll take you to see our last trump card."

Passing through heavily guarded corridors and descending a winding spiral staircase, they arrived at the deepest cellar of the castle.

Unlike the vault storing gold coins, a heavy stone door here was inscribed with complex isolation magic arrays.

Evelyn stepped forward, deactivated the arrays using a special method, and pushed open the stone door.

A wave of warm, humid air, mixed with the fragrance of soil and the fresh scent of plants, washed over them, starkly different from the cold, dry environment outside the cellar.

Beyond the stone door was a massive underground greenhouse.

Dozens of softly glowing magic crystals floated in mid-air, simulating sunlight.

An underground stream had been diverted here, forming an intricate circulating irrigation system.

In the center of the greenhouse, a young woman in a simple linen robe knelt between the furrows, carefully tending to a small patch of emerald green seedlings.

She had a waterfall of green hair, was barefoot, and her skin was so pale it was almost translucent.

When she looked up, she revealed eyes as clear as a forest spring, a purity in her gaze that seemed otherworldly.

She was Mia, a Druid in exile whom Levi had "picked up" on the run.

Seeing Levi enter, Mia merely nodded calmly in greeting, then lowered her head again, continuing to focus on grooming the leaves of a snow-yam seedling.

These seedlings were precisely the "seeds" Levi had prepared for the entire plan.

Levi didn't waste words. He walked directly up to her and handed over a pre-drafted parchment contract.

"Mia, I need your help."

The heading on the parchment read: 'Blackstone Territory Chief Agricultural Technology Advisor Employment Agreement.'

Mia's gaze swept over the contract, finally settling on Levi's calm face. Her voice was as cool as a mountain stream. "Lord Levi, you should know that the power I wield violates the balance of nature. Every use is a desecration of the Earth Mother."

"I know," Levi nodded, his expression serious. "But right now, I need you to use that power to save tens of thousands of lives. It is desecration, but it is also redemption."

He gently placed the "High Risk" marked dossier by the furrow. "This agreement takes effect immediately. In the name of the Lord of Blackstone Territory, I pardon all your past crimes. Furthermore, I need you to accelerate the growth of enough snow yams to feed a hundred thousand people for one month, within three days."

Three days. Accelerating the growth of food for a hundred thousand people.

Ella listened, her heart pounding with fear. This was no longer magic; it was a miracle.

Mia fell silent.

Her slender fingers gently stroked the warm, moist soil beneath her, as if conversing with the earth.

After a long while, she slowly looked up. Those clear eyes held a trace of compassion and resolve.

"I can do it."

"However," Mia's tone shifted, her voice becoming exceptionally solemn. "Lord Levi, the essence of the forbidden life-catalysis technique is overdraft. I need to forcibly extract a hundred years of future life force from a piece of land and pour it into these seeds. After the procedure, the selected land—its moisture, nutrients, all vitality—will be drained, turning into a permanent dead desert where nothing will grow. It will become the sacrifice for our survival."

She stood up, her bare feet on the soft soil, and walked over to the large map in the study.

Her finger gently traced across the barren lands of Blackstone Territory on the map.

"Now, please personally select on this map the land... that we will sacrifice together."