[Chapter 158. A Sea of Green]

The city's outskirts took shape under the moon's pale glow—bright as daylight to his Dhampir eyes. But what he saw made no sense. The fields weren't just planted; they were bursting with growth. With a mental command, the drones descended. As they drew closer, details sharpened across the vast expanse.

Wheat. Not sprouts, but full-grown stalks swaying in the night breeze.

His hand brushed through the wheat heads, grains catching between his fingers. He knew little about farming, but one certainty burned through him: this shouldn't be possible. It had only been planted this morning. The plant in his grasp wasn't fully mature, as he'd first thought, but it was close—already in its final growth stages, nearly ready for harvest.

He pulled his hand back. The drone continued its sweep over the field.

The land was sectioned into distinct crop plots. Three fields, each with different varieties. Some stood tall like the corn and wheat; others crawled across the ground like ivy, vegetables swelling along their tendrils. Hushed whispers drifted from the other drones. He understood their shock—it wasn't just the impossible growth rate, but the sheer quantity. The fields were now full, with almost no empty patches visible.

Searanox couldn't stop the sneer that twisted his lips. The System that had forced itself upon him was demonstrating its cruelty once again. This would become the new normal; everyone would have to adapt to this accelerated pace. Those who couldn't would fall behind, eventually consumed by this relentless reality. Even if he managed to make the city function, it was only a matter of time before the System threw something else at them—something bigger, more dangerous.

As they neared the hotel entrance, two figures emerged from the building. His thoughts broke off as Rayan and Samantha approached, their faces a mixture of relief and exhaustion.

Rayan wiped sweat from his brow with a dirty sleeve, his gaze flickering between Searanox's impassive face and the impossible fields. "Searanox. We weren't expecting you back so soon. We... we have something to show you."

"The fields," Searanox said, his voice flat as he gestured toward the outskirts where the crops stood unnaturally tall. "Explain."

"The soil," Samantha cut in, her eyes bright with a mixture of awe and terror. "Almost immediately after we planted, the seeds just... erupted." She clutched her hands together, knuckles white. "We've been rotating teams, trying to document the growth rates." She hesitated, swallowing hard. "We're... we're terrified to harvest it. What if this is a trap? What if eating it poisons us, or worse?"

The drone settled beside them. Iris pressed her muzzle against his neck, leaning over his shoulder as Samantha spoke.

"Slowly," he said, his tone indifferent. "Walk me through it from the start."

Samantha stepped forward. "We finished the fields before noon. With the help of the Level five awakened, the work progressed faster than expected. As we began planting, everything was normal..." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "But later, when we looked back at the already seeded portion, we saw the first sprouts."

Searanox nodded, waiting for more.

"By afternoon they were already growing, as if weeks had passed. Not just a few plants—the entire field was a sea of green."

Iris tensed against him, her claws dragging lightly across his coat. He didn't react. His eyes swept over the fields again. The wheat in the distance swayed in the wind as if it had been there for a month. He snorted, a short sound of contempt for the System forcing this accelerated existence upon them. His mind was already calculating the logistics. If the growth rate held, they could be looking at more then one harvest per week—a scenario that was both a blessing and a curse.

"I want you to bring me something toxic, something spoiled, and anything fresh that's considered food," Searanox said.

His drone dissolved in a flash of blue light as he dropped to the ground with Iris. They landed on their feet, her body pressed against his as the remaining drones formed a line at the hotel wall. Iris maintained her grip on him even as he turned to face the four women. He produced a handful of silver coins from his storage ring and extended his hand.

"These are for your clothes. Buy repair kits. Fix your armor."

Lana stepped forward, her movements stiff. She took the coins, her fingers brushing against his briefly. "Thank you, Searanox. We will do as you commanded."

Without acknowledging her further, he turned and walked into the hotel. Iris adjusted her hold, her claws lightly pricking the fabric of his coat as she wrapped both arms around his bicep, her body flush against his side.

Once inside the ballroom, he settled onto one of the couches. Iris followed, sitting on his lap without invitation. Her arms encircled his shoulders, her face pressed against his neck.

"You've been clingy since I returned," he said, his voice low as he pulled her closer. His arms wrapped around her waist. "Something my good girl wants to tell me?"

"I... I was afraid you were with others," she admitted, her words muffled against his skin. Her fur tickled his neck as she spoke. "I know it's foolish... but I couldn't stop the thoughts."

"You are mine, Iris," he murmured into her ear, his breath warm. "You won't be the only one... but you have something others won't have." His hands traced down her spine, following the curve of her back with deliberate slowness. "None will be as soft as you are when you cuddle me afterward."

A contented sigh escaped her lips, her body relaxing as tension melted away. Her tail, previously wrapped tightly around his leg, now swayed in a lazy rhythm. She tilted her head back, her silver eyes meeting his. "I want to prove myself to you. I will be stronger, more useful."

"I have no doubt you will be," he said, before pulling her into a deep kiss.

The ballroom doors creaked open. Samantha and Rayan stepped inside, their entrance punctuated by Samantha's sharp intake of breath.

"I... I should come back later," she stammered, eyes fixed on Iris straddling Searanox's lap, soft whimpers escaping her.

Rayan approached cautiously, placing a small burlap sack on the table without looking directly at them. "The items you requested, sir." He turned immediately, his back to them.

Searanox pushed Iris away gently, his whisper barely audible. "Stop. They're here." She whined softly but complied, sliding off his lap, though her tail still brushed against his leg. "You'll get your reward later. First, we deal with this problem."

He rose and crossed to the table. A sweet, cloying scent of decay wafted from within. "I don't need to know what's in here," he said as a cargo drone materialized beside the table. "Their sorting capabilities will determine if the crops are safe."

The drone's storage swallowed the sack's contents. The stench of the rotting meat dissipated as it was sealed away.

"My drones understand intent with precision," Searanox continued, his gaze resting on Samantha, whose face remained flushed. "If I command them to gather wood, they'll bring wood. If I specify a particular quality, they'll only select that exact type."

He gestured toward the empty space before the drone. "Drop consumables on the left, inedibles on the right. Arrange them neatly."

The drone obeyed instantly. A loaf of bread and raw Titan Bull meat materialized on the left. On the right appeared the rotten meat, purple-tinged berries, and rotting vegetables—each glistening with an unnatural oily sheen under the ballroom's dim light.

Rayan and Samantha stared, their unease palpable. The drone hadn't just sorted items; it had understood the concept of 'edible' versus 'inedible' without specific training on these foods.

"I will have my drones harvest the fields and replant them afterward," Searanox said. "Everything they bring will be safe to consume."

"Does that mean we won't work on the fields?" Rayan asked cautiously.

"I never said that," he replied as the drone collected the items from the table. "You will plow the fields and spread the initial crops. The accelerated growth rate is precisely why my drones should handle the harvest—they work faster and more efficiently than humans ever could."

His fingers brushed along Iris's muzzle, scratching softly before he moved away. "You did a good job with the fields." His hand patted Samantha's head before he slapped Rayan on the shoulder. "That said, I want more fields prepared. The number will depend on the yield of this first harvest."

Rayan simply nodded, while Samantha twitched softly under his touch. Searanox walked past them, motioning for Iris to follow. "Oh, before I forget—outside are nine drones full of meat. Distribute it in the morning. If there's anyone who can use ice magic, have them deep-freeze the basement."

He left the hotel and walked down the empty street, Iris trailing a few steps behind before rushing forward to wrap her arm around him once more.