Solving the Problem

Karen, the newly elected chief of Graystone Village, stepped into the legendary Demon Lord’s city for the very first time in his life.

He had walked an entire day and night, soles of his straw sandals worn through, before the neat rows of Evernight City’s buildings finally rose before him.

His palms sweated.

His heart pounded like a war drum.

The moment he reached the doors of the council hall, guards barred his path.

“Halt! This is the administrative heart of Evernight City, where Lord Demon Lord conducts governance. No unauthorized persons allowed!”

The guard’s voice was cold and intimidating, eyes wary.

“I’m not unauthorized!”

Karen stomped in panic when stopped.

“I—I’m really not!”

Terrified by the spear tips and icy aura, he stumbled back a step, face flushed dark red.

“I’m Karen, newly elected village chief of Graystone Village in the south!”

“I have an urgent matter to report to Lord Demon Lord!”

“Malicious rumors are spreading in our village, blocking the new policies!”

The guard frowned, sizing up this dust-covered demon in coarse cloth who looked every bit the common farmer.

He clearly didn’t believe a word.

Just as he opened his mouth to drive the man away, the hall doors swung open.

Lucia stepped out with an armful of documents.

She spotted the sweating, anxious Karen and found him vaguely familiar.

“What’s going on?”

“Lady Lucia!”

Karen’s eyes lit up as if she were his savior.

He had seen this aloof, high-ranking lady when Evernight officials came to oversee the election.

He hurried forward.

“Village Chief Karen from Graystone!”

“Bad people keep spreading lies in our village!”

“They say Lord Demon Lord’s new policies won’t last, that heavy taxes are coming, that our land will be seized!”

“The villagers are terrified—no one dares continue land division or crop rotation!”

“I didn’t know what else to do, so I ran here to beg Lord Demon Lord for guidance!”

Lucia blinked, then smiled.

“So it’s Chief Karen. Don’t panic.”

“I’m already aware of situations like yours. I’ll report to Lord Demon Lord immediately and get you an answer.”

“First tell me exactly what’s happening. Did the agitators say who they were?”

Karen clung to her like a lifeline and poured out every detail:

the content of the rumors, how they spread, the villagers’ fear and hesitation, descriptions of the strangers, his own suspicions—even his frustration at being out-argued and the absence of stationed officials.

He held nothing back.

“…That’s the whole situation, Lady Lucia. I’m no good with words, and the official just happened to be away!”

Lucia listened intently, jotting notes and asking pointed questions.

By the time Karen finished, his throat was parched, but seeing a full page of careful handwriting rekindled his hope.

“I understand.”

Lucia capped her pen and looked up reassuringly.

“Go home for now. You’ll have an answer before nightfall.”

“But my lady, won’t this trouble you?”

Karen’s palms sweated again.

“No trouble at all.”

Her tone was calm.

“But keep this visit quiet for now.”

Karen’s anxious expression finally eased.

“You’ve come a long way. Rest assured—Lord Demon Lord values the grassroots deeply. Rumors will not be allowed to derail the new policies.”

“I’ll send people to Graystone immediately to explain everything to the villagers and dispatch an agricultural team to guide land division.”

She closed the notebook and nodded solemnly.

“Really? Thank you so much, Lady Lucia!”

Overjoyed, Karen’s voice shook.

He stepped forward and clasped her cool, slender hands with his own rough, soil-stained ones, shaking them fervently.

“On behalf of the whole village—thank you, Lord Demon Lord and Lady Lucia!”

“We used to be noble property, not even allowed names.”

“Now we have our own land, and I’m village chief—all thanks to Lord Demon Lord!”

“Please tell her: we’ll protect the new policies with our lives!”

Lucia felt the calluses, the warmth, the utterly sincere gratitude.

She was briefly stunned but felt no disgust.

The old her—the proud Winter Messenger—would never have deigned to touch someone like Karen, let alone speak to him.

Yet now she found she didn’t mind dealing with these honest, simple folk at all.

Far easier than the deceitful games of politics.

She gently withdrew her hands and nodded.

“I will relay every word to Lord Demon Lord.”

“She will be deeply heartened to know the grassroots has a chief as steadfast and capable as you.”

“Also—if your village struggles with land division, request mana plows and survey teams. They’re free.”

“Free?”

Karen’s eyes widened.

“We haven’t contributed anything yet—how could we accept that?”

“That is the whole point of the new policies.”

Lucia met his gaze.

“Lord Demon Lord says: only when every citizen lives well can Evernight truly prosper.”

“Farm your fields well, build your village well—that is the greatest contribution you can make.”

Karen nodded vigorously.

He thanked her a few more times before reluctantly leaving, glancing back at the hall.

“I hope one day I can meet Lord Demon Lord in person…”

After seeing him off, Lucia entered the office with her densely filled notebook.

Vivian and Elder Green—whose hair and beard seemed to have grayed further from worry—were hunched over dull, rough metal samples, agonizing over magitech alloy substitutes.

Seeing Lucia, Vivian looked up.

“Border anomaly arrangements complete?”

“Yes, Aria has started the files.”

“But something else came up that may need priority.”

She recounted Graystone Village’s situation, emphasizing the diligent, honest, energetic Chief Karen.

Elder Green’s weary face brightened.

“For Evernight to grow, we need thousands just like Karen!”

He scribbled something, then turned to Vivian.

“When Aria returns, tell her to raise Graystone’s priority.”

“And add a note to the files: outstanding grassroots talent who actively support territorial work should receive extra care and fast-track promotion!”

“That village chief was very sincere. He asked me to pass on everyone’s gratitude.”

Vivian couldn’t help smiling.

“This Karen… interesting.”

“Recognizes when a problem exceeds his ability, doesn’t try to tough it out or hide it—reports upward immediately. Clear thinking, decisive action.”

“Our grassroots elections are clearly working.”

“Cadres who rose from the bottom, cherish their chance, and truly believe in the new policies—that’s exactly the strength we need.”

She spoke slowly—this was the future she wanted to see.

Free the slaves and commoners.

Let them own their lives, treasure their surroundings, strive to improve the territory, and take initiative to solve problems.

Sooner or later, Evernight would burst with vitality.

Lucia nodded in full agreement, but her tone grew worried.

“Chief Karen is reliable, yet Graystone is likely not an isolated case.”

“The defeated old nobles won’t accept their loss quietly.”

“They’ll exploit the gaps while our administrative reach is still incomplete and stationed officials rotate.”

“They’ll scurry around spreading rumors, perhaps even escalate to sabotage or assassination of grassroots workers.”

“If we don’t stop this fast, it could seriously damage policy rollout and stability.”

“You’re right. We can’t wait for the rot to spread.”

Vivian rubbed her brow, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

“Your concern is spot-on.”

Fingers drumming the desk, she thought a moment before a sharp glint appeared.

“Perfect—Aria is already building a surveillance network and needs to mobilize shadow forces.”

“She can pull her best stealth scouts, trackers, and intelligence analysts.”

“Form several special action teams.”

“Secretly dispatch them to the newly elected, still-vulnerable southern villages—especially around Graystone.”

She stood, voice decisive.

“Two missions:”

“First, covertly protect our grassroots cadres.”

“Second, root out the rumormongers and troublemakers, identify them and their networks.”

“Once confirmed, authorize coordination with local patrols to capture—or eliminate on the spot.”

“I want these people to understand: Evernight’s order is not to be challenged!”

Lucia inexplicably felt relieved that she herself wasn’t assigned the task.

“This arrangement is thorough.”

She nodded approval.

“Aria’s shadow scouts are perfect for dealing with local snakes.”

“Also—could the agricultural teams follow right after?”

“Bring the newest mana-crystal fertilizer and high-yield seeds.”

“Conduct on-site guidance and demonstration planting once the scouts secure the villages.”

“Real bumper harvests will crush rumors far better than any speech.”

“Good idea.”

Vivian nodded, impressed by Lucia’s initiative.

“Do it.”

“Agricultural teams take fertilizer and improved seeds.”

“Show the benefits of three-field rotation in person, test soil fertility.”

“When villagers see thriving crops and richer land, it’ll speak louder than a hundred explanations.”

As they spoke, Aria strode in—suddenly saddled with yet another task—holding a faintly glowing parchment.

“Lord Demon Lord, urgent intelligence.”

She placed it on the desk and touched the rune seal.

“Our shadow mages intercepted an encrypted letter.”

“From Baron Bal, cousin of Marquis Victor, to Rem’s envoy.”

Vivian and Lucia leaned in.

As Aria fed mana, hurried script emerged.

*To Lord Rem:*

*Attached is the latest Evernight new army deployment map.*

*Main supplies concentrated in the western mana-crystal factory and northern granaries.*

*Three nobles dissatisfied with Vivian have been contacted.*

*Plan: next week during farmland irrigation, deliberately sabotage water pipelines.*

*Then spread rumors that mana pumps are poisoning the ley lines, incite villagers to resist new policies…*

The more Lucia read, the more her fingers trembled with rage.

“That bastard Bal!”

“Daring to collude with the enemy and destroy the pipelines we spent half a month laying with mana crystals!”

“If they’re ruined, irrigation for several southern villages collapses!”

“Damn it—more work for me! I’ll freeze him into an ice statue myself!”

The pipeline project had largely been under her supervision.

Seeing someone dare target her hard work naturally ignited her fury.

Vivian felt the Frost Banshee’s chilling anger and petty grudge, yet remained calmer than expected.

Her finger traced the words “deployment map” as a cold smile curved her lips.

“Baron Bal… as stupid and arrogant as his cousin Victor.”

“The intelligence he provided is at least half a month old.”

“He has no idea that, anticipating Rem’s moves and internal threats, I already ordered Aria to overhaul all deployments and supply points three times—with decoys.”

“He’s trying to claim merit with outdated garbage. Laughable.”

“But sabotaging pipelines and spreading pollution rumors does strike our current weak point.”

“Right now irrigation is critical.”

“Massive pipeline damage would halt water flow and damage crops.”

“Then rumors of reduced yields and harmful mana tech would gain terrifying credibility.”

“Farmers could panic—maybe even riot.”

“A vicious, effective plot.”

She looked up at Aria and Lucia, eyes like ice.

“It seems we’ve been too merciful to these lingering old noble ghosts.”

“Time for a thorough purge.”