Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Meanwhile, on the main street of Guandu City, Lein and his entourage moved slowly in an elegant carriage. They enjoyed the vibrant and colorful cityscape, where the activities of its citizens reflected a harmonious life.

On the other hand, the incident at the seed shop between the shop elder and the old man associated with the Demon Sect was unknown to Laras and the others, except for Lein. This city, although just a region, had an extraordinarily vast scale—several times larger than the Main Continent in the Divine Sky Realm.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was cozy. Plush seats faced each other, providing ample space for conversation. The unique feature of the carriage was its outer walls, which appeared solid but allowed passengers to see the scenery outside as if they were transparent. From the comfort of this space, they could enjoy the city's panorama without being affected by the cold air outside.

"Amazing technology. How could they create this without technological devices?" murmured Lady Fatmawati, sitting with a curious expression. As a scientist and high-ranking official, her interest in such innovations was natural. Her eyes were fixed on the outside view, where some cultivators walked the streets with their escorts, while farmers carried their harvests on their backs to the market. The city's life evoked various speculations in her mind.

"Brother Lein, will we inspect all the shops in this city?" asked Laras, who sat beside her. Her voice sounded flat, but there was a hint of doubt hidden within it.

"No need. I will gather the supervisors to provide direct reports," Lein replied casually, as if he had planned everything meticulously.

Laras nodded slightly at this. Her thoughts returned to the organizational structure of the seed shop in Guandu—where an elder led, assisted by supervisors, and supported by staff below them. Gathering the supervisors was indeed an efficient step to simplify the inspection process.

"Besides, we don't have much time. We need to return before nightfall," Lein added, ensuring their schedule remained intact.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

On the other hand, Laras was deep in thought. Her gaze became vacant for a moment, as if lost in her own reflections. Why had Lein asked her and Bagus to escort him? With Lein's current strength, there were only a few in the Guandu Realm who could pose a threat to him.

Lein, who was always perceptive, noticed the change in Laras' expression through his divine awareness. He looked at her gently before smiling slightly and speaking, "The two of you will learn from Lady Fatmawati to conduct audits on the shop and draft development plans." Lein deliberately raised his voice so that Bagus, sitting in front, could hear.

Bagus was slightly startled upon hearing this explanation, but he quickly understood Lein's intent. Meanwhile, Laras appeared calmer. The explanation clarified that this journey was not merely a routine visit.

"Our shop branches are not only in the Guandu Realm but are spread across many realms. So, our task now is to ensure everything is running well and continues to grow," Lein said with a serious yet calm tone.

He continued to explain the situation of the seed shop, a business network initially built to reach an extensive market. However, due to the limitations of inter-realm communication systems, these shops could only survive on the initial orders: to keep operating, focus on the basics, and target the lower market segments.

At the time, Lein hadn't considered a long-term plan. As a result, most of the shops only engaged in low-level trading, lacking the capability to identify or leverage high-value items. Although they survived, these shops showed little significant growth.

"This is the main reason I came to the Guandu Realm," Lein continued, emphasizing his purpose. "We need to restructure the business objectives. Additionally, Bagus and Laras, you will learn from this process so that you can replicate it in other realms later."

"Yes, Brother Lein," Laras responded with a nod of understanding. There was a clear sense of admiration in her gaze.

Laras couldn't hide her admiration for Lein. Despite his immense strength, Lein still took the time to build a business with a long-term vision—a step that clearly reflected his ambition to keep growing, both in power and influence.

Lein, sensitive to Laras' change in expression, glanced at her sideways. A faint smile adorned his face before he said, "You look very beautiful today."

His tone was neither soft nor a whisper. It was an honest compliment from the heart. Laras indeed looked stunning today, with a simple appearance that radiated natural elegance.

For a moment, Laras froze. She resembled a statue suddenly losing control over itself. Those words came out of nowhere—something she hadn't expected. Even if there was a chance Lein might say such a thing, she thought it would have been when they first arrived at the portal to the Guandu Realm, not now, in a serious atmosphere.

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"Now?" she muttered internally. Her cheeks flushed, and her usual icy composure suddenly melted away.

"Th-thank… you… Brother… Lein," Laras stammered, her voice barely audible. Afterward, she simply sat still, staring blankly ahead, trying hard to calm herself.

Bagus, sitting across from her, didn't pay much attention to what had just happened in the carriage. To him, Lein's compliment was natural and not something to fuss over.

Meanwhile, Lady Fatmawati simply smiled faintly, remaining silent without commenting. For a moment, her thoughts wandered, reminiscing about her youthful days.

Lein, unaffected by the atmosphere he had created, began issuing commands throughout the Guandu Realm with his divine awareness, summoning supervisors and elders to gather. His expression remained calm, but his eyes reflected sharp focus, as if every step had been carefully calculated.

***

By a tranquil lake, a pavilion stood firmly. The pavilion, made of dark wood polished to a shine, exuded elegance that blended seamlessly with the surrounding natural scenery. A gentle breeze blew, creating small ripples on the lake's surface.

In the pavilion, two elderly men sat across from each other, playing a game of Go in silence. One of them was Elder Gonbi, a respected figure in the Seed Shop. Opposite him sat Lord Fei Yun, the leader of one of the most renowned sects in Nagung City. Their atmosphere was relaxed, as if the outside world had no place in the midst of this game.

"Lord Fei Yun, forgive my lack of skill," Elder Gonbi said with a faint smile, steadily placing a new piece on the board. His voice was calm, like the ripples on the lake behind them.

"No problem at all. Playing with Elder Gonbi is an honor for me," Fei Yun replied warmly. After speaking, he lifted his gaze, his eyes fixed on the lake. A strange premonition crossed his mind, as if someone or something was watching them.

Fei Yun glanced at his opponent, who was now smiling broadly. However, the smile on Gonbi's face was not a mere formality. It was a genuine smile, radiating pure happiness.

"What's the matter, Lord Gonbi?" Fei Yun asked, unable to suppress his curiosity. During the months they had worked together in business, he had never seen Gonbi so happy.

"My lord has arrived," Gonbi replied casually. His voice carried deep respect yet was free of burden. "He plans to hold a meeting with the supervisors and elders."

Fei Yun raised his eyebrows. His eyes, previously dim like a flickering candle, now gleamed with enthusiasm. "Elder Gonbi, for the sake of our friendship, may I meet your lord?" he asked with a pleading gaze.

Initially, Gonbi was prepared to refuse. This meeting was an internal matter, unrelated to outsiders. However, after a moment of thought, he nodded. "Alright, let's prepare. We have only an hour to arrive," he said enthusiastically.

Fei Yun immediately stood up. He flicked his long white robe, which fluttered gracefully in the wind. With a single motion of his hand, he summoned his Fire Phoenix. The majestic creature emerged from nowhere, surrounded by blazing flames. Standing ten meters tall, it exuded an extraordinary aura of authority.

"Let's go, Lord Gonbi," Fei Yun said, leaping onto the Phoenix's back. His voice carried undeniable excitement.

Gonbi followed without hesitation. With a light step, he leaped onto the Phoenix's back, landing gracefully as if accustomed to it.

The Phoenix flapped its massive wings, creating a strong wind around the pavilion. In an instant, the creature soared into the sky, carrying the two elderly men toward the meeting place Lein had designated.

Meanwhile, it wasn't just Elder Gonbi who received Lein's summons. Other elders across various cities in the Guandu Realm also received the same instructions. Utilizing clones scattered across all branches of the Seed Shop, Lein reached his entire network quickly and efficiently.

Seeing this progress, Lein felt satisfied. He realized that the elders of the Seed Shop had built extensive networks of friendship, even with influential cultivators in the Guandu Realm. Although the Seed Shop only operated in lower-tier markets, their connections with prominent sect leaders showed that their efforts far exceeded initial expectations.

As a form of appreciation, Lein allowed the elders to bring their acquaintances, including important figures who had formed close ties with the Seed Shop, to the meeting. Deep down, Lein hoped to discover something intriguing—perhaps information, new allies, or even opportunities he hadn't anticipated.