Kai heard the faint sizzle of the ground where the raptor once stood. Everyone else’s eyes were glued to the smoking crater left behind by the mana cannon.

Balen was the first to react. His broad, bullish face split into a wide grin, his tusks flashing in the sunlight as he let out a loud laugh that echoed across the walls. If the crowd wasn’t there, Kai could swear the minotaur would have started dancing.

He clapped his massive hands together, causing a few nearby men to jump.

“Did you see that? With this kind of power, no beast in the realm will dare to challenge us!”

Duke Blackwood’s knight, Darian stood frozen, his stern expression faltering as his mouth dropped open. The mercenaries, who were practically mocking Kai before, stood in stunned silence.

Among them, Kellen, still reeling from the shock, looked flabbergasted, "How... How did this happen? That's... that's insane. I've never seen anything like it!" The red-haired mercenary who’d scoffed at the idea of the mana cannon’s power, kept shaking his head. “Impossible. No artefact should have that kind of power. It’s unheard of!”

He wasn't alone. A chorus of similar whispers spread through the crowd, doubt and disbelief giving way to awe.

Kai turned his head, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips as he watched the mercenary struggle to comprehend what he had just witnessed.

Stepping forward, he caught the man’s eye and said, “I’m sure you recall the little wager we made a few moments ago. Or is your memory a bit hazy after witnessing the cannon’s true might? That was a raptor, a Grade 3 beast and only an attack equivalent to a fourth-circle spell could disintegrate it like that.”

Kellen blinked, his face flushing a deep red that matched his hair. He stammered, searching for words that wouldn’t come. The realisation of what he’d just lost—and to whom—settled over him like a heavy hug. “Yeah… yeah, I remember,” he muttered, swallowing hard. A shadow moved over his head as he stomped his feet in frustration. “Damn… guess I owe you.”

Kai’s smile widened a gleam of triumph in his eyes. “That you do,” he replied smoothly, already turning his attention back to the mana cannon, where Balen was still celebrating their success.

Balen’s grin stretched to his ears— which frankly came out as scary. Kai did not doubt that if he participated in the beast wave, they would surely think twice before charging at the walls.

Shaking his head at such thoughts, he kept an eye on Kellen, in case he tried to run away.

Noticing Kai's eye on him, Kellen frowned. “I never go back on a bet. I’ll serve in the wave defence with my party.”

His words were heavy and his party was already trying to stop their faces from falling, but there was a flicker of admiration in Keller's eyes now— an acknowledgement of the power Kai commanded.

Kai could tell that he wasn’t the happiest about losing the bet, but the man’s perception of him had changed.

After all, Kai wanted the people who were new and unfamiliar with Veralt to know of his true capabilities.

“Good,” Kai replied, his voice steady and authoritative. He turned to face the rest of the mercenaries gathered along the wall. “I’ll speak with the rest of you about recruitment this evening. For now, you’ll be settled in the city, but remember: stay out of trouble. We don’t need any unnecessary disruptions.”

The mercenaries nodded in unison, their usual bravado noticeably subdued after what had happened. They exchanged quiet glances.

Darian, still grappling with the magnitude of what he’d just seen, stepped forward. “Lord Arzan,” he said, his voice gentle but his gaze firm— respect was what he emanated. “This kind of power... Even the Archine Tower might not possess something like this.”

Kai shrugged slightly, a thoughtful look on his face. “We can’t be sure,” he replied. “Who knows what tricks the tower might have up its sleeve? But regardless, the mana cannons will give us a fighting chance.”

The knight nodded, his earlier hesitations melting away. “Yes, it will. I brought my men here on the Duke’s orders, but I was hesitant. I feared I might be leading them to their deaths. But now, I believe we could actually win this.”

“We need to win,” Kai said, reciprocating the firmness in his bearing. “There’s too much at stake.” He then gestured to Killian and Francis, who had been standing nearby. “Killian, Francis, please show Darian and his men to their quarters. The barracks aren’t in the best shape, given the preparations for the beast wave, but we’ll do our best to accommodate you a lot.”

The knight gave a respectful bow. “I’m grateful, Lord Arzan,” he said before turning to follow Killian and Francis, who led him and his men away from the wall.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

As they left, Kai allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. His plan to demonstrate the power of the mana cannons had worked perfectly, quelling doubts and bolstering morale. And, most importantly, the cannons had fired without a hitch— no self-destruction, no catastrophic failures. That was a good start.

But now, it was time to focus on the more important matters at hand. There was much to prepare, and the beast wave wouldn’t wait for them to be ready.

Kai turned to Malden, who was still staring at the mana cannons, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and a glint of greed. “They’re not for sale,” Kai said flatly, cutting through Malden’s thoughts like a sharp blade.

Malden blinked, snapping out of his stupor. “What about the blueprints?” he asked, a hint of hope still lingering in his voice.

Kai shook his head firmly. “Not for sale either,” he replied, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “But I do have another task for you.”

Malden’s brows furrowed as he listened.

“Gather a large batch of the shadow seeds and come,” Kai continued, “and have your men move with the farmers. I want you to plant more of them around the farmlands alongside other seeds you have brought. We need to increase our defences and secure the food supply.”

Malden gave him a puzzled look. “Come, but where?”

“To the kitchen,” Kai said, a slight smile playing on his lips. “We need to help the city increase its productivity. We have a lot of things going on at the same time, but we are falling behind schedule. There’s a lot more to this fight than just weapons and walls, Malden. The people need to be ready, too.”

Malden frowned at that but slowly nodded.

***

The kitchen buzzed with activity as Malden brought in a large burlap sack filled with shadow seeds.

Kai was already waiting, two maids at his side— Claire and one of the maids who had tried his Verdura soup for the first time, Maribel. A short but stout woman with a smile so bright she gave the aura of a warm grandma despite her young age.

Regardless, they had been called in the middle of their duties, and now they stood before Kai.

“Place the bag here,” Kai instructed, pointing to a sturdy wooden table. Malden did as he was told, setting down the heavy sack with a grunt.

Kai turned to the maids, a small smile on his lips. “Alright, listen carefully. We’re going to make a drink that will help everyone stay awake and be more productive. This,” he said, reaching into the sack and pulling out a handful of the dark seeds, “is the key ingredient. We’re going to use these shadow seeds to make a beverage called… well, it's called a lot of things depending on where you are looking for them. I remember some names were ‘Shadow Brew', ‘Wakewater,’ or ‘Java Juice.’ And it's also called ‘Coffee’ which I prefer personally.”

Claire and Maribel exchanged glances. Maribel was clearly unsure about the dark coffee seeds, but Claire, being used to Kai’s tactics that were often under his sleeves, nodded firmly at him, allowing him to continue.

“First,” Kai continued, “we need to roast the seeds. This is what brings out the flavour.” He gestured to a small brazier already glowing with hot coals. “We’ll do this over an open flame. Watch closely.”

With deft hands, Kai placed a pan over the fire and poured in a small handful of the seeds. He kept the pan moving, ensuring the seeds didn’t burn. A rich, earthy aroma began to fill the kitchen, mingling with the heat of the coals. The maids leaned in, their noses twitching as they took in the smell.

“See that colour?” Kai pointed out as the seeds darkened, becoming almost black. “That’s what you’re looking for— a deep roast, but not burnt. This is where the flavour comes from.”

Once the seeds were roasted to perfection, Kai took them off the heat and placed them in a mortar. “Now, we grind them. This is hard work, but it’s worth it. You want to break them down into a fine powder.” He handed the pestle to Maribel. “Give it a try.”

She hesitated for a moment, then began to grind the seeds, her arms straining with the effort. Kai nodded in approval. “Good. Just like that. Keep going until it’s all powder.”

As Maribel continued, Kai fetched a kettle and filled it with water. He set it over the brazier, waiting for it to boil. Once the water was bubbling, he took it off the heat and poured it over the freshly ground coffee powder in a pot, stirring it gently. “Now, we let it steep. This is where the magic happens.”

Maribel, watching closely, finally asked, “What does this drink do? I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

From her left hand, she started massaging her right. The work with the mortar must’ve tired her arm— which was why he thought they’d need more manpower around the kitchen to make a large batch of these.

To answer her question, Kai smiled. “Well, it’s a powerful stimulant. It helps you stay awake and alert, increases productivity, and keeps fatigue at bay. It’s like a burst of energy in a cup. With this, we can keep everyone in the city up and working, especially with the beast wave coming.”

After a few minutes, Kai poured the dark liquid into a mug and took a sip.

He closed his eyes, savouring the taste. He had missed this very drink to the core— especially when he spent nights in the library— his [Refresh] spells had kept him awake. Nothing like a good cup of coffee though.

He knew it wasn't a beverage that anyone in the Lancephil Kingdom knew of, but from the era he came from, coffee was a staple of the Mages, letting them work countless hours without relying on spells to keep them up.

“Perfect,” he said, opening his eyes again. “Now, it’s your turn. Try this.”

He handed the pot to Claire and Maribel. The maids quickly grabbed mugs and started sipping on the cups of coffee.

Simultaneously, their eyes shot up to Kai’s, for which he offered another gentle smile. He pointed at the roasted seeds.

“Make large batches of this. Distribute it to everyone— from Balen to Orion and the guards on the walls. Take any help you need. We need everyone at their best, and coffee will help us do just that.”

The maids nodded, their initial curiosity gone.

As they set to work, Kai couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. This small act, brewing a simple drink, could very well change the tide of the battle to come.