Baha Balm's water conservancy project was in full swing.

Water conservancy was crucial for the entire river basin region.

Many rulers took it very seriously.

But seriousness didn't always mean action.

Such projects often stayed on paper, never breaking ground.

They consumed time, money, and manpower.

Especially on Zim Continent, where flood disasters were rare outside the south.

Rulers ranked water conservancy low on their priority lists.

To them, the returns never matched the costs.

That wasn't true.

Water conservancy blessed a region for generations—a legacy beyond monetary value.

Compare ancient East and West on Earth.

Western nations built fewer water projects than China.

They had some, like the Hammurabi Canal or the Aquila Dam.

But ancient China had countless supporting systems.

Just look at Dujiangyan—it revealed why the nation's foundation was so unshakable.

That sustained China's peak power for centuries.

Take Emperor Yang of Sui: he dug the Grand Canal.

He was called a Tyrant, yet no one called him incompetent.

These projects truly blessed the land—flood control, irrigation.

With ancient rice yields averaging 200 jin per mu, good water systems could push it past 300.

Water conservancy massively boosted national strength.

Now, Baha Balm's project was laying groundwork for the future.

With current manpower, its water network would launch in just one year.

Launch didn't mean completion.

Full perfection would take three or four years.

This was a small-scale project.

A southern-wide system?

Hah—with massive resources, give me twenty years. Maybe then it'd be done.

How old would I be by then?

Such dreams could wait for unification.

Fantasizing about southern waterworks now was pointless.

Focus on Baha Balm's project.

Once operational, floods would drop sharply, sparing homes and fields.

With homes intact and fields unruined, everything else followed.

Then, Baha Balm's rise would be unstoppable!

"Young Master, you're smiling... like a creep."

"Huh?!"

Morana's face was blank, but her eyes radiated deep contempt—it stung my heart.

"I was thinking about Baha Balm's future! 'Creep'? How rude, Morana."

Hah, I could get angry.

"Young Master, your anger has zero presence."

What?!

I was utterly crushed.

"Have some tea, Young Master."

"Mm..."

I replied weakly.

"Where's Doria?"

I suddenly remembered her—was she still working hard?

"Uh... Miss Doria..."

Morana hesitated.

"Hm?"

"Morana?"

"She's in your room."

After a struggle, Morana seemed to betray Doria.

Wait—Morana's calm face looked just like mine!

"M-My room?!"

What? A girl in my room?

I crept to my door.

It was half-open.

Peeking through the crack...

Hah, this was something.

Doria buried her face deep in my quilt, rolling happily on the bed.

"Brother Sath~ Ah~ Ah~"

What should I even say...

"Doria..."

I admit—I was moved.

Her delicate features, perfect figure.

All naturally flawless.

A work of art.

But...

"S-Sath Brother! Eeek!!!"

Caught red-handed.

She couldn't face me.

Doria's eyes darted nervously.

Then, a warm hand stroked her head.

Not a large hand.

But it gave her deep security.

"Mmm~"

Unconsciously, Doria arched like a cat, purring in contentment.

Hah, that dignified, cool Doria—she had these moments.

"Come on, let's go out."

"Mm~"

Finally got her off my bed...