It begins

After dealing with the problems with the Herb Pavilions, many plans were put into motion to secure materials and store them safely in a place that would not be caught up in the flood but also be within a good distance from the various businesses so that even if transportations cannot be made, they would have backup supplies to last them for some time.

Many measure were taken to privately purchase many luxury goods that would rise in price during the flood and they were distributed to various places to be sold at the right time and place for a high price.

A lot of manpower was dispatched around the places surrounding the northern border to secure the land and various cities to prepare for the oncoming flood and the difficult time ahead of them.

Even the prisoners, slaves and workers who were working in the mines were put to use in various ways to assist with either digging, building or heavy lifting around the mines and in their surrounding area with the supervision of their guards.

While the three main cities at the border, the Bombyx family village and various places near the mines or in places where employees of their businesses were working and living, there was suddenly confusion and speculation on what they all were preparing for.

Such a big movement and shift of manpower would not go unnoticed so when the reason was leaked, some went to either prepare to assist their efforts or prepare measures to protect themselves or their loved ones but most others took this movement as an act of a fool who thought they could predict a disaster.

In the past many wandering taoist priests or divination masters showed up to predict great disasters or misfortune but nothing happened, most of them no longer believed that such things could be predicted and took the Bombyx family and those that followed them as fools.

Some who were not willing to believe heard that the Bombyx family was the one who had predicted it and took some time to consider whither or not to trust in their words.

Over the years, the Bombyx family had always been an existence by the northern border that was stable and trustworthy so even if the story did sound a little farfetched, the Bombyx family who were ready to stake their reputation on this and suffer the backlash in order to help save many lives would be an admiral thing to do which helped many others trust their words even if it sounded like a false prediction.

Elizabeth held her tea gatherings in Wolfden city with her friends and called together many ladies of different status and wealth to discuss a countermeasure to future disasters.

The Bombyx family would donate some money towards the disaster fund to help towards buying food, clothing and providing the victims with a roof over their heads even if it was a small tent to house many people, since the northern borders had suffered such disasters in the last and not been prepared they had always suffered greatly but with the donation from the Bombyx family and the cooperation and find raising between the ladies of Elizabeths social circle, they were able to raise a sizeable fund that was to only be used in times of natural disasters, when diseases may have spread or when a city or village has fallen and the survivors need a way to rebuild.

Elizabeth put her social talents to the task and not only had built up some strong friendships with many women of influence, power or wealth over the years but was able to help spread word about the incoming flood that would be coming but also convince many to prepare for the worst possible outcome and work with her to raise more funds.

Whether it was the clothing stores, the Bombyx families businesses that were under Adam's or Agnes' control or those that belonged to Ki, they began to prepare cheap materials to make clothes, tents, bedding, cleaning and drying cloths and also ingredients for cheap meals like soup or porridge ready just in time for the disaster to arrive.

Many were unbelieving of the oncoming large flood that would sweep the lands and cause much damage.

With every passing day, they scoffed and laughed because the Bombyx family had been wrong and made them worry for no reason.

Many publicly cried out for the Bombyx family to apologise but they kept working hard to prepare and ignored those people.

Eventually their voices grew even louder and more organised but suddenly the Bombyx family stepped out from their seclusion and left this message. "It is soon, prepare what you can and stay safe everyone."

An ominous premonition swept through the land from those that still believed in them and those that had organised to scold the Bombyx family had rallied to spread rumours that the Bombyx family were just stalling and shamelessly hiding away until the rumours have died down.

However the next week, the flood swept through the land and caused a lot of damage to many of the surrounding cities, towns, villages and also many pieces of land that had been owned by various rich families or merchant families or organisations.

Those that did not listen and ignored the Bombyx family began to lose so much because they did not make a move to protect themselves, their land, their family, their people and the things that hold high value to them.

Those that suffered the most was various small villages and farmlands but also those that had invested in some land to grow herbs, crops or in a mining site that became flooded and their source of wealth had been either destroyed or disrupted for a long time.

The amount of manpower and wealth would also have to be used just to rebuild even if they can survive through the flood and hold onto their wealth during this difficult time.

Chaos swept through the lands and as the organised group of people who went against the Bombyx family so publicly became regretful of their actions, many stood up to point the finger and blamed them for leading people to make the wrong decision possible.

If people like them had not stood up and organised to voice their doubts, they would have not gained a strong following and lead others to not make their own preparations to survive this difficult time.

Even if the Bombyx family had come out to voice their certainty and reasoning heard their prediction at that time, it would have only sounded like they were making an excuse so instead they simply gave another warning.

Those who listened could prepare in time even if they had little time left but now many trading routes were disrupted and many businesses were disrupted and were sparingly using their supplies so that they do not run out too quickly since they may not have a way to restock what they have which made it difficult for others to get what they are so desperate to gather to survive.