Five Talent Rewards: The Urgent Need Beneath the Grand Prize

Time flew by incredibly fast, and before Mike knew it, five days had passed.

During these five days, Mike kept a close watch on the ongoing relief efforts in Xinchang. By the second day, he took full control, stepping in to replace Jiang Xiaoci and manage the city's rescue operations. This transition went smoother than Mike had anticipated, likely due to Jiang Xiaoci's meticulous planning in the details. Mike didn't encounter any administrative difficulties, and every order and policy he issued was promptly executed by the various disaster relief teams. It was a rare satisfaction to experience the smooth flow of governance.

Interestingly, during these five days, with the greatest threat to Xinchang having passed, Mike's talent rewards were surprisingly underwhelming. Every reward was an A-grade, with no grand prizes in sight. Of course, it was possible that Lin Yue's luck effect had not triggered.

The five A-grade rewards were:

Silent Water (Rechargeable) – A-grade production item, magical; a liquid contained in a small gourd. When consumed by any creature, it induces a "silent" state for 24 hours but also provides a "boost of energy" for the same duration. The water refills itself at midnight each day and can be transferred to any liquid-holding device, filling it with Silent Water. This newly filled water retains its effects but doesn't apply to the new container.

Magical Note: This comes from a mystical planet, where it taps into enormous water planets filled with Silent Water. The water itself can be used effectively, though it also has the potential to enslave beings, depending on its wielder's control.

Walking Giant Fruit Tree – A-grade biological production, magical creature; a two-meter-tall tree with humanoid legs that walks. Its head is laden with "three-harvest-a-day" fruits. As it walks, it drops the fruits, which are nutritious and non-toxic.

Magical Note: Originating from a magical immortal planet, this creature is a neutral, friendly species. It has no offensive abilities, only existing to provide sustenance. Its defense is formidable—attempting to harm it is futile.

Fairy Hive – A-grade biological production, magical creature; a massive, ten-meter hive that links to a magical fairy world. The fairies inside are tiny, about the size of Earth mosquitoes. They latch onto hosts' skin, surviving by consuming harmful bacteria, waste, and skin secretions.

Magical Note: These fairies adapt to the host's needs, often even adjusting their form to suit their hosts' desires. Some clever magicians use them as living clothing, proving far more practical than ordinary garments.

Super-large Factory Capsule – A-grade technological item, spatial fold item; a capsule that, when deployed in an open area, forms a gigantic factory complex with a hundred-kilometer radius. It includes production lines for military, medical, and daily needs, with 80% of its production lines running autonomously.

Technology Note: If you're from a technological plane, you'll know how to operate it. This factory represents the pinnacle of technology that has mastered human development.

The rewards might have lacked grandeur, but Mike realized their practical value was undeniable. These items filled the gaps in resources that he had expected to encounter in city management, ensuring the citizens' basic needs were met.

However, while the magical items looked promising, Mike found that they didn't entirely solve the issues facing the cities. For example, the Walking Giant Fruit Tree seemed impressive but proved impractical. Despite its bountiful fruits, it could only feed a few thousand people at best, far from enough for the entire city.

The Fairy Hive, though useful for clothing and hygiene, only served a small number of people, with too few fairies to cover everyone. Mike couldn't help but suspect that the "fairy world" mentioned in the description might have been exaggerated.

On the other hand, the Silent Water was more effective than expected. A small gourd could supply enough water for half the population of Jinling, and it replenished daily. The only downside was the 24-hour silence effect, which, while providing a sustainable resource, wasn't exactly ideal for a society that valued free speech.

Mike was hesitant to use the Silent Water, as he feared its effects might backfire on him. He preferred to let the people speak freely, even if it meant some inconveniences. For now, the water supply in both Jinling and Xinchang was adequate, and there was no immediate threat of a shortage. Mike repurposed the Silent Water for bathing, setting up communal bathhouses and allowing people to exchange work points for private baths.

But of course, as is often the case when something is prohibited, curiosity prevailed. By the third day, when the first water park was opened, more than a thousand people arrived, only to find they'd inadvertently consumed the Silent Water, rendering them mute. Mike could only laugh at the irony, though it was clear he'd need to be more careful in the future.

Among the rewards, Mike was most pleased with the two Super-large Factory Capsules. With the recent loss of population due to the disasters, there was ample space in Jinling for the factories. Once set up, the factories ran efficiently with minimal oversight. The automated production lines covered everything from food to clothing to medicine, which was a huge relief for Mike. Although they couldn't produce the highest-tech weapons or specialized drugs, they were more than capable of meeting the basic needs of the population.

Thanks to these factories, Mike no longer worried about supply shortages. And the best part? These factories could support an entire city on their own, so long as Mike didn't drastically increase the population. It was a massive boost to his management capabilities, and Mike couldn't help but feel grateful for Lin Yue's influence, knowing her luck had played a part in this.

Though the past five days had only yielded A-grade rewards, they had provided exactly what Mike needed to keep the cities running smoothly. The factories had taken much of the burden off his shoulders, and the citizens were well on their way to a more stable life. Lin Yue, too, was happy—her face flushed and heart racing when Mike congratulated her with promises of more rewards.