Leo’s display of muscle power was astonishingly effective.
That night, every window in Blackwood Town was brightly lit.
People gathered in small groups, lowering their voices as they discussed the shocking scene from the afternoon.
“Did you see that? That stone giant! Taller than my house!”
“I saw the one on fire! Oh heavens, I thought it was a demon!”
“Whatever it was, did you see the meat our lord brought back? That wild boar alone could feed the whole town for days!”
“Lord Leo… he really is strong.”
And the mastermind behind all this, Leo, was feasting heartily inside the lord’s manor.
The fat cook Hans had roasted the hard-shelled boar meat, seasoning it with just a bit of salt, but the aroma filled the entire hall.
Leo’s mouth was dripping with grease as he devoured the meat.
Alfred and the other servants had also been given large chunks, all grinning from ear to ear.
This meal was not just meat—it was hope.
“Master, the townsfolk’s mood has stabilized.”
Alfred put down his knife and fork and reported with elegant poise.
“Most people feel… awe toward the power you displayed. They believe you can protect this territory.”
“Awe alone isn’t enough.”
Leo gulped down a large mouthful of barley wine and let out a burp.
“Awe doesn’t fill the stomach. We need to show them real, tangible benefits for their hearts to truly settle.”
“So you mean?”
“Tomorrow, the whole shebang.”
Leo grinned widely.
“I want them to see that my power isn’t just for hunting—it can be used for farming, too.”
Alfred was stunned.
Farming?
Using those majestic Elementals to farm?
Wasn’t that a bit… out of their expertise?
Leo noticed his hesitation but said nothing.
Sometimes, actions speak louder than words.
What he was about to do was a thorough, crushing display of superiority.
***
The next day, at the first light of dawn, Alfred went from house to house as per Leo’s instructions, calling the townsfolk to gather at the wasteland east of the town.
Over a hundred people—men, women, old and young—soon gathered at the edge of the barren land.
This land bordered the Dark Forest and had long been corrupted by magical energy.
The soil was so hardened it was like stone, not even weeds dared to grow.
“Why did Lord Leo bring us here? He can’t be asking us to till this land, can he?”
An old farmer leaned on his hoe, his face full of worry.
“What a joke. Not even an ox could plow this ground!”
“Shh, quiet! Lord Leo is coming!”
The crowd automatically parted to form a path.
Leo appeared, dressed casually, walking slowly.
He didn’t give any long speeches. Instead, he glanced around and got straight to the point.
“I know you’re all worried about food. I also know Blackwood Ridge’s land is barren.”
“But starting today, things will be different.”
He approached the hardened wasteland and stretched out his hand.
“Today, I’ll show you what it means when magic is the primary productive force.”
As his words fell, his magic began to surge.
To everyone’s astonishment, a more towering and solid Earth Elemental rose slowly from beneath the ground than the one from yesterday.
It was nearly three meters tall, composed of heavy rock all over its body. Each step it took caused a dull thud on the ground.
【Earth Elemental (Lv14)】
【HP: 280】
【Attack: 11】
【Defense: Very High】
The townsfolk retreated in fright, their faces drained of color.
Leo ignored them and, through a mental link, gave the Earth Elemental a command.
“Start work.”
The Earth Elemental obeyed, its heavy footsteps moving toward the center of the wasteland.
It raised its massive rocky fist—larger than a grindstone—and slammed it heavily onto the ground.
“Boom—!”
A thunderous noise shook the earth.
The iron-hard soil cracked open in a large pit, with countless fissures spreading outward.
Then, the Earth Elemental used its enormous palm to scrape back and forth across the wasteland.
The compacted earth instantly turned to loose dust before it.
Rocks were crushed effortlessly; deeply buried roots were uprooted.
What would have taken dozens of strong laborers months to do was done in mere minutes by the Earth Elemental.
The townsfolk were dumbfounded.
Their mouths hung open, and the hoes in their hands clattered to the ground unnoticed.
The sight before them had shattered their understanding.
This… was magic?
Magic wasn’t just for fighting and killing, it could… plow fields?
“Not done yet.”
Leo’s voice rang out again.
He spotted a large thicket of thorny brambles at the edge of the wasteland—those were notoriously troublesome to clear.
He smiled faintly and raised his other hand.
A searing heat appeared as a fiery Elemental took shape.
“Go burn those weeds. Control the flames; don’t set the forest on fire.”
The Fire Elemental cheered and streaked toward the brambles in a line of fire.
The orange-red flames blazed fiercely with a crackling sound.
Miraculously, an invisible force restrained the fire to just the bramble patch, preventing it from spreading.
Minutes later, the troublesome brambles had turned into a blackened pile of ash.
One patch cultivated, one cleared.
A perfect assembly line.
The townsfolk were utterly stunned.
Their eyes on Leo shifted—from initial fear, to shock, then to fanatic admiration, as if they were witnessing a god walking among mortals.
If yesterday’s hunt gave them a glimpse of survival,
then today’s “magical farming” showed them a future of abundance!
“Oh my god… a miracle, this must be a miracle!”
An elderly villager trembled as he knelt down.
“Lord Leo… are you a messenger sent by the God of Harvest?”
Leo twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Good grief, the character arc jumped straight from “tragic villain” to “cult leader” in no time.
Clearing his throat, he interrupted the villagers’ increasingly wild imaginations.
“I’m not a god’s envoy. I’m just a summoner—and your lord.”
He pointed to the now soft and turned earth.
“The land is ready for you. From here on, what to plant and how to plant it is up to you.”
“Alfred.”
He called back.
“Present, Master.”
The old steward stepped forward at the perfect moment.
“Starting today, you’ll be in charge of organizing a reclamation team.”
Leo said.
“I’ll summon Earth and Fire Elementals daily to help clear the land.”
“What you need to do is follow behind, refine the soil, and sow the seeds.”
“As for seeds…”
Leo pulled out a small bag of gold coins from his storage space and tossed it to Alfred.
“Send someone to the nearest city and buy a batch of hardy rye and potato seeds. As many as possible.”
Rye and potatoes—legendary pioneer crops in his previous life’s games—high yield, highly adaptable, perfect for a place like Blackwood Ridge.
“Yes, Master!”
Alfred accepted the bag solemnly.
Leo then turned to the speechless, ecstatic townsfolk and raised his voice.
“Everyone, I promise you.”
“As long as you’re willing to work, I guarantee that this winter, every person in Blackwood Ridge will have big loaves of bread and bowls of potato soup!”
“I, Leo, will lead you to make Blackwood Ridge great again!”
Though the slogan sounded a bit cringy to Leo himself, to the townsfolk it was nothing short of a divine prophecy.
“Long live Lord Leo!”
Someone was the first to shout.
Immediately, a roar of cheers thundered across the wasteland.
【Ding! Your reputation in Blackwood Ridge has increased!】
【You have earned a new title: Hope of Blackwood Ridge (Reputation +200 in Blackwood Ridge; slight increase in resident obedience)】
Leo’s lips curled into a slight smile as he saw the system panel update.
Very good, the first step of the plan was a success.
Winning hearts and minds felt… not too bad after all.
***
In the days that followed, Blackwood Ridge entered a bustling phase of infrastructure development.
Leo’s daily schedule was meticulously arranged.
In the mornings, he led his summoned army to the wasteland outside town, acting as the “chief construction team.”
Earth Elementals turned the soil, Fire Elementals burned weeds, Shadow Wolves stood guard, and Skeletons continued their part-time work as laborers, hauling rocks and roots to designated spots.
Leo himself sat on a large stone, supervising while meditating to restore his magic. Occasionally, he ventured to the forest outskirts to clear a few low-level monsters, steadily leveling up to Lv16.
Alfred revealed remarkable organizational skills, effectively coordinating the townsfolk.
From top to bottom, Blackwood Ridge radiated unprecedented vitality.
Watching all this, Leo smiled.
Who would have thought that a villain who was supposed to go dark and become an undead lord destroying the world in the original story would instead lead villagers in a “new rural development” project?
This script had twisted so much even he, a transmigrator, barely recognized it.