For five months, the Council waited for good news in anxiousness, with nothing but a few reports to satiate their curiosity. However, they also had their share of trouble.
The Gambit Adept Family was sending armies of mortals in the northern territories of the Thornfield household. Three cities had been plundered, fourteen villages barred from the map, and thousands of corpses which had yet to be buried. Phillip Dawins not only lost his daughter, he was also witnessing his lands being sacked and his cities crumbling.
The Thornfield Council used to send the Water Troop, but it was nothing but a ghost now. There were slightly less than 50 knights, rescued in extremis by Drodosis' golems, but their psychological health had yet to be verified. Their stares seemed empty, and while some were still sane, they wouldn't enter a battlefield anytime soon.
Instead, squads of acolytes intervened, and the situations seemed to have calmed down. Elder Hugo had displayed considerable might in the past months, which caused the situation to reach a stalemate.
It was spring. Flowers were blossoming, trees were gleaming in a green glamour, wild animals were plenty and kids were having fun. An army was walking in synchronisation.
'Some of them are my age, huh…', Drodosis thought bitterly.
He didn't know how, or why, but his life had taken a strange turn. Had he been born in one of those commoner families, he would have been one of these kids, ignorant but happy. He wouldn't be half as strong as he was, but he wouldn't have so many burdening responsibilities.
It's not as if his motivation would waver at this sight anyway. He had taken a path of no return.
Returning to the Water Fortress, the household entered an emotional state, throwing a banquet at his order.
"Listen, guys.", Drodosis addressed his subordinates, "Today, is your day. You've proven your worth, and I sincerely hope you will be able to enjoy yourself tonight! You won't have many occasions like this!"
After his Ironcloud Knight Order left his side, Drodosis went over the knights from the Water Troop, and selected a few ones.
"I know you went through a lot, but I saved you. How are you gonna repay me? I can't ask the others, since they are half-dead, but you are more or less healthy physically, and less damaged than others mentally", Drodosis suddenly asked.
Although he looked like tough and ruthless, he wanted to give them a chance…an opportunity to live their life once again. So what if they escaped a blood bath? Did that mean they would become ordinary men for the rest of their lives? Drodosis wouldn't allow such potential to be thrown away in such a stupid way. By bossing them around, they would fulfil their social needs, and more importantly, they would get a purpose, a goal to strive for and to live for.
"I, Gale Ubert, will serve you rightfully sir.."
"…"
18 novice knights joined him.
"As of today, you are all Ironcloud Knights. Be proud of your identity, and go enjoy yourselves with the others."
18 soul fragments entered his spirit. The more knight subordinates he had, the more burdening it was on his soul. Fortunately, as soon as he would break through the intermediate acolyte realm soon, this burden would greatly be lightened.
Drodosis knew that banquets and festivities weren't his things, but this time, he decided to give it a go. It was the opportunity to get praised for months' worth of efforts, as well as expanding his network in the family. Influence and resources were two sides of the same coin after all.
"So, a flawless victory again, huh?", his grandfather asked him.
The elder Water Dragon had sneaked behind his back, and Drodosis didn't notice the slightest undulation of magic or air, despite having extraordinary perception. How strong was his grandfather for real? At least, Drodosis could already tell that his grandfather's injuries were fully healed.
"Yes, once again. There was a pseudo-adept in their ranks, as well as many advanced apprentices. Had it been a frontal battle, we would have lost", Drodosis answered carefully. His grandfather seemed too serious to be here as a grandfather. He was currently talking to his supreme elder.
His relationship with his grandfather had always been special. Sometimes, he would be the kind grandfather caring for his grandson. Sometimes, he would be the ruthless, calculative and scheming Supreme Elder, pillar of the Thornfield Family.
"Good. No living being is invincible after all. Even adepts can sometimes fall in unfortunate circumstances. Anyway, I have another task for you…", Elder Water Dragon said. It was a personal request, and it didn't come from the Council.
"…"
"The Gambit family has been causing trouble for quite a while already. It is backed by three supreme elders of pseudo-adept strength. Fortunately, they have advanced recently, so I should have no trouble stalling them 3 on 1, but I won't be able to crush them as I did against the Huntingwood Supreme Elder, do you understand?"
"Is another war about to begin? We don't have the resources to engage in another war…"
"This is what every other elder in the Council agreed on, but you and I know better."
"This is also the perfect opportunity to earn a few more territories, and conquer the entirety of the Northern Daw Region", Drodosis mumbled
"I know it is dangerous, and politically, if I continue to send acolytes to resolve mortals fighting each other, then the royal family would intervene. It is corrupted after all. The Northern Daw Region, if it falls in our hands, will lead to a tremendous increase in our strength. The magical vein is bigger than we expected. It encroaches on the Gambit family's territory, although they have yet to discover it. A conflict will happen anyway, so we'd better use the effect of surprise. However, since they didn't send any acolytes in the Thornfield territories, I can't send any either, or else it would be an attack without warning, something which is not allowed by the Royal Laws."
"So you want me to go there instead."
"Indeed."
"What do I gain?", Drodosis asked. He was kind and loyal to his family, but it didn't mean that he was a charity.
"Simple. Ask whatever you want. The stakes are huge."
"I need authorization to create an underground base below the Water Fortress and have free reign over it."
"Deal."
"When do I have to begin my operations?"
"Considering the stalemate at Dawins', you have at least six months of rest. I will send a number of knights in your direction, some of them are hidden powerhouses I've hidden for quite a while, in case the Water Troop one day rebelled."
"Aren't you afraid my Ironcloud Knight Order will become too strong? I'm sure I made my share of enemies the other day", Drodosis said while laughing.
"Oh, you sure did", his grandfather followed, "But you are too alike me. You are scheming, greedy and rude. You are the one I raised, and I know you all too well. You can't deny that. You wouldn't do anything that would hurt the family."
"…", Drodosis stayed silent, as if one of his secrets had been revealed aloud.
"Do whatever in the underworld. I will have Elder Silver send you a few rewards tomorrow, with an additional bonus on what we previously agreed on."
Next, Drodosis disappeared in the underworld, with his golem continuously drilling. He needed a break from this political whirlpool.
'I just know how to fight, for god's sake.'
For the next two months, the Ironcloud Knight Order engaged in monumental work. A huge underworld base was being constructed. The golems were drilling days and nights. Knights, physically stronger than any other human in the Water Fortress, were wielding hammers, carrying huge ingots and bars of different magical alloys.
Everyone worked in synchronisation, and although they sometimes lacked understandings of the task they were completing, they followed the tasks Drodosis personally appointed to them. This way, Drodosis optimized the work frame to each individual, managing the site with robotic precision. Every single subordinate was 'used' to its fullest potential. This is what allowed the Ironcloud Base to be finished in just 2 months, instead of several dozen years of confusing and chaotic construction.
In two months, the huge tunnels and 16.8 square miles' surface in the underground base were covered in three layers of different magical alloys, namely Ironcloud metal, Umbra Metal and Earthcloud gem, as well as one layer of Elder Magnolia refined wood, he took from the Elven Grace Settlement.
"I declare the Ironcloud Base successfully created!"
Elder Magnolia wood had the strange effect of increasing one's sight over long period of time. This meant that as long as his soldiers trained within the Ironcloud Base, their sight would improve! Combined with the Unique Elven training methods which could increase accuracy, perception and dexterity, this was a perfect way to improve his soldiers' archery levels!
The Ironcloud Base was composed of five areas.
First things first, there was the Northern Wing, a place where everyone had an individual room with privacy, personal furniture and even a cosy bed! This was a luxury they never expected to earn after joining the Thornfield family. While they had access to a lot of luxury stuff back in the Water Fortress, it wasn't big enough to house 1000 men and women in such comfortable environments! Hence, they hadn't slept in an individual room for years!
Environment was the key to further strengthen the bonds between him and his subordinates. The Ironcloud Base was comfortable that it would create a sense of belonging in everyone's heart, including Drodosis and the newcomers. The Ironcloud Knight Order had risen in numbers as well. There were now 156 men and women!
Secondly, there was the Eastern Wing: known as the training area. Targets to shoot down, weight lifting, pullups, sparring, manuals…Any kind of training deemed as beneficial in Drodosis' eyes were put in the Eastern Wing. This was a paradise for anyone who strived for strength. Every single knight trained at least 4 hours a day in the Eastern Wing, some trained all day long!
Thirdly, there was the Central Area. This was where knights reunited to discuss politics and plans, and it was also the place where Drodosis talked to his subordinates about the future. He would give them a morning speech on a daily basis to motivate them. The Central Area also possessed a restauration room, where magical beast meat would be served on a daily basis.
Next, there was a forbidden area for knights, exclusive to acolytes: the Western Wing. It was the 'laboratories', a place where acolytes could conduct experiments as they wished. Moreover, it was sealed and completely sound proof, so you could do anything in these labs, from bomb crafting to golem manufacturing.
Drodosis also moved his golem manufacturing items, bought some and improved everything in order to create a Golem Manufacturing Facility. With the microscopes, robotic limbs and a constant supply of golem cores, he had managed to create over 30 more mud golems, and while he couldn't use them all at the same time, it was always good to have some in reserve. His success rate improved from 26% to 30% as well, a huge increment!
Last but not least, the Southern Wing was a place of wonder. No one knew what was hiding behind the 4-meters-thick doors made of Ironcloud Alloy of the highest purity. It was actually Drodosis' personal area, a place where no one had the right to enter, not even an elder from the Council.
It would require over 2000 points of damage to pierce through this door, so unless it was an adept powerhouse who would throw a barrage of spells for a dozen minutes, no one could enter forcefully.
The Southern Wing was housing three rooms:
First, a study room, where he stored blueprints, parchments and breathing techniques he had been amassing and improving based on his biochip's data base and personal attainments.
Second, a personal training room, where he used extreme sparring method to sharpen his physique and spirit.
Lastly, a meditation room. He had previously built an acidic pool below the Grace Elven Settlement. Using it as a model, he used several dozens of chemical reactions to create a gigantic whirlpool of Water Elemental Particles, revolving both in air and in the huge corrosive pool of potent acid. In the middle of the room, there was a small rock.
Twice a day, Drodosis would go on the small rock and go through meditation cycles.
The Ironcloud Base, although inferior to the Water Fortress in term of materials, was far superior in its foundations and blueprints, which had been created by the combination of the robotic accuracy of the biochip, and the originality of Drodosis, who was inspired by hundreds of architectural blueprints he had studied!