18 The Expedition 1 (1/2)
”I am here because you have a problem: The Magnolia Forest, and I happen to have a solution: the Ironcloud Knight Order”, Drodosis just told them.
With the fall of Selene Dawins and the Water Troops, Drodosis had indeed become the only person capable of carrying out an expedition. Yet, his army barely had any knight powerhouses, how could he possibly earn a victory where the Water Troops, twice more numerous and twice stronger individually, had failed?
Well, Drodosis was not Selene Dawins. He might be inferior in term of pure fighting power, but it was undeniable that Drodosis had become a much more superior tactician, especially with him studying and training day and night for the past three months.
Using some favours and trading a few secrets, he had ama.s.sed enough resources to create golems, and not any kind of golems, an enchanted model of Mud Golem, which had been described in the library's golem manufacturing parchment!
Since he studied the parchment, he devoted most of his time to this craft, simulating exactly 12 833 creations of a single Mud Golem Model, and he had steadily increased his success rate from 3% to 26%, a huge achievement, considering that people usually had to spend years – or even decades for the least talented – to reach such a high success rate.
After all, how many magic crystals would you have to spend in order to practice golem manufacturing? A magical core cost around six magic crystals, since very few magical beasts possessed a magical core. Refining it would cost an additional 4 magic crystals! Fortunately, Drodosis could practice for free, thus saving himself quite a lot of trouble.
However, Drodosis was lacking resources. Being the commander of the Ironcloud Knight Order was time-consuming and exhausting. Though it was refres.h.i.+ng experience to him, he couldn't deny the fact that he lacked money! In this cold day of winter, he felt that the day had come for the men and women he trained harshly to step up.
Some acolytes were making fun of his order, because despite being more than a hundred, they never bothered to complete a mission, even when it came to subjugating bandits. Drodosis had prohibited all kind of missions, since he knew his subordinates didn't have the discipline required for his commanding style. Drodosis was someone who put more effort than anyone both in training and in battles.
He would spend hours with his biochip, simulating all kind of possibilities he could encounter, and develop a strategy according to his a.s.sets, and his enemies. He hated variables more than anything, to the point that it became an obsession sometimes. Was he still sane? No one could tell.
Some would describe him as a maniac. Drodosis preferred to be called a perfectionist.
Anyway, his army had finally earned his trust. And in difficult times, heroes could rise. While Drodosis had no plans of becoming a hero, he had his eyes set on the potential rewards and resources which would come with a victory. The first step to this plan was obviously to convince the elders of his potential.
”How would you do that? Didn't you say it yourself? The Magnolia Forest is a problem to us, and the Water Troop has been captured. We don't even know whether Selene survived! How can someone like you do something about it? Go home, kid”, Elder Turtle said. He wasn't from the Thornfield family main branch, obviously resentful at Drodosis' overbearing entrance.
”Well, well, well…Isn't that elder Turtle talking? What did you do in the last war? Nothing, I heard. What will you do about the Magnolia forest? Nothing, I am sure. What do you know about elves?”, Drodosis didn't hold back, asking questions on a provocative tone.
”How dare you…”, elder Turtle said. The tension was rising.
Drodosis ignored him.
”This is a fact. You know nothing about elves, yet you are here, discussing matters about elves. I am truly wondering what you are doing here!”
Elder Turtle's presence was not appreciated, and Drodosis took advantage of this fact. There were quite a few scandals over the past months about him venting his anger on servants and butlers, and even on preparatory knights without any backings! n.o.body like the man anymore, who was only a ghost of his heroic past.
”Anyway, the moral of the story is that I can deal with them. My army is trained, and disciplined. Elven strength come from their archery skills. However, my army's aim is better than them, I believe. I also happen to be able to pinpoint their location with this transplanted eye”, he said while pointing a finger at his glowing green left eye.
”Having good archery skills won't suffice, I am sure you know that”, Elder Gale said, ”You of all people should know better.”
”I have my own secrets. Besides, don't think of my subordinates as archers. The Water Troops lost, but I don't think it was because of their individual strength. I think it was because they were disorganized, and exhausted after several months of tedious search. My army will not fool around. I have my ways of finding an elven settlement. This is one advantage of actually knowing elves”, Drodosis said, and sighed in relief when he saw Elder Gale nod.
”Drodosis, what would you do, if the enemy leader comes with a dagger pointing at Selene's throat?”, his grandfather asked.
War wasn't as epic and simple as it looked like in movies. What could he do in this situation? Nothing.
”I would kill the enemy with everything I've got.”, Drodosis answered instantly.
”It would cause Selene's death, are you sure?”, his grandfather stared at him, the latter's eyes seemed to pierce through his soul.
”Maybe, but at least, I wouldn't cause my subordinates' death”, Drodosis said without hesitating.
He was not a kid anymore, but a commander. He had responsibilities. Of course, he had yet to know that she had fallen already.
His grandfather nodded. He didn't expect this much decisiveness from his 14-years-old son, but he was rea.s.sured.
”Then go. I will authorize this expedition. How many acolytes do you want to join your expedition?”, his grandfather asked.
”None.”, Drodosis said firmly.
”Nonsense”, her aunt lily cursed.
”Would Elder Turtle follow my orders unconditionally?”
”I wouldn't follow a child's orders”, the elder said.
”That's why I don't want you in my army, and neither do I want any acolytes other than I have in my Ironcloud Knight Order. Do you know why I am so confident?”, Drodosis asked a rhetorical question, ”It's simple, really. I have a plan. I probably know more about elves than elves themselves. Their anatomy, their habits, their weaknesses...their strategies are akin to an open book in my eyes.”
”I can confirm that”, Elder Gale said. He had discussed with Drodosis many times in the past months, and debated on various subjects, the exchanges being very beneficial to the both of them.