"There was about a day and a half difference between your installation times, so she should be back sometime later today, or early tomorrow," Lucius explained.
"I mean, will she not be a part of this mission?" Alpha asked.
"Her stats will be too low, and we need someone to protect the camp while we're gone. So sadly she won't be participating in this," Lucius replied.
"Speaking of which, the others are about to complete their evolution process soon, aren't they?" Hannibal asked, to which Lucius nodded his head in response.
"And Pagan's about to go through another evolution, isn't he," Hannibal added, noticing how close Pagan was to reaching Lucius's size.
"That's correct," Lucius responded.
"Since we're about to be the strongest we've ever been, I'd like to request that the camp be opened up to outsiders," Hannibal said.
"You want to let outsiders into the camp?" Alpha asked in confusion.
"I second that... we should give the creatures of this forest a chance to choose the right ruler," Pagan added.
"Captain, surely you won't allow this to pass. That'll be a security nightmare," Alpha said, looking at Lucius with pleading eyes. To him, everyone else had gone mad.
"Hannibal, for what reason will you have outsiders come into the camp?" Lucius asked, for now ignoring Alpha's pleas.
"If we can rebuild the civilization we saw in Pagan's memories, or at least something similar to it, other creatures will be persuaded into allying with us. And after we complete this mission, and take claim for the damage dealt to the necromancer, our fighting capabilities will be known by many sentients. I think those two coupled together will put us at least somewhere among the top creatures in the entire forest," Hannibal explained.
"So you would have them have a look at our 'civilization' and decide for themselves whether or not they want to join?" Lucius asked. Though he got the general gist of what Hannibal was trying to do, he wanted to test how deeply he had thought about it.
"And what if these creatures choose to join, but decide to use us merely for our resources and protection? Have you thought of a way to counteract that?" Lucius asked, to which Hannibal was silent.
A plausible answer to that would be to create a currency system. Having those creatures who wish to ally with them pay through currency would ensure there was an equal give and take, and would be easier to monitor. Though setting up a currency system wasn't all that easy.
"Hmm, and what about security? Alpha's right you know... even with everyone evolved, and the marked tree acting as a major defense, there is still the chance an enemy might destroy us from the inside... I don't need to remind you about the downfall of the civilization we saw in Pagan's memory, do I?" Lucius said after a moment of silence had passed.
"We could... we could, ah," Hannibal stuttered.
Lucius had thought up a way to have other creatures integrate into the camp, which had arisen in the form of the outer pillars. They could build the camp in such a way that the outer part acted as a sort of cover-up, while all important buildings and matters would be dealt with in the inner camp.
Though that would require a good amount of building it was still entirely plausible.
"We will hold another meeting for this after the mission. This will require the representatives from the Fabrication and Creation Department, as well as the Internal Security Department to be here, otherwise, the whole thing will just be a drag," Lucius replied after a bit of thought.
"If the others believe that it's too dangerous then sadly we will have to deny the request," he added after. Though he could see the benefits in carrying on with Hannibal's plan, it wouldn't matter much if the very people that would benefit from it decide it isn't worth it.
"Every day, when the sun comes down, all the department premiers will meet up here. We'll use this building as a discussion room of sorts, it should make things flow smoother if we all report progress," he said after.
"Ah, Pagan, get some of the kid shrooms to bring the chieftains. We'll be starting construction of the dummy camp soon, and it'll go a little faster with their help," Lucius ordered, before standing up from his chair. He had to put his tail in an awkward position the whole time, so it felt kind of stiff.
"Lighted One, will it not be faster if just me and you go?" Pagan asked, before standing up as well.
"You'll be going on a hunting mission. I need more of the glimmer wolves... the creatures that can turn invisible I mean. I want to do a few experiments so I'd prefer if they are taken in alive. Talk to Asclepius for some non-lethal poison, and report back to me," Lucius said.
~I can use this as my chance to have the chieftains teach me a bit about poison as well,~ he thought to himself as Pagan left to carry out his orders.
**
"The Lighted One calls for you," a kid shroom shouted as he reached the chieftains' accommodations.
"Do you know what he wants?" one of the chieftains asked, looking at the child as if it were a messenger of doom.
"You dare ask? What if the Lighted One's supreme servant can hear you? We do not know how powerful their senses are," another chieftain interjected.
"You're right... forgive me your Radiance," the first chieftain said, looking towards the sun.
"Where shall we meet him?" another chieftain asked.
"In the main circle, under the Radiant Tree," the kid shroom responded. The manner in which it spoke to the chieftains wasn't like that of a child speaking to an elder. No. The kid shroom thought itself above the chieftains since it worked directly within the main camp, and even the chieftains treated the kid shroom as such.
"T-The main camp?" a chieftain asked. Even from here, they could see the magnificent buildings within the camp, and what's more, they could see the golden rain that continuously fell from the Radiant Tree.
From the rumors that were circulating around the pillars, apparently, the tree had the power to make you grow... and that was the reason why Asclepius was becoming so large.
