Chapter 155: Territorial Expansion

Accidentally transforming an Orc into a firebird filled Kael with immense joy. The firebird perfectly combined the magical operations of dragons and great eagles, with runic symbols representing fire as its core, forming a new, complete, and fluid magical circulation system. It not only had the body type of a great eagle but also the fire-breathing ability of a dragon. Of course, due to the Orc's inherently low magical power, the transformed firebird's overall strength still couldn't compare to a great eagle. The flames it breathed were only magical fire slightly stronger than ordinary flames, unable to compare with a dragon's dragonfire. But Kael was still very happy and satisfied. Looking at the firebird before him, he thought he had created a new creature. The Orc that had become a firebird could no longer be considered an Orc. Its magical circulation had undergone a qualitative change. It could be said that it was now a firebird with an Orc's soul. In the following time, Kael fell into researching the firebird again. His ambitions were great. He wasn't merely satisfied with having a fire-breathing firebird Animagus. His ultimate goal was to evolve his Animagus into a phoenix! Phoenixes were called immortal birds, capable of continuous rebirth through nirvana. In a sense, they could be called immortal. If he could possess a phoenix Animagus, he might gain the phoenix's immortal abilities. As time passed and he lived together with Arwen and other Elves, Kael increasingly felt the urgency of time. Though wizards were also a long-lived race, and the deeper a wizard's magical power, the longer they lived, they weren't an immortal race after all, not even living as long as the Dúnedain. Like Aragorn, even when the War of the Ring began, he was already eighty or ninety years old but still maintained the appearance of someone around thirty. But if Kael lived to that time, he would probably already be an old man. So for immortality, Kael prepared two paths. One was to evolve his Animagus into a phoenix, thereby gaining the phoenix's immortal rebirth abilities. The other path was to create the Philosopher's Stone, thus achieving immortality. The idea of evolving his Animagus into a phoenix only vaguely emerged after Kael met Beorn and possessed a bird Animagus. After all, wasn't there a saying about sparrows becoming phoenixes? They're all birds. An owl shouldn't be much different, right? The only difficulty was that phoenixes didn't exist in Middle-earth at all, leaving him completely without reference. Kael's idea of evolving his Animagus into a phoenix was like building castles in the air, impossible to begin. Thinking of this, Kael summoned "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," which he had obtained from checking in at Gram Mountain, and opened the contents to find the phoenix page. Newt Scamander, as a master of magizoology, had recorded magical creatures from around the world in his "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," which could be called an encyclopedia of magical creatures. Newt Scamander's introduction to phoenixes was also very detailed. He even thanked Dumbledore at the beginning for lending him his Phoenix Fawkes to study for a period. The book also had a moving portrait of Phoenix Fawkes, a very magnificent large bird with gorgeous golden-red feathers, long tail feathers, golden beak and claws, and black eyes. Kael looked at the phoenix in the portrait, his eyes full of longing. But reading through the entire section, Scamander's research on phoenixes focused more on introducing their living habits and abilities. There was no in-depth research into the phoenix's actual structure. The only thing Kael gained was that the book offered a somewhat reliable speculation about phoenix origins: phoenixes are born from flames and are spirits nurtured by fire. This wasn't Newt Scamander's speculation but came from Dumbledore's words. Though just one sentence, it gave Kael a sense of direction. Dumbledore, as one of the few great wizards to own a phoenix pet, whose family had mysterious connections with phoenixes, certainly wouldn't speak without foundation. So Kael planned to explore the mysteries of fire and phoenixes in his upcoming research, then apply it to his firebird. If he could create a phoenix in Middle-earth, his Animagus evolution would have hope. Speaking of understanding fire, besides Gandalf, who possessed the Ring of Fire, he couldn't think of anyone else. When in difficulty, find teammates. Since he had joined the White Council, Kael naturally sought Gandalf's help. Moreover, he thought Gandalf should also be very interested in creating a phoenix. So after staying in the laboratory for nearly half a year, Kael finally left the tower again. Upon emerging, he first received Village Chief Luke. Though he should now be called Mayor Luke. After more than a year, nearly two years of development, Hogsmeade Village below the mountain had developed into a town with nearly ten thousand residents. Moreover, people came to Hogsmeade Town every day, hoping to join and become residents there. As mayor, Luke regularly climbed the mountain to report the situation below to Kael. Though most of the time Kael was conducting magical experiments and had no time to receive him, Luke persistently came up the mountain regularly, recording all recent affairs, including taxes and accepted residents, and sending them to the castle for Kael to review. "Luke, do you have something to report this time?" Kael received him in the reception hall and inquired. Luke's face was full of unconcealed joy as he said eagerly, "My lord, there's great news! Do you remember Mayor Graeme Tenderlarch from Bree? He personally came to Hogsmeade to see me recently!" "He originally wanted to visit you then, but since you were busy, he didn't come to disturb you." "Oh? What did he want to see me about?" Kael asked with some curiosity. He remembered Mayor Tenderlarch of Bree as someone full of desire for power, status, and money. But such people were countless on Middle-earth, so he hadn't paid much attention. Luke said with uncontainable joy, "My lord, Tenderlarch said Bree is willing to pledge loyalty to you, become a town under your jurisdiction, and accept your rule!" Hearing this, Kael was immediately very surprised. Bree wanted to submit to him? Was this a joke? "The mayor said this? He's willing himself? Can he represent the entire town's opinion?" Kael asked puzzledly. From what he knew, that mayor was very power-hungry. As mayor of Bree, he had absolute status and power there. Would he really be willing to have someone above him? "Of course he doesn't want to!" Luke's face carried a mocking smile, his tone full of schadenfreude. "But if he doesn't do this, he can forget about keeping his mayor position." Kael looked at his expression and raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?" Luke wasn't surprised Kael could guess, and he chuckled, "I just convinced Bree residents to move to Hogsmeade. After all, we not only have low taxes but also vast fertile fields to distribute, not to mention having you here, my lord. No one dares offend your territory." "So how many Bree residents came to Hogsmeade?" Kael hadn't expected Luke to use such tactics and was even more curious. "Only half came," Luke said with regret. "Originally more could have come, but that old fox Tenderlarch reacted and directly closed the city gates, spouting flowery words to deceive the remaining residents into staying." Kael's mouth twitched. He had poached half the residents and still looked regretful. He could already imagine how furious and livid the Bree mayor must have been upon learning of this. After all, if there were no people, how could one be mayor? Command an empty shell? "Since there are still half the residents, why does he still want to submit to me?" Kael asked again. Luke's face showed some pride and cunning. "I had those Bree residents who moved to Hogsmeade actively write to their relatives and neighbors in Bree, telling them of your power, justice, and mercy, my lord; of your castle's magnificence and beauty; of Hogsmeade's happiness and harmony; and of the fortune and glory of becoming your subject... Then Tenderlarch could no longer suppress Bree's residents, because who could refuse becoming your subject, my lord?" "So Bree residents all strongly demanded that Bree also accept your rule and become your subjects so they could enjoy the same treatment as Hogsmeade residents." "And that old fox Tenderlarch, if he doesn't want to lose his mayor position, he has to obediently request to accept your rule." Kael looked at Luke with new respect. He hadn't expected Luke to be such a scheming person. If Mayor Tenderlarch of Bree knew this, he'd probably hate Luke to death. Kael originally had no intention of annexing Bree, but since they were voluntarily offering themselves, he naturally wouldn't refuse. So with Kael's nod of agreement, Mayor Tenderlarch and town representatives soon came to Weathertop Castle again, bringing land registers, tax records, and such. In the great hall, witnessed by all, the mayor and representatives presented land registers, tax records, and resident registries and formally pledged loyalty to Kael. Thus Bree became the second town under Kael's rule. As for the mayor, Kael still had Tenderlarch continue in the position. Administrative talent was too scarce. Though Mayor Tenderlarch was greedy for power, he could at least manage Bree well. With Kael's suppression and Luke monitoring from the side, there was no need to worry about Tenderlarch having rebellious thoughts. When Tenderlarch heard Kael would let him continue as Bree's mayor, he was overjoyed and repeatedly pledged loyalty to Kael. At the same time, he truly had no other ulterior motives. He only wanted to earnestly please Kael so he could continue as mayor. And he strove to replace Luke's position and become the lord's number one subordinate. Don't think he didn't know that Bree's recent problems all had his old rival Luke's fingerprints on them. Though they were colleagues now, he swore to thoroughly crush his old rival Luke and never let him get above him. Though Hogsmeade was close to their lord, don't forget that Bree was at the intersection of the Great East Road and the North-South Road, with excellent transportation conditions. Tenderlarch swore to develop Bree better than Hogsmeade, showing the lord his abilities! Kael above, seeing the exchange of glances between the Bree mayor and Hogsmeade mayor below, smiled. As long as it wasn't conspiracy or intrigue, he wouldn't interfere with their normal competition.