Military, infrastructure, agriculture, armament, exploration, intelligence, diplomacy...
Clear directives, like solid chains, firmly fixed the grand blueprint for Blackwood Fortress's future development onto the tracks of reality!
Every core member present felt a huge pressure, as well as an unprecedented excitement and anticipation that made their blood burn—they were participating in a grand cause destined to be recorded in the annals of the North!
"Does everyone understand?" Colin asked finally, his gaze sweeping over everyone like lightning!
"Understood!" the crowd replied in unison, their voices filled with determination and power, echoing thru the meeting room!
"Very good." Colin was about to announce the end of the meeting, letting these gears that were already impatient to start driving the entire Blackwood Fortress to run at high speed—
Just then, a dull, drum-like voice, carrying a trace of obvious anxiety, rang out abruptly:
"Leader!"
Everyone looked toward the sound and saw the blacksmith leader, the dwarf Berg, stand up from his seat! His face, blackened by years of smoke and fire, was now filled with worry! His thick fingers were nervously twisted together, seemingly uneasy about interrupting the leader, but the matter was of great importance, so he had to speak!
"Leader, your plan is like divine revelation, incomparably magnificent! But..." Berg spoke in a muffled voice, every word sounding heavy, "But the fire of the furnace needs iron ore to feed it! Without enough iron, even the best plan is as soft as untempered iron!"
He took a deep breath and poured out the worries in his heart: "Right now, those goblins in our mine are becoming increasingly lazy! Those slippery little green-skinned things, as long as the supervisor's whip leaves their backs, they dare to hide in the mine tunnels to sleep! They slack off at work, efficiency is getting lower by the day, and the output of iron ore is decreasing day by day! If we just maintain the status quo, it's barely enough! But if we follow your plan to forge brand-new armor and repeating crossbows for the Wolf Cavalry, and increase weapon reserves—this output is simply a drop in the bucket! If this continues, I fear it will ruin the big picture!"
Berg's words were like a basin of ice water poured over the ambitions everyone had just ignited!
The atmosphere in the meeting room stalled instantly!
Yes, iron!
This most basic and most fatal problem!
Without iron, there would be no weapons, no armor, no tools! All the grand blueprints Colin described would be castles in the air! The sharp blades of the Wolf Riders would roll, the shields of the Rock Legion would be easily shattered, and the arrows of the Forest Tracker Legion wouldn't even be able to pierce the enemy's leather armor!
War, in the final analysis, is fought with logistics, with resources! And iron is the most important strategic resource of this era!
Everyone's eyes gathered on Colin involuntarily!
Colin's expression remained calm, as if he had anticipated this problem long ago! His fingers, which had been tapping gently on the table, stopped, and the entire meeting room fell into a suffocating silence!
"It's just labor, that's simple!"
His gaze did not linger on anyone, but slowly turned to Lena:
"Lena!"
"Present!" Lena replied immediately!
"The mine needs new labor!" Colin's voice was cold and decisive, without a trace of emotion, "All forty-plus able-bodied men from the Remnant Bone Tribe are to be transferred to the mine!"
But Colin's order was not over yet—
"Additionally," he added, "select two hundred of the able-bodied human captives we previously captured and send them to the mine!"
Lena nodded and began to plan on the parchment with a charcoal pencil!
Berg bowed his body and said in a muffled voice: "Leader is wise! With this manpower, I guaranty that next spring, our Wolf Cavalry will be able to wear the strongest armor!"
Colin nodded and swept his gaze over everyone again: "Any other questions?"
This time, no one spoke!
"Very good!" Colin stood up, "Dismissed! Remember, from now on, Blackwood Fortress enters a period of silent expansion! Go, let the North feel our silent pulse!"
The next morning, the cold wind was still howling thru the streets of the fortress!
In the huge warehouse where the Remnant Bone Tribe was held, most people were curled up on animal skins covered with hay, still immersed in sweet dreams!
Ulf had no sleepiness; he leaned against the cold wall, quietly watching his sleeping tribesmen, his heart full of confusion!
Just then, the heavy wooden door of the warehouse was pushed open violently with a harsh creaking sound!
A dozen fully armed Blackwood Fortress warriors walked in, and leading them was none other than Anna!
Her beautiful face looked extraordinarily cold and sharp under the flickering firelight, and her eyes were as sharp as ice, sweeping over the terrified faces of those awakened in the warehouse!
"All adult men of the Remnindustrial heart named "Blackwood Fortress" starting to pump blood powerfully!