The clang of hammers, the turning of gears, the grinding wheels of steam carriages hauling cargo, and the smoke rising from towering chimneys merged into a discordant industrial symphony.

  Professor Bjorn stepped down from his steam carriage and entered the lamp factory. Cogworks workers inspected quality while commonfolk packed the products into crates for distribution. Behind him, Leroy descended and followed.

  When Bjorn pushed open the main door, every worker near the entrance fell silent at the sight of the two council members. Bjorn lifted a specialized transmitter, designed to amplify his voice.

  "Listen, servants. I need this place cleared immediately. You may return home early today."

  "Long live Professor Bjorn!" the foreman shouted, raising his fist. Others echoed the chant.

  The order was given. Workers packed their belongings and moved quickly, some running toward the exit while offering brief greetings to the council members who remained standing by the doorway.

  "Where is my stuff?"

  "Hey, do not forget to shut down Generator A."

  "Leave that machine running. It still needs warming."

  Voices overlapped as the workers departed.

  Leroy stood with hands on his hips. "Busy as ever here. Nothing changes."

  "And will never change," Bjorn replied.

  Within ten minutes the factory was empty. Major machines had been shut down, leaving only hanging yellow lamps to illuminate the space. Several flickered unevenly, glowing bright, then dim, repeating the cycle.

  As the last worker prepared to leave, Bjorn stepped forward and caught the man’s arm.

  "Where is Sigurd?"

  "Professor, I am not sure. He has not been seen since this morning," the worker said, clutching his worn leather satchel nervously.

  Bjorn nodded and released him. The man hurried away to join the others. Fortunately, the large steam carriage that transported the workers had not yet departed.

  "How am I supposed to deal with these naughty brats? The council already has Elysius and my own faction is not better," Bjorn muttered, taking a long pull from his bottle of beer.

  "At least you are still alive," Leroy said with a grin.

  "Irony."

  They walked deeper into the factory. Brass and bronze machines still radiated warmth. Red indicator lamps glowed across rows of dormant engines.

  "So, what do you think?" Bjorn asked.

  "You are serious about proposing this factory as the first cloning test site? Why insist on this place instead of Highland?" Leroy ran his fingers along the hanging steel chains.

  "Highland is only for theoretical. They refuse heavy industry or risky experiments there."

  "I already argued on behalf of the council, but they declined. It is better to rebuild a defensive perimeter here and protect the experiment than borrow facilities that are not ours," Bjorn replied.

  "But that place is already overcrowded, as i remember?" Leroy asked.

  Bjorn chuckled. "You will see for yourself when you finally decide to move into the mansion gifted for your engagement."

  "Why do you not live there?"

  "Not interested. It is hard to speak freely in that environment. And I am too lazy to travel back and forth just to check on my juniors," Bjorn said, extinguishing his cigar.

  "But Leroy, I can assure you the community is already established. You could build a family there," he added.

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  "I know. I will consider it," Leroy said.

  Bjorn smirked. "You are not planning to live at Stargate, are you? Remember, Lord Star is no longer your mentor. He is your brother-in-law."

  "I am aware. But now we can choose where to live, and that is precisely the problem," Leroy replied.

  The rumble of a steam carriage echoed beyond the gate. Sigurd the Mischief Paladin stepped down, his bronze armor hidden beneath a fur mantle that oddly resembled Bjorn’s style.

  He waved as he entered the factory. "Professor, Chairman. Apologies for the delay."

  Bjorn planted his hands on his hips, his expression sour. "Of all of them, this one might be the most talented and the most troublesome."

  "You are cursed, Bjorn. Not a single person in your faction is easy to manage," Leroy whispered, covering his mouth.

  Sigurd joined them and flicked his Jormungandr whip to seal the factory doors. The three gathered inside the foreman’s office.

  "So, Sigurd, how is your faction? Everything stable?" Leroy asked.

  "If that is your concern, you should ask Brunhild. Shall I summon her?" Sigurd said while removing his mantle.

  Bjorn crushed the stub of his cigar. "Please. It was only small talk. Why so rigid?"

  "You already know what we are here to discuss."

  Sigurd nodded and pulled out a chair, sitting across from Leroy at the table. Bjorn lounged beside them, stretching his legs across the floor, needing more space than the room was willing to offer.

  "Gruk, Raidbones, and Druganda have already been appointed as supervisors of the cloning program. We need you to serve as the Cogworks overseer," Leroy said, dispensing with small talk.

  "All of them are Vanguard?" Sigurd asked.

  "Yes. It's your time to take bigger responsibility," Leroy replied.

  Before Sigurd could answer, Bjorn cut in. "I do not want excuses about being busy or unwilling. As Vanguard, you are future council successors."

  Sigurd glanced at Bjorn and smirked. "Like how you manage Cognisource?"

  "Careful. I will educate that mouth again. Do you think one person can run two institutions at once?" Bjorn snapped, pointing at him.

  Sigurd laughed, as always able to irritate his senior. He paused, thinking, biting the wooden pencil he had pulled from behind his ear.

  "You are the better choice, Sigurd. If Highland handles it, matters will become complicated," Bjorn said.

  "What a troublesome faction," Sigurd muttered.

  Then he sighed. "Fine. I will do it. I will follow procedure, but in my own way."

  "Use whatever method you wish, but remember you will still face evaluation," Bjorn warned.

  "Relax, Professor. When it comes to work ethics, I will talk to Brunhild," Sigurd replied with a grin. Bjorn and Leroy simply nodded.

  Leroy unfolded a sheet of paper and spread it across the table, explaining that Cogworks represented the final stage of the plan. The cloning apparatus had to be located first in the intergalactic market as an immediate solution. Extraterrestrial and Sorcerer factions would test the subjects. Only afterward would Cogworks execute the process. Weapon Masters and Abyss would later train the newly formed forces in combat.

  Sigurd’s laughter interrupted him.

  "Chairman Leroy, is the council planning to conquer some unknown realm with this program?"

  "Shut your mouth. Listen first," Bjorn barked.

  "My point is simple," Sigurd said. "Even Abyss already maintains a vast military. Now this is added and they themselves will train it."

  "Control yourself," Bjorn snapped again.

  Leroy only nodded, unwilling to let their bickering escalate.

  "Think of it as a small force under your command, Sigurd. Not every faction possesses competent military strength," Leroy said.

  "So my faction, for instance. Does this program prevent others from completely dominating military numbers?" Sigurd asked.

  "That conclusion is premature. Numbers will be limited, exclusive, yet effective," Bjorn answered.

  "And if you continue down that line of thought, you imply a provocation toward war. We are constructing security, not another warlord," Leroy added.

  Sigurd bit his pencil again, then nodded. "Very well. I will study the files. First step, I will restructure this lamp factory, replace weakened metal components, and prepare the facility."

  He rose from his chair, glancing toward Bjorn while Leroy folded the paper and handed it to him.

  "Professor, I cannot rely solely on the workers here. I dislike saying this, but we will need personnel from Highland. Can you arrange that while I handle other tasks?" Sigurd asked.

  Bjorn patted his shoulder. "Leave it to me. Tell me what you require. Funding is already secured."

  "Let us hope I do not accidentally blow up the factory," Sigurd said.

  Leroy and Bjorn exchanged uneasy looks.

  Sigurd laughed. "A joke. Do not look so grim, councilors. I will read the instructions first."

  He opened the door and descended the stairs, leaving the foreman’s office after successfully unsettling two of the most influential figures in All Realm.

  "Can he be trusted?" Leroy asked again.

  "That is simply his nature. Brilliant, yet incapable of seriousness. Still, Forger owes him several rough blueprints," Bjorn replied, leaning back in his seat.

  "Make sure he constructs the fortress first, before the device arrives and before the final test results. I do not want infiltration or mistakes afterward," Leroy said. "And report immediately if any subject suffers. Do not force it."

  "Understood, my friend," Bjorn answered, nodding slowly as he closed his eyes. "I will also prepare the relocation of the lamp factory. Its current site is too distant from here."

  Brick, concrete, timber, granite, asbestos, zinc, iron, and steel. Bjorn listed the primary materials required for fortress construction. Some resources would demand assistance from the Elementalist faction. He planned to speak with Amaterasu and King Darkon the following week.

  On his way toward the steam carriage, Sigurd found himself contemplating the cloning program, murmuring inwardly.

  "This program is insane. What if I simply duplicate the strongest superhuman in All Realm and build an army from them? Many problems would vanish."