>>5428406>>5428436>>5428458"How has your infiltration gone? Are the girls giving you any trouble?" You chuckle and offer some small talk before asking the serious questions."
"Uh, No sir! Nothing of the sort. My mother watching above me would not forgive me for having a harem of non-Kushan women." Kalki nervously retorts, not used to taking the edge off given Barnham does not tend to joke around with him, but you quickly excuse yourself and let him speak his mind.
"The girls have done commendable effort in their housing, thanks to that, we were able to establish a small base of operations under the nose of authorities. Should they come over, all I need is to hypnotize them to look the other way, while we find a few more funds to expand and liven the economy in Ilos as well as means of transportation. My Pishaca rides can defend them from bandits, and they disguise themselves well enough from the Kushan armies to not be harmed."
"Interesting, I was wondering if the people were in poor conditions given the critical state of the rest of Midland. Any reports on Ilos and my mother?"
"Her crops have been keeping the people well fed, and we have heard good results about the expansion of Ilos' territory. Our base has been reinforced by a wall of Pishaca and the essential citizens remain inside. The rest of the working citizens are taking materials from the mountain to expand and build more posts around it."
"And what of our magicians?"
"Your idea of fusing our teachings worked wonderfully. Some of them have already mastered the art of flight."
"Really? Now I feel bad for not knowing how to do it still..." You scratch your head, wondering if he was about to report on anything else.
"Speaking of improvements, another friend of yours appeared to have come our way. Do you know anyone by the name of Rickert?"
"Yes, in fact! What did he do?"
"We've installed several powerful new cannons thanks to his blueprints. I have never seen anything like it, to be quite honest. It appears to be formed by one large boulder, until it splits in half and diverges into several small pellets before it impacts, very deceitful, but effective. He was wondering about deploying a fire spraying type of weapon, but he was in a rush to reach Wyndham, so I am waiting still until he arrives to greet him."
"I'm glad someone is on our side, at least. I was half expecting Ilos to collapse without us." You comment before moving on to Barnham.
"Lord Banham is about to fight against Griffith's greatest captain, though given how the cloud apostle is also attempting to use his Man-made demonic device, I'm not sure that he can fight without being interrupted."
"Ganishka is alive?"
"Lord Griffith has managed to heal him of his wounds before his passing."
"I knew one strike wouldn't be enough to finish him off..." You curse yourself as you confirm your doubts, only hoping that Barnham would not be stupid enough to get in the midst of their skirmish.
