Chapter 37

After the celebration, Karl, Jesse, and I tested our bond. We discovered Karl had bonded with me just as Jesse had, but they had not bonded with each other. They stood as true equals.

We met with three members of the inner circle to deepen our understanding of their strengths and how they could best contribute to our Co-op. We also used some of that time to ensure that the men would obey Karl and Jesse's orders, and I held the authority to override them. Each group of three underwent a series of tests designed by the spirits to confirm their equal standing within the alliance.

With Karl needing to return to his property to handle his affairs. Jesse and I opted to explore the lower levels of the caves until Karl could come back to the Oasis so that we could continue our testing of all the inner circle.

"Ursus and Stone mentioned that their combined powers have significantly advanced the work down here," Jesse informed me.

Ursus appeared, stopping our entry to the now open passage leading to the lower section of the caves. "Master, to make the experience more awe-inspiring, let me take you directly to the lowest section. There, you will witness our new power."

Ursus's enthusiasm was infectious, making it impossible for me to turn him down. Just then, Stone appeared and asked, "Shall we both take you and Jesse there?"

We suddenly found ourselves in one of the mine's lower tunnels—spacious, but having a low ceiling.

"This is the last tunnel of the mine. Master, please stand beside Jesse and observe our strength," Stone said. Both he and Ursus transformed into their spirit forms as the eight additional spirits materialized. Stone stepped into Ursus, merging their essences. Each member of Stone's group entered a corresponding spirit from Ursus' group, causing their combined spirit to swell.

"This is something new. How big are they going to get?" Jesse asked me.

"If they keep merging, they'll grow taller than the tunnel," I replied, though I wasn't sure they would continue. The united spirits soon proved me wrong as they kept merging with each other, increasing their size. Being spirits, they faced no obstacle from the ceiling; they just passed through it. When the merging was complete, all I could see were two feet and calves—what should I even call them? A Chimera, perhaps?

As the Chimera stepped forward, the tunnel's ceiling seemed to dissolve in its wake. With a single stride, it sank into the ground, lowering the floor beneath them from where it had once been level. They continued onward, navigating upward and downward, transforming the tunnel into an expansive cave. In some places, the ground dipped lower, while in others, it rose. They swirled in intricate patterns, and when they stopped, pillars resembling stalagmites connecting to stalactites above filled the cave. The floor was now smoothed, while the ceiling bristled with stalactites. Jesse shook his head in disbelief. "This looks like a natural amphitheater. Look at the far wall—the ceiling arches from here all the way over there. The steps they created when they lowered themselves could serve as seating."

"I wonder if the acoustics are good," I mused, speaking loud enough for Jesse to hear, even though I intended my words for myself.

All the spirits appeared before us. They kneeled, one hand on the ground and the other resting on the raised knee. Though I'm not a football fan, their pose seemed deliberate, as if they were preparing for something significant. With their heads bowed, it couldn't be a football stance, could it?.

"Master, this represents the full extent of our combined power." We've sent all the matter to our world. You mentioned this was an amphitheater, and indeed it is. As for acoustics..." Before I could finish, four spirits rushed toward Jesse, and suddenly, he was standing in what looked like the stage area, far in the distance.

"Keith, can you hear me?" Jesse shouted.

"Can you hear me now?" he asked, lowering his voice.

"Can you hear me now?" he continued in a normal tone.

"Can you hear me now?" he asked, almost in a whisper.

In an instant, Jesse vanished and reappeared right beside me, along with the four spirits. "So, how many times did you hear what I said?"

"Well, you called my name first and asked if I could hear you. Then you repeated the question three more times, each time quieter until the last was just a whisper," I replied.

"You actually caught even my whisper?!" he exclaimed.

"Looks like we've found a great meeting place. This space could easily accommodate five thousand men," I noted. "How much longer until you finish the rest of the cave?"

"Master, this part is the last of the caves to complete, unless you'd like to expand the cave system further," Ursus interjected.

"Really? That's amazing! Let's walk back and examine every section. If Jesse and I find nothing needing more work, we can consider the caves finished."

As we made our way back, we scrutinized every alcove and small cave branching from the larger sections. Nearly every alcove acted as a portal, leading members either deeper into the cave or back to the entrance on the Co-op side of the mountain. Sometimes, the portals opened to areas designated for events, like the amphitheater, an arena, or even other expansive caverns, until we came back to the underground lake that began as hot springs and transitioned into the cool clear water of the lake.

Throughout our exploration, we discovered many short side passages that led to intimate seating areas or relatively large gyms.

Eventually, we reached the previously sealed section of the cave, which resembled a vast living complex featuring rooms designed to accommodate one to four men. There were ten rooms sharing a communal gathering area. While there were no bathrooms or kitchens, there were communal showers. This arrangement made sense, as the spirits could provide food wherever we wished—eating was not a necessity. Similarly, the need for bathrooms was nonexistent. However, showers were a welcome luxury, even if they weren't required. The spirits recognized Jesse and my fondness for showering, which is why they included them here. In the communal gathering area, a few tables were available for those wishing to eat and enjoy a moment of cheer.

“Master, there are many of these living areas, each one the same as the one you see here," Stone informed us.

"But there is no furniture or bedding. Are the men to sleep on the ground?" Jesse asked.

“Of course not, like you and Master each man will decide what he wants along with the others that share the room. All of these men that share the communal area will have a say as to what is in these areas," Stone answered, almost taking offence at Jesse's statement..

"So, you're saying the absence of bedding or additional furniture is because the men living here would simply create their own, thanks to your powers?" Jesse asked Stone.

"Exactly. This way, their rooms and common areas can truly reflect the personalities of those living in them," Stone replied.

We reached the spot where we had started, and I looked out of the cave's opening. "It's dark outside. I thought the well-lit cave might show we still had some daylight left—wishful thinking on my part, I suppose," I said to Jesse.

*****

Back in our cave, frustration washed over me. Karl had reached out to inform me he wouldn't be back for a while. He needed to find a new contractor for the hotel, putting a delay in testing the rest of the inner circle. We needed him to assess their strengths and help integrate them into our inner circle; without him, we were at a standstill.

Sensing my agitation, Jesse offered a solution. "You're worried about falling behind with your lieutenants, right? Why not call each one in individually? Let them know we can't assess them like we did with the others, but when Karl returns, we will. In the meantime, ask them what they think they excel at and assign them those roles temporarily."

"What if they're not suited for those positions?" I countered. "Just because they believe they're capable doesn't mean they are. Remember my last boss? He relied on others to do his job for him and just took the credit."

"Whoa, I didn't mean to make you angry," Jess said, raising his hands defensively. "What if we enlist Grey and that surveillance program? He could dig into each recruit's background, check their work history, and hack into the systems holding their personnel reports. That way, we'll get a clearer picture of their actual capabilities."

I mulled it over and nodded. "That sounds okay. With the spy program, we should get the information quickly. But that still leaves me idle for at least a few days or more."

"Here's another thought," Jess continued. "Since the hotel's construction has stalled, Karl is searching for a contractor to finish it. Given the influx of new recruits since we implemented the spy program, there must be plenty of professional contractors among us."

"So, you're suggesting we find them and recruit them to complete the hotel?" I asked.

"It will give you something to do, even if it doesn't pan out. You'd be helping Karl by getting the park and all the other projects ready or almost ready up and running," Jesse informed me.

"Yeah, you're right," I replied. 'To all members: if you're not assigned to a specific job and you are a qualified builder, particularly in large construction projects like building a hotel or office building, please inform your leader. I want to speak with each of you.'

Within an hour, the spirits began sending me men. Most were older, which I expected. I explained my vision to them. The previous contractor had already delivered most of the needed supplies, so obtaining them wasn't a problem. To the spirits' credit, they didn't send every qualified individual at once. Instead, I would finish with a small group and find another waiting for access to the portal to our cave. As the days progressed, my list of skilled builders in every trade continued to grow.

After dismissing the last group, I needed to choose a lead builder from my extensive list. Jesse was right; we had attracted many qualified builders from around the world. Luckily, all the men we accepted into our Co-op now spoke English. While reviewing my notes, I received another notification that someone was requesting to enter the portal. I thought about granting entry, as I always did. The two young men who walked in surprised me.

"You two look quite young for the positions I'm filling, and your builds appear quite modest. Why did the spirits send you to me? Is this the form you're normal forms?" I asked.

One man bowed, a gesture reminiscent of a traditional Japanese greeting. He did not appear Japanese, but in our Co-op, he could be from any Asian country. The other man collapsed to the ground. Together, they said, "Sir, we were told to come."

"Okay, I'm Keith, but you already know that. What are your names, and who sent you here?"

The man on his hands and knees spoke first. "I'm Sasha."

The one bowing said, "My name is Kenzo."

"Pleasure to meet you both. Now, who sent you here?" I asked again. Before they could respond, Roan and Cetus appeared.

Roan helped Sasha to his feet. "He may be small of stature for now, but it's his coping mechanism. He's very much an introvert," Roan explained. "Show the Master your true form, the one you take when you're alone, or at least your normal human form. He won't bite you. He wants to see your actual form. You have nothing to hide."

"Sorry, I'm quite self-conscious; I have always worked from home." With that, Sasha transformed into a large man whose clothing concealed his muscular build.

"So, this is you're true from?" I asked Sasha. "I'm not complaining; your body is impressive."

"Sorry, and yes, this is the real me," he replied.

Kenzo stood as straight as an arrow. Whether from some encouragement from Cetus, I couldn't tell. Cetus interjected, "These two may not be builders, but they bring a unique skill set to the project we're undertaking. This one is a prodigy, just out of design school. If you want the hotel to impress tourists, let him handle the interior design, and the exterior if it's not too late. The buildings he's worked on are what memories are made of, iconic."

"You give me too much credit, Sir Cetus," Kenzo said, his pale face flushed with a deep red.

"And this one is a logistics mastermind. He'll ensure everything runs smoothly. We're setting up computers in their rooms. If you agree, we can have Grey order data pads and upgraded touch screens for the heads of each trade, as well as for whoever you choose to lead. These touch screens will be useful for Kenzo, as he'll need them to visualize his designs on the computer," Cetus explained.

"I might be taking a risk with Roan's selected, considering this is your group's first decision like this. However, Cetus's team has proven their capabilities. I'm willing to put my trust in all of you. Acquire the supplies as soon as possible."

I handed Sasha a shorter list of qualified builders. "You interview these candidates; they're the ones I want leading the construction. Decide who should be their leader based on your interviews and send him back to me."

Sasha stood tall. "Yes, Sir. Mr. Keith."

"Just Keith, or sir, but not both, please."

"Roan, please make copies of the plans we have for the hotel and give them to Kenzo. If you can convert them into a digital format for his computer, do that instead. Kenzo, keep the park and the natural surroundings in mind, and design a façade for each side of the hotel. Get that done first, and then let me see it for approval. After that, focus on redesigning the entire interior—not just the public spaces." As I spoke, Kenzo's expression transformed into one of pure excitement, reminiscent of a child in a candy store.

Jesse walked in just as the four were leaving. After I said my goodbyes and they departed, Jesse asked, "Those two weren't some of your cadets for builders, were they?"

"Why do you ask? Because they don't look strong enough for the job." I was teasing Jesse; Sasha had taken on his boyish form before leaving, and Jesse arrived just as he finished.

"That's part of it, but I'm asking because they look so young. You typically can't become the head of an operation without years of experience in the construction business—unless, of course, they got the position because of family ties. You yourself mentioned some people hold prominent positions they shouldn't," Jesse pointed out.

"I had the same thoughts when I first met them. Sasha, the guy who left first, is quite large. He worked from home, overseeing logistics for major building projects. Roan said He's very introverted, and coming here has made him reluctant to stand out, which explains his physique."

"Kenz?, the one who bowed to you as he left, is just as you saw: a very petite young man. He's a bit of a prodigy; he has worked on several projects that gained significant recognition."

"So, Cetus sent him here, right? If Roan sent Sasha, that means Cetus must have sent Kenz?." Jesse connected the dots.

"Exactly. He suggested I let Kenzo redesign the hotel's interior and exterior. I gave both of them a chance, but I'm concerned about Kenzo. He needs to create something spectacular for the hotel's exterior. If I approve the designs and the head builder confirms they are sound, I'll bring it to Karl for his final approval. Until then, we'll keep this a secret from Karl and his team," I explained to Jesse.