(Planet Vorthas, The Next Day, Leo's POV)
The final stop on Leo's reunion trail before he reported for skill training with the First Elder was Vorthas, where he sought out Chaosbringer to hear an update on his side of affairs.
By now, Chaosbringer had truly settled into the role of the newly promoted Seventh Elder, wearing the title as though it had always been his, for he had not only integrated seamlessly with the former Elder's staff and loyalists, but had bent them to his rhythm in such a way that none suspected the truth.
The transition, though sudden, was flawless, and the shadow of the previous man had already been erased.
Thus, when Leo entered the Elder's office on Vorthas, it was the same attendants and secretaries who once served the old Twelfth Elder that bowed and greeted him, yet the atmosphere that filled the room felt utterly transformed.
The weight of stale formality that used to hang in this place was gone, replaced by a vibrant pulse of energy, sharp efficiency mixed with an almost theatrical flair, as though the very air itself now reflected the deeper and more hidden traits of its new master.
"Lord Shadow Dragon..... Please take a seat." Chaosbringer said, his voice entirely composed, as he gestured for Leo to sit, before gesturing for his assistant to close the door, as he did not greet Leo in a overfriendly way in front of the staff member.
However, once the door closed and the two of them were completely alone, the alias dropped in an instant, as he slammed his own head on the desk and said,
"Lord Boss, your humble servant greets you, please forgive my previous insolence, I would never treat you with such coldness if I could help it.
Please feel free to punish me however you see fit, if I have offended you even slightly." Chaosbringer said, as Leo chuckled and tapped on his shoulder to get up.
"Get up Chaosbringer, you know I don't mind such petty things.....
So get up, and start reporting your findings about the council to me...." Leo instructed, as Chaosbringer instantly straightened up and began reporting his discoveries.
"My Lord, almost every Elder I met inside the Council is a snake.
All they care about is their own popularity and their own political cause.
While most of them are infact Cult loyalists as a whole, and will unify strongly against external threats....
In the absence of immediate existential problems, they squabble internally like children, and don't have a grand vision for development.
In my brief time with them, I have found that most of them have no idea how to make use of the Cult's external information network.
Or how to strategically undermine the Righteous Faction's institutions.
So I have unfortunately come to the conclusion, that all Elder's within the Council must be replaced within this decade, one at a time, until we control it all."
Chaosbringer shared, as Leo raised an eyebrow at his assessment, yet agreed with it completely.
"I have taken the liberty to use the funding I get as the Seventh Elder to start forming an information network of my own, as I have reached out to my contacts in the Uprising, and have re-assigned most guild members to penetrate Righteous Faction institution's as sleeper agents.
I have also taken the liberty to call some of them here, as I plan to plant them as staff members in various offices of Elders, giving them time to observe and mimic their behaviour, before eventually teaching them [shape shift], so that they are ready to replace the Elders they served.
It's a decade long plan, but eventually, I will have the entire council under my control." Chaosbringer shared, as Leo nodded in approval at his words.
This was precisely why he had called over Chaosbringer to the Cult, because he knew that the man was capable of producing such results.
"Finally my lord, I have some disturbing news...." Chaosbringer began, as his voice dropped to a slightly worried tone.
"My Lord, although I don't have concrete proof of it, I strongly suspect that it was the Third Elder who betrayed the previous Dragon Noah Ashburn and gave away his location to the Righteous Faction.....
I have met the man twice, and I have found him to be a 'Yes' man of sorts, with no obvious individual voice and no display of political ambition.
He agrees easily to whatever the others in the room say, and does not appear to take himself too seriously.
Yet, despite having such a weak personality, he's holding on to one of the strongest Elder Seats within the Cult for over a century now, and his constituents are reportedly very happy with him as well.
Something in my gut tells me that the man is a red flag, and that he cannot be trusted.... For in my experience of dealing with cowards and traitors, they all display traits similar to the Third Elder."
Chaosbringer alleged, as Leo took his instincts very seriously.
Since Chaosbringer was not the type of man to make such allegations easily, Leo took his words at face value himself, eventhough he had never personally had much interaction with the Third Elder himself.
"It's my intention to replace the Third Elder first, for in my understanding he's the biggest threat to the Cult's internal security at the moment.
Followed by the First Elder, who is a narcissistic bastard who can't see his spotlight taken away by anyone, and especially not the Dragons.
Together, the two of them hold a side of the Council that's extremely toxic and outdated.
And they behave like cancer cells in an otherwise vibrant Cult society.
So if you agree, I would like to make my short term focus, replacing these two gentlemen...." Chaosbringer requested, as Leo nodded in agreement to his words.
"Yes, you have my blessing for this. You can proceed anyway you see fit.
And if at any point, you need either of them assassinated, consider me as a happy candidate to finish the job." Leo said, as he gave a green light for the whole operation.
(More chapters in Buyers Club for TMT)