"Why helium?" Senior Ahmed asked me several days later. He had appeared for one of his regular check-ins.

  "You have seen the reports of the growing number of airships being used, especially by the German Empire?"

  "I have. They are quite curious machines." Senior Ahmed was an intelligent man, but he did not readily grasp new technologies.

  "They will require oil and petrol for their engines, but they need lighter-than-air gases to fly."

  "I can understand the need for oil, but why helium?"

  "They use hydrogen at the moment. It and helium are both lighter-than-air gases. Hydrogen is easy to produce but has one fatal flaw. A single spark caused the entire Zeppelin to be destroyed as the entire structure combusted."

  He looks quite shocked by the information, but I continue to explain why selling helium would be a profitable venture.

  "Helium does not explode on contact with fire. This makes it a far safer and more effective gas to use in airships, but it cannot be produced artificially yet; however, there are large deposits of it within North America."

  Understanding comes to features as he realises what I'm saying to him.

  "Yes, I understand you want us to look for helium deposits as well as oil. Then we will sell these to the German Empire." He saw what I was telling him as a means to profit.

  "Not just the Germans. The Russians, the French, the British, anyone who wants to buy it, sell to them. Quietly encourage them by pointing out that their opponents are buying both oil and helium from you and investing in airships."

  "Would that not trigger an arms race?" He asked, concerned. He was still grappling with the global war that had been warned him was on the horizon.

  "Yes, it will. But the technology is still many decades from becoming a war-winning weapon. Airpower will become a major factor in global conflicts, and we should get in during its earliest period for maximum influence and profit."

  "Of course, I understand you are planning once more for the future." He was nodding as I spoke to him. But I could see a growing unease within him.

  He was partially correct. This world had gone into Zeppelin technology far more aggressively than my own. I still ultimately predicted that fixed-wing aircraft would become dominant, but we were in the age of the airship at this time. The technology was spreading to many other nations, and I was seeing far more examples of it than I remember from my own timeline. I could already see that they were thinking about the military applications of the technology.

  "Remember also to point out that you're selling these resources to nations with their fleets and that the United States government might want to invest in their own. It will also be a good idea to be able to supply such airships if requested."

  "You just want us to expand to the arms industry?" Senior Ahmed seemed rather unsettled by this again.

  "No. I would like you to provide start-up capital to American entrepreneurs who wish to build their own airships. You will only be shareholders, not controlling the companies."

  I can still see that he was concerned about that, but was more willing to be a silent partner in starting the firms than to control them. I had realised that the Way of Athamos had a bit of an unpleasant history with weapons production and sought instead to control through other means than military force. The concept of the military-industrial complex was something I didn't want to explain to him. I hope to take them in a similar direction over the next few decades.

  I didn't want the war to break out, but I wanted to be ready in case it did. My first and only goal was to protect New Midian. To achieve that, we needed political power, and to amass political power, we required money. In the history of the world, the most profitable thing men did was wage war.

  I could see that he understood my long-term goal.

  "I can see you are still unhappy. Think of it this way. Nations will need the resources you supply, and if they act in a way you disagree with, you can cut them off. If you do not want to encourage military developments, you can encourage civilian development of airship technology."

  That had him think deeply for several moments.

  What I propose to him is something he had never thought about before. Modern industry relies on critical resources, such as coal and later oil, to function correctly. Controlling them allows you to dictate national policy in a way many had not yet realised.

  It all came down to a single word. Power.

  That is what they were looking for from me, and now I was offering it to them. Many types of power could be demonstrated or applied. The most potent was the subtle yet undeniable one. Controlling those vital resources would give the Way of Athamos such power.

  Careful manoeuvring would be needed to gain and maintain that power.

  Would they be up to it?

  "I can see what you are speaking about now." Senior Ahmed finally said. I hoped he had reached the conclusions I wanted.

  He made his farewells and departed to see to his own plans.

  I had my own plans for the day.

  Blackstone was in the crypt under the church.

  "Well, what do you think?"

  The giant Hunter was drawing some designs onto several pieces of paper before him. He had spread them out across the top of the sarcophagus.

  "Could work." He rumbled. He then gestured to several of the designs he was working on. "Good idea. Mechanism possible. Some changes."

  We were fast approaching epic conversation level with him, and I stood next to him, looking down at the designs. I had asked him to put a doorway in the entrance to the crypt. I knew he was going to have to build a door frame and had asked for a reinforced door. I'd also stipulated that I wanted some form of defence mechanism, in the form of a door trap.

  He had sketched up several possibilities, but one was far more detailed than the others. It showed a door with a mechanism built into the ceiling. Attach the mechanism, which was a hammer with a spike on it. From what I was seeing, once the door was opened, when the track was armed, the hammer would drop using gravity to drive the spike into the chest of the intruder.

  Looking over the design, I realised he had actually created it with me in mind. I did not need to open the door to exit the crypt, so I could arm the trap at any time I wanted. The only way to disarm the trap was from within the crypt.

  "Yes, I see what you're going for."

  I lifted the primary page of the design and looked at it closely. This could work.

  "How long will it take you to make?"

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Frame and door, several days. Mechanism another week." He seemed happy to be using his skills to create something new. I noticed he had added several traps to the area around his lair. I had quietly advised the other Hunters to avoid it unless they were taking the path directly to his door.

  "So, say two weeks to be safe?"

  He grunted in agreement. I looked over the design again, and I thought about Johannson, who had come down the stairs and investigated the crypt. The trap on my chest, taking care of him, was reset. Blackstone seemed very happy with the results. But I was not pleased with the ease with which he had accessed this area.

  "Go ahead and build it."

  He nodded at my approval of his design. I do not know much about architectural design, but it seemed that he was planning a reinforced door. He had a forge and workshop in his lair, where he would build most of his equipment. I would have to source some of the materials you need.

  "Sending the list of construction materials, and I will get them arranged for delivery."

  He nodded again, gathering up the papers. He did not bid me any farewells and turned and left, heading up the stairs, stooping slightly to avoid hitting the entryway. I could sense him still within the church as he made his way out, closing the door behind him. I remained down in the crypt.

  It was time to think about my financial resources again. I built up a small reserve of notes and coins. I had not been sending everything down to Herbert, and I also still had my silver and gold.

  Hopefully, this would not be too expensive.

  I was pleased that things were starting to take shape.

  May passed with construction and little else.

  Construction took place at night, and acquiring the necessary resources depleted my cash reserves.

  I had no visitors, and the days passed slowly.

  The Christian American Woman's Temperance and Morality League was agitating across the country. They are protesting drinking establishments and houses of ill repute. They were now openly campaigning for the prohibition of alcohol through a constitutional amendment.

  I knew that would not end well if it came into force, but it might be a source of increased influence if the Daughters managed it right.

  Now that was an interesting thought.

  The Daughters of Medusa prefer to operate through legal methods and manipulations. However, they weren't above engaging in criminal or shady activities. Then running major speakeasies if such a prohibition came in would be a great source of income and influence for them.

  Closer to home, Joshua Driver had left school and was working odd jobs around the area. At first, his father was worried about my reaction to this, but I told him it was fine. I was actually pleased that young Joshua was getting a bit more life experience. Who knows, you might even find a future wife in his travels.

  But thinking about the boy, I found it doubtful. But I lived in hope.

  The other two Driver children were living reasonably happy and peaceful lives. Herbert had told me they were curious about New Midian, but they had been placated for the moment by a story their parents had made up. I told him that I trusted him to handle his other children.

  The sheriff and my new allies on the town council were making sure that curious people were distracted away from my location. I found out that Myers had recently died and his family have sold all of their assets in town and left. I saw that as one less problem to deal with.

  Internationally, the event that caught my attention the most was the Geneva Peace Conference. Czar Nicholas II, of all people, called it a gathering that brought together most of the major nations of the world to discuss the rules and acceptable actions that should govern war. The most significant takeaway from the peace conference was the stark division between military and civilian targets. Historically, there was little difference between the two, but now it has been codified by all major nations that an attack against them would have different ramifications.

  I saw that as a positive sign in bringing law and accountability to war.

  But would it be enough for what was coming?

  June had arrived, and that meant summer.

  Blackstone had finished the construction in the crypt, and everything was quiet across the dungeon.

  I felt much happier that the crypt was far more secure. He had built a reinforced door with the deadlock on the inside. If anyone breached the door with a weapon or lock pick, they would find a nasty surprise waiting for them.

  For Challengers, this was the best time of year: long days and short nights.

  I was thinking about that as I watched two men approach the gates. I missed them at first because of the trees' heavy foliage. But I eventually caught sight of them. Looking at what I could see of the path, I knew I was going to have to get the Hunters out there to clear it again soon.

  I shifted down to the gates to get a better look at them.

  A pair of African-Americans who had clearly been on the road for quite some time. They and their mounts were covered in dust and dirt.

  "Challengers or treasure hunters?"

  That was the question. I can see that they were both armed, but I meant nothing by it. The horses carried additional saddlebags, and anything could be stored within them. I didn't see any shovels or pickaxes, so that reduced the likelihood that they were treasure hunters.

  It was about midday, and the sun was high in the sky. There was a broken cloud, and from what I could tell, it was quite a pleasant day, temperature-wise. I had recently gained a thermometer used to predict the weather from Herbert. I was still getting used to it.

  I watched the two men dismount and tie up the horses. They seem to have no rush to do anything to reveal their purpose, but they seem very interested in my gates. I watched them approach and stand just on the threshold.

  "It's here." The older and taller of the two said. He spoke with an accent that indicated he was from the southern states.

  "Ma, said my dreams were false. But here it is." The younger said. That caught my attention.

  "When are we heading in?" The first asked.

  "Nearer sundown. We need to get to the church quickly."

  The older squinted, looking deeper into the graveyard. "How big is this place?"

  "Big. Bigger than the farms back home. When we're in there, we need to move quickly and be fast with our blades if needed." The second said. It seemed he was the one who dreamt of New Midian. The older man appeared to be his brother and was following his lead.

  "Why not go now?" The elder asked.

  "Were both tired. A few hours' rest won't do us any wrong." He pointed out to his elder sibling.

  "Reckon you're right in that." The elder agreed.

  "Three hours and we'll go." The younger said, looking up at the sky, gauging the time from the sun's position. The other nodded, and they both returned to the horses.

  I waited and watched.

  A little over three hours later, the two men were ready to enter the dungeon. They had each carried firearms and a machete. The guns were left behind, but the blades remained. Both drew their blades and held them ready for trouble. They also both carried satchels, each with a lantern. I could see there were plenty of items in both satchels. I knew they were prepared for the journey.

  "We can turn back." The elder said nervously now.

  "No, Gabriel. I'm committed. You can turn back if you want." The younger said.

  Gabriel snorted. "What and have Ma tan my hide. Samuel, we walk together in this."

  Samuel laughed. "Reckon she would at that. Remember when we cross these gates, danger will come looking for us."

  "Brotha, we have faced the Klan together. We know how to fight." Gabriel retorted. I could see a scar on his face that told me he knew violence.

  "Not like this, brotha. Not like this at all." Samuel looked out at the gates and beyond. He knew the danger that was before them.

  "How do we start then?" Gabriel asked.

  "Like Ma always says. Prayer first, then work."

  The two men went silent and bowed their heads in prayer. I watched it all impassively, waiting for them to cross into the courtyard. After a few moments, Samuel looked up and began walking forward, with his brother following him.

  Samuel walked up to the plinth with the writing on it. He traced his hands along the letters, and I could see him mouthing them. I could tell that he already knew what was written there and was just repeating it. Physically touching something is a lot different from seeing it in a dream.

  "North or South?" His brother asked him.

  "Doesn't matter. Let's go north." Samuel turned and headed toward the northern pathway.

  [Two Challengers have entered your Dungeon.]

  "And it begins, Rodriguez would be first up. The alert would activate my Hunters. Rigger had drawn the central ring this time, so I doubted he would actually leave the heavily shaded areas. All of them would be called upon to answer this intrusion.

  I settled in behind the two brothers as they walked the pathway. They were now more tense and aware of their surroundings, each seeking signs of danger. They were treating this journey with the seriousness it deserved, and I respected them for it. Whatever they were here for, they knew what they were doing and the risks they were taking.

  It was late afternoon now, and the sun was slowly heading west towards the mountains. They still have several hours of sunlight ahead of them. The Spirit would not be out, so they would not need to face any danger from that direction.

  Rodriguez would be a different danger. Sunlight's weaknesses did not limit him, and he was happy to hunt both day and night. He was literally a different beast altogether.

  I was slightly above the brothers as they moved with purpose; they were setting a fair pace, looking to reach the church as quickly as possible. Samuel was guiding the tooth through the dungeon and was making a right turn when needed. He is avoiding any of the dead ends, leading them deeper.

  Unfortunately for them, from my vantage point, I spotted Rodriguez.

  He was stalking them now, and violence would soon ensue. He was approaching fast and low with his Tomahawk drawn.

  "Any minute now it will begin."