The early months of the war, dubbed the "Phoney War" by a press eager for dramatic headlines, were anything but phoney for Elias Thorne. While the major European powers postured and probed, Elias was deep in the intricate business of consolidating his power base and preparing for the inevitable escalation. His focus was twofold: leveraging Canada's wartime footing for his own long-term strategic advantage, and carefully cultivating James Howlett for a role yet to be fully defined, but undeniably linked to the battlefields of Europe.
Dr. Finch became Elias's maestro of wartime economics and intelligence. His ability to sift through complex government tenders, identify critical resource bottlenecks, and predict industrial trends allowed Elias's shell corporations to secure lucrative, strategically important contracts. They weren't just manufacturing widgets; they were supplying specialized alloys (some subtly improved by Finch's anachronistic knowledge hinted at by Elias), advanced communications gear (again, with discreet design input from Elias that bordered on future tech), and logistical support services. Elias was embedding himself into the very fabric of Canada's war machine, not as a frontline supplier, but as a provider of niche, high-value, and often untraceable, components and expertise. This provided him with immense financial leverage, access to sensitive information, and a network of grateful (or indebted) officials and industrialists.
His System Energy, fueled by these increasingly profitable (and legitimate-seeming) enterprises which the System recognized as 'Resource Acquisition (Macro Scale)', began to climb steadily, passing [150.00/???] (the new maximum remained tantalizingly unquantified by the System, simply described as 'Vastly Increased'). This growing energy reserve was crucial; empowering new, high-quality agents or attempting to develop new Troop Templates would be incredibly energy-intensive.
Anya Petrova, now operating with a broader mandate, became his chief talent scout and internal security head. She used her Archer-enhanced senses to vet potential employees for Elias's expanding network of businesses, identifying those with exceptional skills, unwavering loyalty, or exploitable weaknesses. She also discreetly monitored government agencies and rival industrialists, providing Elias with a constant stream of information about who was rising, who was falling, and who might be a threat or an opportunity. Her loyalty, now tested by several successful overseas missions and the tangible benefits of working for the increasingly powerful "Mr. Blackwood," reached [98% (Unwavering Dedication, Shared Vision – Minor Residual Ethical Qualms Suppressed)]. Elias made a mental note to address those 'minor ethical qualms' later; unwavering loyalty was paramount, even if it required careful conditioning or justification.
Thomas MacIntyre, a pillar of unwavering strength, oversaw the physical security of Elias's assets and began to quietly recruit a small, intensely loyal team of former servicemen – men he knew personally, men whose loyalty could be bought with good pay, respect, and a sense of purpose lacking in Depression-era civilian life. These men weren't empowered (yet), but they were tough, disciplined, and utterly devoted to Thomas, and by extension, to Elias. They formed the nucleus of what would become Elias's private, highly skilled security force, capable of operating discreetly both within Canada and, potentially, abroad. Thomas's Barbarian power was an unspoken legend among them, cementing his authority.
Mickey O'Halloran, surprisingly, continued to prove his worth. His black market activities provided Elias with access to goods and information that bypassed official channels. He became a conduit for rumors, a tester of public sentiment, and an occasional distributor of… 'alternative narratives' when Elias wished to subtly shape public opinion or discredit a rival. His Goblin powers made him an unparalleled urban ghost, his loyalty cemented by fear and the consistent flow of illicit profits, sitting at [65% (Greed, Fear, Impressed Awe – Highly Transactional)].
And Logan. He remained a simmering volcano. The prospect of being unleashed in Europe had ignited a spark in his deadened eyes, but he was still deeply mistrustful, still fighting his own internal demons. Elias didn't push. He continued to assign Logan "domestic security" tasks that provided an outlet for his aggression and reinforced his role as Elias's ultimate enforcer. On one occasion, a rival industrialist, backed by some thuggish union-busters, attempted a hostile takeover of a small but critical ball-bearing plant Elias had recently acquired. The problem… resolved itself overnight. The industrialist withdrew his bid, his face pale, his most brutal enforcers suddenly deciding on early retirement in a different province. No bodies were found, but the message was clear. Logan was terrifyingly efficient.
His loyalty inched to [30% (Violent Purpose Appreciated, Kid Might Not Be So Bad – Still Expects Betrayal)]. Progress. Glacial, but progress.
Elias also began to tentatively explore the System's more esoteric functions now that his personal power and energy reserves were so vast. The hints about [Unlockable System Sub-Routines via Conduit Integration (Wolverine)] were particularly enticing. He spent hours in deep meditation, trying to consciously attune himself to the Prime Conduit energies he had absorbed, to understand the mechanics of Logan's healing factor, the nature of the Adamantium bonding. It was like trying to comprehend a symphony by hearing only a single, distorted note. He knew the key lay in increasing Logan's loyalty and in "Unique Combat Data Acquisition."
To that end, he started creating controlled combat scenarios for Logan – not against human targets, but against… other things. Using his growing wealth, Elias discreetly acquired several large, aggressive wild animals (a disgruntled circus owner with gambling debts proved a surprisingly useful contact). In a remote, secure compound Elias was developing north of the city (ostensibly for "advanced materials testing"), Logan was "invited" to spar. A massive, enraged Kodiak bear. A pack of timber wolves. These were not tests of lethality for Logan – the outcome was never in doubt – but opportunities for Elias to observe Logan's combat style, his berserker triggers, his instinctive use of his claws and healing factor, feeding precious data into the System.
[Unique Combat Data (Wolverine – Large Animal Confrontation) Acquired. Conduit Integration +0.5%. Analysis for Potential Troop Template: "Feral Striker" (Tier 2) initiated. Insufficient Prime Essence Shards for full development.]
Feral Striker. It was a start. But he needed those "Prime Essence Shards." The System remained frustratingly vague on their acquisition beyond the mention of "defeating other empowered individuals possessing unique traits." Were there others out there, beyond the System's direct influence, empowered by other means? The "Ubermenschen" whispers from Germany took on a new, more sinister meaning.
The Phoney War ended abruptly in the spring of 1940. Germany's Blitzkrieg smashed through Denmark, Norway, then Holland, Belgium, and finally, France. The speed and ferocity were stunning. The British Expeditionary Force was hurled back to Dunkirk. The world watched in horror as the Nazi war machine seemed unstoppable.
Dr. Finch's reports became frantic. Anya, who had been on her way back from a mission in neutral Switzerland, found herself trapped for a tense week near the collapsing French front lines before Elias could arrange a high-risk, unconventional extraction using a smuggler's U-boat contact (another of Mickey's surprisingly far-reaching black market tendrils, cultivated by Elias's funding). Her firsthand account of the Wehrmacht's overwhelming power and the desperation of the Allied retreat was sobering.
In Montreal, the news of France's fall was a body blow. The calls for greater Canadian involvement, for sending troops overseas, became a roar.
Elias knew the time for quiet preparation was rapidly drawing to a close. The global chessboard was ablaze. He needed to move his key pieces.
He found Logan in his apartment, the radio blaring news of the Dunkirk evacuation, a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. Logan's knuckles were white where he gripped the arms of his chair, his body thrumming with a barely contained tension.
"Looks like your deserving target is winning, kid," Logan growled, his yellow eyes fixed on Elias.
"For now, Logan. For now," Elias replied, his voice calm, but his mind already formulating the next, audacious phase of his plan. "Perhaps it's time some of the real dogs of war were unleashed. Figuratively speaking, of course."
Logan's lips pulled back in a humorless grin, revealing a hint of fang. "Took you long enough to stop speaking in riddles."
The war in Europe had just found its most unconventional, and potentially its most devastating, new combatant. And Elias Thorne, the unseen architect, was ready to make his first major move on the world stage, using a weapon forged in adamantium and centuries of rage.