Chapter 28: The Unseen Architect and the Global Stage

The relative peace that settled over Montreal's underworld after Lou Scarelli's demise was deceptive. It was the calm of a forest after a predator has made a kill, every creature holding its breath, wary of the unseen apex. Desmond Fitzpatrick, while consolidating his newly acquired territories, did so with a distinct lack of his previous swagger. He knew Scarelli hadn't been taken down by a rival gang; the efficiency and sheer brutality bore the hallmarks of something else, something unknown and terrifyingly proficient. He tightened his own security, looked twice at every shadow, and reportedly made inquiries through hushed channels about the "ghosts" now rumored to haunt Montreal's criminal landscape.

Elias Thorne allowed this narrative to flourish. Fear of the unknown was a potent tool. He made no overt moves to seize Scarelli's old rackets, content to let Fitzpatrick struggle with the day-to-day complexities of managing a larger, more unwieldy organization. Elias's interest lay in deeper, more fundamental forms of power: information, influence, and the acquisition of unique assets – assets like James Howlett.

Logan remained a work in progress. His loyalty hovered around a volatile 15-20%, spiking slightly after Scarelli's takedown (the act of sanctioned violence had seemingly provided a grim satisfaction), but then receding as the inactivity and confinement grated on his restless spirit. Elias began to give him small, carefully chosen tasks. Not assassinations, but "problem-solving" assignments. A stubborn slumlord in a district Elias was quietly acquiring, who refused to sell despite generous offers, suddenly found his building plagued by a series of inexplicable, deeply unsettling (but non-lethal) structural "accidents" that convinced him to reconsider. A corrupt customs official who was proving an obstacle to one of Dr. Finch's discreet import channels for rare books and artifacts received an anonymous, very persuasive visit that altered his perspective on cooperation.

Logan undertook these tasks with a gruff, brutal efficiency, never asking questions, his methods direct and terrifyingly effective. Elias always framed them as "removing obstacles to progress," appealing to Logan's nascent desire for purpose, however grim. Each successful mission deepened Logan's reluctant reliance on Elias as a provider of that purpose, a director for his inherent capabilities. The System registered these as [Asset Utilization – Non-Lethal Problem Resolution (Wolverine)], which subtly boosted the [Conduit Integration: Proceeding – Positive Reinforcement Loop Established] metric.

Dr. Alistair Finch, meanwhile, had become Elias's window on the wider world. His cognitively-enhanced mind, fueled by an ever-increasing flow of information from newspapers, academic journals, government reports (some acquired through less than conventional channels), and even coded correspondence from old university colleagues scattered across Europe, was painting a chilling picture of impending global conflict.

"The rhetoric in Berlin is no longer just posturing, Mr. Thorne," Finch reported, his normally animated face grim. "Hitler's rearmament is proceeding at an alarming pace. Factories are churning out tanks, aircraft, munitions. The League of Nations is toothless, and Britain and France seem paralyzed by indecision, clinging to appeasement." He highlighted reports of German research into "unconventional weaponry" and "specialized human augmentation," terms that made Elias's System-attuned senses tingle.

"Are there any… individuals of note, Doctor?" Elias asked, probing for hints of other Prime Conduits. "Scientists, military figures, anyone exhibiting unusual capabilities or associated with these unconventional research programs?"

Finch, with his Archer-Finch variant's ability to see patterns in vast data sets, had already begun compiling a list. "Several names in Germany, associated with the SS Ahnenerbe and more clandestine research divisions. Individuals displaying unusual resilience, strength, or… persuasive abilities beyond the norm. Often shrouded in secrecy or attributed to exceptional training. And whispers from the Soviet Union, of similar programs, focused on creating the 'New Soviet Man' – though details there are far harder to obtain."

This was the beginning of Elias's global intelligence network. Finch was its first node, filtering the world's information through his unique lens.

Anya Petrova's role also began to evolve. Beyond Montreal, Elias occasionally tasked her with "overseas observation assignments," leveraging her Archer-sight and knack for discreet infiltration. Under plausible cover identities (an art student on a European tour, a journalist researching émigré communities), she would observe key locations or individuals Finch had identified, providing visual confirmation and behavioral analysis that no written report could match. Her loyalty, rooted in gratitude and the thrill of using her enhanced abilities for a greater, if shadowy, purpose, had solidified to a steady [95%]. She was becoming his trusted long-range sensor.

Mickey O'Halloran remained a vital, if crude, instrument for local intel and disruption, but Elias knew his Goblin powers had limited applicability on a larger stage. He was a useful tool, but not a strategic piece in the grander game. Thomas MacIntyre was the immovable bedrock of Elias's personal security and Montreal operations, his Barbarian strength and unwavering loyalty a constant reassurance. The knowledge that Thomas would unhesitatingly die for him allowed Elias to take calculated risks he otherwise might not.

Elias himself was changing. The sheer scale of Wolverine's power coursing through him was forcing a constant adaptation. His physical capabilities were now far beyond peak human. He could lift immense weights, move with blinding speed, and endure injuries that would kill ordinary men, healing in moments. His senses were a double-edged sword, providing incredible awareness but requiring constant mental discipline to prevent overload. The psychosomatic adamantium claws felt increasingly like a natural part of him, deployable with a mere thought.

But it was his mind, augmented first by Finch's empowerment feedback and now supercharged by the Wolverine synergy (particularly the psionic resistance which clarified his own thought processes), that underwent the most significant transformation. He could process information, formulate strategies, and see intricate connections with a speed and clarity that was almost precognitive. He began to think in terms of decades, of global movements, of shaping not just a city, but history itself.

The System was now referring to his status not just by power metrics but by developmental stages: [Host Evolution: Tier Omega Trans-Human – Primary Symbiosis (Wolverine) Stabilizing. Latent System Functions Awakening – Further Integration/Conduit Acquisition Required for Full Manifestation.]

His burgeoning wealth, carefully laundered through a complex web of legitimate businesses and offshore accounts, was being channeled into acquiring resources: safe houses in key European cities, untraceable communication networks, a small but growing stable of discreet agents (lawyers, bankers, information brokers) unaware of the true source of their employment but loyal to the generous and anonymous "Mr. Blackwood" or other aliases. He was becoming an architect of an unseen empire, its foundations laid in the dark, its influence spreading like mycelium beneath the surface of global events.

The 1930s were drawing to a close. The world was a tinderbox. But Elias Thorne, the boy landlord who had become something infinitely more, was not just preparing to weather the coming storm. He was preparing to ride it, to harness its chaotic energies, and perhaps, to steer its devastating course. His game was no longer confined to the streets of Montreal; it was being played out on the grand, blood-soaked chessboard of the 20th century.