Kael was somewhat curious upon hearing this.
"Since Morgoth has been defeated, shouldn't this magical formation be useless?"
Gandalf shook his head, saying seriously to Kael. "You said he was defeated, but after the War of Wrath, Morgoth was captured, bound by the Valar with the chain Angainor, and banished to the Void beyond the world. But in this world, there are still many of his followers and worshippers who use sacrifices and other means, trying to give Morgoth power so he can break free from his bonds and descend upon this world again."
Galadriel took the diagram, looking at the evil formation on it with furrowed brows, slowly saying. "There is an ancient prophecy that says Morgoth will eventually break free from his bonds and return to this world, once again unleashing war far more cruel than before. I thought this was just a rumor, but now it seems there were early signs."
Finally, Gandalf broke the heavy atmosphere, saying with forced lightness. "Regardless of whether the prophecy is true or false, it's still too distant from now, so we needn't consider it currently. Moreover, Kael destroyed and erased that formation in time, so we needn't worry about anyone using it."
So everyone put this matter to rest, and the diagram bearing the sacrificial magic formation was burned by Kael.
Afterward, Kael cast spells on the fireplace inside Orthanc Tower, connecting it to the Floo Network.
This would facilitate his travel between Weathertop and Isengard.
Galadriel and Elrond declined Kael's invitation to stay, returning to Lothlórien and Rivendell through the fireplace.
Only Kael and Gandalf remained here.
Orthanc Tower was Saruman's carefully crafted, sturdy fortress, filled with countless spells and mechanisms that could resist others' attacks but couldn't guard against Saruman himself.
Destroying them directly would be too wasteful, as these represented hundreds of years of Saruman's work.
But if not destroyed, should Saruman return, they could become weapons for his use.
So after discussion, Kael and Gandalf decided to modify the spells and mechanisms Saruman had left behind, making them entirely their own to prevent hidden dangers.
The two spent a full month making Orthanc Tower completely their own.
Kael even inscribed runic symbols on the tower and applied various spells, further enhancing Orthanc's defenses.
During this period, Kael also handled the problem of Saruman's followers.
These humans recruited by Saruman included some Gondorians and Rohirrim, but mostly Dunlendings.
The Rohirrim and Gondorians were easy to deal with. They were handed over to nearby Rohan and Gondor soldiers stationed at Isen Ford.
But the Dunlendings were more troublesome.
The Dunlendings lived west of Isengard, separated only by a mountain. They had previously allied with Saruman, becoming his force against Rohan.
Though Gandalf tried to ease the grudges between Dunlendings and Rohirrim, even attempting to persuade King Thengel of Rohan to allow the Dunlendings to return to their ancestral lands, the conflicts between both sides were already irreconcilable. The Dunlendings were the original inhabitants around the Isen River and Rohan's western borders, while Rohan's ancestors had migrated there later and received Gondor's investiture.
The Dunlendings believed the Rohirrim had usurped their traditional lands. Both sides frequently clashed over pastures and farmland.
Eventually, the Dunlendings, unable to match the Rohirrim, were driven to present-day Dunland.
This created historical hatred between them. The Dunlendings had always wanted to reclaim their lands from the Rohirrim, while the Rohirrim naturally wouldn't willingly give them up.
Additionally, Saruman had constantly sown discord, further intensifying their conflicts.
Since Kael had taken over Isengard, he naturally didn't want an unstable neighbor nearby.
If the Dunlendings secretly continued cooperating with Saruman, it would be a huge trouble for Kael.
After discussing with Gandalf, Kael decided to meet the Dunlending leader, both to announce Isengard's change of ownership and to check in at Dunland.
He released the Dunlendings and had them tell their leader that he would personally visit Dunland in a month to meet their chief.
So after Orthanc Tower's hidden dangers were completely resolved, Kael rode the dragon Smaug over the mountains to Dunland on the other side.
Dunland was located on the western slopes of the Misty Mountains' southernmost end, occupying the narrow area east of the Great South Road, north of the Isen River to south of the Greyflood River.
The Dunlendings didn't live in city-states or organized forms but were scattered throughout Dunland, living by nomadism or small-scale farming.
When Kael flew down from the mountaintop on his dragon, the Dunlendings looked up in terror at the massive golden dragon, thinking Dunland's doomsday had arrived.
But it turned out to be a false alarm. The dragon only flew low over the treetops, circled around Dunland once, then flew toward the Dunlending tribal leader's location.
Kael's action was also meant as a show of force. These Dunlendings were martial and feared power but not virtue. Only by displaying strength that commanded their awe would they become respectful and obedient.
On grassland near a forest in Dunland, a cluster of tents was gathered together, with wooden fences around the perimeter to block wild beasts and enemy attacks.
This was the most densely populated settlement of Dunlendings and the residence of their leader.
When the dragon descended from high altitude, the Dunlendings were all shocked and alarmed. They grabbed crude weapons but didn't know how to respond, looking fearfully at the massive, fearsome dragon and the person on its back.
The largest tent housed the Dunlending leader. Hearing the commotion, he emerged from his tent.
But seeing the dragon outside the gate, his pupils instantly contracted, and he nearly couldn't resist retreating.
Dragons existed only in their ancient legends. Seeing one in person, he found it more terrifying than the tales.
But as a leader, he still suppressed his fear, gripped the large knife at his waist, and stepped forward.
He came to the front of his herdsmen and subordinates, trying hard to ignore the menacing dragon, and looked at the person on the dragon's back, shouting loudly. "I am Brog, leader here. What brings the dragon master to my Dunland?"
Kael instantly disappeared from the dragon's back and appeared directly before the leader the next second.
"I am Kael the Black-robed Wizard. I already had those Dunlendings bring word back. Leader Brog should know who I am?"
Brog was startled by Kael's sudden appearance and nearly drew his knife to strike.
But he immediately suppressed this impulse, feeling shocked while also relieved.
Looking at this young wizard who was even taller than himself, no matter how amazed he felt inside, he showed caution on his face and nodded.
"Of course, you are the current master of Isengard, also the lord of northern Weathertop, dragon master, and bane of orcs. Your reputation has spread throughout Middle-earth. Even in Dunland we've heard of it."
Kael's lips curved slightly, his gaze calm and indifferent. "Good. Since you know me, I needn't elaborate on my identity. I came here only to formally inform you that Saruman has fled to Mordor after betraying us by colluding with them, so I'm taking over Isengard. But I heard you had already allied with Saruman. To avoid misunderstandings, I came personally to ask for your opinion. Can Leader Brog give me a definite answer?"
Brog looked at Kael's half-smiling expression and the dragon staring at him behind Kael, feeling a chill down his back.
He hastily explained. "This is all a misunderstanding! We had no idea Saruman was colluding with Mordor. We cooperated with him only because he promised to help us reclaim our ancestral lands. Now that we know he's betrayed us, we naturally won't cooperate with him anymore!"
Kael didn't indicate belief or disbelief but nodded and said gently. "I hope it's truly as Leader Brog says; otherwise, next time it won't be me visiting here as a guest, but my dragon."
Dragon Smaug cooperatively let out a deafening roar toward the Dunlendings, as if ready to breathe scorching dragonfire at any moment.
Brog broke out in a cold sweat, promising repeatedly. "Definitely! It definitely won't happen!"
Just then, the system responded.
[Hogwarts Check-in System: Located in Dunland, check in?]
Kael's lips curved up as he silently thought. "Check in."
[Check-in successful. Congratulations on obtaining Legilimency talent!]
Instantly Kael felt his mind clear, as if some secret realm in his body had been opened. His mental power involuntarily extended outward, spreading in all directions.
Then chaotic voices flooded into his mind. Countless Dunlendings' thoughts, Leader Brog's thoughts, and even Smaug's.
These chaotic thoughts kept echoing in his mind, like dozens or hundreds of people constantly talking loudly around him, making him frown with some discomfort.
"Master?" Smaug sensed something and looked at Kael questioningly.
Kael shook his head, struggling to restrain his mental power and ignore the surrounding chaotic voices.
Under the Crown of Wisdom's effect, Kael quickly managed to adapt to this ability, concentrating all his attention and not letting the noisy thoughts affect him.
Dunlending leader Brog, seeing Kael frown, felt uneasy but still mustered courage to say.
"Wizard Kael, we Dunlendings originally lived in our ancestral lands, making our living through herding, hunting, and farming, always living peacefully and happily. But those detestable Rohirrim invaded our traditional lands, and those cunning Gondorians even granted our territory to the Rohirrim, leaving us homeless and forced to wander to Dunland."
"If you could help us reclaim our territory, our entire tribe would be willing to serve you as master and pledge loyalty to you!"
Under his Legilimency talent, Kael easily sensed Leader Brog's intense thoughts and emotions, just as he had spoken. As long as Kael agreed, he would serve wholeheartedly with complete loyalty.
Even the surrounding Dunlendings shared similar thoughts filled with anticipation and longing.
Seeing this, Kael felt helpless. He didn't want to interfere in the grudges between Dunlendings and Rohirrim.
If one really calculated it, the Rohirrim's ancestors were indeed invaders who had occupied the Dunlendings' traditional lands and driven them from their homes.
But in the subsequent hundreds of years of grudges, the Dunlendings had invaded Rohan multiple times, even making a comeback when the Rohirrim were invaded by Easterlings, once capturing Rohan's royal city, Edoras, and killing a Rohirrim prince.
Both sides were stained with each other's blood. Each side had their reasons.
The Dunlendings viewed the Rohirrim as "robbers from the north," while the Rohirrim saw the Dunlendings as savage and uncivilized.
Even the usually peace-loving Gandalf found this difficult to judge, not knowing how to resolve both sides' conflicts.