Anastacia wasn't particularly surprised by the announcement. It wasn't like this was the first time their carefully laid strategies had needed adjustment.
While implementing their plans over the past months, countless things had gone wrong, situations had deviated from projections, and complications had emerged that became too messy to handle through their original approach. They'd needed to change their plans many times already.
Just like when Elric's representative in China, had tried to use the chaos to establish political connections. The ruling party had directly thrown her into jail on fabricated charges before she could make any real progress.
Elric had extracted her later, using his powers to break her out during a prison transfer. But by then, the damage was done. She'd been publicly arrested, her face was known to authorities, and she could no longer operate in legitimate political circles at all. She'd been forced to retreat into the underworld, working through criminal networks instead.
It had completely messed up Elric's plans for establishing influence in there.
So it was not at all uncommon for their strategic approach to change completely based on circumstances.
"The previous plan about establishing ourselves as saviors can be modified slightly," Elric continued, his tone thoughtful. "I'll still pursue that angle when opportunities arise, but it will no longer be our primary focus or method of gaining legitimacy."
"Did something happen, boss?" Wanda asked, sensing there was more to this decision than he was saying.
"No, it's about what will not happen," Elric muttered, though mostly to himself.
If everything had proceeded according to the original plot he remember, then in approximately one year, Loki would descend on Earth carrying the Mind Stone and leading a Chitauri army through a portal. And without the Avengers he just have to position himself strategically, slap that pretending loki around several times in front of cameras, save some civilians, and without the Avengers' intervention, he would directly achieve his goal of becoming recognized as a superhero.
But alas, plans never survive contact with reality. Thor's destination got changed, and he got entangled with completely different problems. The entire future plot has been altered.
And he really don't think Loki will come to Earth now.
"Anyway, look at this." Elric pulled a thick file from his storage dimension and threw it onto the table.
Anastacia picked it up and immediately became confused as she flipped through the pages. Technical diagrams, seal arrays, biological illustrations—it was incredibly complicated, far beyond her expertise.
"What is this?" she asked, her analytical mind trying and failing to parse the information. "It looks extremely complex. Some kind of medical procedure?"
"It's an artificial chakra pathway seal," Elric explained simply. "I made it specifically for recruiting and enhancing personnel."
"What do you mean, chakra pathway?" Wanda asked, leaning over to look at the file.
Elric leaned back in his chair. "Giving you all chakra directly from my own reserves was an incredibly laborious process. Also quite dangerous—success depended entirely on the receiver's natural talent and compatibility. And most importantly, I don't have the time to personally provide chakra to thousands of people."
He gestured at the file. "So after considerable research, I developed this. It imitates the natural chakra pathway network that was formed in your bodies after receiving chakra directly from me."
"This seal just needs to be imprinted on a person's body through a relatively simple procedure," Elric continued, "and they can also use chakra, just like you three can."
"Oh really?!" Wanda shouted in surprise, her eyes widening with excitement. "So anyone can become a chakra user? Anyone at all?"
"Yes. As long as this seal has been properly implanted, they can generate and use chakra without any restrictions." Elric's expression was satisfied. "The procedure takes about six hours and requires a skilled practitioner, but it's completely reproducible."
Anastacia's mind immediately grasped the implications. "If Sokovia can build an army of soldiers who can use chakra, and train them successfully in its application..."
"They won't need to be afraid of any conventional military force,".
Even though Anastacia wasn't a combat genius like Wanda and Pietro, and excluding Elric himself and Leo who were in completely different leagues, she could only be considered the weakest in the group of six people who had received chakra directly from Elric—which also included the representatives responsible for other countries in their network.
But even as the weakest member of that enhanced group, she could easily defeat an entire armed platoon without much trouble. Her physical abilities, sensory perception, and access to basic techniques made her functionally superhuman.
"And not only does it provide chakra," Elric added, "but many useful ninjutsu techniques are also embedded directly in the seal itself. They can be used immediately after the engraving, without years of training."
"What?! Isn't that basically cheating?" Anastacia exclaimed, her voice rising with indignation.
She thought about her own experience. "You know how difficult it was for me to learn even low-level ninjutsu? I spent months just mastering the Clone Technique and basic chakra control!" Her tone was genuinely dejected. "And you're just giving that to people for free?"
"Okay, okay, don't be a baby about it," Elric said with mild amusement. "It also has major restrictions that balance out the convenience."
"What restrictions?" Wanda asked.
"The pre-programmed techniques can't be modified or improved," Elric explained. "The users are locked into whatever's embedded in the seal. Unlike you three, who can freely develop your chakra and create or learn new techniques, these seal-users will be limited to their starting abilities. They can get better at using what they have through practice, but they can't expand their repertoire."
"So it's a trade-off," Anastacia said, her analytical mind immediately understanding. "Instant capability versus long-term growth potential."
"Exactly. The seal creates capable soldiers quickly, but you three—and the other direct recipients—will always have higher ceilings."
"I still want Wanda's reality-warping abilities though," Anastacia muttered. "Her awakened powers are ridiculously strong compared to what the rest of us got."
"That's innate talent," Elric replied with a shrug. "Can't teach that."
"But that aside, boss," Anastacia said, steering the conversation back on track, "what should we actually do now? What's the new plan?"
Elric's expression became more serious. "First, your primary job is to create a military force that can use chakra effectively. I'm leaving the selection criteria up to you—choose people who are loyal, disciplined, and capable of keeping secrets."
He paused, organizing his thoughts. "The rest of the plan I'm still developing. I have a rough outline, but I'll tell you the specific details when the timing is right and all the pieces are in position."
"How large a force are we talking about?" Borgir asked, speaking for the first time. As the military commander, this was directly his concern.
"Start with a core group of one hundred," Elric said. "Elite operatives who can serve as squad leaders later. Then expand to one thousand within six months, and eventually up to ten thousand within two years if resources permit."
Borgir nodded, already mentally calculating training schedules and resource requirements.
"And also," Elric continued, his tone becoming more grave, "prepare for a war. A real one, not just border skirmishes or police actions. We need a conflict where we can demonstrate our strength to the world in a way that can't be ignored or dismissed."
The three leaders exchanged concerned glances.
"A war with whom?" Anastacia asked carefully. "If we attack a major power unprovoked, we'll unite the world against us. If we attack a minor nation, we'll look like bullies."
"I'm not talking about starting a war," Elric clarified. "I'm talking about being ready when one comes to us."
He stood up from the table, indicating the meeting was concluding.
"And most importantly," Elric added, his tone becoming casual again, "I'll be leaving Earth temporarily.