Sun Xin and his accompanying sibling Academicians maintained a steady pace as they proceeded into the very heart of the Shan Gui operation located deep within a secret location. Activity along the pass leading to the surface stronghold increased as they pushed closer toward the heart of the massive settlement. There were even children running about the small residential encampments leading toward the fortress grounds. Entire families from farms and villages across the empire claimed membership within the notoriously powerful organization, and had little trouble keeping their numbers in the tens of thousands as long as they continued their membership through their offspring. They worked in the camps forging and sharpening weapons and armors, stockpiling munitions, working the tanning racks,
