The moment Kael put on Saruman's Ring of Power, he immediately felt the difference.
His eyes filled with delight.
This Ring of Power was different from the Three Elven Rings. It didn't have abilities like the Water Ring's protection, the Air Ring's healing, or the Fire Ring's understanding. Instead, it enhanced the wearer's abilities.
The instant he put it on, Kael felt his magical power and mental strength multiply several times over.
He felt incredibly powerful now, completely capable of crushing several versions of his former self.
He could even cast magic without a wand or staff, and the power was even greater than with magical implements!
Kael was absolutely delighted.
He had always envied Gandalf and the others for possessing the Three Elven Rings, but he never expected to one day own a Ring of Power himself.
Of course, he was somewhat disappointed that while Saruman's ring could match the Three Elven Rings in power, perhaps due to Saruman's inferior craftsmanship, the Elven Rings were still superior when truly compared.
Unfortunately, Saruman had overestimated his abilities, creating what amounted to a pale imitation of the One Ring with far less power.
Moreover, there was another critical flaw: this Ring of Power had been crafted by Saruman to suit his own nature, without considering whether others could safely use it.
Even so, Kael was very satisfied.
Examining the golden ring more closely, Kael made out the flowing Tengwar script etched into its inner surface. The Elvish letters formed words that spoke of Saruman's ambition: "Power flows to me, strength above all, might without end."
Clearly, Saruman had been imitating the One Ring, intending to forge another One Ring.
Unfortunately, Saruman had obviously overestimated his abilities, creating a "knockoff" version of the One Ring with far less power.
Moreover, there was another problem. This Ring of Power was crafted by Saruman to suit himself, without considering whether others could use it.
So while this ring allowed Kael to cast magic without a wand and wield power several times greater than with wand or staff, each use placed enormous physical strain on him.
After wearing it briefly, Kael had to remove it.
He used a Transfiguration charm to create a necklace and hung the ring around his neck.
Just then, the system prompted:
[Hogwarts Check-in System: Located at Isengard - Orthanc Tower, check in?]
Kael's heart stirred. "Check in."
[Check-in successful. Congratulations on obtaining Magical Creature Crossbreeding Methods!]
Magical creature crossbreeding? Kael was surprised.
He briefly reviewed it and found this magical crossbreeding truly amazing.
Like magic itself, it defied logic and had no reproductive barriers.
For example, Hagrid had crossbred Manticores with Fire Crabs to create Blast-Ended Skrewts, creatures resembling giant shelled lobsters that could shoot flames and explosives from their tails, with dangerous temperaments.
Besides such crossbred creatures, the Hippogriffs living in Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest were also crossbred magical creatures, hybrids of griffins and horses.
The Chimera, classified by the Ministry of Magic as among the most dangerous and deadly beasts, was also a magical crossbreeding product with a lion's head, goat's body, and dragon's tail, extremely powerful and dangerous.
In Newt Scamander's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," this creature, more dangerous than dragons, was emphasized for its aggressive nature and inability to be tamed, with many wizards dying by its claws and ordinary wizards unable to subdue it.
Because magically crossbred creatures were unpredictable, either very weak or very dangerous, with violent temperaments impossible to tame, the Ministry strictly prohibited wizards from conducting creature crossbreeding.
Having obtained magical creature crossbreeding methods, Kael couldn't immediately think what to use it for. Breed some crossbred creatures perhaps?
Unable to figure it out, he set the matter aside and refocused his attention.
With the Ring of Power matter settled, they began discussing how to handle Orthanc Tower.
Saruman had made Orthanc incredibly sturdy, a magical fortress that they couldn't have confidently breached even working together if Saruman hadn't been lured out.
Now with Saruman fled, Orthanc was masterless.
No one considered destroying it.
Not only did Orthanc itself have great value as an impregnable sanctuary, but Orthanc and surrounding Isengard were located near the gap between the Misty Mountains and White Mountains, a transportation hub connecting western Eriador with Rohan, Gondor, and even Mordor.
It controlled several important passages, including the Great South Road and paths to the Rohan plains.
Controlling Isengard meant controlling the gateway to Eriador.
So whether for strategic position or Orthanc's sturdy fortress, they couldn't abandon Isengard.
But Elrond and Galadriel had their own elven realms and couldn't take on management here, so they first declined responsibility for Isengard.
Kael smiled and said.
"Apart from Gandalf, we three others have our own territories to manage, while Gandalf, you've been homeless. Why don't you garrison here? This way you'd have your own territory while staying in contact with nearby Rohan and Gondor and monitoring Mordor's situation."
Elrond and Galadriel agreed.
Elrond added. "More importantly, Saruman certainly won't give up. He'll surely try to reclaim Isengard, so someone capable of facing him must be here."
But despite their earnest persuasion, Gandalf shook his head with firm resolve.
"I am not yet so weary that I require a hearth to call my own," he said with a wry smile. "My path lies in wandering the wide world, learning from all its peoples and keeping watch over many lands. A fixed domain would bind me when I must remain free to go wherever darkness threatens."
For Gandalf held fast to his true mission: to kindle courage and wisdom in the hearts of the free peoples, not to hold dominion over them.
Fixed territory would become a constraint, preventing flexible movement between various forces to coordinate action.
He didn't need physical strongholds to demonstrate power but rather connected hearts to unite resistance against evil.
So Gandalf felt no attraction to Saruman's stronghold and firmly refused.
Galadriel and Elrond, longtime friends of Gandalf, understood his will and stopped persuading.
Then the three exchanged glances and simultaneously focused on Kael.
Kael felt confused by their stares but quickly understood their meaning, hastily waving his hands in refusal.
"Don't look at me! I already have territory at Weathertop, and this place is a thousand miles away. I can't manage it!"
He could barely manage Hogsmeade and Bree below Weathertop. How could he have time to run Saruman's stronghold? That would be pure trouble-making!
Seeing Kael's expression of desperate avoidance, the three smiled.
Gandalf said with a smile. "Distance isn't a problem for you, Kael. You just need to set up a Floo Network connection here. You could come anytime, couldn't you?"
"Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond can't conveniently manage this place, and I need to travel everywhere and can't stay. Only you have the ability to guard Isengard. Stop refusing!"
But no matter what Gandalf said, Kael kept shaking his head.
He only wanted to manage his little corner at Weathertop, not run to this distant place while constantly guarding against Saruman and Mordor's attacks.
He suggested. "Gandalf, you know many people. Perhaps others could garrison here?"
Gandalf sighed and shook his head.
"It's not that we don't want to find other capable people, but Isengard's position is special. It's the transportation hub connecting east and west and cannot be lost. If it falls to Saruman or Mordor, it could cut off east-west communications and leave Rohan and Gondor isolated.
Then not only would Rohan and Gondor face danger, but Mordor's armies could drive straight through to invade Eriador, bringing disaster to western peoples. So we need someone trustworthy and capable to hold this stronghold and prevent such risks."
Elrond and Galadriel felt the same way.
Then Gandalf played his trump card. "Kael, if you're willing to take over Isengard, all of Saruman's legacy would be yours, especially those books and scrolls in the library. What do you think?"
Elrond and Galadriel nodded smilingly in agreement.
Kael looked at the books and scrolls Saruman had collected over hundreds of years and shamefully admitted he was tempted.
"Done." Kael's resistance crumbled completely.
For that library, I'll take on Saruman himself.
He had already taken Saruman's staff and Ring of Power anyway, making them mortal enemies. Now occupying his territory wasn't a problem either!
Seeing Kael agree, the three showed unsurprised smiles.
So besides Weathertop, Kael now had Isengard as additional territory.
Then Kael remembered the Dunharrow matter, taking out the copied magical formation diagram for them to examine.
Looking at the formation diagram, Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf all grew grave.
"Kael, where did you get this magical formation?" Elrond asked.
Kael directly explained the Dunharrow situation in detail.
Hearing this, the three became even more serious.
Elrond said with relief. "Fortunately you destroyed that formation in time, or something more terrible might have been summoned!"
Seeing their attitude, Kael curiously asked. "Lord Elrond, do you recognize this formation? What exactly is it?"
Elrond nodded with disgust.
"This is an ancient and evil sacrificial magic formation from the Drúedain, who were once conquered by Morgoth. They fanatically worshipped Morgoth, sacrificing lives and blood to him. Only after Morgoth's defeat did such sacrificial formations gradually disappear. I never expected one to remain at Dunharrow."