Chapter 194: A Pact Never Seen Before [Part 2]
Chapter 194: A Pact Never Seen Before [Part 2]
Several warriors frowned after hearing his words, yet none of them interrupted him.
"Truth be told, even Logan here wasn’t really supportive of the alliance at first," Leone said calmly. "As you know, the Orcs have the policy of fight first, talk later. However, after every battle, one side might already be dead, if not both. So, how can a dialogue happen if both sides are at each other’s throats?"
He paused for a while before finally getting to the heart of the issue.
"To be honest, this alliance wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for a calamity brewing in the west. And I’m not talking about the war between us and the Darkmane Tribe," Leone stated. "The Ravage Tribe has warned us that a King of Monsters has been born in the west of the Borderlands."
After hearing this news, the three chieftains’ expressions immediately darkened.
They had lived in the Borderlands for a very long time, so they knew how serious the news of a Monster King being born was.
"A stampede..." Oswald muttered. "But the main force of the monster stampede usually heads north to the Kingdom of Britannia. Sure, we also had to deal with hundreds of monsters coming our way, but compared to thousands of monsters, that’s still bearable."
Duncan and Garen nodded in agreement.
Unfortunately, Leone wasn’t done just yet.
"Logan here thinks otherwise," Leone stated. "The reason they migrated from the west and headed all the way here in the east is to look for a safe place to hide during the monster stampede.
"They refused to become pawns of the King of Monsters. Unfortunately, according to the omens Rasta had seen, the monster stampede will definitely head south."
"South... No, it can’t be!" Duncan’s eyes widened in shock. "Eden!"
There was only one thing of great importance in the south aside from the dungeon city that was built around a dungeon.
They had named this place Eden, and it was the main reason no one had been able to drive the barbarians away from the Borderlands.
"If this news is true, then we must tell the high-ranking tribes about it as soon as possible," Garen stated, his voice solemn.
"You’re right." Leone nodded. "This is why I am telling you this now. Once they arrive tomorrow, they will also be informed about this impending calamity. Of course, many of them might not believe it.
"After all, this news came from the Orcs. However, know this. Logan and the Ravage Tribe are not liars."
Logan, Khan, and Rasta nodded to affirm Leone’s statement.
"He told me that the monster stampede might happen a month from now," Leone added. "We’ve decided to form this alliance to mutually help each other defend against such threats. I don’t know how well-defended the middle-ranked tribes are, but if you are worried, our doors are open to receive all of you in times of danger."
"If what you say is true, then this is not the time for the Aslan Tribe to wage war against the Darkmane Tribe," Duncan said calmly.
"Then let me ask you something." Leone smiled faintly. "You’ve known that dog Troy longer than I have. Do you think he won’t attack us just because a bunch of Orcs said that a monster stampede is about to take place?"
Duncan blinked once, then twice, after hearing Leone call a chieftain of a high-ranking tribe a dog.
He was probably the only one in the Borderlands who was either brave enough or stupid enough to say such a thing!
"I don’t think Troy will believe it," Duncan replied after he regained his composure. "He will think that it’s just a ploy from the Aslan Tribe to prevent them from waging war."
"Exactly." Leone smirked. "However, it doesn’t matter. Whether the monster stampede will really happen or not, one thing remains certain. The war between the Aslan Tribe and the Darkmane Tribe will happen. We will use the Darkmane Tribe as a stepping stone to finally cement our authority here in the Borderlands!"
The young man’s declaration was so full of conviction, it felt as if the Aslan Tribe’s victory had already been set in stone.
The three chieftains couldn’t help but reflect on themselves. Had they been as confident as Leone when they were his age?
Unfortunately, the answer was no.
"Is the birth of the King of Monsters really true?" Oswald looked at the Orc Champion with a serious gaze.
The title King of Monsters was given to the monster that would lead the monster stampede.
It didn’t matter what kind of monster it was. Since all the monsters obeyed its command, it was called a King.
"Yes," Logan replied, his voice rough due to his orcish accent. "The King of Monsters has been born, and the monsters of the west are flocking to its call."
Only high-ranking Orcs like Orc Champions and Shamans could speak the common language of humans.
Khan could also do it, but he had very limited vocabulary.
"If so, we will leave as soon as the representatives of the Darkmane Tribe have left," Duncan stated. "Regardless if this news is true or not, it has been a while since the barbarian tribes have gathered."
"We will stay here until everything is concluded," Oswald said with a smile. "After all, we have already come this far. If we leave now, then we might regret not being here to witness the gathering of the tribes."
"As for your offer, Leone, the Ironhide Tribe will seriously consider it," Garen commented. "Our lands are not suitable to defend against a monster stampede."
The Ironhide Tribe lived on a plain. If the monster stampede really were to head south, then their tribe would be on the path of their rampage.
"We will welcome you with open arms," Leone promised. "A few months from now, we will build fortifications at the base of the mountain and create a small town. It will have high walls as thick as two of those tables combined."
Leone pointed at the tables where the food was served to the warriors of the three tribes.
The table was five-meters long, which meant that the thickness of the wall that Leone planned to build was at least ten meters thick!
Even Logan wouldn’t be able to bulldoze his way through something like that, which proved that it was a defensive structure that would resist even a monster stampede.
"Though, you should remember that our fight with the Darkmane Tribe will also happen at that time," Leone said helplessly. "If we let you inside our fortress, they might think you are their enemies as well."
Garen’s face fell because he had completely forgotten about this.
Now that it had come to this, he was left with only a few alternatives.
One was to send his people to Eden and seek shelter there. However, he would need the approval of the high-ranking tribes to do so.
"Just wait until tomorrow." Duncan patted Garen’s shoulder. "We’ll talk to the Grimhowl and Warclaw Tribe for your sake."
"Oh, the Sandreaver Tribe will also arrive here by tomorrow," Leone commented. "I’ll ask them to give you permission to enter Eden as well. Remember what I said earlier? We middle-ranked tribes need to stick together. As for the Warclaw Tribe... you’ll help me convince your brothers, won’t you, Vlad?"
"I’ll do my best!" Vlad patted his chest. Now that there was an opportunity to show Leone how capable he was, he wouldn’t miss this chance to show off his good side.
With the matters of the Ravage Tribe and the monster stampede finally concluded, it was now time to lead their guests to their temporary accommodations.
Leone and the Aslan Tribe were already looking forward to their reactions because they had worked hard to ensure that their guests would be able to have a comfortable stay inside their domain.
bantayden