Armad’s focus shifted entirely to the future. Because now that he had Nusi, whom he planned to utilize in producing more pills.
While jubilation filled the streets of his city, neighboring cities didn’t share the same sentiment. Just a fortnight’s journey away lay another city, large and opulent, with a complex relationship with Armad’s city. They relied on Armad’s city for agricultural produce and iron ore, begrudgingly maintaining ties out of necessity.
Despite their interdependence, they harbored animosity and often conspired against Armad’s city. This tension wasn’t lost on the king, who sat with his ministers and a mysterious figure from the King’s Legion, their faces obscured by a balaclava.
“Have you confirmed the elimination of all of them?” the king inquired anxiously.
The masked figure remained silent, a response that spoke volumes. The king’s anxiety heightened as he pondered the repercussions. Aware that many of the wild people hailed from the forest surrounding his city, he had previously granted them safe passage despite their nefarious intentions.
He should have anticipated their passing, even if they defied his wishes. At the very least, he ought to have warned Armad, given their business ties, if nothing else. But he failed to take any action until the battle concluded, yielding unexpected outcomes.
This inaction stemmed from the promise made to him by the King’s Legion: six iron reservoirs in exchange for granting safe passage to the wild people and refraining from aiding Armad. The allure of abundant iron ore for weapon forging and potential exportation clouded his judgment. Each reservoir could yield enough material for at least one thousand swords per day, promising unprecedented prosperity for his city.
However, the news he received was a devastating blow. Who would have thought that the King’s Legion’s strategy would falter?
“What can we do now?” he asked, his desperation palpable. “And where did this information come from? How could they possibly defeat an army of over nine hundred with just two thousand men? We’ve implemented lockouts to prevent any outside aid. It’s inconceivable!”
He grappled with the inexplicable turn of events. “How could a force lacking in Deva, Core Formation cultivators, and Condensation cultivators, not to mention civilian support, overcome such odds? Are you certain this isn’t misinformation?”
The man from the King’s Legion appeared visibly weary from repeatedly recounting his story to incredulous listeners.
“What more do you need after I’ve reiterated numerous times that I witnessed it?” he snapped, his frustration evident. “There’s no need to belabor the point. And remember, a single victory doesn’t guarantee future success. What matters now is that you’re on our side, and we’ll ensure you’re taken care of. But first, there’s a directive from higher authorities that you’re obliged to carry out.”
The king frowned, reluctant to involve himself further in the affairs of the King’s Legion. However, their assurance of victory had swayed him previously.
As a ruler from a minor tribe, he harbored understandable apprehension about defying the powerful Wilberforce, knowing the potential repercussions for himself, his family, and his kin. Yet, the King’s Legion’s pledge of immunity emboldened him.
Nevertheless, Armad’s victory had occurred before the Legion’s promise could be fulfilled, prompting the king to question their reliability as allies.
“Before you voice any objections, hear me out,” the man interjected, preempting any protests the king might have voiced.
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Caught between his desire to distance himself from the Legion and the necessity of hearing the man’s message in the presence of others, the king hesitated, torn between conflicting impulses.
However, he ultimately chose to hear the man out, realizing he could either accept or reject the offer presented to him.
“I am listening,” he stated, after a prolonged silence. The man nodded, proceeding with his proposal.
“What I require from you is to gather your men and enlist the support of neighboring cities, who are already informed of the situation. Together, besiege and dismantle that city. By doing so, you will align yourself under the banner of the King’s Legion, ensuring your protection. And when Ikenga ascends to the throne, your loyalty will be handsomely rewarded. You will rise from being among the minor tribes to become one of the colonies within the Wilberforcian Empire.”
With that, the man abruptly departed, leaving the king speechless and dumbfounded as he watched him leave.
In those times, society was structured into various social classes, with tribes occupying the highest position. Tribes of lower status often concealed their identities, using only their surnames in public to avoid revealing their tribal affiliations. Conversely, the powerful proudly displayed their names and tribes as symbols of pride and intimidation, signifying that an attack on one member was an affront to the entire tribe.
Furthermore, tribes were subdivided into smaller groups, with the king belonging to one such minor faction. He understood his unworthiness to stand before the formidable Wilberforcian tribe, the preeminent empire towering over all others. Many believed that if influential tribes like Shishirui, Nara, and Kilzanki, located at the heart of the world, were to unite, they could potentially challenge the dominance of the Wilberforcian tribe.
However, in addition to their strength, the Wilberforcians were renowned for their cunning. They had strategically intermarried with the Nara tribe and eliminated any suspected enemies long before. Moreover, they maintained friendly relations with the Shishirui and Kilzanki tribes, rendering any potential challengers powerless.
King Comfort, hailing from a relatively obscure tribe, faced insurmountable odds in competing with these major tribes. His only conceivable path to aligning with them lay in becoming one of their colonies. The Wilberforcian tribe, with its formidable might, boasted numerous thriving colonies, each laboring in exchange for immunity.
While it was customary for even less powerful tribes to have minor tribes under their protection, the pinnacle of honor lay in being under the Wilberforcian umbrella. Even the influential Shishirui and Kilzanki tribes would not contest Konfot’s decision to join the Wilberforcian colonies. Under their protection, he would wield unparalleled authority in his domain, free from interference.
This prospect was too enticing for Konfot to ignore—a promise and a gift he could ill afford to reject. He remained silent until the King’s Legion messenger had departed, then turned to his three counselors.
“What are your thoughts?” he inquired.
Human nature indeed succumbs to greed; individuals readily forsake their fears when presented with an opportunity too valuable to resist.
In such circumstances, individuals often cast aside their fears and eagerly pursue the opportunity at hand. This was precisely how Konfot felt at that moment. The offer presented to him was so irresistible that his greed compelled him to accept it, with his counselors equally eager to seize the chance.
To imagine their obscure tribe becoming a colony of Wilberforce was an honor beyond belief—almost too good to be true. They exchanged glances, momentarily speechless, until the eldest among them sought permission to address the king, who granted it with a nod.
Bowing respectfully, the elder spoke without hesitation. “We find ourselves in a dilemma,” he began. “We lack the strength to confront either Prince Armad or the King’s Legion. We are acutely aware of the formidable position held by the Wilberforcians in this world. The wisest course of action would be to withdraw and feign ignorance, pretending we never encountered this opportunity.”
“However,” he continued, “there lies a complication in pursuing such a seemingly astute course. We are already deeply entangled in this matter. All indications suggest that Prince Armad is forgiving and youthful. Yet, the moment he learns of our involvement in granting safe passage to the wild people without reporting to him, his ire will undoubtedly be directed at us.”
“He could retaliate against us without resorting to physical harm, simply by depriving us of the right to purchase iron ore,” the elder warned. “Furthermore, he could cease selling us agricultural products, potentially crippling our economy. We find ourselves deeply entrenched in this situation, and the only viable recourse is to eliminate this prince.”
He paused, allowing his words to sink in. “However, we cannot accomplish this on our own. Yet, I believe with the assistance of the King’s Legion and the crown prince, we can achieve our objective.”