“And that's why I declare myself the king of the Gnolls and the supreme commander of the allied forces of Iretar,” Alex concluded.

The atmosphere was tense. Everyone present looked at both matriarchs, alternating their gaze between that side and the Gnolls surrounding Alex, the self-proclaimed king of the Gnolls.

For both matriarchs, the proclamation was like a bucket of cold water dumped over their heads while they slept. Alex had come out of nowhere, proclaiming himself king of the Gnolls in front of everyone, and now it was up to them to respond to such a proclamation. Both had certain conflicts with this, but they had no more time to discuss things. If they rejected the proclamation, they would clearly be breaking with Alex in front of everyone present, and although they had currently amassed a somewhat significant force in the grand scheme of things, they were nothing, as they would soon begin to be hunted relentlessly by the creatures of the forest once they started moving again.

Of course, not only the matriarchs were in conflict, as the second part of his declaration also aimed to put the rest of the species under his will, starting with the Resh under his rule, but also including Dwarves and Elves in his speech, as well as any other species willing to serve in his army.

Supreme commander of the allied forces of Iretar was the title Alex had invented for this purpose. The reason he had changed from king to commander for the other races was somewhat more complex. Alex already knew that in this world, supreme rulers like kings or emperors wield power in their titles if the world of Glamoria recognizes the title as legitimate. This generally requires many conditions that were not so clear to Alex, however, he knew that for the specific case of the Gnolls, he met the requirements so there would be no problem. He only lacked a claim to the undisputed land and he could establish himself "legally" and begin to use the powers of Glamoria.

Everyone present wanted to tone down the matter and treat it as if it were a joke. For them, even more than for Alex, they knew very well what he meant and what was happening. They were witnessing the proclamation of a hero, one who would either triumph or fail, but whatever the case, it would leave rivers of blood; the only thing left to know was whether it would be theirs or that of their enemies.

"The Ra clan greets our lord King Alex," Atarra was the first to respond to the proclamation, kneeling.

The old matriarch's response only added more confusion to the initial perplexity. Everyone would have thought it would be Atasha who would first support Alex, however, she still showed traces of doubt on her face.

"On behalf of his vassals, Dregg greets our lord King Alex," Dregg continued.

Alex had been a magnificent leader so far; however, things were only just beginning. Clinging to his mast could mean premature death for many, some of those present thought.

"I, Lark, on behalf of the Resh, greet Supreme Commander Alex," replied the old Resh with a slight bow.

Finally, under the pressure of the moment, the Dwarves decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to follow Alex, though they were risking more than they would like. The young king of the Gnolls had treated them with great respect and valued them immensely, so they could have a lot to gain in the future if Alex succeeded in his conquest.

Finally, all eyes were on the young Gnoll matriarch. Atasha had an internal conflict that she never thought she would have. When she had started following that young and naive human, she never thought he would corner her like this at such an inopportune moment for her—or one could say it was opportune for him. Alex had shown that he knew how to play his political cards and had the qualities of a leader, probably that was the reason that inspired so much respect in Atarra for him to recognize him so quickly.

"The Sha clan greets our lord King Alex," declared Atasha solemnly, knowing that with this declaration, certain ambitions she harbored for herself would probably die.

With the young matriarch surrendering to the pressure to recognize Alex's proclamation, the tension in the room finally disappeared and gave way to a new sense of optimism. Although Alex's proclamation was mostly symbolic, confirming something that everyone's minds considered a certainty, it also had a practical effect. Slowly, Alex's group had begun to be noticed by other factions, and if they wanted to start establishing relationships, having a clear representative was absolutely necessary. For this reason, the Dwarves of the trading company were quite happy with what had happened, as even though they had not committed to Alex's cause yet, they still needed him to obtain benefits.

"You may all rise," Alex replied. "Now, I would like to outline the structure of this meeting. There are three points on the table that I would like to discuss. Firstly, there is economic development. Secondly, the use and remodeling of our settlements, as well as the distribution of spaces. And finally, the reorganization of our military forces."

Alex placed on the table the points he believed were most important, however, the reason he was calling for a large meeting was to see what others had to say, and indeed, some other interesting proposals to discuss came out of this, adding three new points to the discussion: international relations, the bond with the Lady of the Forest, and finally, internal politics.

It was very important for the trading company to know with whom Alex hoped to establish positive relations and what other allies he had to negotiate with, which was why discussing international relations was key and was the reason why they suggested this point.

The second proposal came surprisingly from Lunaria, the small feline suggested that Alex qualified for an audience with the Lady of the Forest, a powerful and mythical being who generally assigned great trials and even greater rewards for completing them.

The last addition came from the matriarchs, and it was to see what would be Alex's first decree as king. Although this was not a tradition of the Gnolls, both knew enough human kingdoms to know how they operated. Seeing that Alex intended to lead similarly to what they knew, they were intrigued to know.

The meeting then proceeded with a measured attitude from all present. No one was naive, so everyone began testing the waters, more specifically, testing Alex's attitude. At the same time, Alex was not naive about what was happening; he sensed the intentions and forced himself to act logically and rationally according to what he had studied and understood about politics.

First and foremost, he needed the elites to govern, and as such, the matriarchs, as well as Lark and the Dwarf leaders, were indispensable. These people commanded respect from Alex, and he enforced this basic rule. Although he hoped to treat everyone as equals, he knew this was nothing more than a vain dream.

Soon, those present began slowly to understand more and more Alex's position. The representatives became more relaxed knowing that Alex was not thinking of throwing his weight around them, at least not for the moment.

The others didn't think much of this attitude, although they still had some concern. After all, slavery was practiced in almost every part of the continent; many parts had different definitions of how one could become a slave, for this reason—

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The meeting proceeded in an animated manner, although Alex's attitude towards his elites and his status was clear, he also did not disregard the contributions of others and always encouraged them to continue participating, recognizing their opinions at all times.

Gradually progressing through each item on Alex's agenda, the contributions formed many solid plans that Alex hadn't even thought of because they included knowledge he didn't possess. This was the main reason he had convened this meeting, and the elites could not complain about it in the face of such a resounding success.

Finally, the time came for Alex to resolve the elephant in the room: what would he do with his recent powers.

For his part, Alex had had enough time for what was to come, and he had prepared accordingly.

"Hereby, as Alex Hughes, I declare House Hughes as the sovereign of the kingdom, and I, as Alex I, as its legitimate and undisputed king, decree that," Alex handed a signed piece of paper to each representative of each race that read as follows:

Decree of Foundation of the Kingdom of Iretar

Preamble: Considering the need to establish order and governmental structure for our beloved province of Iretar, Alex Hughes, invested with supreme authority, promulgates the following decree:

Article 1: Creation of the Kingdom of Iretar

Name and Territory: The Kingdom of Iretar is officially established, encompassing the lands of the Iretar Peninsula, spanning its entire length to the sea on its east side, south and west, to the mountainous region in the north that separates it from the rest of the continent of Tarso.

Constituent Nations: The Kingdom of Iretar is composed of three constituent nations:

Gnoll Nation: With its long history of resilience and resistance, the Gnolls form a central and indispensable part of our great kingdom.

Resh Nation: The descendants of dragons and legends, the Resh contribute to the cultural and spiritual diversity of the Kingdom of Iretar.

Dwarf Nation: With their intertwined tradition and modernity, the Dwarves bring their vitality and creativity to the kingdom.

Decree of Recognition of the King as the Ultimate Legal, Legislative, and Judicial Authority in the Kingdom of Iretar

Preamble: Considering the need to establish a solid and equitable system of government in the Kingdom of Iretar, invested as Supreme King, promulgates the following decree:

Article 1: Authority of the King

Ultimate Authority: The King of Iretar is recognized as the ultimate legal, legislative, and judicial figure in the kingdom. His decisions and pronouncements are binding and final.

Article 2: Minor Instances of the Three Powers

Legislative by Democratic Election:

Assembly of the Races: The Assembly of the Races is established, composed of representatives elected by each recognized race in Iretar. This assembly has the authority to propose laws and debate matters of common interest.

Council of Sages: The Council of Sages, composed of leaders and experts from various areas, advises the King on the creation of legislation and policies. Decentralized Executive:

Regional Governors: Each region inhabited by a race has its own Governor, elected by its community or by the king. These governors administer local affairs and represent the interests of their race to the King. Ministers and Secretaries: The King appoints ministers and secretaries to manage specific areas of government, such as the economy, security, and culture.

Article 3: Guarantees and Rights

Right to Participation: All recognized races have the right to participate in democratic institutions and to be heard in decision-making. Transparency and Accountability: The King and the lesser instances must be accountable to the population and act with transparency.

Decree of Legal Equity in the Kingdom of Iretar

Preamble: Considering the need to ensure equality and justice in the Kingdom of Iretar, the Supreme King, promulgates the following decree:

Article 1: State and Local Laws

State Laws: The King has the exclusive authority to enact laws that apply to the entire sovereign territory of Iretar, without distinction of race. These laws, called "state laws," establish fundamental principles and universal rights. Local Laws: Laws affecting specific matters of a region or community, called "local laws," fall under the jurisdiction of the rulers of the different territories inhabited by the various races. These rulers, elected by their community, are responsible for legislating according to local needs and particularities. Article 2: Non-Interference or Precedence

Non-Interference: Local laws cannot interfere with state laws enacted by the King. Any conflict between them will be resolved by the judicial power, guaranteeing the supremacy of state laws. No Precedence: Local laws cannot take precedence over state laws. In case of contradiction, the provisions established by the King will prevail. Article 3: Rights and Duties of Local Rulers

Responsible Autonomy: Local rulers have autonomy to legislate within their territories, as long as they do not contravene state laws. Their duty is to ensure the welfare of their community and respect fundamental rights. Accountability: Local rulers must be accountable to their people and act transparently in their management.

Decree of Abolition of Slavery in the Kingdom of Iretar

Preamble: Considering that slavery is a deeply unjust practice contrary to the fundamental principles of equality and freedom, and that our world must move towards a more just and equitable society, the king, as leader and ruler, promulgates the following decree:

Article 1: General Prohibition of Slavery

Definition: For the purposes of this decree, "slavery" is understood to mean any form of involuntary servitude, in which an individual is deprived of their freedom and treated as property of another. Prohibition: Slavery is strictly prohibited throughout the Kingdom of Iretar. No person of the races recognized by this constitution, regardless of their origin or condition, may be subjected to slavery.

Article 2: Recognition of Fundamental Rights

Equality before the Law: All races recognized by our Constitution have the same rights and duties before the law. Discrimination based on race or any other factor will not be allowed. Right to Freedom: Every individual has the right to personal freedom. Slavery violates this fundamental right and is therefore expressly prohibited.

Article 3: Limited Exceptions

Veterans of the Motherland: Those who have shed their blood in defense of our nation, whether in our Legions or in any other military service, cannot be enslaved regardless of their condition or race. Their sacrifice deserves respect and recognition, releasing them and their family up to the first degree of consanguinity from slavery.

Constitution of Iretar: The races recognized by our Constitution, regardless of their origin, are protected against slavery. Any attempt to enslave a member of these races will be considered a serious crime. These races are: Gnoll, Resh, Dwarves, Treepeople.

The room fell into absolute silence for a few brief minutes before each faction erupted into shouts and internal discussions and among the different groups, everyone understood what they were reading, but at the same time did not fully understand the complete meaning of what was happening.

Slowly, the groups analyzed the constitution that Alex had presented to them, and the more they understood it, the more shocked they were. Although both matriarchs wanted to say something about it, there was no doubt that Alex had thought well about his laws, since these allowed them to govern their territories as they wished, as long as these laws were not against these damned state laws that were yet to be seen how and what they would be, moreover, there was an additional clause that indicated that the king could not enact particular laws that only affected a single race in order not to discriminate.

Atasha and Atarra looked at Alex quite surprised; when they had been asked to make use of their newly acquired powers, they had never thought he would do so in such a way.

The Resh didn't think much of what was happening; they had never participated in or created any great kingdom, so it wasn't so clear to them what all this meant. And since their leaders had had much fewer interactions with other races than the matriarchs, they were not knowledgeable enough to identify if they were facing a good deal or not.

The Dwarves were the most grateful and puzzled; they hadn't contributed much and were not in great numbers present. However, Alex had already recognized them and had given them a place among his own, which made them feel extremely indebted and grateful to Alex.

Finally, the decree of non-slavery caused a wide variety of reactions among those present, however, no one could complain since all those present had suffered from slavery in one way or another, and it still left room to take advantage of cheap labor as long as it was from other unrecognized races.

The last thing that left everyone surprised was a simple act, one that had generated great confusion for a long time and had slightly worried everyone, but today only raised respect for Alex; he had not included his own race as special, in fact, he had not included them in anything.