Proofread By Thomas F
Ashton Harbor
"Did they agree?" asked the man with the staff. He was activating all his privacy and non-interference spells.
"A lot of money and a binding contract of protection would make anyone agree to do even the most unthinkable things," replied the armored man.
It was hard negotiations and very secret.
Even A hint of this spreading will have massive consequences. On their own, they wouldn't have dared to take risks. It only happened because of the higher-ups.
By doing this, they will be bending, at best, the rules of the most powerful legacy.
Everything needs to work as planned.
If they make the slightest mistake, they will turn the most powerful of the seven spirits into an enemy.
Which even his deathless didn't want.
They are taking such risks because the stakes are so high.
Personally, he didn't think they were high enough to take such massive risks, but he wouldn't be the one questioning those orders that came from above.
His job is to follow them.
…
Garzong
"Can I have time to think about this, Lt. General?" I asked the man in front of me.
"You have till evening. Lt. Colonel," replied the man. It was much less time than I liked, but I nodded. "Thank you, Lt. General," I replied and got up and exited his office.
Soon, I walked out of headquarters and sat in the carriage.
It wasn't the official carriage. Lt. Colonels don't get the carriages. It is from the tribe, the privilege afforded to the leader.
The carriage began to move while I evaluated the offer that Lt. General Cardin had said.
It was unexpected.
It was never a possibility in my mind when I received the summons in the morning. I thought it would be about my battalion going to Panar or something related to the army, but it was something else.
It is an offer, and it's huge.
Something I didn't believe they would give to a former bandit, or even an orc, no less. They did, with the half-orc, but his condition was different.
He was a supporter that the groups tolerated because of his power while I was the leader.
It is a great privilege to be considered for it, but I don't know if I want it. Knowing the thing, I have to give up to take it.
I sighed, massaging my head.
Soon, the carriage took the last turn and entered Scales Borough. This area is predominantly occupied by orcs. Over 80% of the population in the borough are orcs.
Soon. the carriage stopped, and I stepped out of it.
In front of me was a large compound with a three-story building. The area also includes four more single-story buildings.
Orcs could be seen moving around within while others came and went. All of them belong to my tribe, and the whole compound is the tribal ground.
The tribe isn't officially recognized, but we have registered ourselves as a social and cultural organization. This status provides us with certain privileges under the laws of the city.
We are the second one to do that after that old bastard Trik.
"Chieftain," the guards greeted with a bow before opening the door.
I walked inside, and many greeted me. A large number of them are wearing their army uniform.
I have brought my entire tribe to the city. There was no choice. Even the most stubborn had agreed to come, seeing the number of monsters that increased so suddenly.
Most fighting-age adults of the tribe had joined the army. It's a great job and pays well.
We have even started to let our women join the army. The first tribe to officially do that.
That bastard Trik followed right after that same day and started claiming his tribe was the first one to do that.
There was opposition to it, and there still is, with many tribes unofficially banning their woman from doing that, but I think it was wise.
It provides them employment, keeps the tribe together, and fills their coffers.
Since we had registered the tribe as a social and cultural organization, we could collect fixed membership fees.
The fee isn't a lot. It is about 5% of the monthly salary.
With the rest, they are free to do what they want. We feared that freedom might stray the members from the tribe. Instead, it brought us closer.
Yes, the distance had formed, and the tribe wasn't involved in nearly every decision of their lives as it used to be, but many good things have taken their place.
Like participation in the tribes' festivals and ceremonies.
It is far more enthusiastic than it used to be, and I noticed it is bonding people closer than before.
The shaman had also said that. His shamanic powers had grown stronger, with him leveling up a couple of times since coming here.
I reached the building, and the guards opened the door. I walked inside and saw my younger son waiting at the door.
"Shaman had asked me to lead you to him," he said. I was planning to go there for advice.
I nodded and walked toward the stairs with him.
"How was school?" I asked. "Good. They had taken us today to the Beck's company's workshop," He replied, smiling.
I still don't understand things about school, but my children love them.
However, I have a problem agreeing with the direction he wants to move with his future job.
Within the tribe, there were only a few jobs. The most popular was the warrior, with shamans, healers, gatherers, hunters, and a few more.
Here, there seemed to be no limit to them.
He wants to work in city hall.
To do that, he wants to continue to study in an academy after he completes school. The academies aren't cheap, but I will be able to afford it if I keep saving as I am.
"Chieftain,"
Soon, I reached the top floor, which is the most restricted area in the compound. It is where the shaman lives.
The guards opened the door, and I walked inside while my son stayed back.
"Shaman," I greeted the old man. He isn't alone. There is my oldest son, my wife, and my sister, who is also a shaman and will take over shamanic duties after the old man dies.
However, the way the old man is leveling up. He isn't going to die soon.
I nodded at the rest and sat beside the totem, from which fragrant smoke rising out of.
"What do the Lt. General say? Are they sending you Panar or putting you in charge of the elite battalion?" asked the old man while everyone listened attentively.
I shook my head at that.
"They have made me an offer," I replied, while a surprise appeared in their eyes.
"What offer?" asked my sister.
"To be a bodyguard of Lord Silver," I replied with a sigh as they watched in shock. The old man is the first to recover, and his eyes begin to shine like torches.
"That's the best news I could wish to hear," said the old man, to my surprise, with a big smile appearing on his face.
"Old man is right. This is great news, little brother."
"You are an excellent warrior but not much of a war leader. You wouldn't be able to rise much higher in the army," said Jrana.
I glared at her.
"Jrana!" the old man admonished her before turning to me.
"Her words might be bold, but your sister is right. You are not much of a war leader, Vulvru."
Being a bodyguard is a far better choice; you will be near the center of power."
"It will provide us with a lot of soft power. Most importantly, thwart any challengers against your authority in the tribe," said the old man.
It is one thing to be called incompetent by my sister. I have been used to it since childhood, but when the old man said, I couldn't help but get angry.
I might not be a good war leader as others, but I like to believe I am above average.
However, he is right about the challengers. There are a few in the tribe.
Two are very close to me; they have already become captains, and the way they are progressing. It won't take them long to become Lt. Colonel like me.
"There is a condition attached to the offer," I said heavily.
"What condition?" asked the old man as his joyful eyes became serious. "He wants me to give up my position as leader of the tribe," I replied.
"Fuck!" cursed my son and sister together.
They are learning a lot of words from humans, many of them being curse words.
The silence descended.
It is a big predicament. If I leave as the tribe leader, others will swoop in. My son is in the army, but he is barely at Lv. 10.
He couldn't deal with those challenges.
"There might be a way to accept it with minimal risk," said my wife. Making everyone turn to her.
"We can make deals with challengers," she said slowly. "What sort of deal?" asked Jrana.
"We will ask them not to challenge the leadership of Radba. In exchange, we will increase their privileges and admit them into the council,"
We didn't have a council in the tribe, but we needed to have it in the social and cultural organization.
"They will also get the opportunity to vie for the position of leader, but only at the totem festival."
"Where, if they beat Vulvru, the position of clan leader will be theirs," she explained while we listened dumbfounded.
"It will be unofficial, of course. Since husband won't be leader," she added with a smile.
She is the smartest person in the tribe. It is why I married her when everyone opposed it because of her social standing.
"There are problems with it."
"The first is that the tribe wouldn't accept it, and the second, they might go back on their words and challenge Radba for leadership when Vulvru isn't present," said the old man, but she shook her head.
"The tribe will accept as we are not stopping the challenges to the leadership,"
"Though we will need to change the rules of the tribe. That challenges to the leadership will be made only at the totem festival,"
"As for them going back on their word. We will tell them, if they do that, Vulvru will leave his job as Lord's bodyguard and challenge them,"
"They are still not powerful enough to challenge Vulvru," she replied.
"They are in the army, with dangers surrounding the city. There will be battles, and they will grow powerful," said Jrana.
"So will my husband. Lord Silver fights in every battle, and so do his bodyguards. They fight the most dangerous battles, making them the strongest people in the city," she replied. Making everyone look at her.
The old man sighed before nodding and turned to me.
"What do you think? Do you want the job?" the old man asked. To be honest, I don't. I like the army; I like to lead people, but accepting the job is wise.
It comes with risks, but it will also help the tribe a lot.
Most importantly. I will be protecting the man who is responsible for the future of the tribe.
I know very well how an empire sees us, and with the things happening in the forest, we have nowhere to go. The city is our only safe harbor.
It is paramount that he remains alive as only under his shadow will my people have safety and live in prosperity.
"Yes," I replied.