On the square, the silence was so thick that even the sound of heartbeats seemed loud.
"You mean…" Kent cleared his dry throat. "The internal conflict in the Forest Alliance has been going on for several months now?"
"Yes, Lord Kent," the old tiger elder replied with a sad expression. "Many of our people… have already perished."
"And your transactions with the Torrent Tribe…" Kent questioned.
"To buy more slaves and form a defensive army," the tiger elder responded. "The forces under Rage Thunder's control have fallen to darkness, becoming the Forsaken. We need more strength to protect our people."
"Simply buying slaves shouldn't require so much maneuvering, right?" Kent thought aloud. After all, mere transactions wouldn't necessitate bringing out such a huge incentive like magical armor.
"You're correct. Besides buying slaves, we also hope…" The tiger elder's voice grew more urgent, and he breathed faster. "We hope to find new refuge and relocate some of our people to avoid…"
His face paled, seeming to age in an instant.
"To avoid… extinction."
With the situation laid out, Kent was inclined to believe the tiger elder's words.
At that moment, the inter-alliance struggles and the Forest Alliance's civil war felt somewhat distant to Kent. Though he was technically a prince in the Highland Alliance's Wild Tribe, his ties to the Highland Alliance were not deep, given how its ruling family had already left him disillusioned.
What he truly cared about was the survival and growth of Spearhold Valley.
This was a real headache.
The Forest Alliance's internal conflict and the rise of evil forces would certainly lead to more wars.
And the Spearhold Valley happened to sit directly in the line of conflict. If Rage Thunder's forces from the Blackwood Forest launched an attack on the Highland Alliance, one of the main routes would inevitably pass through Spearhold Valley.
As for these members of the Tiger Royal Family faction, their need for defense presented a lucrative business opportunity in military supplies. Yet, Kent was even more interested in the potential alliances he could gain.
"As for what you've shared…" Kent said, "this is a serious matter. I find it odd that the Highland Alliance hasn't heard anything."
"Rage Thunder has taken precautions to prevent any information leaks to the Highlands," the tiger elder replied. "The caravans have been halted, and we traveled for days along the Red River, finally navigating to the Torrent River before reaching here."
"Alright, I believe your words and will let you leave." Kent nodded. The enchanted armor he wore, valuable enough to be an heirloom in any tribe, lined up with the elder's explanations, making it seem like he was telling the truth.
Given the unrest in the Forest Alliance, the demand for magical armor was bound to be high, and Kent had no problem extending his military sales to include their forces.
"On the next full moon, at Wild Ox Meadow, if your Crimson Tiger Clan wants to trade in magical armor with me, come find me there. I'll wait for you for two days."
"Lord Kent, are you serious? You'll let us go?" the tiger elder asked with surprise.
"Of course."
Reputation with Tiger Clan Guards: +600, +600, +600…
Reputation with Tiger Clan Prince: +90, +90, +90…
A prince? Kent was startled, scratching his head. If this deal went through, it could be lucrative in the long term.
"Lord Kent, the Tiger Clan's Hunter King faction will forever be grateful for your generosity." The elder bowed deeply. "We will return by the next full moon."
"Boss, do you really trust those tiger clan folks?"
After recruiting over a hundred slaves and setting off overnight, Splitting Blade rode up to Kent's side.
The long caravan snaked through the moonlight, with Ray and his men working hard, motivated by the promise of enchanted armor.
With the loot from the Bloodhammer Camp, Kent had come into a sizeable windfall: wagons filled with food, minerals, gemstones, and a large haul of equipment. There were several chests full of gold coins—Bloodhammer's accumulated wealth, stripped bare.
With this newfound wealth, the freshly recruited slaves, and the population migrating from the Cave Tribe, the growth of Spearhold Valley could finally accelerate. Early winter was past, life was slowing, and snow was on its way—giving any forces that might attack them a substantial challenge, while for Spearhold, it presented an ideal opportunity for rapid development.
Kent hoped that by spring, Spearhold Valley would undergo a significant transformation.
From a small holding, it would become a mid-sized fortress.
"Trusting or distrusting the tigers doesn't matter, Splitting Blade." Hearing his question, Kent paused, then replied, "If we were to treat them as enemies, then yes, the tigers have wronged us. After all, they tried to kill us, and several of our brothers fell at their hands. But are all of our enemies outsiders?"
Splitting Blade remained silent.
"Endless internal strife is the most dangerous enemy. It's like a mighty tree, which, once hollowed out by ants, will eventually rot and die." Kent's gaze fell on the flickering torches winding through the darkness. So many people in this world were like that—moving through the dark, seeking an unknown future.
"Boss, I understand what you're saying, but I can't think that deeply." Splitting Blade admitted. "It just feels wrong. You're so powerful; do we really have to stay in Spearhold Valley forever? Will we never go back?"
"No, of course not." Kent clapped his shoulder. At that moment, he felt more like a leader than ever. "We will go back, but not now. One day, we'll return in a way they won't expect, and we'll make every person who looked down on us kneel before us."
A surge of hot blood rushed to Splitting Blade's head. His nose stung, and though the wind was cold, his heart felt warm.
"But before that, there's a lot we need to do, Splitting Blade," Kent said.
"To grow a territory, we need to increase our population, attract newcomers to migrate here, and ensure there's enough food, jobs, and shelter to keep them fed, warm, and earning."
"Externally, we need to fend off enemies, build trade routes, expand the territory, and form alliances. But who will do it? How will it be done? Who can do it? Where do we find people like that? All of this needs to be considered…"
"Only now am I realizing how hard it is to be a leader. And this is just for a small place like Spearhold Valley. Imagine if I had to run the Wild Tribe—I'd be completely lost."
"Looking at it now, being exiled to the remote Spearhold Valley has been a blessing. It's finally let me break free from the Highlands' chains and do what I truly want. I have to try and see if there's a way to live that allows me to be free, and for all of you…"
"To become the best versions of yourselves."