My Kingdom Building Done Right!

Chapter 110: Ruler Of The East

Tables laden with food were being prepared for the guests allowed entry to the fortress.

Even the man who had knocked Ross unconscious and declared their surrender was given a seat. Then again, it wasn’t necessarily fortunate. The poor man looked nervous and uneasy, for he was surrounded by big shots from the high-ranking tribes.

Once all the food had been properly served, Leone raised his wooden mug and gave a short speech.

"I thank you once again for visiting my domain," Leone said. "The food we prepared might not be lavish, but I genuinely hope you enjoy it. On that note, Great Uncle, please join me here at my table."

At first, the representatives had no idea whom Leone was referring to as Great Uncle. Though, that question was quickly answered when Gundar stood up with a faint smile on his face.

’This brat really knows how to use his elders.’ Gundar chuckled internally.

It was very clear that Leone had arranged this part to show the representatives of the high-ranking and middle-ranked tribes that the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe had a connection with the Great Shaman of the Grimhowl Tribe.

Marcus flinched when he saw his Great Uncle stand up and walk toward Leone’s table. This gesture meant that Leone recognized Gundar as his equal.

Since the old shaman had decided to accept the young man’s invitation, this meant that he had a good impression of him.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. Whenever Gundar was invited to join a gathering of the high-ranking tribes, chieftains would often invite him to join their table.

However, Gundar had always refused, coming up with various reasons that would ensure the host of the event wouldn’t lose face.

But after seeing him sit right beside Leone with a faint smile on his face, everyone understood that their relationship wasn’t simple!

’Wow!’ Vlad nearly clapped his hands in admiration of Leone’s charisma.

There had been a time when his father, the Chieftain of the Warclaw Tribe, which was regarded as the strongest tribe in the Borderlands, had made a similar gesture to Gundar.

But the old shaman rejected it, saying that his own chieftain might cry if he accepted the offer, drawing laughs from everyone present in the gathering.

After Gundar sat beside him, Leone raised his mug higher.

"Cheers to all the tribes in the Borderlands."

""Cheers!""

Everyone then started eating, including Silas and Theron, who shared the same table with Malcolm, the one who knocked Ross unconscious earlier during the day.

After eating for a few minutes, Zed, who was both the representative of the Warclaw Tribe and Vlad’s protector, spoke up.

"Leone of the Aslan Tribe, I would like to ask you something. How do you plan to deal with your prisoners of war?" Zed asked.

At this question, Silas, Theron, and Malcolm stiffened at the same time. After all, they were also considered prisoners of war.

"I plan to release them after their respective tribes pay their ransom," Leone answered. "Too much blood has already been spilled here in my domain. If possible, I want to settle this matter peacefully."

Vlad gave his uncle a side-long glance. He understood what his uncle was doing. Using the influence of the Warclaw Tribe, he was probing Leone to learn what kind of ruler he was.

"Did the Chieftain of the Bloodtusk Tribe, Ross, and the Chieftain of the Ashclaw Tribe, Harold, as well as the son of the Darkmane Tribe’s Chieftain, Travis, die in battle?" Zed inquired.

"No," Leone answered. "The three of them are currently under my custody.

"Then, may I know what you plan to do with them?" Zed narrowed his eyes. "Ross is the chieftain of a middle-ranked tribe. As for Young Lord Travis, his father will definitely not like the news of him being held captive.

"If you’d like, the Warclaw Tribe can become the mediator and settle this matter peacefully. We will make sure all the parties involved will reach a compromise."

Since Harold wasn’t that big of a deal, Zed didn’t even bother asking Leone what he planned to do with the captured chieftain of the Ashclaw Tribe.

A faint smile appeared on Leone’s face. He now had an idea of what Zed was trying to do.

He wanted to raise the prestige of the Warclaw Tribe, making the other representatives think that their influence and authority helped wrap up this war.

Gundar kept his smile throughout the conversation. But deep inside, he was giving Zed the middle finger. Clearly, he didn’t like the way the bastard used the authority of his tribe to do things as he pleased.

"Thank you for the offer, but I already figured out a way to deal with them," Leone answered calmly. "Since they are the instigators of this war, they must be punished according to the Barbarian Creed. Ross will be executed by decapitation tomorrow morning.

"As for Travis, I will send three of his warriors back to the Darkmane Tribe. They will inform their chieftain that if he wants his son to be released, he must pay five wagons filled with iron ore."

Zed almost laughed out loud. Leone’s audacity impressed him.

The Darkmane Tribe had an iron mine. Zed had hoped to help settle this matter on his own terms so that he could ask to be rewarded with a wagon of iron ores for his trouble.

He would then surrender this precious resource to his chieftain, which would earn him accolades.

It seemed that Leone was also eyeing the Darkmane Tribe’s iron mine, wishing to take a piece of the pie himself.

"Lord Leone, aren’t you being too greedy?" Zed asked. "Five wagons of iron ore for Lord Travis’ release? Isn’t that a bit too much?"

"Not at all." Leone shook his head. "In fact, I still think it’s not enough. After all, I will not only release Travis, but also the other warriors of the Darkmane Tribe who have surrendered to me. For the price of one, he gets the entire package, free of charge."

The corner of Zed’s lips curled up into a smirk. "Lord Leone, I think you’re underestimating Lord Troy’s patience. Are you not worried he might just take this as an insult and wage war against you?"

Instead of answering this, Leone glanced at the old shaman beside him.

"Great Uncle, what will you do if the Darkmane Tribe bullies my tribe because of this incident?" Leone asked.

"Back then, I marched alone to the camp of the Darkmane Tribe and snapped the neck of their previous chieftain. Even with a whole army protecting him," Gundar replied arrogantly. "That being said, I don’t mind doing it again. Also, let me take this opportunity to ask you, Leone, a question. Are you willing to form an alliance with our Grimhowl Tribe?"

Marcus’ body subconsciously shuddered at those words. His Great Uncle was doing something again without his father’s permission!

If the young man really agreed to become their ally, then they would have no choice but to acknowledge it or else they would lose face!

With this in mind, he stared at Leone, as if using all of his willpower to force the young man to sense his presence.

Then, as if his desire manifested, Leone glanced at Marcus’ direction.

Their gazes met with each other, so Marcus used that opportunity to shake his head, implying that Leone should turn down Gundar’s offer.

However, Marcus made a mistake.

He had no idea how shameless Leone was!

Not accepting the offer of forming an alliance with the second strongest tribe in the Borderlands?

Dream on!

Leone would hug this thigh even if Hagen did everything in his power to try and shake him away!

"Great Uncle, I will happily accept your offer for an alliance!" Leone replied as he shook hands with the old shaman. "I look forward to our strong alliance!"

"Hahaha! Of course!" Gundar laughed. "We are also happy to become allies with the Aslan Tribe."

Marcus remained calm on the surface, but deep inside, he was already starting to panic!

An alliance between tribes was not a simple thing, especially since the Aslan Tribe would become an eyesore to the middle-ranked tribes and the Darkmane Tribe.

’Great Uncle! Just what are you trying to do?!’ Marcus cried out in his heart. ’Are you trying to sink our ship?!’

Leone and Gundar had no idea about the intense anxiety they were giving the heir of the Grimhowl Tribe.

Both of them just laughed out loud as if to rub salt into Marcus’ wounds.

Though, while the future chieftain was worrying about how his father would react to this news, the Chieftain of the Stormhorn Tribe looked at Leone with bloodshot eyes.

’This is it!’ Brann clenched his fists under the table. ’This is what I’ve been waiting for!’

He had long wanted to see and talk to Leone since he now represented the low-ranking tribes of the East.

In fact, Brann believed that after this incident, the low-ranking tribes in the Borderlands would cease to exist.

The Ashclaw Tribe had lost all their warriors and their chieftain. If they wanted to survive, they would have no choice but to be absorbed by the middle-ranked tribes, whether they liked it or not.

On the other hand, the Alborin Tribe, the Riverfang Tribe, and the Black Wolf Tribe were now under Leone’s banner.

This left only the Stormhorn Tribe as the sole survivor among the low-ranking tribes.

What did this mean?

It meant that it was only a matter of time before they, too, were swallowed by the other middle-ranked tribes, who had lost their warriors in this war.

However, Brann already had a plan.

From the moment he had entered the forest and saw the death and destruction all around him, he knew this would be a good opportunity to put his plan into motion.

And that plan was to evacuate all of his people to Grimjaw Mountain and also join the Aslan Tribe, who would officially become the ruler in the East of the Borderlands!