My Kingdom Building Done Right!

Chapter 95: Fighting For A Righteous Cause

"This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t sent a stupid representative to receive the tribute," Travis, the son of the Chieftain of the Darkmane Tribe, said in annoyance. "And now you’re asking for our help to deal with a lowly tribe? Are you mocking us?"

"That’s not it, Young Lord," Ross, the Chieftain of the Bloodtusk Tribe, replied. "I simply invited the Young Lord to help us come up with a justification to make those bastards pay!"

Travis scoffed, but since the Bloodtusk Tribe were the dogs of the Darkmane Tribe, he had to throw them a bone lest they tarnish their honor any further.

This was indeed an incredibly tricky mess. If the Bloodtusk Tribe had been the only one who went to Grimjaw Mountain, then they could have spun the story to their advantage.

However, other representatives had been there as well. By now, the tribes in the Borderlands would have already heard of what truly happened. If the Bloodtusk Tribe wanted to declare war, they must come up with a valid excuse. Otherwise, they would be ridiculed by the high-ranking tribes.

Of course, if the Darkmane Tribe also meddled in this dispute without a valid reason, they, too, would become the laughingstock of their peers.

Travis’ father, Troy, told him to handle this matter perfectly. If he were to fail, then his right to be part of the succession war between his brothers would be in jeopardy!

"I have thought of a reason before coming here," Travis said calmly. "First off, this is the first time we are hearing of the Aslan Tribe. We don’t even know the name of their chieftain.

"We can use the loophole that since we don’t recognize the Aslan Tribe or their chieftain as a part of the barbarian tribes, the Barbarian Creed cannot be enforced. Only tribes recognized by the high-ranking tribes have this qualification."

Ross looked at the young man as if he had finally found a solution to their problem. The Barbarian Creed only affected the barbarian tribes that were recognized by them.

This was indeed their first time hearing about an Aslan Tribe. They didn’t even know the name of their chieftain!

With this, they now had a valid reason to avenge their representative from his unjustly death!

"I thank the Young Lord for this revelation!" Ross bowed his head in gratitude. "We now have the justification to avenge our fallen warrior!"

Travis narrowed his eyes. "Will the Bloodtusk Tribe attack them alone?"

"If possible, we want the Young Lord’s help to punish these evildoers," Ross answered. "We will also ask for the help of the other middle-ranked tribes. However, there’s a chance that the Redmaw Tribe will not join our cause."

"The Redmaw Tribe is of no importance," Travis replied. "My father has given me the authority to lead three hundred of our warriors to battle. However, if I were to mobilize them, it would not be for free..."

"Of course, Young Lord." Ross smiled evilly. "We are willing to share the spoils of war to you and the Darkmane Tribe."

"As it should be." Travis nodded. "Then, when will the attack begin?"

"In four days, Young Lord," Ross answered. "The Grimfang Tribe and the Ashclaw Tribe have already agreed to join us in battle. The Ironhide Tribe has also agreed to send 300 of their warriors to our cause."

"The Ashclaw Tribe must be livid after hearing of Ragan’s death." Travis chuckled. "They lost their strongest warrior and hunter. Still, they’ll serve their purpose as cannon fodder. They get their revenge, and we get the spoils. It’s a win-win for everyone."

Ross smiled in response, but deep inside, he was cursing the young man before him. It was very obvious that Travis wished to get the lion’s share of the spoils in this war, leaving them with only bread crumbs.

Even so, he had no choice but to accept this unfairness. The Darkmane Tribe was a high-ranking tribe, while they were simply pawns in the grand scheme of things.

Ross only wished that they could get something of value from the Aslan Tribe and their allies. That way, they wouldn’t lose much after the battle was over.

He, Travis, and the other middle-ranked tribes had no doubt in their minds that this battle already had a foregone conclusion.

No matter how hard they tried, a low-ranking tribe simply couldn’t withstand the might of the middle-ranked tribes!

The Bloodtusk Tribe would be sending 1,500 warriors to raid the Grimjaw Mountain.

The Grimfang Tribe would send 600 warriors, while the Ironhide Tribe would send 300 Warriors.

Then, the Darkmane Tribe would join the war, with 300 warriors led by Travis.

And last but not least, the Ashclaw Tribe would mobilize all 150 of their warriors to avenge Ragan, showing the middle-ranked tribes that they were willing to fight alongside them.

A total of 2,850 warriors would mobilize to deal with a low-ranking tribe.

This force was more than enough to exterminate all the low-ranking tribes, even if they banded together.

After finalizing that they would all regroup in the territory of the Ashclaw Tribe in three days, Travis finally left the Bloodtusk Tribe’s camp to return to his tribe and inform his father about the results of the meeting.

Since the Bloodtusk Tribe wanted to make everyone understand they were fighting for a righteous cause, messengers had been dispatched to the high-ranking tribes to tell them about their decision.

When Gundar heard about the justification the Bloodtusk Tribe used to start the war, he couldn’t help but click his tongue in annoyance.

The justification held a valid point.

Only the tribes recognized by the high-ranking tribes were allowed to exist in the Borderlands.

"I’m really getting old," Gundar muttered in annoyance. "I should have asked Hagen to recognize them when I returned from Grimjaw Mountain."

Gundar thought that since Leone told him that he would pay the tribute, he thought that nothing bad would happen to them.

Now that they had a valid reason to start this war, even Gundar couldn’t carelessly meddle in it, for he represented the Grimhowl Tribe.

In the end, after much contemplation, he sought out Hagen in the middle of the night to have a private talk with him.

Two hours later, a giant hawk departed the Grimhowl Tribe’s camp.

Gundar had decided to warn Leone of the upcoming battle. While he couldn’t participate in it, he could still share intel and observe from afar.

But once he deemed that Leone, Ulric, and Yuni were in danger of being killed, he would immediately interfere.

With his authority, he could at least guarantee the lives of three people.

As for the rest, he would leave it up to fate.

While the news of the Bloodtusk Tribe’s intention spread across the Borderlands, the warriors of the different tribes who had pledged their assistance started to prepare for war.

The high-ranking tribes also paid close attention to this battle. To get more accurate news, they also sent their scouts to observe the upcoming war.

Of course, the majority of them believed that the Aslan Tribe and its allies didn’t stand a chance against the overwhelming difference in might.

Little did they know that while they were making their plans to attack Grimjaw Mountain, Daedalus had also informed everyone of the impending attack.

The Raptors that served as its eyes and ears had picked up all the information they would need for the war. How many warriors would raid them, and how strong they would be.

’It’s a good thing they still need to prepare their logistics. That buys us a few days,’ Daedalus thought. ’Looks like we still have at least one more week before they arrive at Grimjaw Mountain.’

Daedalus didn’t hesitate to inform its Master about the news he received.

He thought Leone would panic, but the young man was surprisingly calm.

Leone had already made peace with himself that there would be consequences for his actions.

Surprisingly, the fear that should have gripped his heart was not there.

Instead, he felt relief.

Relief because he would be there when the fighting started.

Relief because he knew they had prepared as much as they could.

"Since they want war, we will give it to them," Leone said in a voice that contained neither anxiety nor fear.

In fact, he was looking forward to seeing how his enemies would try to bypass their defenses.

The same defenses Leone built with the intention of making it the graveyard for the fools, who had no idea what was waiting for them in Grimjaw Mountain.