Debate 1

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

Hearing Chief Abal's words, everyone in the tent burst into laughter.

"Alright, now that Calem has returned victorious, it's time to discuss important matters."

Abal looked at the young orc named Aru. "Well done, young man. I grant your tribe a hundred sheep and an additional thirty sheep and a fine horse just for you."

Joy sparkled in Aru's eyes as he repeatedly bowed to the chief, exclaiming, "Thank you, King of the Prairie, Chief Abal." His excitement was evident.

"Hahahaha! Go on," Abal waved him off, and Aru exited the grand tent.

Now, only those with high status remained in the tent.

The peaceful expression that Abal wore earlier was gone, replaced by a cold, stern demeanor.

"Yujin, tell us what news you've brought back from the Great Forest."

"Yes, Chief."

An older orc responded; he was Yujin, who had recently led a caravan to the forest west of the prairie to "catch up" with his old friend, Chief Asoye of the Blood Ox Tribe.

"Unfortunately..." A hint of melancholy crossed Yujin's face. "Asoye rejected our invitation."

Before Yujin could finish, the tent erupted in outrage.

"Unruly!"

"Unappreciative!"

"Chief, let's send troops to punish this old man at once."

Abal's commanders all hurried to express their opinions.

Abal waved his hand, silencing them.

"So, they really did refuse?" The chief didn't seem surprised. "The forest orcs have been separated from us for a long time, so it's not strange for them to make such a choice."

"Chief," said an orc commander with a cruel scar on his face, "Those rats hiding in the forest have long forgotten their glory and obligations to the king's tent. It must be because they have been associating with the human tribes that also dwell in the forest, adopting their habits. They no longer deserve to be called orcs."

"Arroya!" Yujin couldn't take it anymore and scolded, "To evaluate your own kin like that is too excessive, especially when talking about Asoye. He is a hero."

"Kinsmen?" Arroya sneered. "We treat them as kin; do they see us as kin? Fine, if they don't wish to be our kin, then let them be our slaves."

"Chief," Yujin ignored Arroya and directly addressed Abal. "Although Asoye is somewhat resistant to us, his son—Gunther—has secretly asked me to convey his goodwill to you."

"Son? Hahaha!" Abal laughed. "What does this fellow have to say?"

"He said he greatly admires the Zarg tribe and the king's tent, hoping that one day he can join you in battle."

"Mm, I see." Abal stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"There's also good news." Yujin continued, "The dwarf stonemason tribe's ousted 'prince'—Imar the Stonemason—intends to accept our help to regain his stripped inheritance."

"Oh? Now that is indeed good news." Abal became cheerful. "But our help does not come without a price."

"Naturally." Yujin chuckled. "He has promised that if we help him regain the chieftain's position, he is willing to provide us access to the 'tunnels' controlled by the stonemason tribe."

"Oh!" Within the tent, some were puzzled, while others were ecstatic.

"Good, with the dwarves' tunnels, the towering Rocky Mountains will no longer be our obstacle." A gleam of excitement lit up Abal's eyes.

Calem asked in confusion, "Chief, do you mean we should go dig into the dwarves' tunnels?"

He knew many orcs, with the dwarves' tacit approval, used tunnels in the mountains to rob humans living south of the mountains to prevent human settlements from encroaching toward the Rocky Mountains. However, it was impossible to supply a large army this way.

"Hahaha, perhaps you still don't know," Abal replied. "The Rocky Mountains have many vast valleys, some of which connect to form numerous natural passages that allow a large army to pass through unobstructed. The dwarves, fearing outsiders disturb their lives, have concealed the information about these valleys. If for some reason they let outsiders into their territory, they intentionally lead them into their tunnels, confusing them with twists and turns, leaving outsiders bewildered. As a result, for centuries, most people have thought the Rocky Mountains were an insurmountable natural barrier."

"This... this..." After hearing the chief's words, Calem was left speechless in astonishment.

"So you're saying that the so-called Watcher Legion of the Aldor Kingdom has become a joke. Enemies could emerge from their flanks at any moment."

"Yes!" Arroya yelled loudly. "But the premise is that we must be able to control those tunnels; otherwise, the dwarves won't actively provoke humans."

He felt a sense of impending revenge; just thinking of the oppression the human Watcher Legion had exerted on the prairie orcs for centuries made Arroya furious.

Abal stated, "I think it can be achieved soon; the key lies in when Imar will make up his mind."

Yujin added, "He said he would contact us as soon as he returned from the human kingdom."

Abal asked in confusion, "What is he going to do in the human world?"

Yujin replied, "Imar has taken a job as a guide, leading a human adventurer team back to their homeland located south of the mountains."

"Tsk, greedy dwarves." Abal shook his head upon hearing this. He turned to another orc.

"Ajil, my child, tell us about the situation with the Gabella humans."

"Yes, father." Ajil—Abal's eldest son—responded respectfully.

"The conflict between the two princes of Gabella has nearly become public. I estimate a fight will break out soon, and we will have a good show to watch. Of course, we won't just quietly watch from the sidelines."

"Oh? Which prince do you think will win?"

"Father, I favor the elder prince. He is the firstborn, his maternal grandfather is the powerful chancellor of the empire, and he has the support of a large number of nobles..."

Ajil continued to express his views, but Abal's mind was occupied by a sudden thought—why were all the power factions around him plagued by troublesome children?

The Blood Ox Tribe in the forest was like this; the stonemason dwarves in the Rocky Mountains were the same; and the Gabella Empire to the southeast was also the same.

Abal glanced at his son, who was still talking passionately.

"Ajil, my eldest son, don't let your father down."

(End of the Chapter)

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