Debate 3

Translator: Cinder Translations

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"Great Chief! I have a different opinion." Others chimed in, voicing their thoughts. Naturally, there were those who wanted to attack Aldor and others who wanted to continue east to unify all the Orcs.

Although Eugene was the Great Chief's trusted advisor and Ajil was his son, other Orc leaders still expressed their opinions.

Although Abal was eager to learn from the human world and hoped to establish a complete administrative system, the current tent had not yet formed the order of hierarchy that humans had, allowing everyone to express their thoughts freely without reservation.

Abal smiled and nodded at each of his advisors, but he did not reveal whose opinion he would ultimately adopt.

Once the tent quieted down, he turned his gaze to a small figure beside him.

During the heated discussion earlier, this figure had remained silent, quietly listening while others spoke at length. If an ordinary Orc were permitted to enter the Great Chief's tent, they would likely overlook this inconspicuous figure unless someone pointed it out.

However, the Great Chief Abal showed a respect for him that he had never shown to anyone else.

"Esteemed Shaman, what is your opinion?"

Hearing the Great Chief's call, the Great Shaman—Otasi—slowly raised his eyelids.

Shamans held an extremely important role in Orc society. The Orcs generally worshipped the Spirit of the Grasslands, also known as the Ancestor Spirit, as they firmly believed that the souls of every Orc merged with the will of the Grasslands after death. The shaman served as the intermediary between the creatures of the Grasslands and the Spirit of the Grasslands. Finding pastures, searching for water sources, predicting weather, divining fates, and healing diseases were all activities performed by the shamans. More importantly, since the Orcs had no written language, major historical events were passed down orally by the shamans. The Orcs learned about their ancestors' deeds through the shamans. Because of the shamans' significance, every larger Orc tribe had at least one shaman.

The shamans maintained their mysterious traditions, and the shamans of the Zarg clan were the most noble among all shamanic traditions. This noble lineage combined with the great deeds of leading Orcs against humans ultimately created the unique tent on the Grasslands.

This old Orc—yes, Otasi was quite aged, older than Eugene in the tent—no one could tell his exact age, perhaps even he had forgotten how old he was. His hunched figure and long gray beard dragged on the ground, making him look more like an unkempt old human than an Orc.

He glanced at everyone with his murky eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice, "My opinion is not important, but the Spirit of the Grasslands has given us guidance that I hope everyone can take seriously."

"Oh!" Everyone had shifted their focus to the Great Shaman due to the Great Chief's attention. Hearing this, they all gasped.

"The Spirit of the Grasslands is guiding us? Great Shaman, please tell us more."

The young Calem had some thoughts—this old man looked like he was dozing off just now—but he quickly dispelled that disrespectful idea from his mind.

"Under the guidance of the Spirit of the Grasslands, I see…" the Great Shaman continued, "in the south of the great Grasslands, a terrifying whirlwind is rising. If not prevented, it will become a catastrophic disaster that engulfs the entire continent, and all beings on this land—Orcs, humans, dwarves—will be unable to escape."

Due to the Great Shaman's status, no one in the tent doubted his words, and they were all shaken by the gravity of the situation.

"A disaster that will sweep across the entire continent?" Great Chief Abal asked, stunned. This was a heavy blow to his ambitions. He certainly didn't care about the lives of humans and dwarves, but if the Orcs were also caught up in it, that would be no fun.

"South?" He grasped the key point. "But the powerful nations in the south, Aldor and Gabella, are facing crises of varying degrees!"

"Yes, esteemed Great Chief, I can even point out that it is a significant crisis, one that could lead to the destruction of their nations. The Spirit of the Grasslands told me this." Otasi replied, "But do you know about a divine bird in human mythology? The Phoenix, when its lifespan is about to expire, throws itself into a blazing fire, and under the searing flames, it will be reborn anew, more refined and powerful than before."

Abal calmed down and continued to ask, "So… is it specifically Aldor, or Gabella, or perhaps… the Church?"

Great Shaman Otasi shook his head, "That is information I cannot obtain from the guidance of the Spirit of the Grasslands. I can only rely on you and your generals' wisdom to judge."

"Alright, alright." The Great Chief Abal murmured softly.

The words of the Great Shaman made everyone realize that the next target would certainly be some human nation—not Aldor, then Gabella.

"In that case, we will see which side can make a breakthrough first." A terrifying fierceness flickered in his eyes. "Eugene!"

"Great Chief, please command me." The old Orc responded.

"Contact that 'prince,' incite him, provoke him. Don't let him spend all day dreaming without taking action. Tell him that as long as he is willing, a powerful Orc army can immediately become his backing to help him reclaim his inheritance."

Abal looked at his eldest son. "Ajil!"

"I'm here, Father." He replied.

"Keep a close watch on the developments in Gabella. Inform me immediately if there are any signs of movement."

"Understood, Father." Excitement filled Ajil's face.

After giving all his orders, Abal seemed to speak to everyone and yet also to himself. "Now we will see which side can achieve a breakthrough first." He then turned to the others and said, "According to the Great Shaman, we must crush the disaster in its cradle."

In the following days, the Great Chief's orders spread like the wind across the Grasslands, with countless Orc riders racing to deliver Abal's commands to the tribes loyal to the tent.

According to Great Chief Abal's orders, the Orcs began preparing weapons and armor, gathering food for the march, and fattening the warhorses that had become weak due to winter.

When the second command arrived, it was the Great Chief calling them to join the army. At that time, the mighty Orc cavalry would destroy everything that dared to stand in their way.

(End of the Chapter)

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