My Kingdom Building Done Right!

Chapter 193: A Pact Never Seen Before [Part 1]

Everyone soon finished their meals and had started casual chats with each other. Deeming it was about time, Leone decided to begin the finale.

He stood up and addressed everyone gathered at the venue.

"It is my honor to have you here, brave warriors of the Grimfang, Redmaw, and Ironhide Tribe," Leone said. "Since this is a special occasion, please allow me to make an announcement."

At those words, everyone quieted down and shifted their attention toward the Great Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe, who had treated them well as guests.

"This news will naturally spread across the Borderlands," Leone stated. "However, I would like to announce that the Aslan Tribe has formed an alliance with another tribe. And no, I am not talking about the Grimhowl Tribe. I am talking about a real alliance. Not a superficial one."

The young man paused to let his words simmer in the minds of everyone gathered there. A few seconds later, he continued his speech.

"As you may already know, the great shaman and my great uncle, Gundar, had proposed an alliance with our tribe," Leone added. "Of course, I know their chieftain had reluctantly agreed to this alliance. I am also aware that alliances in the Borderlands require mutual benefit.

"Unfortunately, the Grimhowl Tribe doesn’t think there’s any benefit in becoming our allies. For them, we are merely a headache that they had to reluctantly acknowledge because their great shaman had taken the initiative to offer it to us like an olive branch."

He was truly grateful to his great uncle. That alliance meant a lot to him back then. Though, after realizing that this alliance wasn’t as firm as his relationship with Gundar, Leone understood it would not stand the test of time.

As such, when he considered fighting against the Darkmane Tribe, he didn’t bother to expect help from their supposed "ally." At most, the Grimhowl Tribe would mediate, only putting in half the effort to prevent the war from happening.

Then again, that was fine. Leone wanted this war to happen. Only then would everyone truly understand that no one in the Borderlands, even the High-Ranked Tribes, could afford to underestimate or look down on the Aslan Tribe.

"What I’m about to show you is bound to go down in history, for it is a feat no other tribe has accomplished before." Leone smiled faintly, keeping everyone gathered around him in suspense.

Vlad smiled faintly. Sure enough, his idol was very good when it came to theatrics, something he also wished to learn.

"Let me present to you the allies of the Aslan Tribe!" Leone raised his hand. "Please give a round of applause to the Ravage Tribe!"

As soon as Leone finished his speech, three creatures jumped off ‌the fortress and landed with a crash at the base of the mountain.

Their entrance took everyone by surprise. However, when they recognized the three guests, nearly all the warriors immediately stood up and grabbed hold of their weapons.

Even the three chieftains immediately took a defensive stance in response, their weapons at the ready.

Logan scoffed after seeing the barbarians draw their weapons. He had already expected this scene, so he wasn’t bothered by it.

Khan and Rasta also looked calm, fully knowing that this reaction was completely normal.

"Calm down, everyone," Leone said. "Didn’t I say earlier that I have an alliance with the Ravage Tribe?"

"By Ravage Tribe... you can’t possibly mean?" Duncan finally realized what the young man was talking about.

Even Oswald and Garen realized that the Aslan Tribe’s so-called allies were none other than Orcs!

"That’s right," Leone declared. "The Aslan Tribe has allied with the Ravage Tribe. This alliance is the first of its kind here in the Borderlands. An alliance that is real, not superficial. An alliance that is born from brotherhood and mutual trust!"

Khan blinked before whispering at Rasta, "What is this brat talking about? What brotherhood and mutual trust is there?"

"Don’t mind it," Rasta replied. "Just smile and wave."

Then, as if to demonstrate what to do, Rasta smiled and waved at the barbarians, finding the situation very amusing.

Leone had already told them what he planned to do earlier. Because of that, they needed to make an appearance to prevent any conflict from happening while the other barbarians were staying in their territory.

"Do not worry, friends. They are the leaders of the Ravage Tribe," Leone said in a reassuring tone. "They share dominion over Grimjaw Forest with us. Their territory is in the north, while ours is in the south. The boundary is a river, which you will all see later.

"By the way, I have built a town beside the river, so make sure not to cross the bridge that leads to the other side. That is the territory of the Ravage Tribe.

"Also, since they are helping me build the defenses of our fortress, the Orcs will cross the river on a regular basis. With that said, please don’t attack them. Anyone who does will become the enemy of the Aslan Tribe!"

The barbarians were still reeling from the shock of the Aslan Tribe having Orcs as allies.

After all, for them, a good Orc was a dead Orc.

"Let me introduce them to all of you," Leone said calmly as he walked toward the three Orcs. "This is their King, the Orc Champion, Logan. Over here is their wise shaman, Rasta. As for this person... well, he’s not really that important!"

"Huh?!" Khan looked back at Leone as if the young man had kicked him when he was down.

Leone’s sheer disregard for the Orc Warlord made Rasta laugh out loud.

Even Logan couldn’t stop himself from chuckling.

"I was just joking!" Leone hurriedly stated before Khan could actually kick his bum. "How can I say that the right-hand man of our Orc Champion is a nobody? Everyone, let me introduce to you all the Orc Warlord of the Ravage Tribe! Give a round of applause for Khan!"

In response, the members of the Aslan Tribe started clapping, with some of them even cheering.

Khan was a simple Orc Warlord.

If people cheered for him and praised his name, he would smile and acknowledge his own greatness.

Unsurprisingly, the effect was instantaneous. Khan smiled and waved at the barbarians as if he were showing off.

Leone did what he did earlier on purpose. He wanted to lessen the tension in the atmosphere, so he took control of the conversation, leading to this moment.

And now that the barbarians knew that these Orcs weren’t their enemies, they reluctantly lowered their weapons and sat back on their chairs.

Seeing that the first hurdle had been successfully overcome, Leone then proceeded with his next plan, which would make the three chieftains of the middle-ranked tribes truly understand his boldness.

"Everyone," Leone said as he glanced at Duncan, Oswald, and Garen. "I know what all of you are thinking. You must be wondering if the Aslan Tribe has gone mad."

None of the three chieftains denied it.

After all, allying with Orcs was something completely unheard of in the Borderlands.

"But let me ask all of you something," Leone continued. "How long have the tribes of the Borderlands fought against the Orcs?"

"Hundreds of years," Duncan replied immediately.

"Was there a clear winner?" Leone asked.

Silence descended upon the venue.

The barbarians and the Orcs had slaughtered one another for generations. Villages had been burned. Warriors had died. Children had grown up hating the other before they even learned how to swing a weapon.

And yet, despite all the bloodshed, nothing had truly changed. No side had ever won. It was simply one race fighting against another because they were a threat to each other’s survival.