166 - - 9th Episode of the War

--Rewind in time.

The five tribal chiefs had gathered for a meeting at a mansion built in the center of the capital of the Confederated States of Beastmen.

This meeting is chaired by the Beastman Wolf Tribe Chief Gam.

He drops the bomb right from the start.

He proposes to declare war on the "Giant Tower. If we continue to stand by and watch, we will be destroyed. To avoid that, we need to hit them before they gain strength!"

At his suggestion, the beastman Taiga Chief, Bear Chief, and Bovine Chief said, "What the hell is this guy suddenly talking about?" They look at me in surprise.

Perhaps already anticipating their attitude, Beastman Wolf Tribe Chief Gam showed no sign of panic and continued his story in an unaffected manner.

I am not proposing a declaration of war because I want to commit a roundabout suicide. I'm proposing it because I have a good chance of winning.

The odds. ......

'Has this guy forgotten what was raised at the last meeting?　The other side led a large number of dragons to bring down the Elven Queen State. If we declare war on them, at the very worst, they could turn against us with a large number of dragons and the Queen Elf Kingdom. What are the odds?

Levad, the chief of the Taiga tribe of beastmen, who see each other as rivals, took a taunting, though unspoken, attitude.

Gum was annoyed by this attitude, but as the chairman and proposer, he could not stop talking and moved his mouth.

The "Giant Tower" is certainly powerful as far as information is concerned," he said. But on the other hand, it also has a big weakness. That weakness is ...... the absolute independence of the human race. We just need to reverse their agenda of "absolute human independence.

With that, Gum looks around at everyone's faces and continues speaking.

It's not that difficult. As long as they uphold the absolute independence of race (humans) and the title of protecting race (humans), we can't touch them. So, we can use them as soldiers. There are quite a few human slaves in the Allied Beast Nations, aren't there?　If we hastily buy other racial (human) slaves from the human kingdoms and other outside sources, we will have a substantial force. We can then turn them against them."

All of this was suggested by HISOMI, but Gum speaks as if it were his own idea.

The first to react to his story is Ozo, the beast bear species.

He snickers and plays with the smoking pipe in his hand.

'Typical desk-bound theory,' he says. What if the witches, who are committed to 'absolute human independence,' use dragons to protect their human slaves on the battlefield?　You don't have the power to fight off dragons. There is no guarantee that the human slaves will follow the instructions of the Oi. Above all, how are they going to get to the "Giant Tower" deep in the primeval forests of the Elven Queendoms with so many human slaves?　Even if we took the sea route, it would take months and cost a lot of money.

Gum seemed to have already prepared an answer to Ozo's point, and replied without haste.

The first thing to do is to find a way to get the money to the tower. After declaring war, we just need to have the "Witch of the Giant Tower" come to the place we have designated. If we say, 'If you don't come, we'll kill the humans one by one,' the witches who stand for 'absolute independence of race (humans)' will have to come even if they don't want to.

Then Gum gives a sneer.

What do we do if the human slaves don't listen to our instructions?　That's easy. Just make them listen, right?　If you take their parents, siblings, lovers, and friends hostage and tell them, 'If you run away, we will kill you, and if you disobey our orders, we will kill you,' they will fight like hell. So, when you buy slaves from the outside, don't forget to instruct them to focus on those who have weaknesses, such as parents, siblings, friends, and lovers, as much as possible.

!　Are you insane?　Are you going to do something so outrageous!　You are bringing the name of the Confederated States of Beastmen down to the ground!

I am not so sure that the name of the United Beastmen Nation can be so overblown. We just need to prepare hostages (insurance) so that the humans (inferior species) will not betray us and make them into soldiers against the witches. I agree with Mr. Gum's idea. In fact, I was asked to consult with Mr. Gum in advance, ...... and I have already worked out a way to obtain magic items and magic balls for use against dragons from the Dragon People Empire through my own commercial channels."

Igor, the Beast Wing Chief in charge of commerce for the Beast Allied Nations, raises his hand and voices his agreement with Gum's statement.

Before the meeting begins, Gum has already laid the groundwork.

In order to prevent the proposed operation from being scrapped at the meeting, he involved the Beastman Wing Race Chief Igor.

If the magic items for dragons and other necessary items were prepared through Igor's channels (actually through the intermediary of the Dragon People Empire) and purchased with the funds of the Beastmen Alliance, Igor's side would pocket a large sum of money without any effort.

As a businessman, there was no reason for him to refuse.

Gum smiles wryly.

The dragon is prevented by a magic item, and the human (inferior species) slaves are made to follow the hostage to defeat the witch. The "giant tower" that threatens them will disappear, and they will be greatly indebted to the elven species they saved. How's that, easier than shopping for a kid?"

I understand what you are planning to do at ......, but isn't it difficult to prepare a large number of human (inferior species) slaves in a short period of time?　If we purchase a large number of slaves, isn't there a good chance that the 'giant tower' will sense our movements?"

Levado, the beast Taiga tribe chief, somehow twisted his head around and tried to poke holes in the rivalry gum and drag his feet.

Gum, however, had already anticipated this question and replied without hesitation.

It's a tough job, but there's nothing you can't do," he replied without hesitation. We will have our young men attack the human villages and those who are on the move and bring them in, so that we can have more numbers. It may be difficult for those of the Taiga race of beastmen, but our young men are very capable, so they should be able to handle that with ease."

......!"

I say back to the same line that Levad rubbed against his gum at a previous meeting.

Levad's complexion, which should have been covered with black hairs, turned red with anger, which was obvious at a glance. The reason why he did not shout in anger at that moment was because he had the appearance of being the chief of the tribe.

The smirking gum on his face said, 'You guys can't do this to the incompetence of the beast Taiga species, can you?

If he backed down at this point, the face of the Beast Taiga Tribe chief would be destroyed.

Above all, the martial Taiga tribe could not show weakness to the Wolf tribe.

The Taiga tribe of Beastman is in favor of this. Our young men will go out to hunt for the humans. I promise not to drag down the Wolf race."

No, no, I'm more worried that we'll be a drag on the Taiga tribe of beastmen we hear so much about."

Gum smiles, but inwardly says, 'Brains. They're so easy to knock off if you provoke them,' he scoffs.

On the surface, Gum and Levado laugh amiably at each other, but Ozo, the chief of the Beastman bear tribe, assures them with a sullen look on his face.

Ooi disagrees. The other side is a witch with many dragons. We are taking them too lightly. Above all, their strategy is too violent!

I agree with Mr. Ozo. I agree with Mr. Ozo. The odds of winning are certainly high, but the content is too violent. First of all, if we were hunting humans near the borders of the Allied Beastmen Nations, we could somehow cover it up, but if we were hunting humans in the backcountry, they would immediately know we were hunting them, wouldn't they?

Chief Beni, you need to use your head more flexibly. We have our own way to move captured humans safely.

Gum shrugged his shoulders in a good-natured way and tsked.

Beni, the red-hot one, ponders the point for a bit and quickly answers.

I was so excited that I was so surprised.　It is true that a merchant ship can be safely moved amongst the cargo, but we have our own people rowing the ship at the bottom of the ship. What are you going to do if a race (human) slips out and gets out of control!　We can't afford to put our sailors in harm's way!"

If so, Chief Beni is going to allow the Humans (inferior species) to continue to thrive and watch with fingers crossed?　And in the future, you are willing to allow your descendants to be enslaved by humans (inferior species)?

I didn't mean to go that far. ......

Beni stumbles over Gum's point and falls silent.

If she raised her voice any further, she would find herself at a disadvantage.

A quiet tension is felt in the meeting.

Gum, the chairperson, starts to speak.

Let's take a vote. If the majority is in favor, we will continue with the operation. If the majority is opposed, we will withdraw the proposal and seek a new one.

At first glance, it appears to be fair, but the trend has already been decided.

Gum's words were nothing more than a performance.

Ozo and Beni made bitter faces, as if they were about to say, "This is not fair.

--The vote was 3 in favor, 2 opposed.

Thus, Gum's plan was approved.