"Uncle, I understand exactly what you're getting at!" Logan said, a warm smile spreading across his face, his eyes bright with understanding.
He could see the concerns etched on his uncle Begon's face, the worry of a seasoned leader trying to balance tradition and the future of the tribe. Logan knew where his uncle was coming from but felt compelled to explain his perspective further.
"Yes, the Junior Guards do go through military training, but at its heart, it's really more like a training academy. Sure, Kevin and the others hold titles like 'captain,' but it's the instructors who run the day-to-day operations and make the important decisions. They are the backbone of the Junior Guards."
Logan paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before continuing. "That said, I'm planning to ask the instructors to give Kevin, along with the other two, more responsibility, allowing them to take on real leadership roles. The key management positions will be filled by the children who show real talent for leadership.
This way, we're not just building warriors, we're building future leaders for the tribe."
His voice took on a more thoughtful tone as he spoke about the future. "Uncle, the tribe is growing, and children like Kevin are growing with it. Soon, the tribe will need them to step up and take on important roles. They won't remain children forever."
He leaned in slightly, his voice brimming with conviction. "No one is born a leader, Uncle. Leadership is learned, honed through experience and responsibility."
Begon nodded slowly, absorbing the wisdom in his nephew's words. "Yes, I see your point," he admitted. "If that's the case, perhaps I should have my two sons join as well. It would be good for them to gain some training, maybe even hold a position of their own."
Around the room, Logan could see similar thoughts flickering in the eyes of the other elders. They, too, were considering the potential benefits for their own children. A knowing smile played on Logan' lips. He had anticipated this reaction.
After all, who wouldn't want their children to be part of something as important as the youth Guards?
He continued, his voice steady and clear. "It makes sense to think of the Junior Guards as an academy. Truth be told, I had originally wanted to set up a proper tribal academy for the youth, but the greatest challenge was always finding enough skilled instructors. Without enough mentors, the whole thing would have been doomed from the start."
He glanced around the room, meeting each person's gaze in turn. "That's why I focused on establishing the Junior Guards. For beastmen, becoming a warrior comes naturally. Other professions are rare, but warriors? We've never had a shortage of them."
Then, as if to drive the point home, Logan dropped a bombshell. "And just yesterday, Kevin broke through to the fourth level as a warrior. At only nine years old, I think it's entirely fitting for him to be recognized as a leader of the Youth Army Guards."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Begon was the first to recover, his eyes wide with disbelief as he turned to Kevin. "You broke through to the fourth level?" he asked, his voice filled with both surprise and pride.
Kevin, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile. "Yes, uncle," he confirmed with a nod, his voice steady but filled with a quiet pride.
The others began to murmur among themselves, astonished by the news. Kevin couldn't deny that the attention made him feel proud. Breaking through the fourth level before reaching adulthood was no small feat. He had earned that pride, and he wore it like a badge of honor.
"Understood!" Begon and the others responded quickly, a mix of resolve and apprehension in their voices. The room buzzed with a renewed sense of determination.
Logan turned his attention to Kodiak and Kovos, pausing before directing his next question to Kodiak. "Kodiak, how are things progressing with the animal pens?"
Kodiak immediately bowed with respect. "Chief, currently we are raising twenty different types of magical beasts in the pens. The dragon rat population has grown to about 350,000, and each month we can supply the tribe with around 30,000 to 40,000 dragon rats as food."
"Twenty types of magical beasts?" Logan raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "That's good. But as for supplying 30,000 to 40,000 dragon rats each month, let me ask you, do you think that's enough for a tribe of more than 23,000 people?"
Kodiak's face tightened, and he bowed his head even lower. "Please forgive me, Chief!" he said hurriedly. He knew Logan wasn't satisfied, but the reality was, the tribe had been growing faster than the dragon rats could breed.
The magical beasts took time to raise, and it wasn't just the tribe that consumed them. Nearly 800 wargs and 27 thunderbirds also had voracious appetites, and feeding them was no easy task. The animal pens had expanded significantly in recent months, but so had the number of people and animals relying on them.
"I'm not blaming you, Kodiak," Logan reassured him, his tone softening. "The efforts you and everyone in the pens have made are not going unnoticed, believe me. The entire tribe appreciates the work you've done."
He paused, letting Kodiak feel the weight of his words. "But this isn't enough. The pens need to keep expanding. If you're short on manpower, come to me. If you need more space, build new pens. If you lack magical beasts, acquire more.
The animal pens are critical to the future of the tribe, and we can't afford to fall short."
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"Understood, Chief!" Kodiak responded, his voice filled with a mix of pride and pressure. He knew Logan trusted him, but the task ahead was daunting. Expanding the animal pens would take time and resources, not to mention, it wasn't as simple as adding more beasts. Each creature had specific needs and challenges.
Logan wasn't finished. "One more thing, the army will need more mounts. In addition to the nearly 800 wargs currently housed in the pens, how many more can we support?"
The moment the words left Logan' mouth, Kro, Lotts, and the other elders turned their attention sharply toward Kodiak. The wargs were a subject of great importance, and no one was more concerned about their numbers than these veteran warriors.
Kodiak took a deep breath before answering, feeling the weight of their gazes on him. "Chief, with our current resources, we could possibly support another 200 to 300 wargs, but expanding much beyond that would require significant investment in both land and food supplies."
The room fell silent again, each elder contemplating the logistical challenge ahead. More wargs meant greater strength for the tribe, but it also meant a heavier burden on their already stretched resources.
Logan nodded thoughtfully, absorbing Kodiak's report. "Alright, let's see how we can balance that. We'll need to prioritize. The army must have what it needs, but we also have to make sure the tribe doesn't go hungry in the process."
The room remained tense, but Logan' calm, steady leadership filled the air with a sense of purpose. Everyone in the room knew they had their work cut out for them, but with the right planning and determination, they would rise to meet the challenges ahead.