As Arar gazed into the distant starry sky, his voice broke the silence. "South of the wasteland, beyond the fault zone canyon, further south still, lies a vast grassland; larger even than the wasteland itself. It's known as Caesar's Grassland, or more commonly, Caesar's Prairie."
His eyes sparkled with reflection as he continued. "There, in the heart of that grassland, stands the Lion Royal Court, a formidable kingdom ruled by the lion-men, and the powerful Templeton family holds dominion over them."
Artom, standing nearby, raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Caesar's Meadow?" he repeated, his mind racing. "Does the Lion Royal Court plan to interfere in the affairs of the wilderness? Could the Templeton family be secretly pulling the strings behind the Silver Mane Tribe?" His questions came rapidly, one after another, driven by the weight of the implications.
Arar chuckled softly, his calm demeanor betraying no hint of concern. "First things first," he said, his tone soothing. "Take Carl and let him rest. I'll consider this matter further in due time."
Artom, though momentarily taken aback, nodded respectfully. "Yes, father," he replied, and with a final glance, he and Carl withdrew from the scene, leaving Arar to his thoughts.
Half an hour passed in quiet contemplation before a shadowy figure, cloaked in a swirling aura of black fighting spirit, appeared before Arar. The air around them seemed to hum with tension.
"Any news?" Arar asked, casting a sideways glance at the figure.
The voice that responded was rough, barely above a whisper. "I've investigated. This Carl joined the tribe a few months ago. He's originally from the Ferrero tribe, which merged with us last year."
Arar's lips curled into a faint smile. "Why would someone from Ferrero join us only a few months ago?"
The figure hesitated, then continued. "Word has it that Carl left to seek experience years ago. He has a younger brother, just of age, a third-level warrior with potential. His family, however, perished a year ago."
Arar's expression darkened slightly, his mind calculating. The Ferrero tribe was small, swallowed up by the Adik tribe the year before. With food shortages looming, the tribe hadn't dared to make bold moves, but they'd been quietly annexing smaller tribes, just like Ferrero.
"Do you wish to eliminate this Carl?" the figure asked, its tone as calm and sharp as a blade.
Arar shook his head. "No. It's not clear if this boy has ties to the Silver Mane Tribe or not. But he brought me two pieces of valuable information. For now, we'll keep an eye on him, see what unfolds."
He shifted the conversation, his gaze growing sharper. "And how is the infiltration into the Silver Mane Tribe progressing?"
The shadowed figure hesitated. "It's difficult. The tribe has powerful members. While it's easy enough to blend in with the lower ranks, anyone we send gets exposed the moment they approach higher officials. They're well-guarded."
The figure nodded in agreement. "If they have someone of such legendary strength, we're not just dealing with a tribe anymore. We're facing something far greater. A legend could sense us from fifty miles away, let alone five."
Arar's voice dropped, his words heavy. "Do you think the Silver Mane Tribe really has a legend among them?"
"I can't say for certain, but it's not just their strength that's concerning." The figure's voice grew even quieter, as if the very air around them was listening. "Just yesterday, word came that the Silver Mane Tribe added three more level six warriors and over a dozen level five warriors."
Arar's face tightened. "And that's public knowledge?"
"Yes," the figure confirmed. "These new warriors are known among the tribe. But as for whether there are others, hidden from sight... that remains unclear. A tribe growing this quickly is unheard of. It suggests outside intervention, perhaps from the Templeton family."
Arar gritted his teeth. "If the Templetons are involved, we need proof."
The figure sighed. "Proof will take time, and right now, infiltrating their ranks is near impossible. Our men can't get close to anyone of real importance within the tribe, let alone someone of legendary power."
Arar nodded, the weight of the situation settling in. The Silver Mane Tribe loomed like a growing storm, and his Adik tribe seemed woefully unprepared. He could feel the pressure bearing down on him, the inevitability of conflict drawing closer with each passing day.
Sensing Arar's unease, the shadowed figure spoke again, this time with an air of reassurance. "Don't fret too much. If the Templeton family is truly behind the Silver Mane Tribe, they won't be able to move unchecked. The Cross Royal Court would never allow another royal court to encroach on their territory."
Arar looked up, his interest piqued. "The royal court?"
"Exactly," the figure said confidently. "Even though the Cross Royal Court has diminished in power over the years, they still hold sway. The moment another royal court begins to meddle in their affairs, they'll strike. The Templetons, powerful as they are, won't be able to defy the will of the royal court." Continue reading at m|v-l'e -novelhall.net
"And what if the legends are true?" Arar asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"The royal court won't sit idly by if the Silver Mane Tribe harbors a legend. Remember the First and Second Beastmen Tribes in the Southern Wasteland? They haven't gained much strength in decades due to the constant pressure from the royal court. If they hadn't been suppressed, the Southern Wasteland would have fallen under their rule long ago."
Arar nodded slowly, digesting the figure's words. "So, you're saying that if the Silver Mane Tribe truly has a legendary figure among them, the royal court will intervene?"
"Precisely. They won't allow a rival force to grow unchecked, not on their land. The Silver Mane Tribe may be growing quickly, but even legends can't escape the eye of the royal court."
Arar was silent, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on him. The future of his tribe, the looming threat of the Silver Mane Tribe, and the potential involvement of legends and royal courts, it all seemed too much to bear. But one thing was clear: the Adik tribe was in for a fight, whether they liked it or not.