Chapter 904
Episode 227: A New Enemy, the Enemy of Our Enemy (5)
As Jo excitedly dashed off to prepare the masters, Berakt scoffed.
“I’ve probably wanted to kill that idiot at least a thousand times by now. Commander, if the completed master still turns out to be as disappointing as before, don’t stop me from killing him.”
[That won’t happen, Berakt. I’ve already personally verified his abilities. Jo is still someone who must continue working for our great cause.]
“Yeah, yeah, Berakt. Stop ragging on Jo. After all, when the demons were talking behind your back, he stood up for you. He even helped me attach a new arm, alongside Bubar.”
Badrey raised his left arm. His left arm, lost to the great warlord Rakiman Hog of the Red-Eyed Tribe, had been replaced with a master’s arm.
“Or maybe you’re just acting tough because you secretly care about him? Isn’t that right? You actually think pretty highly of Jo. Anyway, Berakt, you’re kind of adorable sometimes.”
“You always pick the words that aren’t worth responding to, Badrey… When will you ever come to your senses? You need to realize your role as the Red Tiger King.”
“Of course I’m aware. That’s why I’ve been training so hard ever since we fled from Rakiman together.”
Badrey narrowed his eyes, recalling that day.
Pure skill-wise, the difference wasn’t that great. In fact, with Berakt by his side, he could have easily defeated their opponent. Yet, the two great warriors had no choice but to flee in humiliation, paralyzed by the ‘fear of a natural enemy.’
Since that day, Berakt and Badrey had been eagerly awaiting the chance to exact revenge on the Red-Eyed Tribe. Their training had been fueled by rage.
“It’s a bit frustrating. If possible, I’d like to fight the Red-Eyed bastards first, right, Berakt? For now, I guess we’ll have to settle for tearing through those True Demon Realm guys to ease the frustration.”
[Don’t worry, Badrey. The Red-Eyed Tribe is already under the Imperial Court’s leash. Their initial momentum after entering the mortal realm was strong, but ultimately, they’ll become a subordinate faction of the Court. Unless they win the war against Ziphl with the blood the Court supplies and the occasional successful raids.]
Of course, Orgal was certain the Red-Eyed Tribe couldn’t win against Ziphl. Compared to their prime, they were now nothing more than remnants.
“In that case, the Red-Eyed Tribe will have to be dealt with alongside the Court.”
[They might even be eliminated without our direct involvement. If Ziphl corners the Red-Eyed Tribe, the Court will seize their technology and power, then begin expanding their influence in earnest. Ziphl will naturally want to finish them off, and so will the Balmur Alliance. The Court has crossed a line. Once Jin Runkandel learns about Temar, they’ll become his top target for eradication.]
Orgal hadn’t shared the details about the Temar-created mind with Jin, intending to use him when the time came.
“If that happens, it’ll sting for Berakt and me. Those bastards are the ones we want to tear apart with our own hands.”
[You and Berakt will get your chance to avenge your humiliation, no matter how things unfold.]
“That’s a relief.”
Orgal pondered the Red-Eyed Tribe for a moment.
‘The Court’s control over the Red-Eyed Tribe isn’t just about blood supply. There must be a bigger reason. Perhaps the Court knows something about the whereabouts of the Tribe’s Avatar and sees potential. When the Red-Eyed Tribe reaches its limit, they’ll likely try to find that Avatar and turn it into their puppet.’
The Red-Eyed Tribe’s Avatar.
Orgal’s memories of it were still vague. But it was clear that, alongside the Azure Tribe’s Avatar, it was one of the strongest of the era.
If it were still around, the course of the Demon War would be very different. The Court wouldn’t have such a tight grip on the Red-Eyed Tribe.
‘Who knows? The Avatar might awaken without the Court’s help and become the savior of the Red-Eyed remnants. That’s why it’s best not to confront them directly. The best outcome is to quietly step in when another force finishes off the Red-Eyed Tribe and take only what we need.’
The Court thought the same. Orgal expected other factions to handle the Red-Eyed Tribe for them.
When that time came, Kinzel planned to swallow the weakened Court and take control.
‘We have to make them spill everything they know about Lokia and the Sun God. Especially Lokia—the intelligence on that worm was astonishing. A world of Lokia… I heard about it from Manof in Pirrol. This info will be useful when dealing with Jin Runkandel.’
Unfortunately, Orgal didn’t know that Jin was already aware of Lokia’s world.
Orgal looked at his subordinates.
[Once Jo finishes preparations, we launch immediately. Everyone, take your positions.]
Underground, Red-Eyed Tribe’s Fourth City, Usrok.
Rakiman Hog, Bekios Kam, Gaila Tun, Bakalun Yung.
All the great warlords except Drek Horn, the lord of the Fifth City who was killed by Jin, had gathered. Simat, a first-class warlord known as ‘the one without a clan,’ was reporting the war situation.
“…That’s all, fellow warlords.”
“Hah, the situation’s worse than I thought. Not only Drakka, but even the comrades who went to attack the Milkun Kingdom were wiped out?”
“Without enough blood to properly operate the aerial fortress, we can’t effectively check Elona or Ziphl. Damn it, it’s a relief we didn’t lose the flagships at least.”
Gaila and Bekios spoke.
Among the great warlords, only those two were in a condition to respond properly. Rakiman hadn’t yet recovered from the injuries Octavia inflicted last time, and Bakalun, the strongest warlord, was barely conscious due to blood loss. Each breath they took was accompanied by a low metallic sound.
“Every invasion ends with us losing more blood than we gain. We keep wasting what little we have.”
“That’s because the blood the Court supplies and the bodies of the buried Azure Tribe members are steadily decreasing. If we could just get as many Azure Tribe bodies as we did when we last operated the aerial fortress, we might be able to turn things around… Especially since Ziphl has sent troops to Grosh Castle.”
“I agree with Gaila. Simat, go demand more from the Biment. At this rate, neither we nor the Court will come out on top.”
Listening to the great warlords’ responses, Simat felt an unbearable rage. It was like watching incompetent, foolish subordinates.
With Bakalun incapacitated, Gaila and Bekios had to lead the Red-Eyed Tribe. But to Simat, they were only stronger in combat power, lacking in every other way.
It had always been like this. Simat had hoped the great warlords would awaken, but this was the reality.
“Fellow warlords, since when did our Red-Eyed Tribe become so dependent on inferior races?”
“What?”
“Have you become so accustomed to being fed like domesticated beasts?”
“Simat? I think you’re making a mistake.”
“The mistake isn’t mine, but yours, fellow warlords! Don’t you see? The Court is taming us. They deliberately control the support we receive, forcing us into submission. Just like now!”
“Seems you’ve forgotten your place, comrade. Let me enlighten you—”
Bekios was about to strike Simat when Bakalun raised a trembling hand to stop him.
“Quiet… listen…”
Though weak, Bakalun was the highest-ranking warlord. Bekios scowled but immediately ceased his action.
“Continue, Simat.”
“…Thank you, Bakalun.”
Simat met the eyes of the great warlords calmly.
“As I said, we’ve become unable to do anything without the Court’s help. This is partly because our situation was dire and we had no choice but to accept support early on, and partly because some great warlords made grave mistakes.”
He meant Rakiman and Drek. Especially Drek—if he hadn’t died recklessly attacking the Dragon Fortress, his vampiric abilities could have pressured large factions by now. The blood supply for our comrades would also be far better.
The great warlords silently endured Simat’s disrespectful words. No one dared oppose him until Bakalun showed displeasure.
“But the Court doesn’t truly care for us. I believe their goal is to steal our technology to create weapons for themselves. That’s why they trade blood and Azure Tribe bodies with us only when it suits them. In other words, they’re controlling us—weakening us, taming us, then swallowing or disposing of us.”
“…So what do you propose, Simat? As you said, we’re already in a position where we can’t do much without the Court’s help.”
“The main reason is that we’ve gained little from the war with Ziphl. At first, the Court provided ample support, and without Elona and Ziphl, we could harvest blood from Ziphl’s mages. But the losses have only grown.”
“So you want to end the war with Ziphl?”
“Yes. But on the surface, it can’t look that way. Otherwise, the royal court might cut off all support entirely. We have to keep up the appearance of fighting Ziphl, just as the court expects, while secretly conserving our strength—at least enough for our Bakalun kin to regain their power.”
“Pretending to fight Ziphl behind the court’s back… is that even possible?”
“It is. Since Elona and Ziphl appeared, the court hasn’t been able to verify every battle we’ve had with Ziphl. They’re afraid of him, no doubt. Or maybe they’re worried about that so-called Demon God Stone being completed, so they’re trying to keep themselves hidden as much as possible.”
“Hmm. Alright, let’s set that aside for now. What’s next?”
Simat took a moment to steady his breath.
This was the moment to make a choice that would decide the fate of the Jeokmyeong tribe.
“…We strike the royal court. They think they’re using us and that they know everything about our situation, but they don’t. All this time, they’ve been threatening us, saying they’ll reveal the whereabouts of our kin who fled, but I believe they don’t actually know where they are. Or even if they do, they can’t use them at will. If they could, they would have done so already.”
“Uh, I… I get the gist of what you mean. But this is way too risky. We could lose our kin forever, and on top of that, the little support we still get from the court…”
“If we don’t take bold action now, our Jeokmyeong tribe will inevitably become the court’s dogs. If the Great Kings dismiss my opinion, then I will choose the path for our tribe alone, if I must.”
A heavy silence fell over the room. Naturally, the gazes of the Great Kings and Simat fixed on Bakalun.
“Simat… we will follow the will of our kin.”
Bakalun nodded solemnly, his voice heavy with resolve.