Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Darco brought Orlov to Alaric’s tent.

”My lord, your guest is here.”

”He may come in.” A calm voice echoed from inside the tent.

Hearing this, Darco signaled to Orlov with his eyes.

Seeing this, Orlov nodded. He took a deep breath and stepped inside the tent.

He was nervous.

After a day in the camp, he had come to learn that this silver-haired young warrior was the newly appointed leader of the great allied army. He also heard that he was the man who caused the commotion during his advancement in the Beyonder realm.

He tried to look calm under Alaric’s gaze, but he couldn’t hide the anxiety in his eyes.

”Your name is Orlov. Did I say it correctly?” Alaric glanced at him inquisitively.

Orlov nodded.

Alaric motioned to him, signaling for him to take a seat. ”Sit.”

As Orlov sat on the wooden stool, Alaric poured tea for himself and the nervous chieftain. ”This is chamomile tea from my hometown. The maker of this tea said that drinking it helps calm the mind.”

Orlov had heard tea was a popular drink among humans.

Hearing the description, he temporarily forgot the issues at home and thanked Alaric for the tea.

The taste was rich. It was bitter when it first hit his tongue, but there was a mildly sweet and floral aftertaste. When the taste registered throughout his body, his mood gradually improved.

His eyes lit up.

It is effective! It can really calm one’s mind!

Seeing the sudden change in his expression, Alaric chuckled. ”Does it taste good?”

Orlov nodded and exclaimed. ”I never had this kind of drink before.”

Alaric smiled at his response. He had the same reaction when he first tasted the tea. He was a coffee person, but this tea somehow made its way to his list of favorite drinks.

He didn’t dive straight into the topic. Orlov was obviously nervous so Alaric asked for some information about Red Mountain Territory to help him settle his mind.

From his mouth, Alaric gained a clearer view of Red Mountain Territory.

According to Orlov, Red Mountain Territory is a province that is mostly controlled by the Golden Lion Tribe. Some smaller factions were present, but they also paid tribute to the Golden Lion Tribe to preserve their heritage. Although they weren’t vassal forces, they functioned similarly to one.

Surprisingly, there is a human faction that stubbornly refused the Golden Lion Tribe’s rule. It is a large merchant group with two Beyonders at the helm whose very presence proved to be a big thorn in the Golden Lion Tribe’s dominion over Red Mountain Territory.

It is the Double Sun Firm.

By itself, the Double Sun Firm is way weaker than the Golden Lion Tribe. However, the leader of this merchant group is one of the ten eldermen of the Obsidian Tower, the faction that stands at the very top of the infamous city, Ethenburg.

Alaric was fascinated by the complex power structure behind Red Mountain Territory. He thought that the only trouble he had to face was the Golden Lion Tribe.

He revealed a look of interest as he listened to Orlov’s stories.

”Why didn’t you ask for help from this Double Sun Firm?” He asked the chieftain.

Orlov shook his head with a dark expression. ”Impossible! Those humans will only capture my folks! They are slave traders!”

Hearing this, Alaric finally understood the other party’s position.

”Alright. I will offer you protection, but you must do something for me.” He didn’t let the guy wait any longer.

Orlov was pleasantly surprised, but he controlled his emotions and waited for Alaric to continue.

”I want you to visit all the other tribes that have experienced the same oppression and tell them that our great allied army is offering them protection. You must convince them to accept our help.” This was the first step in Alaric’s plan.

Orlov was stunned. He couldn’t understand the underlying motive behind this decision. Why would a human willingly protect beaskin tribes?

He felt that there was a hidden motive behind his actions, but he wisely didn’t ask questions.

After careful thought, Orlov nodded. ”I will send word of your offer to the surrounding tribes. I guarantee that I can make several vassal tribes support your great allied army.”

Alaric appreciated the man’s wisdom. ”Good. You may return to your village with your men. I will send a thousand of my warriors to follow you, including one Unfettered knight. Will that be enough to protect you from the grey wolf tribe?”

”One thousand warriors?!” Orlov thought that he had misheard him. Only a big tribe had over a thousand warriors. Not to mention an Unfettered expert. Even the grey wolf tribe didn’t have one.

With an armed force of this size, the Grey Wolf tribe would be destroyed.

”It’s enough! It’s more than enough, my lord!” Orlov was excited.

Alaric smiled faintly and waved his hand. ”You are dismissed. If there is anything else you need, you can speak with the Unfettered knight that I will send.”

Orlov rose to his feet and bowed deeply. ”Thank you, my lord! Thank you very much!”

After repeatedly bowing, Orlov left the tent, satisfied.

...

Looking at their excited chieftain, they could not help but ask. ”What did he say, chief?”

”He agreed! A thousand human warriors will follow us to the village!” Orlov replied with a hearty laugh.

”A thousand?! That many?!”

Orlov nodded, looking smug. ”Right. Furthermore, Lord Alaric will also send one Unfettered knight to lead this army.”

The goat beastkin warriors were shocked. Unfettered warriors were revered in all of Red Mountain Territory. They had only seen such experts in big tribes.

”Did they ask for something in return?” Ralof’s voice suddenly drifted into everyone’s ears.

Orlov’s face turned serious as he nodded. ”He wants me to meet with the other oppressed tribes and convince them to join the great allied army.”

”Why is he gathering the oppressed tribes?” Ralof frowned, feeling suspicious about this.

Orlov sighed and shook his head. ”Whatever it is, we have no choice but to comply. If we don’t get their protection, the grey wolf tribe will hunt every last one of our folks.”

Everyone wore pensive looks upon hearing this.