Chapter 409 199: Dragon Lizard Race

The Snake-men were all too aware of this, which was why they had never considered pledging themselves to any Tribe. After all, it wouldn't be much better than their current life of wandering.

"Clan Leader, even if we pledge ourselves to the Undead, what difference would it make? Do you think they won't use us as cannon fodder? That they'll treat us well?" a Snake-man asked, his voice full of despair.

He had a point. Was pledging to the Undead really any better than joining another Tribe?

These were the Undead, the very embodiment of death. They probably cared even less about the lives of outsiders than other Tribes. No, they didn't even seem to care about their own lives. They had heard about the battle against the Cancerous Tumor Alliance Army; the Undead's casualties had been several times higher than those of the Alliance Army, yet they had fought to the death without a single step of retreat.

Would a Race like that truly care about their lives?

Zaliki glanced at his surrounding kinsfolk, his forked tongue flicking from his mouth. He sighed. "Haven't you noticed those Minotaurs?"

'What about the Minotaurs?'

The Snake-men looked at their Clan Leader, Zaliki, in confusion, then turned to glance at the Minotaurs hefting their Totem Poles. 'They look normal enough,' they thought. 'A bit more muscular, perhaps, but that's it.'

"Clan Leader, if you have something to say, just say it. What's wrong with the Minotaurs?" one Snake-man asked bluntly. The others nodded in agreement; they couldn't see anything unusual either.

"What is your impression of those Minotaurs?" Zaliki asked.

"They're Minotaurs. What else is there to say?" the Snake-men replied, clearly confused.

"That's precisely the point. The Minotaurs are still Minotaurs, but they're strong and full of life—even more so than the Minotaurs in the Desert Tribe. That means they're living well. If the Undead just wanted them for cannon fodder, would they let them live this well?" Zaliki explained with a hint of exasperation. It was seeing the Minotaurs' vitality that had made him decide to join the Undead.

With his explanation, the Snake-men finally understood what felt off. These Minotaurs were indeed bursting with life and energy. They didn't look like they'd been struggling to survive in the Wasteland, worn down by the elements.

If their new masters really intended to use them as Slaves or cannon fodder, they wouldn't let the Minotaurs live so comfortably. After all, a well-fed and powerful subordinate is harder to control. They have the strength to resist, and who wants to die? That makes them unpredictable. That's why those who recruit wanderers for cannon fodder usually ensure they live miserably.

The Natives in the Desert Tribe aren't fools, you know.

The Clan Leader had a point. Looked at from that angle, pledging themselves to the Undead didn't seem like such a bad idea. The Snake-men's resolve began to waver. The evidence was right in front of their eyes, and it was hard to deny what they saw.

"Hey! Have you made up your minds yet? Are you really going to keep the Master of the Undead waiting like this?" Tas Tuling suddenly bellowed.

Zaliki flinched and quickly turned back, forcing a smile. "Please, just a little more time."

Tas Tuling grunted in displeasure and slammed his Totem Pole into the ground with a thunderous BOOM, his face a mask of impatience.

"We're running out of time," Zaliki said, no longer daring to delay. "This time, I won't make the decision alone. I want to hear your thoughts. What will it be? Do we pledge ourselves to the Undead, or do we leave this place right now?"

This…

The Snake-men were torn. If their Clan Leader hadn't told them to observe the Minotaurs, they would have simply left. But having seen the Minotaurs' condition for themselves, they now understood his line of thinking. Should they take the gamble? Bet on the Undead treating them the same way they treated the Minotaurs?

It was a truly tempting prospect. It would have been a great offer even if they weren't homeless wanderers, but established members of a Tribe. Who didn't want to live a better life? Who wanted to risk danger every day just to find resources and food? The chance to live a stable life was the best thing they could hope for.

"Clan Leader, I support you!" One of the Snake-men, having steeled his resolve, stepped forward and declared his stance to Zaliki.

Once one person took the lead, the rest was easy. Immediately, more Snake-men stepped forward—men, women, and even many of the elderly.

The women with children and the elderly were, in fact, the most eager to stay. They would rather take this one gamble than continue the arduous journey with their people. Life on the run was hardest on children and the elderly, who were always the first to die during their travels.

The women longed to settle down so their children could grow up. Even Tribes that used wanderers as cannon fodder would give the children a chance to live. They would at least raise them before sending them off to die in turn. This was an unwritten, unspoken rule that everyone understood. If you took in a group of people, you had to at least put on a show of, "I am trying my best to protect this Race and preserve its lineage."

As for the elderly, they could no longer keep up and didn't want to be a burden. 'If death is coming, then let it come,' they thought. 'What's the difference where we die? Is dying with the Undead any different from dying with another Tribe? At least if we die here, we won't have to suffer the exhaustion of wandering anymore.'

As more and more Snake-men stepped forward, the few who had still been hesitant about leaving finally relented. They lowered their heads and stood among their kin. Everyone agreed to take the gamble and join the Undead.

Seeing this, Zaliki breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "Since we are all in agreement, then it is decided. I will go and give our answer to the Master of the Undead."

Zaliki had just turned to leave when Tas Tuling walked over, a smile on his face. "Come to an agreement with your people?"