Novel Full Chapter 214 - Deem People's Worth Not By Their Past But Their Future
Back in the stronghold, the enchanted sets of equipment were quickly delivered and equipped by its candidates before a wolf-man exclaimed, "Woah, this piece of equipment is actually comfortable to wear!"
"Not only that, I feel a trace of Life Aura flowing through my body, making me feel slightly stronger and brimming with energy!" another wolf-man commented with a clenched fist.
"Me too, but I feel like I can run a little faster instead."
"Damn, if I knew human equipment had special effects like this, I wouldn't have thrown them away earlier when we subjugated this settlement."
"Princess Riri, these sets of equipment are amazing! Thank you for the gracious gifts! We will make sure to make full use of it!"
The roughly 45 wolf-people shortly expressed their gratitude before Fenriri glanced back at them and said, "This was Master's orders. If you want to thank someone, thank Master for demonstrating his benevolence and mercy."
"Right, right. The Lord is merciful and benevolent, worth of a god. We were foolish to bore our fangs and claws at the Lord."
"Alright," Fenriri clapped her hands together before stating clearly, "If you're done equipping, then go join the rest of the group in the square. My sister has an announcement to make."
"Yes, Princess."
…
Several minutes later, Fenrira stood on the spaceship's elevated ramp and gazed at the hundreds of wolf-people gathered in the stronghold's central square.
"Sister, this should be everyone," Fenriri informed upon her arrival before she said, "You can begin."
"Alright," Fenrira nodded.
Shortly after, she shifted her gaze back to the crowd with a solemn look before she began speaking, "You may have all submitted to Master, but I have not, will not, and shall not forget the face of a traitor."
"Some of you may not have been aware, and I won't blame you. But quite a few of you have been involved and have the heart of a rebel. If you can betray my father, the tribal chief, then you can also betray my master."
"Nevertheless, my master is benevolent and merciful for allowing you all a chance to live—a chance for the entire Iceborn Wolf Tribe. Cherish it, appreciate it, and prove it—prove that it was not wrong to spare you all."
"Steel your spirits, and sharpen your claws. Later, we depart to strike the head of the rebellion and quell this internal conflict once and for all!"
"Yes, Princess Rira!"
As the crowd slowly dispersed from the square to make their preparations, Albion casually strolled over, glancing left and right with a curious look.
"My Lord."
"My Lord."
The wolf-people quickly dropped and prostrated on the ground with worship, paying their utmost respect and reverence as Albion passed them before he finally reached the wolf-girls' side.
"What is this? It's like you're starting some cult," Albion casually mentioned before saying, "I need loyal subordinates, not brainless fanatic worshippers."
"I just want to ingrain into them the consequences of betraying you, Master," Fenrira replied.
Albion reached out his hand and gave the wolf-girl a head rub as if rewarding her for her efforts as Fenrira's tail wagged happily in response.
The head rubs were like a drug, dangerous yet addictive.
Fenrira could not get enough of it.
After Albion stopped his head rub, Fenrira snapped back to reality with slight drool on the corner of her mouth.
"Oh, my. Master's head pats are so mystical and dangerous, I almost lost myself there," Fenrira softly exclaimed as she wiped her drool before wondering why that is so.
"Master, although they are my people, and Fenriri doesn't want them to die, I still feel uncomfortable with their previous betrayal," Fenriri mentioned before asking, "Despite that, is it wrong to harbor thoughts of killing them at the same time?"
"You're not wrong to feel that way. Betrayal is unforgivable. There should only be one result for traitors, and that is death," Albion stated indifferently.
Fenriri gasped slightly before Fenrira asked, "Then why did Master give our wolf-people a chance to submit instead of killing them? Was it out of consideration for us?"
"I thought I've already told you. You're giving me too much credit. Everything I do is out of consideration for myself," Albion stated coolly before saying, "They may have betrayed you, but they have not betrayed me."
"When I accept subordinates, I don't judge them based on their past deeds, but what they do after. Prostitutes can sell their bodies, but that doesn't make them sluts and manwhores at heart. Nor does people committing evil, makes them evil at heart either."
"It's simple and easy to just label someone evil and kill them directly than to waste time understanding their story and circumstances which led them to do what they do. Perhaps, some of your tribesmen were forced into rebelling due to threats and pressure from others."
"Nevertheless, it's not like any of that sh*t matters to me either. The point is whether they can be used or not. And if they can, they only have one chance," Albion said before stating, "Once they wrong me, they will only have one end; death. Trust me, no one will get away after betraying me."
The other three Horsemen will eventually meet their end. But, even so, he was letting them live a tad too long.
'I should wrap things up once I am done here,' Albion silently mused with a frown.
Shortly after, he clapped his hands and urged, "Alright. Get ready. We will leave for the next stronghold in five minutes. We will head there with the spaceship directly."
"Huh?" Fenrira was stunned before she asked, "We won't bring the tribesmen along, Master? How will they prove their loyalty if they do not get to fight?"
"You want your tribesmen to prove their loyalty by fighting their own people?" Albion asked amusedly.
Fenriri was immediately put at a loss for words. She did not know how to respond to such a question.
Albion shook his head and said, "There will be plenty of chances for them to prove themselves. It doesn't have to be like this."
If the wolf-people's hearts were not with him, how can he expect them to follow him obediently in the future?