Chapter 320: Propaganda Done Right! [Part 2]

"What is this nonsense?!" Ragnar, Hagen’s eldest son, shouted. "Are you trying to humiliate my father?!"

"Shut up, you fool!" Gundar slapped Ragnar’s cheek in response, making the latter look at the great shaman with an expression dripping with injustice.

"But!" Ragnar was unwilling, but a stare from his father shut him up.

Hagen, on the other hand, remained silent.

He knew that speaking up now would only make him look pitiful.

It was then that Troy laughed out loud. His laughter was filled with pure mirth, sounding as if he had watched the funniest thing in his life.

"Hahahaha!" Troy laughed. "Damn! I’ve never been this happy in my entire life!"

Even Jafar was smiling. Of course, he knew who had done this. After all, this was all part of the plan.

Troy’s earlier outburst? That was also part of the plan.

Challenging Hagen to a deathmatch? Part of the plan as well.

Giving the tribe members the option to go to the Aslan Tribe, stay in the Bonegnash Tribe’s city, or go to the other tribes instead? Also a part of the plan.

It was all part of Daedalus’ grand plan to make the Darkmane Tribe look like heroes instead of the losers that people would make them out to be.

Then, a loud explosion sounded.

This was the part when Boris and Astravor unleashed their strongest attack against the Monster King.

However, this part wasn’t shown. Anything that would highlight the power and bravery of the Aslan Tribe was never shown in the projection at all.

Then, it showed an interesting scene.

It showed Jafar, who was still riding on top of his Undead Wyvern, raising his staff before pointing it at the Bronze Dragon.

"Die!" Jafar shouted.

As if waiting for that moment, the Blood Golem repeatedly stomped on the head of the Bronze Dragon until it finally drew its last breath.

From every angle, it showed that Jafar was the one who ultimately landed the killing blow on the Monster King.

Jafar, who had now become the center of attention, blinked once, then twice, before coughing lightly.

He didn’t say anything.

He simply raised his head in arrogance while looking at the projection, acting as if the Monster King was just an ant that he had stepped on so casually.

However, after thinking that this opportunity would not come again, the shaman did something unexpected.

"I wish the Monster King had put up more of a fight," Jafar said calmly. "The moment I got serious, it died so easily."

Those who were there in the battle had a strong urge to spit on the shameless shaman, while Troy only laughed loudly.

Still, this laughter didn’t last long.

Soon, it showed Troy and the Darkmane Tribe doing the burial rites for the warriors of their tribe.

Those who had been left behind in Darkmane City all shed tears when they saw their loved ones, who had died in battle, being honored in everyone’s eyes.

The projection focused on Troy taking the lead to chant the ancient song of the Darkmane Tribe.

—————

"Tell our children..." Troy growled.

"""Tell our children..."""

"Tell our sons..."

"""Tell our sons..."""

"We did not flee..."

"""We did not run..."""

"Tell the world..." Troy declared. "The lions came. Not seeking glory... Only a name!"

"""Darkmane!"""

—————

The scene slowly came to an end.

Everyone who thought that the Darkmane Tribe returned as the defeated now looked at them in a new light.

They were not losers.

They didn’t run.

They fought until the bitter end and risked everything against the Monster King, who threatened the entire Borderlands.

The survivors of the Darkmane Tribe looked at their chieftain with moist eyes, thanking him for honoring their fallen fathers, brothers, and sons, and giving them the honor they rightfully deserved.

A faint smile appeared on Travis’ face as the crystal ball in his hands slowly dimmed.

He was the one who had activated the special communication crystal Leone had handed to him before he left Grimjaw Mountain.

Through this crystal, Leone could communicate with Travis and instruct him on what to do.

All of this was part of Leone’s grand plan... or so Travis believed.

Back in the Aslan Tribe...

"As expected of our Great Chieftain!" Kael said with awe and admiration. "Your heart is so noble that you actually gave all the credit to the Darkmane Tribe! I, Kael, will serve you for life! Long live our Great Chieftain! Long live Leone Frontera!"

""All hail the Great Chieftain!""

All of Leone’s vassals bowed their heads in respect to him.

Leone smiled faintly in return, looking like a humble young man.

Though what his vassals didn’t know was that the young chieftain didn’t even know about the short movie that was being projected to the entirety of the Bonegnash Tribe!

Leone was innocent!

If anything, the one behind this propaganda was none other than the grimoire, who was also currently praising Leone to high heaven!

"With this, the prestige of the Darkmane Tribe will be retained," Ulric commented. "They will be able to take control of the Bonegnash Tribe as planned."

"A wise move, Leone." Otto nodded in satisfaction. "This is hitting two birds with one stone."

Jason still had doubts about whether Troy would really become their strong ally or was simply biding his time to get his revenge.

"I still don’t trust Troy," Jason commented. "Who knows if he will backstab us in the future?"

"You have a point, Jason." Leone nodded. "If that happens, then I can only blame myself for being impulsive. Nevertheless, I still want to believe that Troy would become our strongest ally here in the Borderlands."

"I trust you, Leone," Jason said calmly. "I know that you are carrying a lot of burden on your shoulders. I’m just being paranoid right now."

Leone patted Jason’s shoulder before saying something unexpected.

"Jason, I am now a respected chieftain in the Borderlands." Leone smirked at him. "I now have enough influence to pull some strings. Tell me, who do you wish to marry? I shall give it my all to make it happen."

Jason blinked at those words. "Huh?!"

"Did you not hear my Master’s words?" Daedalus asked in a playful tone. "He now has enough influence to play matchmaker for you. You can take your pick among the ladies of the Aslan Tribe. Or if you want, any ladies from the other tribes. Leone will play matchmaker for you!"

The image of a beautiful young lady, who had the sweetest smile he had ever seen in his life, appeared inside Jason’s head.

She was a person of ‌very high rank, and Jason believed that he didn’t have the qualifications to become her partner.

Even so, a part of him didn’t want to give up and pursue her.

"I-It’s okay, Leone," Jason stuttered as he replied. "I’m good."

"What do you mean you’re good?" Leone arched an eyebrow in response. "Remember, the Wheel of Fortune gave you a wedding dress for a girl. That means it’s a sign that you should look for a wife."

Ulric chuckled and joined in on the discussion.

"Speaking of weddings, should I start preparing for your wedding, Great Chieftain?" Kael asked with a smile of a scammer. "I promise I will make it the grandest wedding the Borderlands would ever see. I’ll even give you Aria as a bonus, so..."

"Ahem!" Leone coughed. "I will not get married until Jason gets married. I mean, the Wheel of Fortune already gave him a wedding dress. That’s a sign!"

"Now that we’re on that topic, Kael won five sets of aphrodisiacs and potions for a safe childbirth," Jason countered. It was now time for him to get back at his chieftain! "Maybe that’s a sign that you should start making heirs, Leone."

"That’s right!" Kael laughed. "We must ensure that our tribe will prosper for many generations to come. How about I put a few drops of the Stud Tonic in your drink tonight, Leone? I believe that tonight, it will be Aria’s shift to serve you, right?"

"M-Meeting adjourned!" Leone declared. "I’ll be heading to the Hidden Valley to check on the monster mutations. Don’t disturb me unless it’s very important!"

The young man then made a hasty retreat, fearing Kael would say more. Though, just to be sure, he planned to bring his own jar of water into his room tonight so that Kael wouldn’t get a chance to use any aphrodisiac on him.

Everyone chuckled as they watched their chieftain make a strategic retreat.

"Kael, don’t tease Leone too much," Ulric said with a smile. "That talk about putting aphrodisiacs and whatnot in his food and drinks is just a joke, right?"

Kael smiled back, but didn’t give him an answer.

Ulric blinked once, then twice. "It’s just a joke, right?"

Again, Kael didn’t answer. He only smiled, stood up, and left the room quietly.

Ulric felt a chill run down his spine as he watched Kael disappear from the cavern.

"Jason, from now on, you will be a food tester for Leone," Ulric said in a serious tone. "Check everything he eats and drinks first. Make sure Kael won’t be able to slip anything in them!"

"Understood." Jason nodded. "I’ll do just that."

What Jason didn’t know was that in the not-so-distant future, this countermeasure would result in a surprise.

Somewhere in Grimjaw Mountain, Tianna sneezed.

The jewel of the Warclaw Tribe tilted her head to the side, wondering if someone was thinking of her.

"It must be Jason." The young lady smiled before humming happily as she continued cooking the food that she would serve to Vlad and Jason for dinner.