Chapter 398: The First Step To Becoming King

When the fierce standoff finally subsided, the plaza regained its peace.

None of those who attacked the Aslan Tribe had been harmed, thanks to the staunch obedience of the ones who defended Leone.

In fact, the sorry sight of the Aslan Tribe hit them with guilt.

While they were unharmed, some of the Aslan Tribe’s men and monsters were injured. At this point, it would be disgraceful for the other tribes to keep finding an excuse to detain them or cause them further harm.

Leone busied himself with healing those who had been injured with his ability. Fortunately, his warriors had only suffered moderate injuries at worst.

Among them, the ones who took the most serious damage were the Drakes and Pteranodons, who had risked their lives to protect their partners.

His vassals’ familiars, Fury, Russel, and Fenn, had also suffered serious injuries.

Now that Eden had become part of Leone’s domain, his territorial buffs enhanced their regeneration.

The young chieftain believed that if everyone had a day to rest and recover, they could return to peak condition the following day.

After tending to everyone’s injuries, Leone made a decision.

"This is not a suitable place to rest," Leone said. "Follow me."

He then led his people toward the eastern gate of Eden before exiting the city.

All the chieftains had assigned guards to watch over the Aslan Tribe. Some had been sent to protect them, while others had been stationed there to ensure the youngest chieftain’s faction didn’t do anything suspicious.

Of course, none of them stopped Leone and his people from leaving the city.

A few even followed them, curious to find out where they were going.

"This should be a good place," Leone said as he surveyed the surroundings.

He stopped a hundred meters away from Eden’s gate while the guards stationed on the ramparts watched him from a distance.

Leone had only arrived in the city less than half a day ago, yet he had already caused so much disturbance.

Now, the guards were wondering if the young man was planning to cause another scene similar to what happened in the plaza earlier.

"Kael, do the honors," Leone ordered.

"Yes, Great Chieftain!" Kael replied.

Leone had already spoken to the shaman through telepathy earlier and explained what he wanted him to do.

And since they had observers watching them, he decided to let Kael handle everything himself.

The shaman slowly raised his hand as if he were summoning something.

Suddenly, countless stone bricks manifested out of thin air and began piling on top of one another.

Kael then began to wave his hands, as if urging more stone bricks to fly through the air as they stacked around them.

"W-What is happening?!" one of the guards belonging to the Grimhowl Tribe exclaimed in shock.

This reaction of the guard from the Grimhowl Tribe was perfectly normal because he wasn’t present during the war against the Monster King. That being so, he had never witnessed "Kael’s" abilities before.

Right before their eyes, a fortress modeled after the one in Grimjaw Mountain appeared beside Eden.

While it was smaller in size, Daedalus had made sure to include all the necessary amenities to ensure living there would be as comfortable as possible.

At the top of the fortress’ ramparts, the banners of the Aslan Tribe fluttered proudly in the breeze.

"Everyone, let’s head inside and get some proper rest," Leone said as he approached the massive stone gates.

Soon, the gates slowly opened as if welcoming the master of the fortress.

Large beds meant for Drakes had been prepared in the center of the fortress, while beds for the Pteranodons had been arranged inside the pagoda-like towers Daedalus had specially constructed for them.

Each pagoda had ten floors, allowing a Pteranodon to rest on each floor.

These towers also served as lookout posts, allowing the monsters to warn Leone if any danger approached.

The third and fourth floors of the fortress had villas similar to those back in Grimjaw Mountain.

The fourth floor was for Leone, his vassals, and Khan, as well as the other Orcs.

As for the third, it was the designated accommodation for the warriors of the Aslan Tribe.

No one lived on the second floor, for it had been designed to be a balcony meant for special gatherings and meetings.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that, compared to the living quarters of the other chieftains in Eden, Leone’s "embassy" was built to accommodate members of the royal family.

The warriors of the Aslan Tribe and their monster partners were extremely grateful to finally have a decent place to rest.

Given everything they had endured, it didn’t take long for everyone to fall asleep.

"You four do not need to serve as lookouts," Leone said to Ulric, Kael, Jason, and Khan. "Daedalus and Hassan will handle everything."

"Relax. We got this," Hassan said in a volume only the four of them could hear.

"I already set up some traps," Daedalus added. "Anyone who dares to enter this fortress will regret it."

With the two assuring them that everything would be fine, the four decided to follow Leone’s orders and sleep for the night.

Once everyone had settled down to rest, Leone then did the same.

He temporarily returned his consciousness to Grimjaw Mountain so that his mind could properly rest as well.

———————

Somewhere in Eden...

"My Lord, Kael has built a fortress right outside Eden," reported one of the guards, whom Hagen had assigned to watch over Leone and his men.

A long, heavy sigh escaped Hagen’s lips.

He still wasn’t sure if he had made the right decision by allowing Leone to do whatever he had done.

However, the promise the young man offered them was simply too difficult to pass up.

An impenetrable defense that wouldn’t fall even if their enemies used powerful siege weapons against its walls.

Hagen had personally witnessed the truth of those words when the Darkmane Tribe used their Fire Catapults against the Aslan Tribe’s fortress.

No matter how many times they attacked, the walls stood proud and tall without showing any signs of destruction.

"Kael..." Hagen muttered.

He had tried to poach the shaman from Leone in the past, even promising him great riches and honors.

Yet, Kael had rejected every offer Hagen made as if he couldn’t be bothered by them.

And once again, the shaman had proven why he was a talent worth having.

’I guess I’ll visit that fortress tomorrow,’ Hagen thought before dismissing the guard.

By now, he knew that the other chieftains were likely receiving similar reports.

However, none of them could do anything about it.

The Aslan Tribe was simply too valuable right now.

Or at least they would be until the war against the Aurelion Empire was over.

For the time being, Hagen decided to set aside any plans he had for Leone and the Aslan Tribe.

What mattered most to him right now was whether his proposal for tomorrow’s meeting would be accepted.

Using the aggression of their surrounding neighbors as an excuse, Hagen and Godwin planned to finally elect the next Barbarian King.

But there was only one problem.

Everyone wanted to be that person.

For that reason, the only way Hagen could secure a chance for himself was to have his proposal approved.

As long as he gained enough votes, the first step of his plan would be complete.

Hagen had already prepared every detail of his proposal, which included a tournament that would give every chieftain a chance to prove their strength and earn the right to lead the barbarian tribes.

As long as his plan was approved, Hagen was confident that he could manipulate the tournament to his advantage and eliminate every obstacle standing between him and the throne that he had sought for all his life.

Tomorrow, the chieftains would decide the future of the Borderlands.

And Hagen intended to make sure that the path they chose would ultimately lead him to the throne.