Chapter 459: I. AM. KING! [Part 2]

"Leone, are you really serious about this?" Oswald asked. "Are you really leaving?"

"Yes," Leone answered.

"But why?" Garen asked. "We could just persecute Hagen and everyone else who opposed your right to be King."

"That’s right." Oswald nodded. "Why must you go to such lengths?"

"Tell me, Leone. What would it take for us to make you stay?" Duncan asked in a serious tone.

Truth be told, everyone, including Hagen and Godwin, knew that Leone would play a key role in the war that would take place in a few days.

Most of them had been present in that battle against the Monster King. With the Aslan Tribe fighting by their side, their chances of winning would increase.

Also, who wouldn’t want to have "Kael’s" miraculous powers that could build a fortress in almost an instant?

With him around, the defenses of Eden would remain impenetrable!

"After seven days, if I still see the banners of the Aslan Tribe fluttering across the entirety of Eden, I will join the war," Leone stated. "If it’s not there, well, I’ll just watch from the side and cheer for the barbarians."

The young man then glanced at the blue window screen by his side, displaying the latest mission he had received a while ago.

——————

[Territory Mission 2]

[Requirements to upgrade to Rank 3: 4/10]

[Fourth Mission: I. AM. KING!]

[Difficulty Rating: Hell Mode]

Many warriors have yet to recognize you as a worthy leader. They have heard your heroic tale, but they believe your vassals have exaggerated your achievements to make you look good.

[Objective]: Make the barbarian tribes understand that you don’t need their recognition nor their validation to become King. You walk the path of the Hero King, not the King they assume you to be. If they wish to follow you, they must do so of their own accord!

[Chain Quest 1]: Do not participate in the first seven days of the war.

[Chain Quest 2]: After seven days, regardless of whether Eden falls or not, your mission is to force the Aurelion Empire to surrender or retreat.

[Optional Mission]: Make the Aurelion Empire fear you. If you clear the conditions of this quest, you will receive massive rewards.

——————

The three middle-ranked chieftains glanced at each other, surprised by Leone’s condition.

Suddenly, Troy, who had followed Leone earlier, made an announcement.

"The Darkmane Tribe will follow the Aslan Tribe and will sit back for the first seven days of this war," Troy declared.

"What did you say?!" Malik, who had just arrived in Leone’s fortress, gasped in shock. "You’re leaving as well?!"

"Yes," Troy replied. "Do you think I would sacrifice my people to defend Eden when there’s clearly no chance of winning? All of you can play martyrs all you want. I refuse to play along with this nonsense."

Malik then shifted his attention toward Leone, hoping the young man would see reason.

However, the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe only shook his head.

He had made up his mind. He would simply watch the battle from the side until the moment arrived when he would deliver a critical strike to the enemy.

"Don’t overthink things, Malik." Troy chuckled. "Come with us. Just like Leone, the Sandreaver Tribe also has no use for Eden, right? In your eyes, Eden is only a symbol. I’m sure the middle-ranked tribes also think the same.

"From the start, the high-ranking tribes have monopolized Eden. The other tribes simply cling to it as tradition. So, if I were you three, I would join us and leave Eden in three hours."

"Troy, you bastard! Just what do you think you are doing?!" Godwin, who had also arrived to try to use reason to make Leone stay, had heard the Lionkin’s words. "Why are you trying to make everyone leave Eden?! Have you lost your mind?"

"Lost my mind?" Troy sneered. "I am perfectly sane, Godwin. I am merely following the will of the Barbarian King. In fact, I should be the one asking you that question. Why are you not following our King?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Godwin roared back in anger. "Do you think this is mere child’s play?! Do you think this is some kind of game?!"

Troy heaved a long and deep sigh. "Let me ask you this. Do you believe this kid is leaving over such a petty reason? Hagen planning to have him killed is a serious matter, but do you really think he’d find that threatening?

"I don’t understand how his mind works, but I believe he has a plan to defeat the Aurelion Empire. My instincts are telling me that I should follow his lead and that doing so would minimize the casualties of my tribe."

Malik stared at Leone with a serious expression. "Do you really have a plan, Leone? Are you really not planning to abandon Eden entirely?"

"If I planned on abandoning Eden from the start, why do you think I chased the Britannian Army away?" Leone asked back.

"So you do have a plan." Godwin narrowed his eyes.

"Earlier, I didn’t," Leone admitted. "But now, a plan is starting to form inside my head."

"What’s your plan, then?" Godwin asked.

"Simple," Leone replied. "Have all the tribes abandon Eden."

"...By the Goddess. Are you mad?!" Godwin gasped.

Troy laughed from the side, finding Leone’s plan crazy. However, he remembered that fateful night when the young man had planted his banner in the center of the city.

He said that he had to do that so that he could reinforce the defenses of Eden.

At that moment, a chilling idea came to Troy’s mind. Since Kael could build a fortress in less than ten minutes, then wouldn’t that mean he could also destroy it in less than ten minutes?

The Chieftain of the Darkmane Tribe then shifted his attention toward the city.

’This kid...’ Troy realized that leaving Eden might actually be a brilliant idea!

A moment later, he laughed once more, further irritating Godwin, who had no idea what the Lionkin was thinking.

Troy stopped laughing before patting Godwin’s shoulder. "I always thought you were smarter than me. But in this case, looks like I am smarter than you. Since you look truly clueless, let me give you a hint."

The smile on the Lionkin’s face widened, making Malik, Oswald, Duncan, and Garen look at him as if they were looking at someone crazy.

"If the Aurelion Empire wants Eden so badly, then let them have it." Troy’s eyes gleamed with evil intent. "Let them march their army into the city. Let them celebrate. Let them believe that they have finally defeated us. And then..."

The sinister smile on the Lionkin’s face widened.

"Destroy it," Troy declared.

Godwin’s expression froze. "Destroy... Eden?"

Troy then pointed at Kael. "Have you forgotten how easily Kael destroyed the walls of Eden? Is it an exaggeration to say that if he wanted to, he could destroy this city at this very moment?"

Kael blinked once, then twice, before raising his chin arrogantly while playing with his beard.

"As expected of you, Troy," Kael replied calmly. "It seems that you’re finally starting to understand how my Great Chieftain’s mind works. With one wave of my hand, I can turn Eden into the graveyard of the Aurelion Empire. We don’t even need to lose a single warrior from that exchange."

Godwin, Malik, Duncan, Oswald, and Garen’s eyes all widened in shock.

They finally understood the picture Troy was painting!

Once the soldiers of the Aurelion Empire captured Eden, they would use the buildings as their temporary homes.

And if Kael destroyed those homes while everyone was sound asleep, they could potentially kill thousands, and perhaps injure thousands more without the barbarian tribes losing even a single warrior!

"I knew you were planning something amazing, Leone!" Oswald patted the young man’s shoulders. "I believed in you from the start!"

"Hahaha!" Duncan burst into laughter. "My faith in you never wavered for even a moment! I knew there had to be a reason behind your decision. As they say, if you want to fool your enemies, you must first fool your allies!"

"As expected of our Great Chieftain!" Kael nodded in satisfaction. "This is what you call winning the war by making the enemy believe that they have already won!"

Leone smiled faintly, but if one looked closely, the corner of his lips was twitching.

Frankly, he hadn’t thought about destroying the city to annihilate the Aurelion Empire’s army in the beginning.

If anything, his original plan was to go back to the Aslan Tribe and mobilize all of his manpower to attack the enemy from the rear.

But thanks to this discussion, the idea of allowing the Aurelion Empire to enter Eden and destroy it appeared in his mind.

Not only would they not lose a single warrior, but they would also deal a heavy blow to the enemy.

"I understand now." Godwin nodded. "But should we share this information with Hagen and the Grimhowl Tribe?"

Everyone fell silent after hearing Godwin’s statement. If they really told Hagen about their plan, would he simply nod his head and follow them, or would he divulge this information to the enemy and make this flawless plan fall into ruin?

"Let’s not tell Hagen about this plan," Troy said firmly. "However, we can’t simply let the warriors of the Grimhowl Tribe die either. How about we give them a choice? Either they follow the will of our Barbarian King, Leone, or follow Hagen to the bitter end."

While this discussion was happening, another heated discussion was happening somewhere in Eden.

Hagen, Gundar, Marcus, Elias, and the Elders of the Grimhowl Tribe were all having an important meeting.

Now that they knew that Hagen had planned to have Leone killed using a borrowed knife, the great shaman of the Borderlands was very displeased with him.

In fact, Gundar had stated that Hagen should make a choice.

Either make an oath to the Earth Mother, swearing allegiance to Leone, or be exiled from the Borderlands.

Although Gundar didn’t want to admit it, the youngest chieftain of the Borderlands had already become his reverse scale.

If someone were to try and harm him, Gundar would not sit by and let them have their way.

With everyone waiting for his reply, Hagen heaved a long and deep sigh.

"If only he didn’t exist," Hagen said softly, making Gundar narrow his eyes.

Still, this was the moment of truth.

Hagen had to make a choice between allegiance and exile.

A choice he never thought would fall upon his head.