Chapter 91: Chapter 90: Impatient Sleirein

In the afternoon, with the sun just beginning to dip, young Lauren had traveled nonstop for more than ten miles with a letter handwritten by Jenny, finally arriving at the edge of the Grey Soil Tribe’s territory.

By now, his entire body was drenched in sweat. He staggered with every step, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

His face was caked with dust and etched with fatigue. The light had faded from his eyes, leaving only the misery of a journey still not over.

He wouldn’t have been this exhausted, but he had run the last few miles. It was all an act to make himself look like he was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.

These were Jenny’s instructions.

Only by showing up gasping for breath could Lauren convey the urgency and danger of the situation, and convince Sleirein of what had happened to her and Erin.

’I’m finally here!’

Unlike the Cyan Bamboo and Purple Fruit Tribes, the Grey Soil Tribe was more populous and situated on the “front lines.” Several two-man teams patrolled its perimeter. Lauren spotted one and immediately stumbled toward it.

“Help… help me… Help!”

The two patrolmen heard the shouts and spotted Lauren’s figure. “Who’s there?!”

Lauren hurriedly pulled the handwritten letter from his tunic. “Purple Fruit Tribe… Jenny Mage… seeking… seeking Lord Sleirein’s aid!”

He took two more steps and then, THUD, pitched face-first onto the ground.

Seeing this, the two patrolmen immediately ran over. They knew of the Purple Fruit Tribe—they were allies.

They had also heard of the beautiful Female Mage named Jenny. She was the very woman their leader coveted.

“Quick, help him to the leader!”

Not daring to delay, they hoisted Lauren up between them and hurried toward the fortress.

The Grey Soil Tribe’s fortress could be considered a primitive version of a nobleman’s castle. Many parts were made of wood. If Ronin saw it, he would undoubtedly resort to a fire-based assault, opening his attack with the Fireball Skill.

The main tower and keep at the front, however, were built of stone and looked thick and sturdy.

The stones and Arrows raining down from above would still pose a significant threat to Ronin’s soldiers; a frontal assault would incur considerable losses.

In the main hall of the keep, Sleirein, leader of the Grey Soil Tribe, sat upon his high seat. He was a burly man with coarse features, but his small eyes looked somewhat out of place.

He was currently staring at a middle-aged man beside him, asking anxiously, “Well, Mam? What does the letter say?”

It was no wonder Sleirein was anxious. He was truly illiterate, unable to even write his own name.

Mam, the man before him, had once been a member of the Purple Fruit Tribe. He had developed a good relationship with Sleirein during a past collaboration and had subsequently joined the Grey Soil Tribe.

Mam was literate. “My lord, this is indeed Jenny’s handwriting. The contents are just as Lauren said: she and Miss Erin have been imprisoned and abused by Horn. She wrote this letter hoping you will rescue the mother and daughter. In return, she will agree to your previous request.”

“Hahaha, excellent!”

Sleirein roared with laughter. As he pictured Jenny, and then the young girl Erin, the smile on his face grew wider and more brilliant.

To be the self-proclaimed leader of the Tripartite Alliance and yet not possess its most desirable woman was a long-standing point of bitterness for him.

’This is a rare opportunity!’

“Mam, go tell Babulin and the others. Bring a few of our most agile men. We’ll mount up and ride for the Purple Fruit Tribe at once to save Jenny and Erin!”

“My lord, I find this matter a bit strange.”

Mam frowned. “From what I know of Horn, he doesn’t seem like the type to abuse Jenny. He always came across as an honest man, and he was very respectful toward her.”

“Heh, what do you know? Horn may look honest, but he’s probably full of devious schemes. I bet he’s been resentful of Jenny for a long time.”

Sleirein sneered. “Now that he’s been promoted to Advanced Level, he thinks he’s something special. His hidden, filthy heart is finally showing its true colors. He wants to use Jenny and her daughter to get some of his pride back!”

“But my lord, I still feel that something is off…”

Sleirein took a deep breath. If Mam weren’t an Intermediate Knight, and the second-strongest expert in the Grey Soil Tribe at that, he would have started cursing him out already. As it was, he had to show him some respect.

“You don’t understand a woman like Jenny. She would never ask me for help unless she were pushed to the absolute brink.”

He knew Jenny despised him, but what did that matter? ’After today, she’ll be my woman. And I’ll have the mother and daughter together. Just the thought of it is thrilling.’

“Don’t worry, I won’t let a pretty face cloud my judgment.”

Sleirein said to Mam, “Rescuing Jenny and her daughter is secondary. The main objective today is to take over the Purple Fruit Tribe. Once we’ve absorbed them, Willie of the Cyan Bamboo Tribe will be no cause for concern. When we’re the same size as the Black-collar Tribe, we can build our own castles and tall towers, and live a life several times better than we do now!”

“Mam, go and gather the men. We’re riding to the Purple Fruit Tribe!”

Sleirein wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by. “So what if that Horn is an Advanced Level Knight? I’m an Advanced Level Knight, too! And we have you and Babulin, two Intermediate Knights, plus three Basic Level Knights. We have nothing to fear from him!”

Seeing that his leader’s mind was made up, Mam had no choice but to accept.

Even though he suspected a trap, it was just as Sleirein said: even if there was some trickery, they were more than strong enough to handle it.

They could even handle it if the Purple Fruit Tribe and the Cyan Bamboo Tribe joined forces to ambush them.

As for the Black-collar Tribe, they had just finished their autumn harvest and should be busy distributing and paying their grain tributes. They wouldn’t have time to launch a surprise attack.

“Very well, my lord. I will go and prepare. However, we must make the round trip within three days. It will be trouble for us if the Black-collar Tribe learns of our absence.”

“No problem!”

Sleirein nodded in agreement. Mam had a good head on his shoulders, which was precisely why he had recruited him to the Grey Soil Tribe in the first place.

“Lauren, you’ve done very well!”

He sat back down in his chair, looking down imperiously at the exhausted Lauren. He already considered the man one of his own people.

“From now on, you and your masters will live peacefully here in the Grey Soil Tribe. I’ve already had someone prepare lunch for you. You may go now, eat your fill, and get some rest.”

“Thank you for your arrangements!”

Lauren stood and bowed. “My masters, Jenny and Miss Erin, are waiting for your rescue in a damp hut in the Purple Fruit Tribe. Please, don’t make them wait too long!”

“Rest assured. You and your masters will be reunited by tomorrow afternoon at the latest!”

Sleirein was in high spirits. He wished he could sprout wings and fly to the Purple Fruit Tribe that very instant, kill Horn, and then kick down the door of that shabby hut like a hero to display his might before Jenny and Erin.

’Pah! Just because he became an Advanced Level Knight, has he forgotten that he’s just a man I’ve already defeated?’

Sleirein was utterly contemptuous of Horn and had never considered him a worthy opponent. ’This time, I’ll show you what a *real* Advanced Level Knight can do!’

Soon, Mam had gathered the men.

The mobilized party included himself, Sleirein, and Babulin, as well as three Basic Level Knights and five Cavalry.

These eleven horses constituted the Grey Soil Tribe’s entire stable, acquired through several prisoner exchanges with the Black-collar Tribe and a few outside purchases.

This was a point of pride for Sleirein. After all, he was the only one in the Tripartite Alliance who possessed horses, which was precisely what had enticed Mam to join him in the first place.

Eleven men were enough to defeat the Purple Fruit Tribe, but controlling its people would be difficult.

Fortunately, they were supposedly there to rescue the Purple Fruit Tribe’s leader. As long as they saved Jenny, her people would likely submit to them.

Sleirein scanned his troops, his eyes flashing with ambition. “Let’s go! We ride!”

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