My Kingdom Building Done Right!-Chapter 52: We Came Here First!

"Chief, is this true?" one of Kael’s warriors spoke up. "If we choose to be that person’s vassal, will we really receive the same privileges as the Alborin Tribe?"

"It’s true." Kael nodded. "He was the one who bestowed those powerful Raptors upon the warriors of the Alborin Tribe as well."

"T-Then, if you become his vassal, will you also regain your youth, like Ulric?" another warrior asked. "Will you also get something like Fury?! That Dire Bear is truly imposing!"

Everyone nodded in agreement. The Dire Bear that frequented their camp for cooked food looked docile and tolerated the kids of their tribe. But they knew it was a killing machine when angered.

"Then is that person aiming to be the Great Chieftain of the Borderlands?" One of the Elders of the Riverfang Tribe asked. "Does he plan to unite all the tribes under one banner and challenge the Barbarian King of the West?"

"I don’t know," Kael asked. "All he told me is that he wants to create a place where everyone can live in peace. But... I have a feeling the other tribes will not just stand by and watch another powerful faction grow right under their nose.

"The middle-ranked tribes, like the Bloodtusk Tribe, will definitely not want another upstart like Arlo to appear in the Borderlands."

The Bloodtusk Tribe was a middle-ranked tribe whose population numbered around two thousand. According to rumors, they had been sending envoys to their fellow middle-ranked tribes, offering to cooperate and form a powerful coalition.

"Does this mean we might be forced to fight those powerful tribes from the west?" a warrior asked anxiously.

"The west is the least of your worries. We must first consider how the Southern Tribes will react to this development." An Elder shook his head helplessly. "Chief, it seems we’ve jumped out of the frying pan into the fire."

Kael nodded in agreement. But his eyes had no tinge of anxiety in them. In fact, he felt fired up, just like when he was still young and wished to make the Borderlands a better place for his tribe.

"Your fears are all warranted," Kael said without sugar coating their situation. "But I can feel it. If we follow Sir Leone, we will see a different scenery from what we’re used to.

"We used to work hard just to offer tributes to other tribes in exchange for ’protection’. I know many of you hated it. But if enduring meant we’ll survive, we just had to do it."

"But it’s different this time. Sir Leone told me that nothing would change even if we refused to be vassals. We can still stay here and enjoy their protection. However, we have to adapt. The new chieftain of the Black Wolf Tribe had sought asylum, just like us."

"I’m concerned Sir Leone will give them the same offer. If they became his vassals, they would be of equal standing with the Alborin Tribe. They will surpass us in hierarchy, even if we came here first."

"What?!" one of the Elders looked at Kael in disbelief. "If that’s true, I believe the Black Wolf Tribe will truly agree to be Sir Leone’s vassal. They might have more people, but their tribe is in its most vulnerable moment.

"If there’s a way to raise their status under Sir Leone’s banner, they will definitely do it. Chief, if their status increases, we’ll forever remain at the bottom of the hierarchy. We can’t let that happen. We came here first!"

The old man’s impassioned words caught the agreement of the other Elders and the Warriors of the Riverfang Tribe.

They had come to the Grimjaw Mountain first. Besides, they would be serving the new Great Chieftain either way, so they might as well agree and receive benefits like the Alborin Tribe.

Of course, they were being selfish out of envy for the Alborin Tribe’s newfound strength.

Their warriors also gave off a different kind of vibe from their own warriors. A silent strength that made them feel like they would only grow stronger and stronger as time passed.

"Chief, I think there’s no need to hesitate," one of the Elders said firmly. "Before anyone steals a march from us, we must swear our allegiance to Sir Leone. Also, I have a beautiful granddaughter..."

Kael chuckled as he looked at the older man. What a schemer. They had thought of the same thing, and he had even made the move first. How could he allow the old twerp to have a march on his own granddaughter?! Not a chance!

Still, whether Leone would actually take them in or not was the problem. While their granddaughters were beauties, Yuni was a league ahead of them. If even someone like her couldn’t be engaged to the young man, could their candidates make the cut?

More warriors voiced their agreement. After a while, Kael asked them to gather the tribe in the square. They would now share the results of their meeting with their people.

If the majority of his tribe members agreed to be Leone’s vassal, this was already a done deal!

While this was happening, Jason stood on the cliff with Yuni by his side.

He looked down at the barracks and the surrounding forest from the stone parapets. That latter area seemed to be a good place for constructing a town or city since they had plenty of resources within reach.

He had already made up his mind to swear his allegiance to Leone, who had changed the Alborin Tribe for the better.

"Yuni, the other tribes will not stand still after my tribe migrates here in the Grimjaw Mountain," Jason said in a serious tone. "This place might become a battlefield in the future. Beating the low-ranked tribes might not be a problem, but if the middle-ranked tribes attack us..."

"We will win," Yuni interjected before Jason could even finish whatever he was going to say. "We will win and continue to win. I believe in Leone and Daedalus. They will make a miracle happen once more."

A soft sigh escaped Jason’s lips. His sworn sister truly believed in the future she envisioned.

"I hope you’re right," Jason said before looking in the direction of the Black Wolf Tribe’s Camp. "For your sake and mine as well."

Yuni didn’t know why, but she wasn’t the least bit afraid of the other tribes invading them.

Back then, she had been terrified at the thought of Arlo leading his warriors to force them to submission. It seemed that she had become braver... and a little more optimistic.

’His optimism must be rubbing off on me,’ Yuni thought of the young man flying around the mountain, riding on Arion’s back.

Although she, her father, and the other members of the Alborin Tribe wouldn’t admit it, they regarded Leone as the Hero the Goddess had sent them on that fateful day when they needed him the most.