Building An Empire Starting From The Labor Camp In Exile-Chapter 281: Helena

"I never liked him much as well," a woman’s voice said.

Atrox sat on the chair. He had to praise Thrain for something. The guy knew and enjoyed the game of politics! Even in the frontlines, he had made a small castle of metal and then set his throne to be as tall as possible so he could look down at everyone from where he sat.

So Atrox was able to look down at Chief Helena Varrow. But it wasn’t an easy thing. She was a tall woman with a muscular build, her mouth was wide and her eyes bigger, with a long forehead. She lacked physical beauty, but she did have a charm about her, like a drake’s beauty or the battle hammer’s cold beauty.

"Then you should be happy that I take care of him. Chief Terrix Choxa, thank you for bringing Chief Helena Varrow," Atrox said.

Terrix bowed. "Of course, my lord."

Helena narrowed her eyes. "I’ve not seen much of you, boy, but you are definitely a Soryu, and we are gathered here to kill you. Why are you sitting on that throne?"

Atrox tapped the hands of the throne seat. "This? Because I killed the owner. Just as he did. You don’t look like the one to conceal a blade with your words. You are more like the blunt hammer. Come, speak what you will!"

She smiled wide, and her teeth gleamed. "You are very much like your father before he had you, I see. Blunt and straight to the point. That’s something Thrain did not have, I guess."

Helena took a step forward, and Slya together with Tiber slid forward to stand in front of Atrox’s seat. They blinked in surprise.

What they did was a reflex. It was something they would have done if they were in the ruin and a beast suddenly appeared, walking towards them. That was exactly how Helena looked at that moment.

Helena stopped and raised her brows. "Oh? Even ordinary Knights? This is something you Soryu know how to do best. Somehow, compared to others, your family Clans always have the smallest members, but you still rule over us all. It’s an impressive feat you’ve been pulling off all these years."

Atrox narrowed his eyes. He felt as if he was trying to parry with a giant cat with fangs as long as hands, with just his bare hands. He knew the situation he was in clearly.

Right then, everything could collapse. He had no power to back anything up. His Master Knight, Pomora, was seriously injured and wouldn’t be able to fight.

Atrox himself was completely dry of essence. His remaining two Master Knights were miles away.

The only thing he could see stopping her was Terrix Choxa. But then, if the two of them just wished to deal away with him together, then what?

The other thing that Atrox knew was holding them back was the Clan itself. Right now, the Soryu Clan is the most center thing, and everything else revolves around them. Should they forcefully remove them, then everything would fall apart.

The other small Clans would swoop in and take everything.

Everyone understands this. Atrox smiled. "Why do you think we continue to pull it off?"

"Because you have always been the strongest," Helena said.

"And now?" Atrox asked softly.

"But now you are a lot weaker. Your father started it, and your brother continued it. And now you take the reins. Your power right now isn’t built on the Soryu itself. It’s leaning on others like a parasite," Helena said, watching Atrox’s reactions intently.

Even though she said she didn’t play politics, that was simply a lie. No one would reach her stage without knowing how. They might choose not to play, but they sure know how.

What she did just then was a pure game. She’s trying to talk down on Atrox’s Clan to bring down his power. Atrox understood this, and instead of getting angry at her words, he laughed. "Ah! You are right. We are parasites. But that might not be the case for you in the coming days, Chief Helena Varrow, if you want."

She was mildly surprised, but she asked, "What do you mean?"

Atrox smiled and leaned forward. "Instead of leaning on you to gain power, why don’t I cut you free? Let me declare you as a free Clan. A state unto itself!"

The reaction the words brought was swift. Helena looked as if she’d been slapped. Of all the things she expected, she didn’t expect him to say something like that.

A Clan like Soryu isn’t just ruling over the smaller Clans under it. They are also protecting them. An incident once occurred a long time ago, many Clan Leaders’ generations ago, where one big Clan wanted to fight with the Soryu Clan, their lord.

But instead of mobilizing his army, the then Clan leader simply declared the Clan as independent and gave them the right to rule themselves.

For the first month, things went well for the said Clan, but on the second, everyone, including the Hinterlands, wanted to invade this new Clan that appeared among them.

They didn’t last a day, as they were completely looted of their lives and everything they owned.

So when Helena heard that, her smile vanished and her eyes flashed. Pressure began to flow from her. "That is a threat."

Atrox simply shrugged the pressure away. He’d felt far worse pressure. "It is a threat, Chief Helena Varrow. I am the Clan leader, and I will hold my Clan together. Parasites or not. Now, do you want to serve me or not, Chief Helena Varrow? Will you follow me?"

Helena’s eyes flashed as she looked at Atrox, who stared back at her with steady eyes. She hesitated, then shrugged. "You or Thrain, it makes little difference. I just want a powerful Clan again. Like when your father was at his peak. Can you promise that?"

Atrox smiled like a freshly sharpened blade. "I promise it. And even more."

Helena flashed a dangerous smile. "I don’t enjoy fake promises."

"And I don’t give one," Atrox said calmly. "I am a Soryu. It is in my blood to be strong and to take. Don’t worry, Chiefs, there will be a lot of taking for us."