My Kingdom Building Done Right!-Chapter 24: The Chieftain of The Black Wolf Tribe

"Something’s wrong," one of the Scouts from the Black Wolf Tribe murmured, narrowing his eyes.

The other scouts felt it too. From a hidden vantage point, they had been observing the Alborin Tribe’s camp for a while.

They could see "people" standing in place, but none of them had moved. They were all standing stationary, which they found strange.

"Do you think they’re having a meeting or some kind of war preparation?" another scout proposed.

"It’s possible," Brakka, the leader of the scouting team, replied. "But there’s a faster way to find out. Follow me."

He urged his wolf mount to move, heading straight for the Alborin Tribe camp. If they reacted to his approach, he would simply say he was there to ask if they had decided to accept their Chief’s invitation.

It was a very valid excuse that prevented any outright hostilities.

But as he rode into the camp, he realized his suspicion was actually right on spot.

The figures they had seen standing guard were scarecrows, fooling anyone observing from a distance.

Brakka dismounted to check the nearest hut. As expected, it was empty.

His subordinates did the same, and after confirming that every hut was deserted, the truth became clear.

"They escaped," Brakka chuckled, crouching to touch the wheel tracks on the ground. "A few days ago, at least..."

He returned to his mount and ordered it to follow the trails.

The group traveled for nearly half an hour, expecting the track left by the wagons to change direction. But the trail led steadily toward the mountain in the distance. Brakka and his men eventually concluded that Ulric and his people had decided to flee to Grimjaw Mountain.

"Should we pursue them?" asked one of Brakka’s subordinates.

"No," Brakka replied. "We return to our camp and report this to the Chieftain. He will decide what to do next."

The scouts turned back and hurried to their camp, where their Chieftain was waiting for their return.

A few hours later...

"They escaped?" Arlo the Wolf, Chieftain of the Black Wolf Tribe, sneered after hearing Brakka’s report. "I guess Ulric isn’t all brawn and no brains. Where are they headed?"

"I believe they had gone to Grimjaw Mountain, Sir," Brakka replied.

"Grimjaw Mountain?" Arlo frowned. "They must be so desperate to flee from us that they would take such a risk."

"Indeed." Brakka agreed. "What do we do now, Sir? Should we pursue them?"

"Hmm..." Arlo didn’t answer right away. He rested his cheek on his palm, elbow propped on the arm of his throne made of bone. He could simply ignore the Alborin Tribe and continue his conquest of the Borderlands. They were fleeing into danger, after all.

But if he let them escape, the other tribes might look down on him. The other tribes might even think they could do the same, slipping through his fingers like sand.

"How long would it take to reach Grimjaw Mountain from here?" Arlo asked Brakka.

"At least three to four days, Sir," Brakka answered.

"Hmm..." Arlo narrowed his eyes. "Send a messenger to our allied tribes. Tell their Chieftains to meet with me tonight. We will discuss a plan to hunt down the Alborin Tribe before the end of our deadline."

"Yes, Chieftain!" Brakka replied before leaving the hut.

Arlo closed his eyes and meditated a bit. In his mind’s eye, he simulated fighting Ulric in his Werewolf Form.

He could shift at will, but his power was stronger when the sun was down. On the nights of a full moon, he was invincible.

After a few simulations, he sighed. He couldn’t beat Ulric unless he was fighting at his full strength. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

It was almost tradition for Chieftains to fight each other for honor and glory. While not always the case, the chieftain of a tribe was usually its strongest warrior.

If Ulric challenged him to single combat and he refused, his own men and his allies would call him a coward.

Worse, if he lost, his ambition of becoming the Barbarian King of the Borderlands would die right there.

Someone who wished to take that role must be strong, and to a certain degree, have an undefeated record.

So, he couldn’t risk fighting Ulric while not at his peak. If a battle between them had to happen, it would be on the night of the full moon.

This changed his approach, but not the final result.

He would arrive at Grimjaw Mountain and launch a night raid with his allies. After that, whether Ulric challenged him or not would no longer matter. By then, he would be strong enough to crush him.

"Yes, there’s nothing to worry about." Arlo smirked. "The Alborin Tribe will be mine. And after I’ve subjugated all the other tribes in the Borderlands, I will proclaim myself the Barbarian King."

He narrowed his eyes, thinking further ahead. After ten years, he would have enough resources and manpower to challenge the true Barbarian King in the west.

Once he achieved that, even the Kingdom of Britannia and the surrounding kingdoms would know to fear him.

"I hope you’re smart enough, Ulric, to bow to me when you realize you can’t win," Arlo muttered. "I’d hate to lose a strong subordinate who could help me conquer these lands."

That was the real reason he had targeted the Alborin Tribe. He wanted Ulric. The man’s strength would bring him one step closer to his dreams.

As for Ulric’s beautiful daughter, Yuni, the Chieftain of the Black Wolf Tribe merely saw her as an added bonus. Not as a lover but a mere leash to make Ulric obey.