Volume 3, Chapter 7 – Discussion

A hundred thousand half-beasts gone, just like that?

Without a doubt, the moment the orcs heard that question, an uproar broke out. Even Yeluo, who had been quietly standing there while guessing the reason behind being summoned, couldn’t help but be taken aback.

A hundred thousand half-beasts.

That was far more than just a number. It was the equivalent of an entire legion.

And now, a legion’s worth of half-beasts had disappeared from the Stronghold’s ranks…

Even if those missing were merely half-beasts, the disappearance of so many was still something that deeply shocked the Stronghold’s high command. Sometimes, sheer quantity was enough to make the upper ranks take notice.

If it had been only a few hundred or a few thousand missing, the Stronghold’s leadership would have just sent a small investigation team and called it a day.

But a hundred thousand?

That was enough for the Stronghold to summon the leader of the half-beast race herself for questioning.

“My king, I honestly don’t know much about this either. During the recent chaos, most of our half-beast kin were scattered by the undead of the Graveyard. I’ve been busy gathering the survivors… as for those who vanished… I truly don’t know…”

The half-beast girl Yeluo answered respectfully.

Rеαⅾ оո KαtRеаԁіոɡСаfe

What she said wasn’t wrong. The half-beasts, lacking combat strength, had been utterly crushed during the Graveyard’s previous assault before they could even react.

Still, thanks to a timely retreat, the half-beasts had not suffered total annihilation, their tribe was simply scattered.

However, the old orc sitting on the throne didn’t seem satisfied with that answer.

“That is not what I want to hear, Yeluo. As the chieftain of the half-beast race, you should have a clear grasp of your people’s movements. Understand?”

“Yes…”

Seeing that Yeluo made no attempt to argue, the old orc slowly closed his cloudy eyes.

“According to reports, these hundred thousand half-beasts did not fall to the undead. On the contrary, over time, they left our Stronghold voluntarily.”

“I don’t know what happened among them, but Yeluo, as the half-beast chieftain, I expect you to bring back every one of those who have betrayed our Stronghold.”

“Considering they may resist, I’ll assign the Legendary Beastman commander, Grinrui the Skullcrusher, to accompany you with his three hundred thousand orc army.”

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the orcs standing at the sides, massive, muscular, and radiating an aura of danger, stepped forward immediately.

Rеad оn ΚаtRеαⅾiոɡСаfе

“My king, if those half-beasts dare resist, I’ll crush their skulls one by one.”

So that’s why they called him Skullcrusher.

The old orc nodded slowly.

“Good… with Grinrui’s help, Yeluo, I believe it’ll be easy for you to find the missing half-beasts. I expect good news from you.”

“Yeluo understands.”

The cat-eared girl’s body trembled slightly, but in the end, she lowered her head and agreed.

“Now that the search for the missing half-beasts is set in motion, there’s still more that needs to be discussed regarding how we proceed.”

As he spoke, the old orc swept his deep gaze across everyone present.

“The places where these half-beasts vanished are located near the border between our Stronghold and the Kingdom, in other words, near the Northern Fortress.”

“Unfortunately, that area remains under the control of the Graveyard’s undead. But according to reliable intelligence, the disappearances occurred right around the Northern Fortress.”

Reaⅾ οո ΚatRеаdiոɡСаfe

“So… everyone, in this operation to investigate the half-beasts’ disappearance, I expect all of you to contribute. And if necessary, seize the Northern Fortress from the undead!”

The Northern Fortress.

That was the place where Tianyin had first unleashed the Seven Deadly Sins, and also where the Graveyard had first launched its invasion into the Main World.

It was located at the northern border of the Kingdom Faction, serving for millions of years as the only fortress preventing the orcs of the Stronghold from invading south.

The Kingdom’s army had always been stationed there in massive numbers, but when the Graveyard attacked, the fortress fell, and its defenders were completely wiped out.

Now, under the old orc’s command, the Stronghold’s forces were to search for the missing half-beasts there, and if the chance arose, to also take control of the fortress currently occupied by the Graveyard.

“My king, according to the Great Prophet’s orders, our allied armies are still fighting the Graveyard together. The Northern Fortress is one of the Kingdom’s targets for reclamation. Wouldn’t taking it ourselves be… inappropriate?”

One of the orcs voiced his concern.

After all, the undead hadn’t been defeated yet, and the Stronghold and the Kingdom were still formal allies.

Moreover, according to the previous division decided by the Thrones, each faction would reclaim its own territories occupied by the Graveyard. The Northern Fortress, being a key strategic point, was designated as one the Kingdom must take back.

Rеad oո ΚаtReαⅾіոɡСafе

If the Kingdom were to find out that the Stronghold had suddenly sent troops to seize it, the alliance could easily collapse. A war between the two factions might even break out.

“Ridiculous. Didn’t I just say? We would only occupy the Northern Fortress to assist in searching for the missing hundred thousand half-beasts.”

“If the Kingdom has objections, I’ll personally explain it to them. Besides, our occupation would only be temporary.”

“Once we’ve found those hundred thousand half-beasts and brought them all back to the Stronghold, we’ll withdraw and hand the fortress back to the Kingdom.”

The old orc’s expression was filled with displeasure.

But those words effectively silenced the doubts of the others present. After all, the loss of a hundred thousand half-beasts was indeed a grave matter for their faction.

So, occupying the Northern Fortress temporarily for the sake of this search seemed understandable.

And since the fortress would be returned afterward, there was little reason to argue.

Still, none of them seemed to notice the subtle emphasis in the old orc’s words, “Bring the missing half-beasts back to the Stronghold… completely.”