Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
After hearing the Beast King’s deduction, the beasts in the royal tent all revealed expressions of realization. In fact, their friction with the Wintery Empire had never stopped, only that the Wintery Empire was then called the Kolon Empire.
About three to four months ago.
The Bloodfang Tribe was annihilated by a mysterious army from Dawn Town, leaving no survivors in the entire Bloodfang Legion, not even the young orcs. Subsequently, the surrounding orc tribes, while in a state of mutual apprehension, continuously dispatched orc soldiers to raid the Border Fortress of the Black River Territory.
Before receiving the Beast King’s command.
They would not launch a large-scale attack.
However, the human villages outside the border had been basically destroyed. The humans in these villages were either killed or captured to be made slaves.
“So, this is retaliation from the Wintery Empire?”
Pelokongchui scratched his chin.
“It could be retaliation, or it could just be a targeted action… Someone, go and fetch me the intelligence from Winter City!” The Beast King waved his hand, and two orc soldiers immediately turned and left. Before long, they returned carrying a pile of cowhides.
Orcs did not have conveniently organized recording tools like humans.
They did not have things like sheepskin scrolls or parchment.
They did have sheep hides, however.
But they preferred to use air-dried cowhides.
Kulkul blew on a cowhide, dusting off the dirt, and then unfolded it. Scrawled in orcish script were some pieces of information.
Due to the distinct physical characteristics of orcs, it was difficult for them to infiltrate human society. Therefore, most of this intelligence was obtained from adventurers captured at the border and from human merchant caravans that the orcs had plundered.
After reading for a while, Kulkul looked up.
“The King of the Wintery Empire is merely a Champion Knight, not worthy of fear!” he said to the surrounding orcs. “So now we need to come up with a plan. Should we dispatch soldiers to retrieve the Sea God’s Tear, or should we, after cooperating with the Andor Empire, launch a full-scale invasion of the Wintery Empire? I believe the King of Andor would be quite pleased to carve up this fertile land.”
“Your Majesty, I am willing to go retrieve the Sea God’s Tear!”
Pet, a lion-man orc, stepped forward.
The Sea God’s Tear was what he had lost, and now was his chance to redeem himself. Besides, that human king was just a Champion Knight, wasn’t he? Pet did not believe he was weaker than a Champion Knight.
“You alone are not enough to carry out a decapitation strike against the King of Winter. Moreover, you will need time to investigate the whereabouts of the Sea God’s Tear.”
Kulkul shook his head, his gaze falling on Bart. “Bart, you and Pet are of comparable strength. If you two go together, it should be foolproof. However, how you will infiltrate human society is a difficult problem to solve.”
Bart opened his mouth.
He really didn’t want to go.
Although the King of Winter was only a Champion Knight, after all, he was a king, and he had an army. If they were discovered, they could be overwhelmed by the army.
Those city-defending contraptions were no joke.
But since the Beast King had already made the decision for him, what else could he say?
“Your Majesty, solving this problem is very simple.” Layton smiled elegantly and took out a vial from his Space Ring. It contained a purple liquid. He displayed the potion to Kulkul and explained, “This is a Magic Potion imported from Suwenrriel. It can transform any creature into human form, and its effect lasts for one day.”
“Is it from Suwenrriel, the country known as the Land of Magic Potions?” the Beast King asked.
“That’s right, Your Majesty. You are very knowledgeable,”
Layton flattered him, then added, “However, it has a side effect: for every bottle used, the user will lose a week of sexual desire. This negative effect is cumulative.”
Bart and Pet were stunned.
Assuming they had to stay in the Wintery Empire for a month, wouldn’t that mean they would lose thirty weeks of sexual desire?
That would be almost a year.
Not being able to get an erection for a year sounded terrifying!
“…This side effect is truly… astonishing…”
Kulkul smacked his lips with a strange expression.
In orc culture, besides brute strength being the ultimate principle, strong reproductive ability was also a crucial aspect. Being potent in that regard meant being able to increase the number of high-quality offspring for the orc tribe, and it also earned respect from other orcs. If any orc was inadequate in that area, they would surely be ridiculed by others.
But…
“We orcs will not fear the pain of losing our sexual desire! Don’t you agree, Pet, Bart?”
Pet was about to say, “Never mind.”
But upon seeing the Beast King’s fierce gaze and recalling the fate of the Second Prince, who had already been castrated, his half-formed refusal turned into, “Yes, Your Majesty!”
“And you? Bart! What are your thoughts?”
Kulkul shifted his attention.
“Uh… Your Majesty, I think this matter can still be discussed…” Bart made a final, desperate struggle.
Being unable to procreate for a year was worse than killing him.
What if they had to remain in the Wintery Empire for longer?
Then it wouldn’t just be a year.
“Oh? Discuss what?”
Kulkul said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Are you discussing whether you want to continue living as a male? I believe the Second Prince would certainly hope for someone to share his feelings with!”
To hell with sharing his feelings!
Bart thought bitterly. He absolutely did not want to be castrated.
“Your Majesty, I’ve figured it out. I will execute the mission with Pet, bring back the Sea God’s Tear, and the head of the King of Winter!”
“Good. That’s the spirit of an orc warrior,” Kulkul nodded with satisfaction. He turned to Layton and asked, “Friend from the South Continent, how many such potions can you provide?”
Layton smiled slightly, raising his chin. He said expansively, “Everything you need. It’s enough to arm a legion. Please do not doubt the amount of backup supplies a young master of a family would carry when traveling.”
Kulkul’s eyes twitched.
So rich…
He really wanted to rob this mage…
The predatory genes in his bloodline were stimulating Kulkul’s brain.
However, he knew it would be meaningless.
Since the other party dared to come before him, they must have made preparations for all sorts of eventualities. It would be foolish to launch an attack blindly before understanding the opponent’s trump cards.
“That’s excellent,” Kulkul took a deep breath and grinned. “Bart, Pet, go to your respective tribes and select a hundred warriors to assist you in this operation. Our friend from the South Continent will provide you with the potions.”
“I will go with them,”
Layton added. “I also need to find that mysterious thief, strip his soul, and let him know the price of toying with the mages of our South Continent.”
Regarding Layton’s proposal,
Kulkul certainly would not refuse.
Having this mage join them would allow for better distribution of potions to the orc soldiers.
“I will pay for all the potions,”
Kulkul guaranteed.
“I only need the friendship of the orcs,” Layton smiled and shook his head. “However, for now, I would like to change ‘I’ to ‘we,’ meaning myself and the family behind me.”
Kulkul: “Deal!”
