My Kingdom Building Done Right!

Otto, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke up.

"I have one more concern I would like to voice out, Great Chieftain," Otto said before glancing at Jason. "The members of the Black Wolf Tribe had a discussion yesterday, and we have all come to an agreement. We will follow Sir Jason’s footsteps and officially convert into members of the Aslan Tribe."

Jason looked visibly surprised at this unexpected decision by the Black Wolf Tribe.

However, a part of him also felt regret. It was a little too late. They would no longer receive the blessings the members of the Aslan Tribe had gotten when Leone officially recognized him as his subjects.

If only they hadn’t hesitated back then, the entire Black Wolf Tribe might have turned into Rank 2 warriors, which would have greatly boosted their overall strength.

Aside from that, they would also not gain the title, Lionheart, which gave additional boosts as long as they were within Leone’s territory.

————

[Lionheart]

— All Stat Parameters +50 Points

— While within the territory of Aslan Soleil, all Stats increase by 50%

— Morale greatly increases in battle.

— Increased Resistance against Fear, and other mind-affecting debuffs.

————

During the war, the fighting ability of the Aslanians rose drastically because of the stacked boosts they received from their title.

In fact, when Jason transformed into his White Wolf Sovereign form, his strength grew so high that he became a Rank 4 Monster.

His combined stats were even higher than the Gryphon, Astravor, by 39 points!

However, when it came to combat experience, the Gryphon was still better than Jason. It didn’t matter how strong he was.

Without gaining experience from battles, he would not be able to utilize his strength to the fullest.

Because of this, Daedalus proposed that Jason be given a special martial art he could use whenever he transformed into the White Wolf Sovereign.

Right now, Jason was their strongest fighter. Making him stronger would only benefit them in the long run.

"Is this what the entire Black Wolf Tribe has decided?" Leone asked, looking at Otto with a calm gaze.

"Yes, Great Chieftain." Otto nodded. "This is what we now truly wish for. After the war ended, we all realized that clinging to the past will only tie us down. By becoming part of the Aslan Tribe, we believe we will truly grow as individuals. Please allow us to look forward to a future together with you."

Ulric and Kael looked at Otto with a serious gaze. In fact, they were also thinking of shedding their own tribe names to truly become part of the Aslan Tribe.

That way, there would no longer be any division among them. Everyone could work together toward a common goal without hesitation.

The two chieftains then glanced at each other, completely understanding what the other was thinking.

"Very well. Tonight, we will hold the ceremony of vassalship," Leone declared. "You, Otto, will become my 7th Vassal."

"Thank you, Great Chieftain!" Otto bowed respectfully. "I will not fail you!"

Leone smiled faintly because he had a feeling that Otto would really give his words justice.

A few hours later, Leone once again sat on his throne, while Ulric, Jason, and Kael brought out the three prisoners.

Ross, Harold, and Travis.

Ulric and Jason bound the chieftains of the Bloodtusk Tribe and the Ashclaw Tribe, forcing them onto thick wooden frames that resembled execution blocks used in ancient rites, leaving their exposed necks locked in place.

Their limbs were broken, so there was no way they could escape their current predicament.

Ross had a defeated look on his face, while Harold looked up to Leone with a tearful gaze.

"Please spare me!" Harold pleaded. "Please forgive me! I will do anything! Just don’t kill me!"

The other representatives of the high-ranking tribes looked at this scene with mixed emotions.

Some were enjoying the spectacle, while there were those who looked at Harold in disdain for pleading for his life.

Meanwhile, Vlad hid behind his uncle’s back, not wanting to witness the process of people actually dying.

At first, Zed thought of letting his Young Lord watch everything so he would get used to this scene sooner.

However, a part of him also wanted to respect the teenage boy’s choice.

In the end, he only sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, letting his Young Lord do whatever he wanted.

"Do you have any last words?" Leone asked Ross, ignoring the pleading Harold, whose face was now covered in snot and tears.

"I curse you!" Ross shouted. "I curse you and your entire tribe! I curse that you all die a horrible death under the hands of the high-ranking tribes! I want you to die! I want you all to die! All of you will die! Hahahaha!"

Leone watched the hysterical chieftain calmly, not the slightest bit offended that he was trying to curse him.

His mother used to tell them that their family was immune to curses. With that, they shouldn’t be afraid of people trying to curse them both openly and covertly.

Ulric was planning to slap Ross to silence him, but Leone simply raised his hand, stopping him from harming the chieftain any further.

"If that’s all you have to say, then I shall send you off your way," Leone stated. "If you really want to be remembered as a hysterical chieftain during his last moments, then so be it. However, I will give you one last chance. Do you have any last words?"

Vlad peeked from behind Zed’s back and looked at Leone, who sat on the golden throne, unfazed by the curses that had been hurled in his direction.

He was showing off the demeanor of a ruler.

It made Vlad grit his teeth. A moment later, he stepped out of Zed’s back, looking at the chieftain who was about to be executed shortly.

He was still scared of seeing people dying, but a part of him wished to overcome this weakness.

Zed was quite surprised that his Young Lord had chosen to watch this gruesome scene. Of course, he already had an idea why. Vlad seemed to have a good impression of Leone, which might be the reason for this sudden change.

Even so, as long as the teenage boy was able to take a step forward, Zed was willing to acknowledge that the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe had a positive effect on the person he was guarding.

After hearing Leone’s words, Ross stopped his ravings and looked him straight in the eye.

His lips trembled a bit, trying to hold back whatever he truly wanted to say. But as if something had won over his pride, he finally spoke his mind.

"Spare my people," Ross said after a minute of silence. "Return my warriors without asking for any compensation. I know this is an unreasonable request, but I hope you can show mercy one last time."

Malcolm lowered his eye while clenching his fists. He was the one who had betrayed his chieftain and had surrendered to Leone out of fear for his life.

However, after hearing his chieftain’s last words, the warrior couldn’t stop the tears from falling from his face.

"Very well." Leone nodded. "I will release your people and not ask for compensation. Our tribe will also cease all hostilities with the Bloodtusk Tribe. Of course, if your tribe still chooses to fight us, then we will no longer show any mercy next time."

Ulric, Kael, and Jason frowned after hearing Leone’s decision.

But in the end, they didn’t say anything. He was their Great Chieftain, and his words were law.

It was not their place to question his decision, especially in front of the representatives of the high-ranking tribes.

They were not aware that Daedalus had projected everything that was happening to the prisoners of war, who were trapped inside the pitfalls. They all heard Ross’ final words and witnessed his final moments.

The warriors of the Bloodtusk Tribe looked at their chieftain with various emotions surging inside their hearts.

But what really surprised them was Leone actually agreeing to this unreasonable request.

It didn’t matter if they hated Leone or not. They were the invaders, and he only did what anyone in his situation would. To defend his territory.

The Bloodtusk Tribe were the ones in the wrong. Yet, the young man still chose to honor their chieftain’s last request and set them free without asking for anything in return.

Because of this, some of them reluctantly admired Leone for having a merciful heart, as well as the makings of an honorable chieftain.

"Then can I ask for one more thing?" Ross asked, his tone no longer arrogant.

"Speak." Leone nodded.

"Please burn my body as a warrior. And please do not treat my remains as a trophy of your victory," Ross stated.

Usually, when barbarians defeated the leader of their enemy, their skulls would be used for decorations. Ross didn’t want to be treated that way after his death.

"Very well. We will give you a warrior’s death," Leone promised. "It will not only be you, but the rest of the warriors of the Bloodtusk Tribe as well. They will be given a proper burial, so all of you can return to the Womb of the Earth Mother together."

A faint chuckle escaped Ross’ lips because he never thought that he would be treated with such respect by the person whom he had wanted to kill with his own axe.

To be given an honorable burial alongside his warriors was something he didn’t expect from the young man who ruled the Aslan Tribe.

"I wish I could have met you in different circumstances," Ross said sincerely. "Perhaps we could have been friends."

Leone neither affirmed nor denied Ross’ words. It was not his place to think of "What If’s".

Both of them fought for what they believed was right. And this was the result of their clash of beliefs.

The young man raised his hand, to which Ulric raised his war axe.

With a single swift strike, Ross’ head was severed from his body. It rolled a few meters on the ground before falling to a complete stop.

The chieftain’s eyes stared at the sky above his head before it slowly closed as life dimmed away from them.

He died a peaceful death, knowing full well that his people would no longer become Leone’s enemies.

"Nooooooooo!" Harold screamed. "I don’t want to die! Spare meeeeeeee! Spare meeeeeeeeeee!"

Unlike Ross’ honorable end, Leone didn’t even bother to ask for Harold’s last words.

He simply gave Ulric the order to get it over with. With that, the chieftain’s head was cut off from his body, rolling on the ground until it came to a complete stop.

Harold’s expression after he died was far from being peaceful. Just like Ragan, he stared lifelessly with his eyes open, regretting the moment he had stepped into Grimjaw Mountain.

Leone then stared at Travis, making the latter flinch. The Young Lord of the Darkmane Tribe knew it deep inside his heart.

He knew that if it wasn’t for his father, he would also have gotten the same fate as the two chieftains, whose heads were now lying on the ground.