Chapter 496 - 495, Disposition_1
The orcs’ pleas for help not only failed to achieve the expected result but were met with ridicule. They were treated as less valuable than discarded organs. Overwhelmed with despair, they were dragged off by the Gru Tribe’s orcs towards their camp like dead dogs.
Shaman Ji Nuan and his beasts had not yet returned to their camp. On the contrary, Bertel had already arrived with several pale-faced orcs: "Chief Meng Zhuo, don’t be sad. Look what I’ve brought for you."
With that, he waved his hand, and the Gru tribe’s orcs tossed the captive orcs onto the ground.
"What is the meaning of this, Bertel? I don’t have time for your games," Meng Zhuo said, looking exhausted.
He then turned to the captive orcs: "What are you waiting for? Get over here."
The captive orcs glanced at each other but didn’t dare to move. They couldn’t even meet Meng Zhuo’s gaze.
Meng Zhuo suddenly had a bad premonition: "What happened to you lot? Speak up if something is wrong."
The captive orcs trembled in fear, too scared to even breathe loudly.
With a sneer, Bertel said, "Chief Meng Zhuo, I suppose you don’t know why I’ve captured them."
He slowly paced over to Meng Zhuo’s side: "On our way here, my people and I happened to hear these orcs talking about luring the Ice Vines, and they lured significantly more than planned, all for the Beast God Fruit.
To my surprise, the attack of the Ice Vines was instigated by them using the Snow Beasts. They’ve caused havoc for the Monte Tribe. Thus, I ordered my people to capture them and hand them over for your judgement."
Upon hearing this and recalling the captive orcs’ avoidance, Meng Zhuo’s eyes burned red with rage. He lunged forward, grabbing an orc by its beast skin clothing: "Why would you do such a thing? In your eyes, are a handful of Beast God Fruits worth more than the lives of our tribe members?"
The captive orc sobbed uncontrollably: "Chief, I admit we were greedy for the Beast God Fruits, but we never wanted to harm any tribesmen. We thought we’d only attract a small Ice Vine and then rescue our tribesmen at the critical moment, thus earning their support and getting a piece of the Beast God Fruit. We never imagined that we’d attract such a monstrous Ice Vine."
The other captive orcs were sobbing and crying their hearts out, screaming similar excuses.
Meng Zhuo scoffed coldly: "It wasn’t intentional? A fine excuse indeed. Your misconduct cost me my only son and cost the lives of our patrolling orcs. Once the Ice Vine issue is resolved, you will pay for your sins with your lives."
The captive orcs wailed, pleading for Meng Zhuo’s mercy, but he turned his back on them without a second glance. The only attention they received was from the other tribesmen, who watched over them with cold eyes.
The shadow of death immediately cast a dark pall over the captive orcs.
On the other hand, due to the densely clustered Ice Vines, Shaman Ji Nuan and his group had gotten lost for a while. Following the scent of their tribesmen, they finally found the correct direction near the camp.
"Mu Chun, I’ll go find Shaman Ji Nuan. If I don’t return, you’ll take my place as Clan Leader," said the old Clan Leader calmly, showing no fear in the face of imminent death.