The Vastness of Magical Destiny

"Lord, we cannot agree to your demands; the losses of the Sanjia Tribe in this war have been enormous, and our warriors have made significant sacrifices for your cause. Your request is simply too much," said Chief Dvanch with a calm gaze that betrayed no particular emotion, yet his tone was exceptionally firm. "The Sanjia Tribe is not your subject, a point you should make clear. If those smaller tribes want to join your Caucasus, that is their affair, but the Sanjia Tribe is not one of them."

"Oh? Chief Dvanch, I truly cannot understand your thoughts. Have my actions truly harmed the interests of the Sanjia Tribe? Yes, in this war, the warriors of the Sanjia Tribe indeed provided me with significant assistance, and their losses are visible to all, but I have compensated for that. The families of each fallen warrior have received five to ten times the compensation they got for the sacrifices made in the southern wars, and the same goes for the injured soldiers. I have not only once provided a reward sufficient for them to live a fairly comfortable life for the second half of their lives, but I can also offer them living conditions in the Caucasus. Does such treatment still amount to mistreating your Mountain people warriors?"

Komer’s attitude was also very calm. He had anticipated the joint visit by the leaders of the Sanjia Tribe, and it was precisely because he had detained the army comprised of warriors provided by the Sanjia Tribe that the tribal leaders had been forced to come to Ugru again. This negotiation would herald a new era, an unprecedented time for both the Sanjia Tribe and the entire Mountain Tribe of the Cordillera Wilderness.

"Lord Komer, you seem to have forgotten our initial agreement and the status of the Sanjia Tribe. The Sanjia Tribe is a member of the Mountain People Alliance and belongs to a completely different race than you mortals. If I’m to speak politely, we can be peaceful neighbors, but if I’m to speak bluntly, you are nothing more than a pack of wolves with covetous eyes on us," said Chief Dvanch, his face finally showing a faint mocking smile, seemingly ridiculing Komer’s forgetfulness. However, Komer found it amusing; the normally calm Chief of the Garong Tribe seemed a bit agitated, perhaps stimulated by the current delicate situation, making it difficult for him to maintain a calm demeanor, which was precisely what Komer hoped to achieve.

"Heh, Chief Dvanch, don’t you think that’s a bit much? Am I the forgetful one? When the Sanjia Tribe was in dire straits and sought our Caucasus’s help to tighten our belts and provide you with food, when the Sanjia Tribe lacked various necessities, when the Mountain People Alliance pressured the Sanjia Tribe, weren’t you and your companions using a different tone and attitude?" Komer retorted, "Are we wolves? Would wolves provide lambs with food and necessities? Would they help lambs fend off the bullying of the alpha? Such wolves would indeed be utter failures."

Chief Dvanch was momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, there were flaws in his earlier statement. Even if the Caucasus had some designs on the Sanjia Tribe, he should not have exposed them face to face. By piercing this thin veil, it might leave both parties with no room to maneuver. Not even Chief Dvanch knew why he had become so impulsive so suddenly. Glancing at his two companions, Chief Dvanch could tell that neither of them agreed with confronting the other party this way at this time.

"Since Chief Dvanch has opened the topic, I too would like to discuss this issue with the three leaders. Yes, I still very much need the support of the Sanjia Tribe’s soldiers, and I even hope that the Sanjia Tribe can provide me with more military support." Komer raised his hand to stop the three chieftains, who looked indignant and were about to interject, and continued directly: "Perhaps the three leaders feel that I am insatiable and overreaching, and this request is utterly unacceptable. But I want to ask in return, how does the current situation of the Sanjia Tribe compare to five years ago? Has it improved or worsened? Are your citizens continuing to decrease, or are they steadily increasing? Are your people satisfied with their current lives or not?"