Messengers traveled swiftly between the two locations, delivering words at high speeds.
In the heart of the War Pig Clan’s territory, the silhouette of a city was slowly rising. The thick, rammed earth walls stood six meters high, bristling with sharpened wooden stakes.
The entire city was built to the scale of a medium-sized human stronghold.
This was a city barely completed through the day and night labor of tens of thousands of Orcs who had been conquered by the War Pigs.
Although the Great City Walls were tall and sturdy, the interior consisted only of clusters of tents, crudely arranged to resemble streets.
Scenes of slaughtering livestock were visible everywhere along these streets. Entrails and filth were discarded at will, and wastewater flowed freely.
Ever since Blaise arrived here, he felt a constant throbbing in his head. The air was thick with a nauseating stench. Compared to the clean and orderly streets of humans, this place was nothing more than a land of savages.
If civilization had a low point, this was undoubtedly the very bottom.
Had it not been for his duty as a diplomat, he would have left long ago.
‘Damned War Pigs,’ Blaise cursed under his breath.
Over the past few days, the War Pig Tribe had been extremely dismissive of him.
According to information from covert lines, the War Pig Tribe had been in frequent contact with the Northern Royal Court recently. If the Orc King recognized their rule over the conquered territories, then it was highly likely the War Pig Tribe would throw themselves into the Royal Court’s embrace.
This was something the humans, or rather, the Saintess Aililan, would absolutely not allow to happen.
Unlike previous diplomats, Blaise’s attitude was exceptionally firm — because those weak members of the Dove Faction had already been purged.
‘I cannot wait any longer,’ he thought. ‘I must follow the Saintess’s highest instructions. It is time to give the War Pigs an ultimatum. I hope they are not so foolish as to refuse.’
“Hmph.”
Blaise let out a cold snort and left the Orc tent where he resided, striding toward the large central tent in the middle of the city.
The closer he got to the center, the more members of the War Pig Tribe he saw.
Many soldiers were already wearing high-quality armor, and the tribesmen were dressed in comfortable clothing. Even many of the high-ranking members had begun to adorn themselves with gold and silver.
This was precisely the change brought about by the Mutual Market with the humans.
They were already living the good life.
If the War Pig Tribe had no treacherous intentions, corrupting them over time would not have been a bad thing. Unfortunately, these pigs were far from honest.
“Halt!”
Outside the central tent, War Pig soldiers blocked Blaise’s path. Once they saw who it was, they immediately put on a smile.
“Is this not the human envoy? What wind has blown you here? Our apologies for the lack of respect.”
“I want to see your chief.”
“Deepest apologies, but our chief is very busy right now and does not have time to receive you.”
Blaise said coldly, “Go tell Baccus this. He can refuse to see me, and I can leave immediately. But as for the consequences — tell him to think them through for himself.”
“Are you still not going to announce me?”
The War Pig soldier initially wanted to flare up in anger, but he recoiled under Blaise’s piercing gaze. He could only steel himself and go inside to report.
Before long, Blaise was led into the large tent.
The interior was filled with the aroma of roasted meat and wine.
Clearly, it was not a matter of being “busy,” but rather that they simply did not want to see the human diplomat.
Baccus wiped the grease from his mouth and grinned. “Envoy Blaise, my friend, what wind has blown you here today?”
“Respected Chief Baccus, have you considered the matter I discussed with you the other day?”
“What matter?”
“Are you playing the fool?”
“Haha, Blaise, you really don’t know how to take a joke. Come, come. Let’s not talk about business today. We are about to hold a banquet, and we invite you to join us.”
“Chief Baccus.”
Blaise’s tone turned frigid. “I am asking you one last time. How exactly have you considered this matter?”
The atmosphere inside the tent chilled instantly.
The Elders of the War Pig Clan displayed expressions of dissatisfaction, while the younger War Pigs glared with fury.
“Blaise, I said we aren’t talking about business today.”
“I am here specifically for business today.”
“What exactly do you want?”
“It is you who are not giving our Saintess face.”
Blaise said in a cold voice, “Sign the Alliance Agreement with the humans, and I will stay and drink my fill with you today.”
“That is impossible!”
Baccus roared, “If we ally with the humans, will we War Pigs not become traitors to the Orcs?”
“If I may speak plainly,” Blaise said indifferently, “those Orcs you conquered have never considered you one of their own.”
“You were traitors long ago.”
“How dare you!” Baccus was enraged. “You seek death!”
Many high-ranking War Pigs stood up, and some even drew their war blades, ready to strike.
However, Blaise remained completely undaunted.
In his eyes, these were merely a group of Orcs who used to beg on their knees for food. Now that they wanted to stand up, they even wanted a seat at the table.
“It is you who are seeking death.”
“Blaise, I will definitely kill you!”
“If you have the ability, then do it.”
“Are you not afraid of death?”
“To die gloriously in the line of diplomacy is the highest honor for a diplomat.”
Blaise’s expression was calm. “At that time, the Saintess will surely mourn for me and praise me as the Holy Envoy of the Church.”
“You — !”
Baccus’s chest heaved violently with rage. He said hoarsely, “This matter requires further deliberation. We cannot easily agree.”
“Oh?” Blaise sneered. “You cannot easily agree? In other words, you could agree, you just want to get more from the humans, right?”
“No!”
“Then that depends on your sincerity.”
“Sincerity?” Blaise scoffed. “What a joke. From this moment on, don’t even think about getting a single copper coin’s worth of benefit.”
“Enough!” he said coldly. “I don’t want to hear your nonsense. Give me an answer — will you sign it, or not?”
“…We will not sign.”
“Very well.”
“I take my leave.”
Blaise turned and strode away.
Behind him came the roar of Baccus and the sound of objects being smashed. Many of the high-ranking War Pigs were equally furious.
The younger generation, in particular, clamored to immediately assemble their forces and launch a war against the humans, making that Saintess pay for her arrogance.
Only deep within the large tent, a Sage of the War Pig Tribe looked on with deep worry in his eyes.
‘My tribesmen…’
‘Why have you become like this?’
‘From the moment we began the Mutual Market with the humans, we were already branded with the human label.’
‘We were traitors long ago.’
‘Do you not understand? Once you step onto this path, there is no turning back.’
‘Even if the Northern Royal Court recognizes our rule, they will never truly accept us in their hearts.’
He understood better than anyone.
The reason the War Pig Clan was powerful was that they had conquered many tribes, which had given the clansmen unrealistic fantasies, making them believe they were strong enough.
But he knew even better —
The backbone of the War Pig Tribe had been given to them by that Saintess from the very beginning.
He understood all of this.
But he was powerless.
And he had no way to make those young tribesmen truly understand these truths.