The War Pigs were taking a hardline stance.
Their success in external conquests had gone to their heads. Believing themselves invincible, they wanted more.
Especially the younger War Pigs, who did not remember the lean years of the past.
After Blaise left the War Pig territory, the atmosphere there turned murderous.
Many hot-tempered War Pigs began clamoring for war. “Humans are too arrogant. They have no idea how powerful we War Pigs are.”
“From what I know, humans buy goods from us at low prices and sell them at high prices in their own lands. It’s an absolute insult.”
“What? The gap is that big? Humans are simply too greedy and shameless.”
“I suggest we seize the Mutual Market. From then on, it will be dominated by us War Pigs.”
“With the Mutual Market, we’ll have endless wealth, hahaha.”
“It’s time to teach them a lesson.”
The War Pig Leader’s face was grim. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and made a decision. “Since everyone is united, we fight.”
“Fight!”
In the corner, the War Pig Sage opened his mouth to speak. He understood the War Pigs’ desires; their hearts for war had already been stirred. But he felt he still had to try something.
“Baccus, do you not know that once war breaks out, humans will no longer transport supplies to us? The Mutual Market will be terminated. We cannot afford such losses.”
“Please wait a moment.”
“Have you gone senile? Do you really think I, Baccus, have no brains? I’ve said it before: humans are the greediest, most shameless creatures. Temporarily stopping the Mutual Market won’t have a big impact, because many merchants have secretly contacted me, willing to trade with us privately and offer us better prices.”
Before he could finish, the Sage interrupted him. “But Baccus, have you considered…”
Baccus waved his hand, cutting him off. “You really have grown old. You’ve lost that eagle-like heart.”
“I also know what you want to express and understand your worries. But everything I do is for the tribe. We need higher status, more initiative.”
“I’ve long wanted to change the rules of the Mutual Market with humans. Hmph.”
“There’s nothing more to say.”
That same day, Baccus issued the mobilization order.
The War Pigs could field over twenty thousand soldiers in total. Adding in the other conquered beastkin tribes, they could easily raise an army of fifty thousand.
If it were a life-or-death situation with full mobilization, raising a hundred-thousand-strong army would be no problem at all.
News from here couldn’t be concealed. It spread to Atester as if on wings.
However, there was no panic as one might expect. Apart from the higher-ups being busier than usual, the common people below remained peaceful and tranquil.
After Betiliana from the Investigation Bureau arrested a large group of rumor-mongers and troublemakers, public opinion had long been controlled. Now, such news simply couldn’t reach the ears of the commoners.
The diplomat Blaise, who had rushed back at full speed, was now bowing his head in apology.
“Please punish me, Saintess Aililan. I failed in my duty and messed things up.”
The Administrative Council was brightly lit. Aililan merely glanced at him, speaking with indifference. “Some things are not subject to human will. Initially, we traded with the War Pigs as equals. The current situation was also anticipated, so it’s not your fault.”
“Thank you for your leniency, Saintess.”
“You may go rest first. Your work will keep you plenty busy later.”
“Serving the Saintess is my unshirkable duty. Even if I must go through fire and water, please give your orders.”
“Not in a hurry. However, I appreciate your attitude. You shall temporarily hold the title of Acting Chief of the Diplomatic Corps. After this matter is concluded, I will consider making your position permanent.”
“I… I…”
Blaise clenched his fists, his face flushed with excitement. It took him a while to suppress the wild joy in his heart before he spoke respectfully. “Then I shall take my leave.”
Not long after, another group of people arrived.
Leading them was Chief Gareyas, with Betiliana standing slightly behind the others.
“Speak.”
“Reporting to the Saintess, according to our army scouts’ reconnaissance, the War Pigs have gathered a large force. The total is estimated to reach fifty thousand, and they are highly likely to attack the Mutual Market at Bitgel. Our garrison there cannot hold.”
“Then have them all withdraw.”
“Withdraw? But we’ve operated in Bitgel for so long. It has developed from barren land into something now almost no less than a prosperous small town. Moreover, we built a small castle there. Are we just going to abandon it?”
“Chief Gareyas, I must correct your mistake. The true purpose of Bitgel is to serve as a nail to block the Northern Beastkin’s southward advance, not to stop the War Pigs.”
“Then what exactly do you intend…”
“Let me finish. As you said, it’s a place we built with great effort. If we fight there, Bitgel will only become ruins.”
“But we can’t just hand it over.”
“Chief Gareyas, one must not focus only on the gain or loss of a single city or piece of land. As long as we achieve victory on the battlefield and thoroughly break the War Pigs’ spine, Bitgel will then return to our hands intact.”
“But won’t Bitgel become a nail in the path of our own march?”
“Hehe, that depends on whether Bitgel can still serve its ‘nail’ function when the War Pigs are fighting on two fronts.”
“What? Two fronts? Who else besides us? Are you planning to ally with the Elves?”
“Not the Elves, but the Jackals.”
“The Jackals?”
“Given the situation, I won’t hide it from you anymore. The Jackals are my covert line among the beastkin. They will field a force no smaller than the War Pigs’ to create a diversion.”
The matter of the Jackal Tribe was absolutely secret.
Even the merchants trading with the Jackal Tribe were secretly arranged by Aililan, so very few knew about it. After all, no one knew how many spies were inside.
Gareyas’s expression now could no longer be described as excited, but rather an extremely confident fervor—a craving for war.
“Chief Gareyas, do you have any other doubts now?”
“None at all. If I don’t hang those War Pigs out to dry, I’ll be a pig myself from now on, hahaha!”
“Please calm your anger.”
The professional military commanders had already gone to formulate more detailed battle plans.
Aililan waved her hand, signaling Gareyas to proceed to another meeting room, then looked at Betiliana. “You speak as well.”
“The news I have to report might displease you, so I ask that…”
“It’s fine. Just say it.”
“According to our Investigation Bureau’s inquiries, some merchants are still conducting close trade with the War Pigs.”
“Then arrest them.”
“I would like to… but the backers of those merchants are not people I can afford to provoke.”
“Specifically, who? Are there still people in Atester daring to defy the will of the masses?”
“There aren’t any in Atester itself. They are all major nobles from other regions of the Fifth Wing who are involved.”
“So it’s betraying the country for glory, colluding with a foreign race. Hehehe.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“I laugh because I finally have an excuse to go on another killing spree. Remember to secure the evidence for me, so when the time comes to kill them, they won’t have the chance to offer lame excuses.”
Betiliana respectfully took her leave.
She had an intuition that this time, heads were going to roll.
This war instigated by the War Pigs, for the Saintess before her—
Was not just an external war.
It was also a Great Purge.
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