“Kill.”
Lionus waved his large hand.
A squad of soldiers from the Winged People rushed in from behind, engaging the War Pigs inside the tent. A few minutes later, only the thick smell of blood remained in the tent.
“Young… young master…”
A Winged People soldier swallowed hard.
“What are you hesitating for?”
“Young master, is what we’re doing… really right?”
“There is no right or wrong. When have the War Pigs ever treated us as people? They can attach themselves to humans, why can’t we?”
“But…”
“Enough. Pick up the Battle Pig Commander’s head and follow me to slaughter the War Pigs. This will determine the benefits we can obtain from the human side.”
The War Pig encampment was thrown into complete chaos. With enemies both inside and out, their defeat was only a matter of time.
However, misfortunes never come singly. At the critical moment of the battle, another force charged out from the darkness of the night—the Elves had joined the fray without a declaration of war.
“Orcs are truly an ugly species.”
“Orcs must die.”
“Soldiers of the Elves, kill them all.”
On a hillside not far away, several high-ranking humans sat atop their horses.
“We need to lodge a serious protest,” Gareyas said with an indignant expression. “Have these Elves no shame? They’re clearly here to snatch the fruits of victory. Lady Saintess, I think we need to…”
Aililan waved her hand dismissively. “Since they want to participate, let’s give them a little taste of the spoils.”
The appearance of the Elven troops in the surrounding area had been detected by scouts nine days ago.
But this was merely another part of Aililan’s plan. She believed that if she could make the Elven high command see that war was a profitable venture, they would become eager to wage war against the Orcs.
Of course, Aililan didn’t think highly of them, nor was she foolish enough to rely on them.
They were a pack of wolf cubs.
They would stab you in the back when the battle turned against you; but if the situation was favorable, they would transform into rabid dogs, viciously tearing a chunk of flesh from the Orcs.
Not long after, a scout urgently reported.
“Lady Saintess, something terrible has happened.”
“Speak.”
“The Winged People are slaughtering the War Pig soldiers en masse. Our frontline commanders are having difficulty making a decision.”
“Then let them kill. But you also take a message to the Winged People for me: that’s enough.”
The nine high-ranking officials surrounding her all understood the Winged People’s intentions and the purpose of Aililan’s move.
If they wanted to achieve a balance between the Winged People and the War Pigs, it was necessary to deplete the War Pig population. At the same time, making the two tribes sworn enemies, forming a relationship of mutual restraint, was the path to balance.
The battlefield was littered with corpses everywhere; blood flowed like small streams, pooling into ponds in the low-lying areas. Of the more than twenty thousand troops of the War Pig alliance, only about five thousand managed to escape. The fires burned all night.
The first rays of morning sunlight broke through.
Among them, the War Pigs who died directly in battle reached a staggering six thousand.
While the nine senior officers were reporting the battle situation, a Winged Person with wings on his back walked over, placed the head of a War Pig before Aililan, and then knelt on one knee.
“Respected Saintess Aililan, this is the loyalty I offer to you.”
Suddenly—
“Lionus, you will die a horrible death! We War Pigs will definitely annihilate you all!”
“Traitors of the Winged People!”
“We and the Winged People are locked in a fight to the death!”
Lionus kept his head bowed.
Aililan, however, casually waved her hand. Several soldiers grabbed the War Pig Orcs who were shouting the loudest. A flash of cold light, and instantly, pig heads rolled to the ground.
Aililan looked at the man kneeling on one knee and smiled faintly. “You… have done very well.”
Only then did Lionus let out a sigh of relief. “It is my honor to serve you.”
“I have seen your loyalty. From now on, your Winged People will be humanity’s most precious friends. To oppose the Winged People is to oppose us humans.”
“Thank you, Saintess.”
“Don’t be in a hurry. Let me finish.”
Aililan beckoned, and someone brought over a map of the War Pig territories. She drew a circle on it and then tossed it to Lionus.
“Now the War Pigs have completely collapsed on the southern front, and the north is being held back by the Jackal Tribe. My army will accompany you to subdue these areas.”
“This is the meager reward I can give you. As for how much you can actually obtain, that depends on your own ability.”
Lionus glanced at the map and could no longer suppress a look of wild joy on his face.
He knew he had truly gambled correctly this time. The map marked at least nearly one-third of the War Pig territories. Whether land, population, or resources, as long as he could swallow it, it would all be his.
“Thank you, Saintess. I will certainly, with my father and brothers…”
“Lionus, have you misunderstood? The person I support has always been you, and only you.”
Lionus was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply in submission.
He also understood—everything he possessed was given by the Saintess, and similarly, the Saintess could take it back at any time.
Just as they were considering how to handle the prisoners, several Elves wearing luxurious and exquisite armor walked over. They performed an elegant bow.
“We greet Saintess Aililan. Your beauty truly fills me with admiration, as dazzling as the stars.”
Aililan slightly raised her head, revealing a smile. “Oh? So it’s friends from the Elven race.”
“I am Kaelira, the War Preparation Elder of the Elves. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Aililan did not respond. Instead, she picked up that map again, drew a circle on it, and then tossed it to the Elven Elder.
“Saintess, what is this?”
“Except for the population, everything else you can take away belongs entirely to your Elven race.”
“We are noble Elves, how can we do such a thing…”
“That area is basically inhabited only by Orc civilians. It’s a breeding ground for the War Pigs, and there’s also a Gemstone mine. You can just take sacks and haul the gems away. Of course, I don’t recommend you station troops there.”
“The other two regions, one has our human troops active, and the other is a War Pig preserve. My advice is also that you shouldn’t touch them.”
With a few sentences, Aililan clearly divided the benefits.
The Elven Elder hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted the map gladly.
After all, they were indeed being rather shameless this time, coming uninvited. Getting such benefits was already quite good.
“Then I shall take my leave first.”
“I won’t see you off.”
Aililan took a deep breath.
On the surface, it seemed she hadn’t gained much from this war, but in reality, she was the biggest winner.
By thoroughly weakening the War Pigs, she could put the matter of establishing a War Pig nation on the agenda. At the same time, making the Winged People the second-largest power would create a check and balance. For example, letting the next War Pig leader become the king, while the Winged People act as regent.
Furthermore, the wealth was only temporarily placed in their pockets. Whether it was the War Pigs, the Winged People, or the Elves, as long as they engaged in trade with humans, that money would eventually find its way into Aililan’s pocket.
“There is still one final battle.”
“Gareyas, quickly go and integrate the remaining troops. We will go together to pincer the War Pigs being held back by the Jackal Tribe. This time… I will personally execute the War Pig leader—Baccus.”
Even though they still needed to support the War Pigs.
All traitors must die.