After a brutal, bone-jarring battle filled with violent beauty, everyone except Aria and the Old Barbarian lay sprawled on the ground.
Surveying the groaning crowd, Aria couldn't help but say, "I really just wanted to invite your boss for a chat. Why did you have to make it this way?"
"So where is your boss? Won't he even come out to talk?"
At that moment, a Barbarian lying on the ground pointed to another unconscious figure beside him. "Our boss... he's right there!"
"You knocked him out right at the start..."
The other Barbarians had continued their charge for this very reason. You took down our boss—of course we'd come at you!
"Uh..." Aria blinked, her expression dazed and slightly bewildered. "Then why didn't you just say so earlier?"
As she spoke, Aria approached the Clan Boss, who was still lying unconscious, and began healing him. Moments later, the Boss stirred awake, surveying the chaotic but casualty-free battlefield. He couldn't help but give Aria a thumbs-up. "You... badass! I'm with you!"
In the Northern Territory, might makes right—strength is the only truth. Normally, if Aria had come to seize resources, like the underwater fish schools, this battle would have meant complete ownership of everything here for her.
The clan would have suffered heavy losses and been forced to abandon their home, facing either dissolution or total annihilation afterward.
Yet after such a prolonged fight, everyone emerged with only minor injuries, and Aria's sole purpose had simply been to get the Clan Boss to come talk to her?
What more was there to say? Following her was the only logical course of action!
-
Aria successfully completed her mission, and Douglas and Feidric's situations were similar. Barbarians from the North Wind Clan led them to other clans. After initial negotiations failed, Douglas charged in alone, challenged the entire group, and beat them into submission.
Feidric's approach was even simpler. He cast a First-Level Magic spell called Sleep Spell. Despite its low level, this spell proved incredibly practical.
It could put up to ten creatures within range into a deep slumber, and the spell could be upcast by expending more Magic Power, allowing it to affect even more targets.
With a single cast of Sleep Spell, Feidric sent over a hundred barbarians collapsing into slumber, their snoring echoing through the clearing.
Of course, enemies with exceptionally strong willpower could resist the spell's effects. However, it was well-known that barbarians possessed notoriously weak wills, their minds dominated by muscle alone. They were utterly vulnerable to Enchantment Magic.
Feidric's gaze swept across the sleeping barbarians before settling on one particular figure. "This must be their Boss," he declared, pointing at the man.
The reason was simple: during the initial negotiations, this guy had been the loudest and most assertive. Feidric also noticed that the other Barbarians would occasionally glance at him and defer to his opinions.
Moreover, the clothes this Barbarian wore were distinct from the others. Combined with other minor details, it wasn't hard to deduce that he must be the Clan's Boss.
Feidric said, "Be careful not to wake the others. Let's carry this guy away."
The North Wind Clan Barbarian beside him nodded, swiftly stepped forward, and hoisted the soundly sleeping Boss onto his shoulders.
It's worth noting that the Sleep Spell merely induces ordinary sleep. If someone is a light sleeper, easily awakened by the slightest noise or movement, they would still rouse immediately at the slightest touch, even if put to sleep by the spell.
However, these Barbarians were clearly deep sleepers, showing no signs of waking yet.
Meanwhile, on Cipher's side, Dirk accompanied her. As they journeyed, she couldn't help but glance at the top of his head—not for any particular reason, just because it was so incredibly smooth and shiny!
Although the Northern Territory sun wasn't particularly dazzling, the reflection off Dirk's bald head still felt blinding to Cipher. She suddenly recalled scenes from movies and anime in her past life where two swordsmen would clash, one strategically angling his blade to perfectly reflect sunlight into his opponent's eyes, creating an opening and gaining the upper hand.
Could Dirk's gleaming bald head serve a similar purpose in battle? she wondered.
After all, combat requires constant eye contact with the enemy. If opponents kept glancing at Dirk, the chances of being temporarily blinded by the glare seemed high. In a way, the baldness Dirk had gained by exchanging wisdom with Cerydra might actually be a positive buff in battle.
Cipher occasionally glanced at Dirk, and he often returned her gaze, his eyes often lingering on the tail behind her. After all, in the Northern Territory, where no races other than humans existed, this was Dirk's first time seeing a Catfolk.
He'd been wearing an expression of suppressed curiosity the entire time. Finally, he couldn't resist and blurted out, "Can your tail curl around weapons and hit people?"
Cipher stared at him, dumbfounded. Dude, you hesitated all this time just to ask that?
When normal people see a fluffy, adorable tail, shouldn't their first instinct be to pet it? But you're thinking about using it as a weapon?
Then she remembered he was a barbarian and suddenly understood. After a moment's silence, she replied, "Yes."
Dirk sighed enviously. "I wish I had a tail like yours. It would give me a huge advantage in battle."
Cipher shrugged. "Why don't you trade with Boss Imperator for one? Get yourself a tail."
To her surprise, Dirk actually looked thoughtful. He nodded slowly. "Not a bad idea..."
Cipher stared at him, speechless.
To be honest, I can't quite picture this hulking brute with a fluffy cat tail...
As they chatted, Dirk quickly picked up the trail of another clan and led Cipher onward. Moments later, several figures appeared in their vision.
Dirk exclaimed in surprise, "It's the Silver Wolf Clan?"
"Silver Wolf?" Cipher blurted out reflexively. "Is their boss a short, adorable silver-haired loli?"
Dirk: "?"
This time it was Dirk's turn to look utterly bewildered. Buddy, what are you even talking about?
Dirk then explained that he had encountered the Silver Wolf Clan once before. During a fish migration, the migration routes of their two clans had overlapped. While pursuing their respective fish schools, the two clans inevitably clashed.
Tensions had run high, and they had nearly come to blows. Fortunately, after negotiations between Dirk and the opposing clan leader, Dirk made a slight concession, allowing the Silver Wolves to pass first, thus averting a bloody confrontation.
Dirk continued, "The Silver Wolf Clan's boss isn't particularly tall, only about 1.8 meters. He has numerous scars on his chest and back, and his temper is... volatile. This negotiation will likely require a firm approach."
"I can't possibly take on their entire clan alone. I'll have to rely on you from here on out, Miss Cipher."
Although Cipher looked slender and fragile, with delicate limbs and seemingly little muscle or combat prowess, she was one of Boss Imperator's inner circle. Dirk had already witnessed Douglas's formidable fighting skills; surely Cipher would be of a similar caliber?
It was fortunate Cipher couldn't read Dirk's thoughts, or she would have scoffed. Slender and fragile? She was the most curvaceous of all the female Demigods (Self-Proclaimed). Compared to someone like Hysilens, who would likely appear as thin as a bamboo pole in Dirk's eyes.
After briefly explaining the Silver Wolf Clan's situation, Dirk strode forward, ready to continue. But he noticed Cipher remained rooted to the spot, showing no intention of moving. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Without warning, Cipher commanded, "Freeze. Don't move. Extend your arms forward."
"Huh?" Though bewildered, Dirk complied, stretching his arms forward. In the next instant, he saw a golden flash before him, and a person materialized in his arms as if from thin air.
Dirk stared down in utter confusion. A figure bound hand and foot with rope, a burlap sack over its head, had materialized before him.
Even with the sack obscuring its face, Dirk immediately recognized the person as the Silver Wolf Clan's Boss. He stammered, "Wait... what? Ah... ah?"
Actually, neither Dirk nor the Silver Wolf Clan's Boss had any idea what was happening. After a few seconds of stunned silence, the Boss suddenly began to struggle and writhe violently. Dirk lost his grip, and the Boss crashed to the ground with a loud thud, yelling, "Ouch, goddamn it!"
"Wait, wasn't I just eating? How the hell did I get here?"
"Who the fuck tied me up?!"
"Hey! Is anyone there?!"
The Silver Wolf Clan's Boss continued to writhe and rant on the ground. Meanwhile, Dirk stared down at him blankly, then glanced up at Cipher, repeating the cycle several times.
"Wait... this... ah?"
Cipher shrugged, spreading her hands. "Alright, mission accomplished. You carry him; let's go."
After all, when Dirk had introduced the Silver Wolf Clan, he'd mentioned the Boss's appearance and warned about his fiery temper, predicting that a fight would be unavoidable. Cipher thought for a moment: Why bother with diplomacy? If we're going to fight anyway, why not just kidnap their Boss and be done with it?
Hearing their conversation, the Silver Wolf Clan Boss roared, "Who are you?! What do you want?! Release me immediately! If you've got the guts, face me in a fair fight! Backstabbing cowards!"
Cipher simply raised her leg and planted a foot on his chest, retorting, "Are you sure about that? I tied you up right in front of your eyes. You just didn't react fast enough. How is that a sneak attack?"
The Boss continued to writhe. "I don't believe it! Someone must have drugged my food and knocked me out! That's the only way you could have tied me up!"
"Damn it! Which little traitor betrayed me?! Just wait until I get my hands on him!"
Cipher pondered for a moment. "So, if I defeat you in a fair, head-on duel, you'll submit, right?"
The Silver Wolf Clan Boss declared, "Just defeat me in a fight!"
"Alright!" Cipher stepped aside, bent down, and genuinely untied the brute. In moments, the ropes and burlap sack lay discarded. The Silver Wolf Clan Boss rose from the ice, visibly stunned by the surrounding landscape and Cipher's appearance.
Cipher grinned. "So, are you ready? Because if you are, I'm attacking!"
The Silver Wolf Clan Boss took a deep breath, his eyes betraying no hint of underestimating his opponent. "Come at me! I'm ready!" he roared.
Then he let out a thunderous war cry, clearly preparing to enter a berserk state.
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
But to Dirk, who was watching from the sidelines, the scene was utterly comical. Just as the Silver Wolf Clan Boss braced for battle, a golden flash streaked across the ice. In an instant, he found himself bound again in the same manner as before—the speed so blinding that his berserk roar was muffled by the sack still covering his head.
Dirk watched as the Silver Wolf Clan Boss, who had just entered his Berserk State, glowed red all over his skin. Like a caterpillar, he twitched twice on the ground before falling still.
After a while, when the Boss withdrew from his Berserk State and regained his Reason, Cipher clapped her small hands together and said, "Well? Are you convinced this time?"
But even though he had clearly exited the Berserk State, Cipher could still see that the Silver Wolf Clan Boss's skin remained flushed red, perhaps from the heat of his rage.
After another moment, the Boss finally spoke, his voice a mix of shock and bewilderment: "Holy shit! You... you... you're badass! I bet fair and square, I'll honor my word!"
"A Barbarian never breaks his word. Now, tell me, why did you capture me?"
Dirk then explained the situation with Imperator Caesar and the Northern Territory Empire. The Silver Wolf Clan Boss didn't mince words: "Then untie me already! I'll come with you, what's the problem?"
So Cipher untied the Boss for the second time. True to his word, he cooperated fully, following them toward the center of the Northern Territory.