When he brought that up, I instantly searched in my memories bank about what happened on that night. It was… unforgettable for various reasons. Maybe I should have asked Ghrukka to erase some of those moments. After going through one memory after another, there was this scene where I saw the Head Priest, Ghaez was conversing with a heavily garbed figure of a woman.

“Are you talking about that heavily garbed woman at that time who was talking with Ghaez?”

“Yeah, I mean it was obvious it was a she. So anyway, turns out she’s the young wife for one of the more prominent tribal chief there, the Grey Star clan. After some snooping, it seems she got married after we were summoned and the thing is she from the southern land of Valvakea.”

This just added her to my list of individuals to lookout as I remembered how mightily suspicious of her back during the summoning. I mean overclothing is sign of female villainy in my book.

“That’s an awfully long way to get married. I’ll do some background check on her then. Is there anything else?”

Shakil was holding his chin, trying hard to recall. After a few second, he shakes his head. Afterward, I asked him several minor questions regarding the Six Tribes.

After I was done questioning…

“I had a hell of a week so all I want right now is an entire week of relaxation with the promise from a certain someone that I won’t be sent into a suicidal mission again.”

He let out a sardonic smile at me.

I sighed and in an apologizing manner, bowed towards him.

“That’s enough. Your sincerity really is astonishing even though you’re one of the most calculating persons that I had pleasure of knowing. You have better qualities than that law-abiding, strictly rigid Ghozano or that holier than thou, overbearing asshole of a Feshgru, Therius. Compared to them, you and the pretty boy, Horatius are the better pair.”

He sighed as he reclined on the chair. I started chuckling involuntarily as I did share the same sentiment.

“I’m glad that there is someone who appreciated my scheming methods, all for the embetterment of us summoned.”

-Or at least I would like to believe I’m doing. It is more or least for self-preservation for me and some of the Summoned.

“Aye, when a tribe is in a dire strait, a dire measure is the only way.”

He got up from his chair.

“I’ll take my leave since I did my role already.”

I got up too and extended my hand for a handshake. Without hesitating, he took it.

“Thanks a lot. Although I won’t ask you to take on near suicidal missions again but I still need help, I looked forward to your continued assistance.”

“Bah, what a veiled bastardful of a pleasantries!”

I chuckled as he lightly groaned with a grumpy expression and then he left.

I slumped down on the chair. I am lucky to have such a sharp-tongued but agreeable and most importantly, a capable person to assist me but all of them are my equal, not my subordinates so I always reminded myself that it’s a give and take.

I already employed him once so it would be some times before I can ask him again.

I had reaped quite a wealth of information from his mission. With it, I can already mastermind schemes on how to bend these winds of change to my will.

The thing is, from the start, I only have a superficial loyalty towards Athryshiayl.

During my time in Tchekaz, only the frivolous and yet genuine Inheritors had earned my respect but the Ten Great Houses, the other political power of Athryshiayl made me experience the flimsy, folderol-filled politic of earth.

The Ten Great House had formed their self-governed settlements around Tchekaz as they probably felt that it was too beneath of them to share the same space with the Inheritors.

Also, their political influence is only second to the Inheritor but the legacy and accumulation of their force vastly outstripped the Inheritors, who only had the veneration of the residents of Tchekaz, by a significant margin.

All ten of them are descendant from Inheritors who achieved greatness or at least have their own three or more pages in the various history books.

Now, onto their conduct, on the outset, they act magnanimously and pull off an exemplary act in being charitable but at the same time, they also held and pulled strings from the shadow, manipulating the results and took action in every way imaginable to obtain and hold on to power.

The road to the top of the food chain for anyone intelligent enough to wipe their own asses is not built on altruism and good virtues.

Therefore, they had use every measure possible to earn the summoned’s goodwill and bring them to their fold. I know quite some of us had already aligned themselves with the Ten Great Houses.

Even I had received several invitations from them especially at the Western side where three of the Great Houses that were in charge over the operation of Eo Stones Mining.

Ever since that battle, I was highly viewed by those three Great Houses. Apparently, the Endless Western Reach was also called ‘The Grand Minework’ by the higher up.

That’s why I think that it is only right to peg them down a notch by introducing a third faction, one that is wholly dedicated to be at the loggerhead with the Great Houses faction.

-A United Eighty-Three Tribes gained sovereignty and equal right as a partner with Athryshiayl.

Usually, the tricky thing about bringing forth revolution is the how but right now, all the conditions for the prerequisite of gaining sovereignty had already been met so several things that they need is the time after the Grand Incursion, the end of their little, petty conflicts between tribes and a fix to their perception of us, the summoned.

I have several solutions in mind to makes sure that everything would go smoothly.

--

Three weeks after Shakil report, I was preparing for the trip to the North as I was requested or rather implored for my presence to visit the northern outpost last week because of those suspected unsanctioned conflicts by the official there.

I had done a background check on the official over there. In general, he follows wherever the wind goes and right now it was going with the tribes of Symokiva.

I already more or less settle all the cases that had presented to me. The way I settled them was adequate.

After I replied the request, I made several preparations like taking along a few squads and several helpers, procuring supplies, notifying the tribes in that region and et cetera.

I had already sent a letter to Erganisu to join up with us. As of right now, he’s probably on the way to the designated location that I mentioned in the letter.

Also there was another reason for this trip.

Outside of the entrance of the fortress with about a hundred people preparing for the trip, I looked to my sides. On my right side, Vefal was checking the content of her bag while on my left side; Ghiscra was doing the same thing except she two bags, one of them were larger while the other one was smaller almost the size of a pouch.

For this trip, I brought Vefal, who was my bodyguard and Ghiscra who had asked for my help to start-up the ‘Long Distance Communication System’ Project. This was the other reason for this trip.

Ghiscra had started this research for almost five months as she had already prepared blueprints. Before I had assisted her, she stumbled some obstacles she couldn’t solve even with the help of Tevalini and her special ability and were only able to complete after we worked together with me giving a few pointers with my experience on earth.

As of now, the project had entered into the final stage, the ‘testing’ stage.

“Is everything prepared?”

“Mmm…”

As I asked her that, I went behind her and checked the content of the smaller bag. Inside was a thin three layered slab the shaped of a rough hourglass and inscribed on the surface of the slab was an Eomancy spell and Formations.

This was a prototype of the communication device.

There were actually two of them but one of them was left in the care of Shakil, who opted to stay with Ghrukka in holding the fort.

That guy just doesn’t want to relive the experience of those lonely nights where he can get killed suddenly. Well, I guess that reason is justifiable.

“Are the special parts all ready?”

After I looked at the bag, Ghiscra asked me from the side.

I turned my head at the supplies of stacks at the middle of this group. Inside those stacks were preserved foods, various tools for erecting tents, some fire woods, and there was a marked box that was sent here from the Eomancy Council along with long oblong shaped box. Inside the first box was collection of special materials I requested by using one of my ‘formal request’ and other one was an obelisk made from the special materials.

After proving my worth as a commander, before I was sent here, I was given by the Inheritors three writ of Haercul or ‘formal request’. It’s like owning favour from the Inheritors of Athryshiayl and I can request any high-amount request even for those courtesans to be sent here from what I called the red-light district except I wouldn’t dare…

Damn stupid sexual need.

Anyway, I already use up two of them. One was to request about 200 Quilens, which was the limit, for me to give to Shakil as a reward for doing the reconnaissance mission. The second one was the collection of enchanted parts from the Eomancy Council.

As we converse, two men garbed in feathered armours and some tribal decorations came towards us. One of them was a human with blue hair and the other one was a dark scaled humanoid.

I got up and looked at both of them with a stern expression. I always remembered what Shakil had advice before: In the face of any tribesman, they always equate respect with power.

Just like the military but albeit different as rank means nothing to them.

My demeanour must show as such in front of them.

“Is everyone done with their preparation?”

“Yes sir!”

Both of them resolutely affirmed.

The blue haired man was called Aflin and he was from the tribe of ‘Thousand Hills’ and the scaled dragonoid were called Cavseb from the tribe of ‘Blackened Drakes’.

Both of the tribes were from the four tribes that Shakil had visited. From the answer he had given, these two tribes were the most welcoming for him during his visit so I naturally seek out both of them.

“Relay the order that we are moving out!”

“Yes sir!”

I turned my face towards the north but then I realized, was the direction I was facing was actually really the North like the North north? Ah, nobody cares.