Way of Overlord
Chapter 63: Geopolitical Matters

Chapter 63: Geopolitical Matters

Aeryon releases his fist and try to shake the dark thoughts from his mind. He hopes that things do not need to reach to that point.

Whatever the conclusion is, he simply hopes that he did not need to kill that woman.

"Now, I need to make sure to settle her"

He called for Kashoger, and instructed him to give an order from him to Mayeux

He would be tasked to make arrangements for the daughter of the Chief of Utgard.

Once the necessary instructions were given, Aeryon felt a bit relaxed.

"It felt like I am ticking boxes of things I should do. And there is still a lot of things to do"

Though Aeryon did not hate this kind of day. It gave him a sense of purpose.

Today is an important day. He had postponed it for far too long, and now the time had come.

With determination in his eyes, he whispered to himself, "Open selection of classes."

He smiles.

The last time he picks a class, it gave him many benefits, and that benefit still helps him today

If not for the fact that he had the class of warriors, he could not have survived this long or this easily.

Of course, Aeryon also praise his own ingenuity of using the Invincibility Card to complete the quest

With that, it paved the way for today.

"I play in hard difficulty first so that when I switched to normal difficulty, everything would feel like a breeze" he muttered to himself before laughing at his own thoughts

Even though he seems to downplayed his own achievement, only he could understand how anxious he was.

There was never a one hundred percent guarantee that he would manage to survive it. There is so many things that could go wrong.

The other rival tribe might unite against him on the fourth day and sieges him and his tribe and his tribe could be history.

And there are hundreds of ways that Aeryon could think of for his plans to fall apart.

Aeryon was well aware of the delicate balance he maintained with the neighbouring tribes.

And that balance was the balance of fear.

He tries to maintain it well, creating enough fear but not too much

While fear had its advantages, he knew that it was a fragile foundation on which to build his power.

Fear could easily transform into resentment and anger if he were to threaten their interests or push them too far.

History served as a reminder of how swiftly alliances could form against a perceived common threat.

He recalled the tales of Oda Nobunaga, the powerful warlord of Japan, who found himself besieged by a coalition of rival warlords during the tumultuous Sengoku period.

Despite his might, the collective forces of his enemies posed a significant challenge.

The lesson extended further back to the days of the Qin dynasty in ancient China.

Aeryon reflected on how the six kingdoms had formed an alliance, fuelled by their shared desire to defeat the rising power of the Qin dynasty.

It was a testament to the strength that unity could bring against a formidable opponent.

Aeryon understood that his actions and decisions could shape the attitudes of those around him.

If he mishandled his relationships, pushed too aggressively, or failed to account for the ambitions of others, he risked stoking the flames of opposition.

It was a delicate dance, requiring him to balance his authority with tact and strategic finesse.

"I forge an alliance with the Utgard tribe but even I did not foresee so many benefits"

It is because of this benefit that Aeryon very much hesitate to kill Ayera and to make an enemy out of Utgard.

At least at the current moment, the alliance is very much useful to him.

And no matter how Garron sees him as a threat, he probably also understood the importance of the alliance.

Whatever his scheme was that he concocted by sending Ayera here, he probably also sees the need for an alliance.

He himself has many enemies around him.

The Kazan’s is around him.

They might be fighting each other for now but if they ever decided to unite with each other, then that would be a very dangerous threat for Utgard tribe

He hates to admit it but his strategic alliances with the Utgard tribe had indeed strengthened his position and created a sense of caution among the neighbouring tribes.

Indeed, the current situation presents a formidable challenge for any tribe considering an attack on Aeryon and his Brolgadhr tribe.

The fact that Brolgadhr has successfully subjugated six tribes and boasts a considerable number of skilled horse riders is a testament to their renewed military strength and strategic capabilities.

Furthermore, the backing of the Utgard tribe adds another layer of complexity to any potential conflict.

The support of a powerful ally like the Utgard tribe significantly enhances Brolgadhr tribe defensive capabilities and acts as a deterrent to neighbouring tribes considering aggression.

The Kanun, Khulun, Rudya, and Korun tribes probably found themselves carefully considering their options, as they weighed the benefits and risks of either challenging or aligning themselves with Aeryon.

Korun, located between Aeryon tribe and the Utgard tribe, found themselves in a precarious position.

Attacking Brolgadhr tribe would expose them to retaliation from the Utgard tribe. Damned, if they do, damned if they don’t’

That is how Aeryon describe the Korun tribe situation right now. If he attacks Utgard, Aeryon could attack them from the rear and vice versa.

Aeryon conquest of the Xewa and Ghar tribe had redrawn the borders, placing Korun in a vulnerable position.

Similarly, the Kanun tribe, now bordering Aeryon tribe, hesitated to make a move against him due to the fear they harboured.

His reputation and actions had instilled enough fear in them to dissuade any immediate aggression.

"It is good that the reputation spread a bit. Though, they also need some time to process the information. Until then, the tribe must still be vigilant" he thought to himself.

Right now, it might seem like the tribe is developing well, but only he knew how anxious Mayeux are in his heat and how anxious he is.

There is a reason why he keeps making sure that the young are trained in the art of battle. It is because he is not sure whether the surrounding tribe will attack or not after

Kanun tribe not moving is good for him right now. They hesitate and their hesitation will prove costly for them in the future, even if they do not know it yet.

Their hesitation stemmed from their uncertainty of how Aeryon would respond and the potential consequences they might face.

The Khulun tribe, bordering the four small tribes Aeryon had recently subjugated, found themselves in a similar position.

They observed Aeryon swift conquests and were cautious about provoking him.

Aeryon ability to swiftly subdue these tribes before neighbouring tribes could react showcased his strength and left the surrounding tribes in a state of uncertainty and fear

A key aspect of Aeryon approach was his avoidance of excessive brutality and draconian measures.

By sparing the lives of those he conquered, he instilled a sense of hope and possibility for negotiation among the smaller tribes.

This mercy served to present Aeryon as someone with whom negotiation was feasible, rather than a ruthless conqueror to be feared.

The surrounding tribes found themselves in a quandary.

They recognized Aeryon power and dominance, but they also saw the potential for negotiation and peaceful coexistence.

Fear and hesitation became the dominant emotions as they weighed the risks and rewards of challenging Aeryon or seeking diplomatic solutions.

Aeryon careful management of power and his reputation as a conqueror who could be reasoned with had created a delicate balance.

While the neighbouring tribes were not confident in their ability to defeat him, they also harboured reservations about the consequences of resistance.

Negotiation seemed to be the more appealing option, given the uncertainty and fear that surrounded Aeryon rule.

And all the small tribes around him would rather negotiate with him than try to fight him because they are not confident in fighting against him

He already contemplated the potential pitfalls and challenges that lay ahead

And he knows very well that he has to tread carefully.

He would need to navigate the complex web of alliances, interests, and rivalries, ensuring that his actions did not sow the seeds of his own downfall.

The fate of his tribe and his own aspirations hung in the balance, and he was determined to chart a path that would lead to triumph rather than ruin.

He then shakes his head.

"every day would be like this from now on" he muttered to himself. He could already see himself years into the future, always waking up worried.

Every morning thinking about the actions of others, how his action would be taken and viewed and acted upon.

"Maybe, someday I would not be too worried and that there would be days where I could kick back and take it easy"

His ambition will become the tribe ambition. And there is a drive in him. James is quite sure that this drive come not only from him but from the original Aeryon.

"But I have the system" he thought to himself. It is a pity that this system does not give him anything he ever wanted.

In those books he reads, the protagonist always lives an easy life. Want a weapon? Here’s a weapon. But when it comes to him, it is very hard to even get a skill.

But this is his confidence to take over the Great Steppe. Yes, he knows this Great Steppe is larger than any steppe in his world, but with the system he could do it

He would do a feat so magnificent that his name would be remembered a thousand years later.

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