Way of Overlord
Chapter 74: Anticipation of Meeting

Chapter 74: Anticipation of Meeting

Aeryon rides around his tribe, his gaze filled with satisfaction and pride.

The training ground has expanded, and various tent now dot the area. There are many new warriors from small tribes that is being recruited

There are small tribes and then there is small clans.

Some clans get together and form a tribe. And some are lone clans wandering in the Great Steppe.

And many of those clans that bordered the now new border of influence of the Brolgadhr tribe came to his tribe and ask to join.

Aeryon wanted to increase as much people under him as fast as possible to complete the Promotion Quest.

He already gathered three thousand men. These clans bring a lot of people but it is not enough. The total population is around three thousand give or take.

That is not good enough. Aeryon wanted five thousand tribesmen and he wanted three thousand horse riders.

The reason why Aeryon could attract so many people is simply because he lures them with food. In this world, money, the concept of money is not that advanced.

Most trade in the steppe is still based on barter.

There is no concept of paper money. There is gold and the currency minted by the government like in Yan or Roma but there is not modern money

So, him offering food quickly attracted the lone clans.

And maybe they too could feel that something is changing. Xewa tribe is not that large of a tribe but they do have some allies and subordinate clan and tribes under them

With their sudden demise, with none of their heir survived, the interest held by them collapsed

"Mayeux was right" he thought to himself. If the Brolgadhr tribe lives on the upper south, they could not create such structure. This is because on the upper south, the wind is harsher

Aeryon could not help but think that the ancestor of Aeryon really did think carefully before choosing this place

Even though it could not be said to be that close to Yan and their Northern Wall and the city of Nurshira, it is also not that far.

The land is fertile, making it easier for them to grow crops and establish settlements.

While there are still many tents, finding suitable stones for building houses proves challenging.

However, Aeryon has a plan in mind.

He envisions the Brolgadhr tribe in the lower south transforming into a thriving city, one that could facilitate trade between his tribe and Yan.

Aeryon realizes the importance of constructing walls to distinguish this area of the Steppe from the rest.

He has his own plans regarding Yan, understanding that establishing a favourable relationship with them is crucial for now

"for now," he thought in his mind. Even though he simply looks toward the south, it almost felt like he could see the city of Nurshira.

One day, the people from Yan would come to the Steppe and slaughter and massacre the people of the Steppe nomads.

In the book he reads, only a few lines are spoken about this. The Princes of Yan united, each with their own ambition and desire to increase prestige, went North, kills the uncivilized barbarians and win great glory for the Great Yan

In the book, that is the line

However, words could not convey the pain. It is clear that Great Yan fears the Steppe that they slaughtered them like cattle and animals.

Enslaved them and turns them into eunuch and humiliate them

How could the men of the Steppe become weak? How could the woman of the Stepp become slave?

Aeryon would not allow it.

The Steppe is bursting with potential. The world is their oyster. Once this collective power is unified, the power that it accumulated could break empire and destroy kingdoms. From south to north, from west to east, they could conquer everything that they see

Having horses in this era is like having a tank. And there is so many advantages of the people of the Steppe that the people of the settled communities did not have

All they need is a leader to point them to right direction.

Aeryon sighed and he averts is gaze from the south. Finished with inspecting the training ground, he went riding.

He saw a small river valley nearby yesterday and he come there to let his horse sip some water. He still did not know what to call his horse.

Picking a name for his horse is harder than he thought. He wanted to pick a fierce and brave name for his horse.

As he looks at the river, he thought about many things. All of it has to do with his tribe

The lower south boasts fertile river valleys and the ability to cultivate wheat.

That would be good if not for the culture of their people

Aeryon acknowledges that for now, it is more practical to focus on raising livestock.

The abundant grass allows their goats to graze and thrive, and the goat is enough providing sustenance for the tribe.

Aeryon anticipates a potential increase in livestock numbers, particularly if the upcoming winter is mild.

As Aeryon continues to survey his tribe, his mind brims with ambition.

He envisions a prosperous future for the Brolgadhr tribe, strategically positioning themselves for trade, growth, and influence within the Great Steppe.

"But it must be fast. It must take everyone by surprise. I must not waste decade in trying to unify the Great Steppe"

Aeryon understood that if he wanted to take the entire Great Steppe, he must first create a base. And this base must be strong.

Aeryon mind was filled with the weighty words exchanged with his uncle, echoing through the vast expanse of the Great Steppe.

His uncle, a respected figure whose wisdom was sought by many in the tribe, had remained enigmatic in his response—neither granting his approval nor casting aside Aeryon ambitions.

Instead, he had uttered words that hung in the air like a delicate balance.

"Watch and see," his uncle had said, his voice laden with anticipation. "Prove to me your mettle, young Aeryon, and the full weight of my support may be yours."

That was his words.

Was it a test? Or was it a mockery? Aeryon did not know. However, he knew his uncle meant well

Aeryon believe that his uncle words were a test. He wanted to test his ability.

Maybe, he thinks that Aeryon is only spouting hot air.

Maybe he thinks that Aeryon could not do it.

But for now, he would persuade the Elders to support him fully.

But if the plans that he had made could not be realized, Aeryon is quite sure that his uncle would be his staunchest opponent.

Aeryon respected his uncle dedication to the tribe and he understood the concern of his uncle.

But he is not that worried about it

As long as he could prove he is capable to do what he had said, the support will come.

Aeryon rides his horse and now he rides toward the north

And he could see a small tent in the distance.

He smiles

The night prior, a delegation from Garron had arrived, requesting permission to set up a temporary camp to rest before their meeting.

Aeryon, ever the gracious host, had granted their request without hesitation.

He understood the weariness that accompanied long journeys across the vast Steppe, and he respected the need for respite.

At the same time, his scout reported the number of men that Garron brought with him

And when he heard the numbers, he was truly surprised.

It was far fewer than he had anticipated, a fact that puzzled him.

Aeryon astute mind quickly pieced together the possible reasons behind this seemingly unconventional choice.

One reason became apparent

Garron’s modest entourage was a calculated move to lower his wariness.

By presenting himself with a small contingent, Garron hoped to appear less threatening, disarming any immediate suspicions that Aeryon may have harboured.

It was a tactic meant to establish a sense of trust and openness.

Aeryon could tell why he brought so little people. It must to help him less wary of him. But the other reason might be that to extinguish his desire to kill him

"You are reading me" he thought to himself with a smile on his face.

The risk he took by bringing so few men was a testament to his cunning and understanding of the delicate balance of power.

Aeryon admiration for Garron grew, mingling with his wariness of the man.

The more he delved into Garron’s motives, the more he realized the depth of his opponent’s intellect.

The calculation behind Garron’s actions was evident, a testament to his strategic prowess.

In the recesses of Aeryon mind, the thought of eliminating Garron flickered briefly.

The temptation to remove this unstable factor from the equation gnawed at him.

But his gaze was fixed on the grand tapestry of his ambitions, far beyond the confines of this small tribe.

Aeryon understood that killing Garron would solve the immediate threat, but it would tarnish his own reputation in the process.

The Great Steppe, with its vast network of alliances and whispers, would remember such an act.

It would stain his legacy, hindering the realization of his long-term plans.

For Aeryon, his vision extended beyond the boundaries of his tribe.

He aspired to seize the entire Great Steppe, to forge an empire that would stand the test of time.

The power he sought demanded careful manoeuvring, strategic alliances, and the ability to outmanoeuvre his rivals.

"If I can’t deal with one old man, how could I deal with all of those warlords and chiefs?" he thought to himself.

And so, in the face of Garron’s calculated bravery, Aeryon chose restraint.

His ambition demanded a broader perspective, one that surpassed the allure of immediate gratification.

Garron, with his wily tactics, remained a thorn in his side, an unpredictable variable that needed to be carefully monitored.

The reason why Garron could be so brave, only bringing that many people is because he calculated that if he brought that little people and Aeryon kills him, his reputation would be soured all over.

Instead, the less people he brought, the safer he become.

Because he calculated that Aeryon did not want to let his reputation to be marred with the incident of killing him

"What a cunning man"

And once again the desire to kill Garron rises up.

But he closes his eyes and calm down his heart.

Aeryon did not know this but this same kind of evaluation is also levied upon him by Garron. To Garron, Aeryon is also cunning and Garron also wanted to kill for the same reason that Aeryon wanted to kill Garron

Garron also have the same thought as him

Aeryon is in the opinion that killing Garron would crumble the Utgard tribe. And Garron was in the opinion that killing Aeryon would make the Brolgadhr tribe crumble

It is funny that these two people look at each other and they could instantly tell how the other person is dangerous

Maybe, it is true those saying from Yan dynasty. Heroes recognize heroes.

Garron is a bit different than Aeryon.

He is not as brave nor as bold. But that does not mean being brave and bold would always wins you victory. The fact that the biggest winner of the destruction of the Xewa and Ghar tribe is the Utgard tribe.

It shows how Garron is very much dangerous and while his method is different than Aeryon, that does not make him less dangerous.

They are different but they are also the same in some manner. They are both pioneering the way forward for their tribe

"Anyway, we will meet in the afternoon" he thought to himself.

Aeryon got a message from Garron. Garron ask to meet him in his tent, because he is tired from the journey

Aeryon could already tell that this is Garron trying not to lose face. Aeryon after all summoned him like he is his superior and this is his way of regaining back the lost ground in diplomacy.

Aeryon agree as he could tell that there is no need to push each other that much. After all, they are still equal in status.

As for now, Aeryon simply rides around the Steppe, training his horse and polishing his own horsemanship

....

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