Chapter 289: Leader, I Also Believe You
With Thorne’s assistance, the unruly Beastmen of the Sky-Rend Tribe were quickly subdued.
Orion looked exhausted. He wiped the sweat from his brow and offered Thorne a faint smile. "Thorne, thank you."
Thorne’s brow furrowed. His dark green, slitted pupils swept over the Sky-Rend Tribe’s Beastmen and the miserable-looking females, his gaze turning vicious. "What are you going to do now? How will you handle them? Do you need my help?"
He knew Orion’s temperament; the man couldn’t even bring himself to kill, let alone raise his claws against his own tribesmen.
Orion silently shook his head. He looked up at Thorne and said in a low voice, "You’ve already helped me more than enough. Go on. Go see the continent beyond the Triangle Sea. It might truly be a whole new world."
At his words, Thorne’s pupils constricted, and his voice rose. "You’re not planning to come with us?"
Orion gave a self-deprecating laugh and looked at his tribesmen. "Go? What right do I have to go with you? Thorne, I appreciate the thought, but the Sky-Rend Tribe has done wrong. They don’t deserve to board the ship with you. And as for me... even though I’m a leader who was cast aside, the moment my father passed this position to me, I lost my freedom."
"Go back... Go home..." Holly mumbled, her arms wrapped around Orion’s waist.
Thorne shot her a disgusted look and took a step back. When he looked at Orion again, his expression had calmed. ’Everyone has their own path to walk; you can’t force it.’ Besides, he had no intention of letting the Wyvern Beastmen of the Sky-Rend Tribe on the ship anyway.
These people had slaughtered their own kind and tortured females. How could he possibly let Eva share a ship with them?
"Orion, take care." Thorne gave him a long, deep look before turning and walking toward the ship.
Orion watched Thorne’s tall, retreating figure, the bitter curve of his lips deepening.
They both knew, with piercing clarity, that after today, they would never see each other again.
The bond they had forged in their youth, hunting together and roaming the deep mountain forests, came to an end on this day.
Orion took a deep breath, turned with Holly, and, pulling along his vine-bound tribesmen, started the trek toward the snowfields of Norfell.
Standing on the ship, Evangeline watched Orion depart.
The dashing, untamable Wyvern Beastman she had first met was now completely gone.
「Grymdale Tribe.」
Melora Moretti watched Orion’s departing figure in silence, her pretty little face filled with disappointment.
Suddenly, the sound of her mother and brother arguing drifted over from nearby.
"We can’t go! That Evangeline, she already hates our Grymdale Tribe. Don’t forget, we were the ones who drove them from our territory, and we even tried to harm that Fallen Beastman of hers! Elias, we really can’t go!"
Lana gripped Elias Moretti’s arm tightly, her eyes red-rimmed.
She was just a female; she couldn’t make decisions about the tribe’s survival. But if they stayed in Norfell, they could at least live. Once they boarded that ship, if something were to happen, they wouldn’t even have a chance to fight back!
Gable, standing to the side, also hissed in a low voice, "Evangeline doesn’t just have those few High-level Beast Husbands—she has a whole troop of Fallen Beastman warriors! Elias, if it comes time to make a sacrifice, are you so sure she’ll spare the Grymdale Tribe?"
If Thorne were still one of them, a member of the Grymdale Tribe, then they wouldn’t have to worry so much.
But he had already abandoned the Grymdale Tribe’s totem. He was no longer on their side!
As for the others boarding the ship, besides the Fallen Beastmen, there was the Mer Clan. On the long journey from Norfell to the edge of the Triangle Sea, they had all seen with their own eyes how much Evangeline valued the Mer Clan—far more than any other tribe!
That flying ship needed energy to cross the Triangle Sea. If Evangeline had to choose between the tribes, the Grymdale Tribe would undoubtedly be the first one sacrificed. How could he possibly board that ship with peace of mind?
Elias Moretti looked at his anxious mother, Lana, then at the furious Gable, and finally at his deeply worried sister standing to the side. He suddenly let out a soft chuckle and said calmly, "Gable, you can take your people and return to Norfell."
There wasn’t a single ripple of emotion in his crimson eyes as he quietly watched Evangeline standing on the ship.
No matter what, he was getting on that ship.
Traveling beyond the Triangle Sea was his heart’s desire. This was the closest he had ever been to his goal!
Gable’s expression changed drastically. He followed Elias’s gaze to Evangeline’s slender figure and snapped, "You are! You’re a fool!" He lowered his voice, which trembled with anger. "Elias, if you go back now, you can have any female you want! Why does it have to be her? I’m telling you, even if you make it beyond the Triangle Sea, she will never form a Contract with you!"
He had seen it long ago—this Evangeline was no pushover. Her methods were ruthless.
Back in the Grymdale Tribe, when the Monitor Tribe tried to kill her Beast Husband, Elias offered no protection, instead just watching coldly from the sidelines. That alone was enough for her to hold a grudge for a lifetime! For her to invite them along this time... there was no guarantee she wasn’t plotting to kill them!
’Just look at what happened! She clearly could have recalled the flying ship sooner and prevented the slaughter of the Mysticeti Tribe’s Beastmen, but she didn’t. Instead, she let events unfold and then calmly told everyone they could board the ship to cross the sea.’
’Heh, she was obviously using the Mysticeti Tribe and the Sky-Rend Tribe as stepping stones to test the waters!’
The mere thought sent a chill down Gable’s spine.
’When the ship had returned with Thorne, he himself had entertained the same idea: steal the ship and have the Grymdale Tribe set off alone. They could travel beyond the Triangle Sea without any outsiders to bother or threaten them!’
’If Elias hadn’t been watching him so closely, the Grymdale Tribe would probably be in the same position as the Sky-Rend Tribe right now.’
’That Evangeline... she’s cunning and manipulative, absolutely not someone to be trusted.’
Elias Moretti turned his gaze away from him, his crimson eyes slowly sweeping over the fearful and uncertain faces of his tribesmen.
His voice was low and firm. "As for whether or not to journey beyond the Triangle Sea, I will give you a choice. Those who are willing to follow me, stand behind me. Those who choose to stay, go back with Gable."
The Beastmen of the Grymdale Tribe exchanged glances. Some lowered their heads, while others began to whisper amongst themselves.
Just then, a figure stood up and declared in a loud voice, "Leader! I am willing to follow you!"
Everyone looked with some surprise at the female who had suddenly stood up—Cecilia West.
Several Beast Husbands and a few half-grown cubs were with her. As soon as Cecilia West stood, they all rose as well, moving to stand behind Elias Moretti with her.
"You’re willing to go?" Elias Moretti half-lidded his eyes, his tone laced with suspicion.
He was, of course, very familiar with this female and knew her character well. Although she had changed a great deal during her time in the tribe, he still found it hard to believe she was willing to follow him—and Evangeline.
Cecilia West gave a light laugh and stroked her cub’s head. The little one, enjoying the attention, nuzzled against its mother’s palm, its ear tips transforming into gray wolf ears. "Evangeline saved me. I trust her."
With that, she looked up at Elias Moretti, her expression serious. "Leader, I trust you, too."
’Elias Moretti might not be a suitable mate, but he is definitely an excellent leader.’
