Reborn As A Beastman With A System

"Yes!"

Begon's eyes sparkled with excitement as she nodded in agreement.

Logan leaned back, thinking carefully before speaking. A slow, thoughtful smile spread across his face. "Seventeen tribes, nearly thirty thousand Beastmen, but only three hundred and seventy thousand grains of food? If we don't take action soon, these smaller tribes won't last much longer."

Begon's companion, Kro, chuckled. "Exactly. Word spread quickly that our tribe has more than enough supplies. Even if some chiefs resisted, their warriors could barely summon the will to fight. As soon as we showed any sign of force, most surrendered without hesitation."

Logan nodded in understanding. For many of the Beastmen and Beastmen, tribe loyalty was often overshadowed by the desire for survival. "They probably don't see much point in fighting for a chief when the belly's empty, huh?" He mused. "Join the tribe with food and stay alive, that's the way they see it."

"Right. For most of them, it's a simple calculation," Kro added, still grinning. "As for the chiefs who did resist, well… they just didn't want to lose their power."

At that, Begon, eager to hear more, piped up, "Uncle, tell us everything!"

Logan smiled warmly at his niece's enthusiasm. "In addition to the grain, we also captured 164 wargs, 78 kodo beasts, and 239 other domesticated low-level magical creatures. We'll be able to use some for food and others for labor."

Begon's eyes widened at the mention of the wargs. "One hundred and sixty-four? That's quite the haul!"

"It is," Logan agreed. "That many wargs could fetch a fortune, hundreds of gold coins, easily."

"Out of those, one hundred and thirty-seven are adult males," Begon added, her face reflecting both surprise and admiration for the prize.

Kro joined in, still clearly impressed. "Most of these Beastman tribes have a few wargs, maybe a dozen at most. But when they're brought together, we suddenly have a significant number, much more than I expected."

Lots, another in the group, chimed in. "This isn't typical for such small tribes. I doubt any of their chiefs were dreaming of forming a wolf cavalry," he said with a chuckle.

Kro's laughter was infectious. "Exactly! No matter how tiny the tribe is, they always manage to keep a few wargs, as if it's in their nature. The love between a Beastman and their wolf steed is as natural as a man's love for a woman."

The group shared a knowing laugh, the bond between wolves and Beastmen being almost a sacred tradition.

"In addition to the beasts, we also seized fifty-three gold coins, nine thousand six hundred and ninety-one silver coins, and thirty-four thousand seven hundred and thirty-five copper coins," Begon said, her voice excited as she shared the numbers.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "That's a decent amount, especially when you add it all up. Close to five hundred gold coins, isn't it?"

"Not bad at all," Begon agreed, nodding. "But what's even more interesting is that the Gushuo tribe, a small Beastman tribe with fewer than three thousand people, had 35 gold coins, over two thousand silver, and more than three thousand copper coins hidden away in the chief's home alone."

Lots, shaking his head in disbelief, added, "And yet, before we took over the Gushuo tribe, dozens of their people had already starved to death. Their granary was completely empty, and their wheat hadn't even ripened before they harvested it early out of desperation. They were so desperate, they killed half of their wargs just to have something to eat."

Logan frowned. "So the chief had a hoard of money, but let his people starve? That's outrageous."

Lots's voice was tinged with frustration as he continued, "He had enough to feed his people for at least ten days or more. They wouldn't have had to slaughter their own beasts or let their warriors die."
Stay connected through m-v l|e'm,p| y- r

Kro shook his head, grinning darkly. "Well, it worked out for us. Many of these small-time chiefs only care about power. They'd rather watch their people suffer than part with a few coins. And when the tribe collapses, they pack up with their families and find a comfortable place to live, like Canyon City, leaving the mess behind them."

Begon's lips curled into a sly smile. "All the better for us, then."

Logan laughed, the sound spreading through the group. "True. In the end, the wealth they hoarded only hastened their downfall. We gain food, gold, and wolves, while they lose everything."

The group shared in the laughter, the camaraderie of their shared victories pulling them even closer together.

It truly was a significant victory for the Silvermane Tribe, though not without cost.

"Now for the bad news, the casualties from our side," Begon said somberly, her voice softening.

A silence settled over the room, the weight of the next words already looming over the group.

"We lost eighty-six warriors in the battle. Seventy-one Beastmen, fifteen wild boar men, and three wolf riders," she continued, the tally hanging heavily in the air. "Additionally, one hundred and thirty-three of our fighters were seriously wounded, and two of our wolves were killed."

As soon as Begon finished, Logan, Kro, and Lots fell into a grim silence. The reality of those numbers hit hard. Eighty-six warriors gone. Each name represented a story, a life, a family left behind. And with so many wounded, the recovery would be long and uncertain. Some might never regain their full strength, leaving them less able to fight for the tribe again.

The losses were deep, and even though they had won, the weight of the victory was felt in more than just numbers.

"War always demands blood," Logan finally said, his voice steady but sorrowful. "The rise of the Silvermane Tribe comes at a price, one paid in sacrifice. These warriors died defending the future of the tribe. Their deaths are not in vain. It's a death of honor, one every warrior understands."

Kro nodded slowly. "Still, it doesn't make it any easier."

Logan turned to Begon. "What about the ashes of the fallen? Were they properly taken care of?"

Begon nodded respectfully. "Yes. Each of them was cremated before the Temple of Warriors. Their ashes are stored there now, with memorial tablets set up so their families can pay their respects."

Logan hummed thoughtfully. The Temple of Warriors stood as a tribute to their greatest defenders, a grand structure still under construction, but it was already becoming the heart of the tribe. Though unfinished, three-quarters of the building was complete, and it was already in use for rituals and ceremonies, including the honoring of fallen warriors.

He could picture the temple, its massive stone walls, towering over the surrounding village like a beacon of strength. The tribespeople had begun visiting it regularly, laying offerings and saying prayers. The tribe's bond with their ancestors and fallen heroes grew stronger each day.

"There have been priests, those helping to build the Temple of the Gods, asking for permission to oversee the Temple of Warriors," Begon added.

"Priests, huh?" Logan mused. "And what reason did they give?"

"They claimed that by managing the Temple of Warriors, they could ensure the souls of the fallen enter the kingdom of the gods and achieve eternal life." Begon's tone was skeptical.

Logan chuckled softly, though his expression remained unreadable. "The world of gods is strange indeed, but I'm not so quick to believe their promises. I'm not yet ready to trust those priests with something as important as the temple." His voice grew firmer.

"They may have worked alongside our healers, helping to treat the wounded, but until they fully submit to the Silvermane Tribe, I won't entrust them with anything of real value."

The Temple of Warriors wasn't just a monument; it had significance far beyond the physical world. From the moment its foundations were laid, Logan felt the system, the unseen force that governed much of their world, respond to its creation. Something about the temple had power, and there was no way he would let the priests meddle with that.

He had allowed them to assist in certain rituals, but full control? Never.

The air in the room grew heavy with the weight of their thoughts, each of them reflecting on the price of their triumphs. The quiet stretched on, until finally, Logan broke the silence.

"We need to discuss the situation with the surrounding tribes. According to Carl's latest reports, these smaller tribes are starting to band together out of fear," he said, his tone shifting from somber to focused.

"Band together?" Kro and Lots exchanged glances, confused. Over the past few days, they had planned to target six or seven neighboring tribes, but all of them had fled. Each time their forces arrived, they found only abandoned villages, stripped bare of anything of value.

Kro's frustration flared. "They just ran away, leaving their homes behind? I sent the air cavalry to burn down whatever they left. If they don't want their homes, then fine, I'll burn them to the ground!"

Begon gave a small, knowing smile and stepped in. "It's not as simple as it seems. The smaller tribes have been flocking to two main strongholds: the Qatar Tribe, which is about 120 miles southwest, and the Adik Tribe, 150 miles to the northwest. Many smaller groups are gathering there, seeking protection."

"Those two tribes have each managed to gather six or seven smaller tribes around them," she continued. "And while there are other places where two or three tribes have banded together, Qatar and Adik have become major hubs for these fleeing groups."

Kro slammed his fist on the table, his anger boiling over. "So Qatar and Adik are going to annex all those tribes without lifting a finger? That's infuriating! They get to grow stronger while we do all the fighting!"

Lots's eyes narrowed in thought. "If they're gathering together like that, it means they're scared. Scared of us. But this could work in our favor."

Logan leaned forward, intrigued. "Go on."

"If they're consolidating, then we know exactly where to strike next," Lots said. "We focus our attention on Qatar and Adik. Take them out, and we eliminate not only two rival tribes but the smaller ones clinging to them as well."

Logan smiled, his mind already racing with plans. "Yes. If we take out their leaders, the smaller tribes will have no choice but to surrender."

Begon's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "And then the Silvermane Tribe will become stronger than ever."