Death... and me
chapter-23

A week quickly went by, and the Nari Tribe finally left. Together with them was an elder and a few warriors of the Varen Tribe. They were going to the Nari Tribe to first take a look at the situation. Only then can they think about a plan of how to implement the Varen Tribe system. Iaman Nari also guaranteed the elder and warriors' safety. As long as he is alive, his Advanced Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm would be more than enough to stop any foolish ideas from the others.

Besides, his other Foundation Establishment elder who came with him also saw the results. As an elder of the Nari Tribe, he, too, knew very well their Tribe's situation. It shouldn't be a problem with both of them to talk with the other elders back in their Tribe.

At the same time, the news of the Varen-Nari alliance spread like wildfire! All the small tribes around found out about it in just two days' time. Of course, the story that was spread talked about the Nari Tribe being on friendly terms with them. They would help protect the Varen Tribe if they were attacked, but they would not help them attack anyone.

Iaman Nari also sent some of his warriors on his name to confirm that it was really the case. It should be enough to keep the Varen Tribe safe for the next few years, more or less. That will be the time necessary for the dust to settle. In fact, other than the Tranko Tribe, there wasn't much of an issue with any other Small Tribe.

However, the Medium-Sized Tribe controlling this territory is another story. As mentioned before, the Varen Tribe is also considered a Small Tribe, but close to becoming a Medium Size. The Medium Size Tribe in this place was called Kianme, but they were not as strong as the Nari Tribe. Considering that the Varen Tribe is almost a middle-sized one, they didn't mess with them lightly.

Even the annual tributes of the Varen Tribe were only paid to the Big Tribe controlling half of the South Region. They did not need to pay tributes to the Kianme Tribe controlling this territory. In the end, Strength speaks louder. Although the Kianme Tribe could win a war against the Varen Tribe, it doesn't change the fact that the price would be way too high. The hyenas around would definitely not lose this chance to strike once everything is over.

In the last few years, a problem started to appear in the Kianme Tribe. The same way that thee Tranko Tribe had a spy inside the Varen Tribe, the Kianme Tribe, also has their own. Not to mention that their own was even better than the Tranko Tribe. He had already noticed that the number of talents appearing in the Varen Tribe was increasing drastically and reported it back a long time ago.

It presented a severe threat to the Kianme Tribe. So their Tribe had been thinking about a solution. At first, they thought about allying with the Small Tribes and get rid of the Varen Tribe, but that idea was immediately rejected. First of all, Kianme is a stronger Tribe than Varen, so why would the Small Tribes help the Kianme Tribe get rid of the Varen Tribe? If anything, they would prefer to have the Varen Tribe taking their place instead. Other than the Tranko Tribe, the majority didn't have any intention to start a war for nothing.

Not to mention that the Varen Tribe had always counted with their Ore Mine. They had never gone out of their way to cause the Small Tribes around any trouble. It could be said that although their systems were different, the Varen Tribe had quite a good relationship with most of them. The Varen Tribe specialty is their ore mine, and the other Small Tribes had their own specialties as well. The Varen Tribe made many trades with those Tribes, and they even paid a fair price without ever abusing their higher power.

With the reputation that the Varen Tribe built over the years, those Small Tribes would definitely prefer them as the medium-sized Tribe controlling this territory. That being said, trying to rally them up aginst the Varen Tribe would most likely backfire on them.

Now, with the Nari Tribe entering the fray, their situation became even more complicated.

In the Kianme Tribe, the elders had gathered to discuss this news about the Nari-Varen alliance.

Their Tribe Leader, Yisval Kianme, was looking at the elders with an angry face.

"Didn't the Nari Tribe come to forcefully take away some of the Varen Tribe Talents? How come they became allies? Can someone explain this to me?"

One elder called Jamio Kianme got up and started to talk.

"Our spy had just come back, so he told me everything he saw during their visit. It seems like the Varen Tribe gathered all their youths between 0 and 10 years old. They then had Iaman Nari test their aptitudes. He said that there were almost 300 kids with brown color aptitude or higher in the field that day."

Yisval was taken aback, that number was absurd!

"We knew that the number of talents appearing in the Varen Tribe was big, but not to this extent. We need to think about something before they get too strong."

Another elder then suggested.

"What about we ask the help of another Medium-sized tribe? We can offer them all the spoils after the war is over. As long as we get rid of the Varen Tribe, the rest won't matter much. We would even preserve quite some of our Strength."

Yisval thought about it for a second and had to admit that it might be a good idea.

"But we can't do that now. If we attack straight away after the Nari Tribe allied with them, it would be the same a trampling on their pride. It would just cause a bigger war where both sides would suffer. Those new talents are all kids at the moment. Before they are at least 25+ years old, they won't be any problem for our Tribe. After all, unless they have a Green Aptitude Level or higher, those kids will at most reach the initial stages of the Energy Gathering Realm during this time."

"Besides, we need to find an ally... no, let's find two allies willing to take this offer. They can simply share the spoils between themselves while our Tribe will consolidate our territory position once more."

Another elder then suggested.

"Give them five years. This should be enough for their relationship with the Nari Tribe to cool down. After that, even if we attack, I doubt the Nari Tribe will intervene anymore."

Yisval immediately shook his head.

"That's not enough. Didn't you notice? The Varen Tribe showed them how their talent raising system worked. Considering that the Nari Tribe is in need of talents, they are most likely trying to implement the same system. However, 5 years is not enough for that, so they will need the Varen Tribe's help for longer."

Yisval pondered a bit and then said.

"10 years, that is as far as we can wait. The kids at 10 years old will be at most 20, not to mention that those at 10 years should be just a small part of the total. I doubt the Nari Tribe will intervene after so much time has passed by. Besides, it is not like we can't try other ways of weakening them in the time being."

Hearing that they could use methods to weaken the Varen Tribe, all the elders immediately understood what Yisval meant.

"Agreed."