My Kingdom Building Done Right!

Chapter 192: Witnessing A Historic Moment [Part 2]

"Is this... bread?" Duncan picked up a slice of bread served on the table.

"Yes, that is bread," Leone confirmed. "I don’t know if any of you prefer hard or soft bread, so I asked the cook to bake two versions."

Oswald grabbed the bread that looked like a baguette and tore it in half.

He then took a bite and was pleasantly surprised by its crispy exterior and soft interior.

"Did bread always taste like this?" Oswald couldn’t believe that he was actually eating bread. "It’s more delicious than the one I had in Eden."

Bread wasn’t really part of a barbarian’s diet. But they had eaten it during the tribal gatherings in Eden. Still, the bread he was eating right now was of incredibly high-quality that the bread he ate in the past couldn’t even compare.

Barbarians mostly gathered food through hunting, so they had no idea how to farm wheat, let alone turn them into flour for baking.

Instead, they bought flour from the merchants that hailed from the Aurelion Empire, which was located at the south of the Borderlands.

The two sides weren’t allies, but they weren’t enemies either. Because of this, trade bloomed between the two factions, benefiting both sides.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that if a barbarian household had bread on their table, that was considered a luxury food only enjoyed by the chieftains, as well as officials who held high position in their tribes.

This discovery actually made Leone pity the barbarians because if bread was a luxury item in the Borderlands, wouldn’t that make the poor people in the Kingdom of Britannia, who ate bread on a daily basis richer than them?

Leone also found something surprising with his plantations. Anything planted there would grow five times faster than normal.

In other words, he could harvest wheat in just eighteen to twenty days! Replanting was not an issue, and the yield was better than he expected.

Of course, there were other dishes served on the table aside from bread like meat stew, grilled fish, and roasted boar.

In fact, Oswald had started to dip the bread in the stew, combining both the meat and the sauce. A single bite of it was enough to make his eyes widen in shock because it was an incredibly good combination.

Vlad looked at the chieftain with a faint smile on his face.

Truth be told, he was just as surprised as them when Leone served him bread a few days ago.

For the barbarians, bread was the food of the wealthy.

It might be a staple food in the Kingdom of Britannia, but to them, it was something rarely seen on the table.

Even the warriors felt blessed after seeing it. For the majority of them, this was the first time they had eaten bread in their lives!

"I didn’t know the Aslan Tribe was this wealthy," Duncan said with a smile. "I wish I had brought my daughter along with me. She would’ve loved to eat this kind of bread."

"How about I give each of you a few sacks of flour to bring home to your respective tribes?" Leone replied.

"What do you want in exchange?" Duncan asked.

Although the barbarians also used gold coins, he thought that it would be better if he gave Leone something the young man needed right now.

"Just think of it as a gift to my fellow chieftains." Leone smiled. "After all, we middle-ranked tribes should stick together."

That single sentence alone won the approval of the three chieftains then and there.

It was Leone’s subtle way of telling them that he considered the three middle-ranked tribes as friends and allies.

Even Oswald, who was still worried that Leone might have a grudge against his tribe, was finally able to sigh in relief after hearing his words.

"Hahaha! That’s right!" Garen laughed. "We middle-ranked tribes should stick together!"

The atmosphere within their table grew very lively as the chieftains chatted about random things.

However, once they had eaten until they were full, the talks suddenly shifted towards more important matters.

"I have heard stories about the fortress of the Aslan Tribe before," Duncan stated. "But seeing is believing. This is indeed a fortress that cannot be taken lightly."

They were all dining at the base of the mountain. Yet, all they needed to do was to look up, and the imposing fortress walls would greet them immediately.

"However, I don’t think this will be enough for you to win against the Darkmane Tribe," Oswald said in a serious tone. "Do you have another ace up your sleeve?"

"If you had asked me this question two weeks ago, then I would’ve answered that we don’t stand a chance of winning against the Darkmane Tribe, but we also wouldn’t lose to them either," Leone replied. "But since you asked today, that answer has changed."

The young man paused, making Vlad and the three chieftains look back at him with bated breath.

"This time, we have a chance of winning against them," Leone declared.

"Win?" Garen asked in a serious tone. "Are you seriously saying that?"

"Yes." Leone nodded. "I won’t force you to believe me, but I can say with confidence that in the off-chance the Darkmane Tribe manages to seize the fortress, their casualties would be staggering.

"It is highly possible that their rank will degrade to that of a middle-ranked tribe after the battle is over."

The three chieftains exchanged glances before shifting their attention towards Vlad.

The teenage boy almost shrank back because he suddenly found himself being stared at by three rough-looking men.

The chieftains hesitated because what they were about to talk about were confidential matters. However, since they couldn’t just ask the teenage boy to leave, they decided to just be open about it.

"It came to our attention that the high-ranking tribes are also on their way here to Grimjaw Mountain," Oswald said calmly. "If nothing unexpected happens, they will arrive here by tomorrow afternoon."

Leone nodded. "I know this as well. I have already prepared their accommodations in advance."

"Do you believe the Grimhowl Tribe will help you in this war?" Oswald asked.

The Grimfang Tribe was once part of the Grimhowl Tribe. Though, after Oswald’s father was defeated in the duel that decided the succession rights of the tribe, he left with his faction and founded the Grimfang Tribe.

The two shared a complicated relationship with each other. However, they weren’t hostile to each other.

"I don’t need the Grimhowl Tribe’s help," Leone replied. "I even told my Great Uncle to tell Hagen to just watch from the sides as we duke it out with the Darkmane Tribe."

"You did?" Garen looked at the young man in disbelief. "Why?"

Having a high-ranking tribe as a backer guaranteed that the other high-ranking tribes wouldn’t be able to bully the Aslan Tribe.

However, instead of hugging this strong tree, Leone decided to fly away from it and face the challenge head-on.

"It’s because things like this will keep happening over and over again," Leone answered. "The barbarian tribes only recognize the strong. Back then, we started with only thirty people. And it slowly grew to the force we have today.

"Let’s be honest. The high-ranking tribes look down on the middle-ranked tribes. This is a fact that will never change."

The three chieftains reluctantly nodded in agreement. It was a bitter reality that they had lived for a very long time.

This belief had recently been challenged since Leone arrived at the Borderlands.

Perhaps it was because he wasn’t born as a barbarian that he could openly oppose the Darkmane Tribe, who seemed like a towering mountain that the middle-ranked tribes couldn’t conquer.

"I will prove it through action," Leone declared. "A middle-ranked tribe will bring down a high-ranking tribe. I will never allow them to look down on us ever again."

If Daedalus had hands, he would have already given Leone a thumbs up because he was saying the right words to butter up the three chieftains.

Yes, they were all middle-ranked tribes.

If one of them really did what many believed to be impossible... then the looks of disdain from those who belonged to the high-ranking tribes would disappear completely.

They would be able to walk with their head held high, regaining their honor and dignity.

"Can you really do it?" Duncan asked, his voice tinged with hope.

"I can." Leone nodded in affirmation. "Make sure to pay close attention to the news related to the Darkmane Tribe. The moment they declare war against us is also the beginning of their nightmare."

"Leone, if you really win... no, even if you don’t win, know that we will be on your side," Garen stated. "If I only didn’t have any responsibilities tied to my person, I will not hesitate to wield my axe and fight alongside you."

"The sentiment alone is enough, Garen," Leone replied. "From now on, the Ironhide Tribe and the Aslan Tribe are friends."

"Can I join that friendship as well?" Duncan asked.

"Being friends is good," Oswald commented. "I want to be friends with the Aslan Tribe as well."

Leone nodded. "Then friends we all shall be."

After affirming those words, the chieftains laughed and chatted casually as friends.

Vlad listened from the side, feeling envious that he couldn’t represent the Warclaw Tribe in this brotherhood between the middle-ranked tribes.

Leone had won the three chieftains’ trust and friendship through his words and actions.

Seeing this happen right before his eyes made Vlad realize that he made the right choice of staying in the Aslan Tribe.

Everyday was a day of learning.

Everyday, something new and exciting would happen.

And on this day, he believed that he was witnessing a historic moment.

A day when the middle-ranked tribes of the Borderlands truly united as one.