27 Spirit Pledge 1 (1/2)

Edward rode out and announced ”Edward Williams, retainer to prince Aureus Astrea of the Astrea Empire. May I know whom I am speaking to?”

The lady in green stepped forward and the guards surrounding Edward tensed.

As if not noticing the guards' reactions, she continued forward and stopped at a short distance from Edward and announced in a melodious voice, ”Reine of the Spirit spider tribe as well as Ragnar and Lido of the Blazing lion tribe, here to seek an audience with the leader of the human party.”

Caine gave a start as the lady identified herself but remained motionless otherwise.

Edward returned that he was the leader. Reine followed up by asking what was the purpose of humans entering the Rolger Forests.

Edward replied in a cool manner that he was unaware that Rolger Forests had become the domain of spirit beast tribes.

Reine smiled and summoned a wicked looking black spear. The guards raised their weapons in an instant. Edward motioned with his hands for the guards to lower their weapons and dismounted from his horse.

As Edward approached Reine, he entered into full combat mode. This time, the two figures in dark yellow armor summoned scimitars but otherwise made no other moves.

As Edward neared Reine, he raised his sword in a slow manner and inspected his blade as if there was some blemishes on it. Reine did not even blink.

Edward continued inspecting in a nonchalant manner while standing off against Reine. Appearing as if something passed between the two, Reine gave a half smile as she retracted her spear and stated that the spirit beasts were preparing for a massive offensive against the demon beasts. Three hundred human combatants were not a force the spirit beasts can ignore at this stage.

Edward sheathed his blade and replied that the human forces were hunting in the Rolger forests for demon spider tribes. The three spirit beasts twitched as Edward related.

Noting their reactions, Edward asked if there were any intelligence that they could share on the demon spiders and that he was willing to pay for it.

Reine nodded and asked for several moments to have a council with her associates.

As Reine returned to her group, they burst into an animated discussion with the two men gesticulating furiously while Reine listened and nodded.

One of the men glanced towards the humans and made a clenching motion with his fist and the other man nodded. The three appeared in agreement as Reine approached Edward.

Reine related the situation in detail and reported that the demon beasts are being led by the demon spider tribe and the spirit beasts are planning to attack the main base of the demon spider tribe in order to cripple the demon beasts ability to wage war.

”Strength of the main base location?” Edward asked as he started calculating in his mind.

”2 Monarch Class and 1 King Class.” Reine replied.

Caine and Tiffany's manner eased imperceptibly as they heard the assessment.

Edward furrowed his brows even further as he asked the chances of the location being reinforced in the event of an attack.

Reine said that the spirit beast tribes have more than enough beasts to prevent reinforcements from arriving for a few hours. If they cannot incapacitate the demon beast leadership during that time, it would likely meant that the enemy leadership has fled.

”Why did five spirit beast tribes appear in the Rolger Forests all of a sudden? Such a force would be counted as a fighting power under any spirit beast forces.” Edward asked as he looked over the three spirit beast figures.

Ragnar tightened his grip on his scimitar while Lido laid a hand on Ragnar's shoulder while shaking his head.

Reine's manner did not change but her eyes flashed as she replied in a cool manner that they were the most loyal vassals of the former overlord of the Logen Mountain range. The former overlord perished in an internal struggle and determining that their chances of survival were far better striking out than staying in the mountain range, Reine and other spirit beast tribes left.

”Rolger forest was selected due to its proximity to the Astrea Empire's holdings, we believe that we will not face pursuit from our former enemies here.” Reine said as she looked off in a different direction.

The officers behind Edward carried skeptical looks as they heard Reine but none of them made a sound as Edward deliberated.

Sensing the atmosphere shifting, Reine began discussing about the spoils of attacking the base and made it clear the spirit beast tribes were willing to yield the majority of the spoils over to the humans as long as they aided in making the conquest as bloodless as possible.