Chapter 126: | 126 | Stubborn Tribes: Leo Tribe
Following the thunderous explosion in the Colonial Armory Depot, its blasts resounded throughout the island, bringing about the attention of everyone and everything on top of the ground. And most of the attention came from the tribe who was ignorant of it all.
In the southern part of the island was the habitat of the Leo Tribe. A patriarchal society consisting of various harems and so few men. Because of the rarity of men in the Leo Tribe, the male Leos have been protected heavily by the females.
Though... That doesn't mean that they were weak. No, instead it was the opposite. The male Leos of the Tribe were considered the most strongest beastfolk in the island. Their physical properties and intellect weren't to be underestimated.
"Chief Leonidas, an explosion blasted from the Colonial Armory Depot." A female Leo guard reported the circumstance outside to her chief. She was also a part of his harem, the 45th wife.
She gazed at the beastfolk before her, who was a lot bigger and brawnier than anyone she had ever seen. Even other male Leos in the tribe couldn't compare to him.
"Hmm... It seems that people are attacking the depot." Leonidas muttered to himself, to which the Leo guard clearly heard. She furrowed her eyebrows and remarked. "It must be the Tigris attacking them!"
She wondered if they needed to do something. After all, it was the first for the Tigris to orchestrate such a deafening attack.
"No, I doubt that it would be those Tigris. After all, while they are dumber than us, they aren't foolish enough to fight against a superior enemy." Leonidas expressed his doubts, which wasn't unfounded.
The reason why the Tigris Tribe had survived was through its tact. They knew when to fight, and that time wasn't now. Unless something happened to the colony, which Leonidas highly doubted.
The Colonial Dominion of Terra had stood hundreds of years. It was akin to an untippable pillar. After all, it was the entrance of Europa into the Ferus Sea. For it to be defeated, other Colonial Dominions must be fought back into Europa.
Otherwise, they had no chance.
This was Leonidas's thoughts about the matter, but sadly, he was wrong. Somewhere in the sea region of Terra was the island of Crescere where the Port of Dawn dwelled, birth place of the naval organization; the United Navy.
"Then, who are the ones attacking the armory depot of the colony, Chief Leonidas?" The female Leo guard questioned, making the chief smile. He looked at her and calmly replied.
"It looks like we now have visitors in our island." Leonidas was confident that the one fighting against the depot of the island were outsiders. These people weren't part of the Tigris or Leo Tribe.
"Are they pirates?" It was natural to arrive such a conclusion. In their eyes, the only ones who fought against other colonists were human pirates or raiders.
But, Leonidas highly doubted the idea.
Even human pirates weren't dumb enough to raid fortresses of the colony. So, this would signify that the ones attacking the armory depot were opposing forces of the colony.
However, Leonidas hadn't heard of any opposing forces of humanity. Though, there were some rumors about heretics called the United Navy. It was never confirmed.
"They might be, or they might be something else. Nonetheless, we have no need to pay any of them heed. Simply increase the defensive perimeter of the village. I don't want us attacked, unprepared." Leonidas ordered his 45th wife, who nodded in understanding.
"I shall do so, my dear." The female Leo guard swiftly left the chieftain hut of the village, intending to follow her chief's orders.
On the other hand, Leonidas looked onward with thought surging inside his head. The tides and winds of destiny were changing into a direction far from expecting. He didn't know if it was a good thing or not, but he hoped that his tribe would be able to survive through it.
"Liberation, freedom, and dreams don't matter when compared to long-term survival." Leonidas mumbled his iron-clad beliefs. Because of how mighty the Colonial Dominion was, he had become accustomed to their reality.
In his eyes liberation, freedom, and dreams weren't something important. Instead, what should be treasured was survival. He wasn't wrong per se, but surviving and living were different from one another.
To live was to be free, liberated, and have dreams.
Though, expectations was always far from reality.
Nearby the Leo Tribe was the group of rebels, their bodyguard, and their newly-accompanying companion; Chief of the Tigris Tribe, Tora. They were walking towards their next destination, the Leo Tribe.
"Sir Tora, you didn't have to come with us." Hermona remarked as she didn't expect the Tigris Chief to follow them. Hearing her words, Tora merely grinned and responded. "Don't mind me that much, Hermona Girl. Besides, I will be vouching your words as the Leo Tribe are known to be more stubborn than us."
"He isn't wrong. Leos are usually the prideful of the bunch. They have a hard time listening to others outside of their tribe." Espada said while standing beside Hermona.
"Oh, you already met a Leo, Sir Espada?" Hermona was somewhat surprised since she knew that Espada was mostly ignorant of other beastfolk tribes. He didn't have time to learn about other tribes, when he spent his time thinking about the fate of his own tribe.
"I have seen and talked with one. A male, at that. He was a rare slave, even to the colonists. After all, for Leos, their males were the future of their tribe. Without a male, the genetic biodiversity of their tribe would be harder to spread and scatter."
"The more males they had, the better it would be." Espada explained, which Tora snickered on. After all, the giant Minokin wasn't wrong about his words.
"That's what you would expect from a tribe who rises through harems." Tora remarked as the problem of maintaining genetic diversity hadn't ever emerged in his tribe. Only the Leo Tribe deeply scrutiny the flings of their tribe members.
"Well, it's not like I disagree with your words." Espada remarked, but continued. "Though, it's not like they could help it. Males in the Leo Tribe rarely ever get born. That is why they keep breeding as long as they have a chance. After, a male heir is a must to them."
"Stop- stop! We aren't here to discuss about the relationships of that tribe. I hope you would stop talking about the strange society, Sir Espada." Hermona expressed while shaking her hands towards the two beastfolks.
Espada and Tora looked at the human lady before them and merely nodded. After all, they had accepted her as the rebel leader. If she didn't want to hear more about their discussion, then so be it.
"Understood, Miss Hermona."
"Alright, Hermona Girl."
The group continued to walk through the dirt pathway and took a few minutes before they arrived before the entrance of their destination. The Leo Tribe didn't look that much different from the Tigris Tribe. The only clear difference was that the Leo Tribe had more huts in their village.
This signified their larger population in comparison to the Tigris Tribe.
And just like before, Hermona and her group were immediately surrounded by the guards of the tribe. Though, surprisingly, most of the guards were female Leos. Though, despite being females, they seemed more ferocious than the Tigris.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in front of our village?" A young female Leo yelled out to the two group. Hermona was about to speak, but the two men beside her took a step forward.
The giant Minokin, Espada, coldly gazed at the female guards. On the other hand, the Tigris Chief, Tora, merely grinned at the female Leos before him. The two made the situation tense, until Espada finally opened his mouth.
"Bring your chief forward, we want to talk." His words resounded throughout the entrance of the Leo Tribe. Tora smirked and remarked. "Oh, my... How threatening. I like that part of you, Sir Espada."
Espada raised an eyebrow and expressed his true thoughts. "I have no interests in that." It was better to break the bridge than let it unexpectedly foster.
"Hehehehe~" Tora chuckled, while Hermona took a step back from the Tigris Chief. The guy was freakier than she had previously thought.
"Okay, stay here. I'll call my husband." One of the female Leos uttered to the group before returning back to the village. It didn't take long before a large male Leo emerged in the entrance of the tribe. He was almost at the height of Espada, which was impressive in itself.
"What may I help you with, Visitors?" Leonidas questioned with raised eyebrows. After all, he hadn't expected for visitors to appear in front of his village. Not only that, a familiar guy was with them, making him furrow his raised eyebrows.
"Tora, what have brought you here?" He uttered another question, to which Tora calmly replied. "I'm here to vouch the words of my dear rebel leader." He did so, while bowing towards Hermona.
"Eh?" Hermona took a step back, surprised by Tora's unexpected actions. Though, she toughen herself up and turned her gaze towards the large male Leo.
She then began explaining the mission of the rebellion and its final goal. She uttered what they could expect after victory was gained, and finally remarked her warnings.
During the entire time, Leonidas observed the female human with scrutiny. Although, it was hard to believe her words. The fact that the Tigris Chief ironically vouched for her meant that there was truth in her words.
"I understand what you are trying to say, but I have my own thoughts about your rebellion."