TOMWDET Chapter 190.1

Judgment → Punishment (part 1)

 

Regarding the matter of attacking Beast Tribe cities, once Su Li decided to do it, he would not have any hesitation.

 

During this period, no matter what thoughts the mermaid had, Su Li no longer considered them excessively.

 

In the following three days, the high frequency of battles was just like eating and drinking water, continuous and unceasing.

 

During the process of attacking Beast Tribe cities, they also encountered many neither high nor low Beast Tribes.

 

So-called neither high nor low meant those who were slightly weaker than the mermaid, but were far from sufficient to defeat those Beast Tribes that the mermaid could handle.

 

As monster beasts all above level ten, in the wars that had continuously occurred in the past, they had long tested out the monster beasts corresponding to their respective strengths.

 

Before long, the alliance of humans and the Water Tribe had captured the first city besides Ergonikin.

 

The Water Tribe that Leia had brought out suffered losses of less than one-tenth, while in the captured city, a large number of the members of the Beast Tribe died.

 

At the post-war summary meeting, the human side raised the irregularities they had sensed.

 

“Although we know that when waging war outward, it’s mostly the kings who actively initiate attacks. But there’s no reason that when defending cities, there wouldn’t be powerful monster beasts providing support.” Egbert always felt something was wrong.

 

You must know that when Ophelia had attacked the Mercenary City, Euphia and her father had almost immediately prepared for battle.

 

Admittedly, for a Mercenary Alliance Guild Master, preparing for battle when one’s own headquarters was attacked was a necessary matter, but for a racial group’s administrator, a certain city within the racial group was essentially part of his territory.

 

Theoretically, Clemens should also have immediately prepared to accept battle, rather than continuing to be tied up with the already conquered Winged Tribe.

 

“It’s as if these cities, which had taken more than a hundred years to perfect their rules, were worthless in the eyes of the Beast King.” Su Li stated the fact with a cold voice.

 

“Just as the little master said. During our battle process, even though we felt corresponding resistance, that was only the maximum combat power that the city’s internal defense personnel could provide. The support that should have appeared from other cities, or even from the Beast King, was completely unfelt.” Roy also had a distinct sense of abnormality.

 

Matilda was puzzled. “Why do you want to focus on these things? Shouldn’t what we should care about most after the battle ends be how sweet and wonderful the fruits of victory are? Considering those irrelevant things will only make you hesitant about the next offensive battle.”

 

“That’s not how you should put it.” Lan Zhe pointed out the facts, “If the Beast Tribes themselves are irrelevant to the Beast King, then what do you think would be the most important thing to Clemens?”

 

“Someone who, up to now, except for confirming that Su Li can deal effective damage to the [Tiger], we have absolutely no way to discover any of Clemens’s weaknesses from other angles.”

 

“In this situation, don’t tell me you’ve really pushed all the final battle pressure onto Su Li.” Lan Zhe had obvious wariness toward these monster beasts. The way he stared at Matilda made this queen, who had no subjects by her side, feel sincere chilliness, “Humans—no, not just humans, even monster beasts, monster beasts also can’t be this useless, right?”

 

“But your attitude and meaning are already very clear. You need us to also make corresponding attacks on Clemens. In fact, we united together precisely for this purpose.” Leia also joined the conversation.

 

The mermaid’s attitude was: “This kind of thing should have already become a default prerequisite. So I also cannot understand why, after the battle ended, what you’re considering is not how to attack the next city, but thinking here about why Clemens didn’t come to defend.”

 

“If the [Tiger] had come, what we would need to think about would no longer be simply how to attack cities, but how to defeat that [Tiger] called a monster.”

 

The air fell into brief silence, but just when everyone was gradually trying to accept what the mermaid had said, Su Li said, “But what if the deaths of Beast Tribesmen, to Clemens, are not irrelevant, but rather each dead tribesmen can become a source for enhancing his strength?”

 

These words stunned all the humans and monster beasts who were trying to accept Leia’s idea.

 

“That’s impossible, right? What relationship could there be between Beast Tribe monster beast deaths and the Beast King’s strength enhancement?” Matilda opened her mouth wide.

 

“But you also have no way to say that there’s definitely no relationship between these two things.” Egbert quickly entered a state of no longer being disturbed by external interference, “Being unable to prove it means there’s indeed this possibility.”

 

“Furthermore, please recall a bit the descriptions Lord Su Li had once made about Clemens. How those light bands on that [Tiger] was formed—no one has ever been able to give accurate conclusions.”

 

“But this is impossible, isn’t it?” Leia denied this statement, “If it were really true that Beast Tribe monster beast deaths could make Clemens’s power become stronger, then he would have absolutely no need to let the Beast Tribe become the strongest among the three tribes.”

 

“Is there a possibility—I mean, for Clemens, he didn’t subjectively want to become the strongest, but only became the strongest because you were too weak.” Roy raised an eyebrow.

 

This was what people commonly called being highlighted by peers.

 

“Besides, you’re not a Beast Tribe, so how do you know what rules actually mean? In my view, as long as they follow rules, these Beast Tribes who believe in rules and worship the [Tiger], once they die, might really become Clemens’s power.” When Roy wanted to act unreasonably and argue sophistically, both humans and monster beasts had to be stunned for a moment.

 

“That’s a [Tiger] whose original form height is over a hundred meters.” Roy made a grimacing expression.

 

Later he resumed a serious expression. “Can’t figure out the elemental light bands on Clemens, can’t understand where his power strength has reached. Trying to attack territories he controls, but discovering the other party has no concern for territories under his control…

 

It’s already like this, and you still don’t choose to think about this problem. Do you really want to wait until directly colliding with Clemens, when massive casualties occur, to use lives to verify his power strength and the source and functionality of elemental light bands?”

 

“…But we have no intelligence sources.” Su Li’s hypothesis was too incredible; no matter how much Leia disagreed, he couldn’t refute it.

 

“Bartholomew Christian, that unicorn—have you really conducted proper interrogation of him?” Lan Zhe showed questioning eyes toward the mermaid.

 

He truly couldn’t believe these monster beasts could have any correct battle concepts.

 

Their action capability and thinking were all straightforward—they took life and death lightly and would fight if dissatisfied.

 

But unlike others’ indifference to life and death, Leia valued his life extremely highly, yet this value always made people feel, due to factual reasons, that he didn’t seem to care that much about his own life either.

 

Otherwise, how could he be innocent to such a degree?

 

Su Li hadn’t undertaken interrogation actions for his own reasons. The mermaid openly held the status of having captured the unicorn—if he wanted to interrogate the unicorn, Su Li wouldn’t stop him.

 

As a result, he hadn’t…

 

Not only hadn’t he, but the unicorn spent every day with the giant dragon.

 

Whether during the period when others were attacking Beast Tribe cities, or before others discussed attacking cities.

 

With the brain that allowed Leia to become the mermaid ruler, had he really never suspected that the unicorn specifically targeting him might represent some conspiracy just by existing?

 

Later, regarding this point, humans conducted a powerful intellectual crushing of the mermaid.

 

The unicorn, who had originally been calm and composed, seemingly just wanting to sit securely in his prisoner position without causing trouble, was suddenly taken away by the mermaid for interrogation.

 

Su Li chose to observe.

 

When Bartholomew saw Su Li’s figure, he had an obvious action of retracting his gaze. This action also exposed his possible tendency to lie. The mermaid made such a decisive judgment and immediately threw Su Li a confident look.

 

Su Li: ???

 

“Do you know what those light bands on the [Tiger] are? And why Clemens didn’t return to defend when we led troops to attack Beast Tribe cities.” The mermaid asked directly.

 

“…I don’t know any of these things.” The unicorn also hadn’t expected such coincidence—being asked questions he couldn’t answer.

 

However, Leia, who felt he had already seen through the unicorn, found this very unreasonable.

 

“As one of Clemens’s closest subordinates, you can’t possibly know nothing.”

 

“If you asked what that king does every day, I might still be able to answer.”

 

Bartholomew’s expression carried slight mockery. “But this kind of question… If I asked you, this mermaid, whether you were a pet or a monster beast in the eyes of that true Water King in the early days, I think you also couldn’t answer. Not only couldn’t answer, but you’d probably want to beat me up.”

 

Leia: “…You’d better…”

 

“What use are you if you know nothing?”

 

“I’d rather Su Li remove the domination effect on me, and then I guarantee I’d immediately twist your neck.” The unicorn showed a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

 

“Although I don’t want to communicate with you, this brainless mermaid, there’s one thing I’m still willing to tell Su Li.”

 

Bartholomew wasn’t sure if he counted as having figured things out.

 

When he had no self, obeyed orders, and lived according to rules, he only thought about living.

 

Just like how humans living don’t necessarily have grand dreams and goals—they just live to live.

 

This kind of thinking had allowed him to live for many years.

 

It’s just that now, he was certain he couldn’t continue living this way.

 

Ido’s face was vivid in his memory. The elimination system’s seemingly fair but actually bloody and cruel rules continuously provoked the Water and Winged Tribes.

 

Every Beast Tribe member who tried to perish together with the other two tribes’ monster beasts ultimately gained not glory, but complete destruction…

 

And being treated by future Beast Tribes as an inevitable result once strength improvement was insufficient—everyone was like this, and this understanding would become common knowledge.

 

Was it that resources weren’t enough to support those monster beasts?

 

Was it that the territorial range of monster beast society wasn’t sufficient for those monster beasts to inhabit?

 

Neither.

 

It was just…

 

“The [Tiger] never needed too many Beast Tribes.”

 

The reason?

 

Bartholomew had already made it very obvious.

 

Clemens didn’t care about the life and death survival of lives under the rules he had established.

 

Establishing rules was to satisfy certain needs.

 

Monster beast deaths were irrelevant.

 

If there were too many monster beasts, then after hundreds or thousands of years passed, the top controllers would still be that same group.

 

This could reference the Winged Tribe.

 

Source of power? What were the light bands?

 

These questions no longer needed answers.

 

Just like when Su Li asked: “Can you tell me exactly how many years Clemens has lived?”

 

“I don’t know.” Bartholomew answered, “When my strength had grown to the point where I could approach that king, those light bands had already appeared on his body, and his size had already reached the extent you’ve seen.”

 

“This kind of thing… no one has ever mentioned it before.” Leia froze in place.

 

“There’s no need to care whether it’s been mentioned before. As long as you’ve heard that Beast Tribe monster beasts know of the king but don’t know of the [Tiger], and Beast Tribe monster beasts know of Bartholomew but don’t know of Clemens, this makes things very obvious.”

 

Su Li looked at the mermaid’s dumbfounded appearance. Perhaps feeling a bit sorry for him, he explained, “Bartholomew’s meaning is that the Beast King in your past understanding might just be one of Clemens’s former subordinates.”

 

“As far as I know, Matilda became queen about five hundred years ago, and you, Leia, have only been around for seven or eight hundred years.” Bartholomew spoke with a smile full of bitterness, “And I… have already lived for over a thousand years.”

 

“I’ve speculated whether that king’s survival time has already exceeded ten thousand years, but every time I think this way, I can’t help but feel afraid. My brain constantly tells me this is impossible, but reality tells me that’s the greatest possibility.”

 

As everyone knew, transformed monster beasts had once been human. Since monster beasts were monster beasts, it meant they weren’t human originally. So when had the natural monster beasts governing monster beast society been successfully replaced by transformed monster beasts?

 

Bartholomew didn’t know.

 

But intuition and speculation both told him that Clemens very likely participated in that period.

 

After a while, Bartholomew didn’t reveal more intelligence. He even made an expression that even if Leia really took action and used bloody means to force information from him, he wouldn’t speak anymore.

 

He only said, “Sorry, that’s all I know.”

 

Su Li and the mermaid had to leave.

 

On the way back to the meeting room.

 

Leia’s lips were pressed into a straight line, maintaining an unpleasant expression throughout.

 

Su Li had no interest in comforting Leia. The information Bartholomew had revealed was very clear, so Su Li turned to thinking: if Clemens really had participated in the power struggle between transformed monster beasts and natural monster beasts, then for what reason would he view humans as tools?

 

Transformed monster beasts had no way to empathize with natural monster beasts.

 

Natural destruction that conformed to world operating rules—when it hadn’t befallen themselves, humans might have heartbroken feelings when strong, but when weak, could only feel fortunate that they weren’t the ones suffering.

 

….

 

Restraining various thoughts, the second meeting room gathering formally began discussing how to attack the subsequent cities.

 

After determining attack strategies, before the meeting disbanded, Leia asked Su Li: “Letting me know in advance that Clemens has survived for at least several thousand years or more—aren’t you worried I’ll never dare launch offensives against Beast Tribes again?”

 

Su Li understood the mermaid’s meaning. Leia, who had always been good at surviving, upon learning the enemy was abnormally powerful, might very likely act like an ostrich as in the past.

 

But the fact that the mermaid had asked this question meant the mermaid hadn’t chosen to escape this time.

 

“Anticipating the future in advance is for having response strategies when things actually happen, not for unnecessary worry.”

 

“And confirming the enemy’s strength while still persisting in action is also because knowing something cannot be done yet doing it is foolishness; but knowing something can be done yet not doing it is cowardice.”

 

Courage and strength were necessary when still deciding to execute ideas.

 

After expressing his thoughts, Su Li told Leia, “Even if you choose to retreat, that’s your choice. I might point at your nose and scold you for having no sense of responsibility in honoring contractual relationships, but fear of death is, after all, an instinct carved into life’s bones and blood.”

 

“Those who can overcome instinct are strong, and those who lose to instinct aren’t necessarily weak.”

 

No matter how enigmatically he spoke, Su Li felt his attitude was very clear.

 

He didn’t care.

 

The mermaid’s power and the help the Water Tribe could provide weren’t within his considerations.

 

When he lacked power, Su Li would try every means to borrow strength, but when he possessed power himself, which adult would still choose to trouble others?

 

The distinction between others and oneself already showed separation.

 

Afterward, Su Li didn’t give the mermaid a chance to continue speaking. After estimating the rough time, he decided to rest for a while.

 

Maintaining optimal condition for battle was always good.

 

The second city, the third city…

 

In just ten days, it seemed the entire Beast Tribe had been grasped in their hands.

 

Su Li, who felt like participating in a game faction war, blinked as he looked toward the last captured city, which, like Ergonikin, belonged to logistics cities.

 

At the center of this city stood a pure black statue.

 

The statue had no obvious facial features, but the overall shape could still be seen as humanoid.

 

A Beast Tribe member explained to the human youth with trepidation: “That, that statue is of the king in human form.”

 

“This city’s daily morning meetings involve coming to worship this statue.”

 

“But this statue doesn’t have your king’s obvious facial features.” Su Li’s green eyes behind his lenses looked toward the dark elements on the statue that were obviously denser than the surroundings…

 

He had an ominous suspicion in his heart.