Lucien placed the Beastmen inside his divine energy core first.
He did not force the matter.
He simply told them the truth.
Their settlement had been broken, their enemies were still moving, and the region was no longer safe enough for recovery in the open. If they wished, they could remain under his protection until the West stabilized.
None of them objected.
Most did not even hesitate.
Murak only lowered his head and said, "Then we entrust ourselves to you, Brother Wolf."
Lucien accepted that quietly.
Afterward, he unfolded the map Murak had given him.
It was old in places, newer in others, marked and corrected across the years by a merchant who had survived through routes, memory, and caution.
It showed the settlements, the minor sects, the hidden exchange points, the caravan wells, the discreet paths used by traders, and most importantly... the places Murak's brother had slowly subdued under the Exchange's reach.
Lucien studied it for a while.
