Another two unremarkable days passed.
At first, Al was somewhat unaccustomed to the Paladin's enthusiasm. Truly, anytime, anywhere, as long as there was no one else around, she would proactively entangle herself around Al seeking pleasure, launching offensives against the boy.
Later, he gradually got used to it. Even out of competitiveness and pride, Al would proactively engage the Paladin in battle, ruthlessly penetrating Myrmidia's Paladin with his Everchosen spear. After a grand battle, both would cease hostilities and rest.
Al took time to handle various matters big and small.
He approved the humans' request, dispatching six small warbands to join forces with the human cavalry to exterminate the roaming Greenskin beasts in the surrounding area.
Simultaneously, he had the wolf packs and Centigors take supplies and expand outward in three directions: south, east, and west, exploring the fog of war and detailing the map as much as possible.
The All-Knowing blessing, which allowed him to perfectly memorize geography, gave Al a god's-eye-view-like advantage regarding the terrain. At the same time, it allowed him to scout the Greenskins' movements. These perpetually belligerent savage beasts, who could hardly settle down without the high-pressure tyranny of a Great Warboss, were never quiet along their path. The Beastmen who worshipped the Bloodmother could sense their situation from far away.
Their camps and ranks were forever filled with strife, their appearance heralding the arrival of war—they were the very enemies the Bloodmother's followers yearned to fight.
In Samana, the three parties had waited for days, and news from the official envoys of Veling was finally brought back to the town by the scouts.
After the banquet, the human legion where Celestine belonged had already dispatched the bulk of its forces to transport the bodies back to Veling and resupply. A small portion remained garrisoned, with the hidden objective of monitoring the tribe.
The female knight also stayed behind. Although the commanders urged her to return to the city—warning that if any accident befell her, it would be extremely difficult to explain to the House of Julius—the female knight politely declined. She kept feeling that something was waiting for her here.
She couldn't say if it was good or bad, but in that mysterious tribe, there was something connected to her.
After that young minor noble who had been constantly trying to court Celestine died unexpectedly from drinking at the banquet, the female knight finally enjoyed a period of peace and quiet.
On this day, the news of the envoys' arrival was brought back to Samana. The commanders of the human forces gathered at the garrison, planning to welcome the envoys together.
The female knight changed into casual clothes, equipped her sword, mounted her horse, and waited outside the camp with the others. After about tens of minutes, the scouts led a group of travel-stained envoys over the hills and arrived in Samana.
Among those present were generals of the Imperial Expeditionary Force, Estalian freeholder non-commissioned officers, minor nobles, the mayor of Samana, respectable gentry and wealthy merchants, priests of the Goddess, and a Shaman of the All-Father from the Beastman tribe.
It could be said that almost every faction on Estalian soil, aside from the enemy, was gathered here.
The local natives were somewhat apprehensive, terrified that the envoys would bring bad news. This could easily enrage the tribe; the city of Veling might be safe for the moment, but the destruction of Samana, right on their doorstep, would likely happen in the blink of an eye.
As for the military officers, their thoughts were more complex. Some wanted to see the alliance formed to fight the Greenskins; some were unwilling to hand over the great Piña Forest and the Inara Mountains—even though, compared to the hills and wilderness, the Estalians had developed these two areas very little, they were still unquestionably Kingdom territory in the people's hearts.
Handing them over to a pack of Beastmen.
There were also those who harbored both thoughts simultaneously: hoping to get the tribe's support while feeling the price was too high, thinking perhaps they could negotiate further.
The above mostly represented the thoughts of the Estalians.
The Imperial Expeditionary Force didn't have as many complex thoughts. Considering things purely from a military perspective, they clearly leaned toward an alliance between the Kingdom of Estalia and the tribe. In the current Empire, this kind of united front of different races and faiths against a common threat was highly politically correct.
The Empire of Man needed to use their "Universalism" to counter the ideological banner of the Elves of Ulthuan. A multi-racial coalition was the Empire's primary weapon in winning over minority races. Outside of the three main races of the Old World—Humans (mainly the Empire, Bretonnia, and Kislev), Elves, and Dwarfs—although they were still at a disadvantage, after 150 years of development, they had gradually become a force that could not be ignored.
Furthermore, their main objective was to establish forward base leased territories. But now, more than half of the south had fallen under the ravages of the Greenskins. The hastily assembled legions had suffered consecutive crushing defeats, leaving only Magritta standing alone.
When the southern army suffered its massive defeat, the Northern Council had already prepared for the worst—just like the last time, and the time before that, when the Estalians faced the crisis of national annihilation and racial extinction.
Call for backup.
Whether it was the Bretonnian United Democratic Noble Republic Dictatorship Peasant Council Round Table Knight Hodgepodge States in the north, the Elves of Ulthuan across the sea, or the Tomb Kings who spent their days in the desert wondering if their treasure had shrunk while fighting Greenskins and primal beasts.
No matter who it was, as long as they came to give a brother a hand, they'd give them whatever they asked for!
(Al: ? Nice, I'm coming in!)
Currently, they were constantly fortifying the city defenses in Veling, hoping to block the Greenskin WAAAAAGH! that might head north. Worst comes to worst, they'd have to continue retreating north, using the narrow passages between Demontrei and the Piña Forest to continue resisting the Greenskins.
But the effectiveness was highly questionable. According to the internal assessments and observations of the Expeditionary Force, the Estalians' long-term wars had been fought against the native beasts and indigenous people of the New World, as well as suspicious ratmen who looked very much like a Beastman offshoot. Even their conflicts with the neighboring country of Tilea mostly took place at sea. Their army's combat strength was actually far behind that of the Empire's army.
Although they had the guidance of the Church of the Goddess of War, the Church had been trying to transition since the Great War. They aimed to expand their responsibilities from "War, Glory, and Wisdom" to influencing every aspect of Southerners' lives, including family happiness and cultural heritage.
Their focus on the military was also split between strategic layout and small unit tactics—because they lacked opportunities for large-scale formation combat and tactical training.
The annihilation of the Invincible Armada severely damaged the Estalians' morale and endurance. The siege of Magritta, coupled with the recent split between the north and south, resulted in the south lacking effective command. Although the motivation of revenge could provide a brief morale boost, it led to a massive loss of the south's effective fighting force early on, wasted on the way to reinforce Magritta.
Due to the squabbling of the Northern Council, fueled by previous conflicts and mutual suspicion, even the most brilliant and far-sighted strategies were forced to yield to reality. Ultimately, the southern army advanced rashly, suffered a devastating sneak attack by the Greenskins and suddenly appearing ratmen reinforcements, and the Estalians completely lost their last large army group in the south.
A series of crushing defeats dealt a severe blow to the morale of the military and civilians. The Goddess's silence also left them without a spiritual anchor, and panic was spreading.
In Celestine's view, at this moment, a leader like "Magnus the Pious" or the avatar of the God-Emperor, "Karl Franz the Savior," needed to appear. Only by uniting all forces, receiving the Goddess's endorsement (this was crucial), and with the help of allies, could they defeat the Greenskins and drive them out of their homeland.
As for such a figure...
"Look at me, do I look like I could be the King of Kings?"
Al asked, looking in the mirror.
The goat mom gently combed his hair, which had already grown to his shoulders. Paired with the boy's tender, delicate face, he looked somewhat androgynous.
The envoy dismounted, quickly...
Passed the long-waiting crowd and walked toward the Shaman. Under the latter's slightly guarded gaze, he hurried to his side and grabbed the Shaman's rough hands.
His gaze was sincere, his words earnest.
"I bring the unanimous authorization of the entire Veling Council!"
"We agree to the tribe's conditions. From this day forward, the Kingdom of Estalia and the tribe form an unbreakable alliance!"
"Therefore!"
The envoy paused, tears in his eyes, and spoke with a trembling voice: "Please, the tribe must dispatch troops immediately to reinforce Veling!"