"Three."

The tension continued to rise as Leone continued to count. Watching from the fortress, even Gundar started to worry.

It was one thing if Leone was merely bluffing.

But what if he wasn’t?

What would he do if he really planned to kill one of the heirs of the Darkmane Tribe?

’Leone, just what do you think you are doing?!’

Gundar hadn’t really felt anxiety for a very long time.

But meeting Leone had broken his streak. This unfamiliar feeling had resurfaced, making him anxious for his safety.

He was starting to regret it. Maybe it might have been better if he had remained seated by the young man’s side. If he had, he could’ve mediated when things were starting to go out of hand.

After all, the great shaman had enough authority and seniority to pull it off. Even if people were to think that he was being overprotective or spoiling the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe, that was way better than seeing Leone act like a madman!

"Four."

Ulric gripped his axe and took a fighting pose. He was nearest to Cain’s table, so he would be the first to get attacked if ever the Darkmane Tribe decided to fight back.

Yet, he wasn’t worried.

On the ramparts, Otto stood with his bow drawn to its limit. If any of their enemies even made a move to attack, he would drive an arrow into their skull!

Boris already had flames flaring from its jaws. Brann had asked it to look as intimidating as possible, so it obeyed and showed that it wasn’t planning to show any mercy.

"Five."

Cain was no longer able to hold back and pointed at Leone. "Stop this at once, you insolent brat! You dare threaten the Darkmane Tribe?!"

Leone didn’t even bother to give a reply. He merely continued to count, a sneer still plastered on his face.

"Six."

"You’re just bluffing!" Cain shouted. "You won’t scare us!"

"Seven."

Although Cain said that Leone was bluffing, he truly felt anxious deep inside.

He had heard the story of Leone killing Varus and Ragan, which led to the Bloodtusk Tribe declaring war on the Aslan Tribe.

Plus, he could see it in Leone’s gaze. He truly wasn’t bluffing. The moment he counted to ten, he would go for the kill.

Cain quickly scanned his surroundings, looking at the two hundred warriors protecting him from all sides.

All of them had grim expressions on their faces. They also shared the same feeling of doubt, anxiety, and disbelief.

They never expected that the upstart tribe gaining fame in the east would actually dare to attack them.

However, just as they were wondering whether Leone was serious or not, his voice broke them out of their daze.

"Eight."

The moment that number was spoken, the warriors and the Raptors of the Aslan Tribe unleashed their killing intent.

Hugo and his men instinctively backed away, not wanting to be hit in the crossfire.

The Bloodtusk Tribe and the Stormhorn Tribe watched as Brann and his son, Gromm, stood alongside the warriors of the Aslan Tribe, their weapons drawn and ready to drink blood.

"Nine."

Leone’s voice now also began to reek with killing intent. In fact, the bloodlust and battlelust in the air was very infectious. One more count, and the ground would be dyed with blood.

But just as Leone was about to utter the last number, Cain could no longer hold back his fear and shouted hoarsely.

"Drop your weapons!" Cain shouted. "All of you, drop your weapons!"

His shout broke the tense silence like an ice breaker, snapping the warriors of the Darkmane Tribe out of their daze.

They hurriedly dropped their weapons, feeling relieved they wouldn’t have to die today.

"Except for Cain, all of you move to that side and behave yourselves," Leone ordered. "Ulric, kill anyone who resists."

"Yes, Great Chieftain!" Ulric replied before shifting his attention to the warriors of the Darkmane Tribe. "Move! Or die!"

The warriors glanced at each other in response. But seeing that the Aslan Tribe was still poised to strike, they hesitated.

Suddenly, one of their warriors crouched down to pick up his weapon in order to attack Ulric.

The moment his hand touched his sword, an arrow pierced his head, killing him instantly.

Cain lost all the colors on his face when he saw his warrior die right in front of him.

The other warriors all had similar expressions. Earlier, they thought that Leone and the Aslan Tribe were only bluffing about killing them.

The warrior who tried to pick up the sword had the same thought before he died.

He thought that since he was a warrior of the Darkmane Tribe, the Aslan Tribe would never dare to kill him. After all, it could lead to war.

Unfortunately, he assumed wrongly.

Leone had sent a mental message to Otto to go for the kill instead of giving a warning shot.

While everyone was still trying to digest what just happened, Leone’s voice once again reached their ears.

"Who wants to die next?"

Those words were enough to make these warriors remember his order earlier, and they all scrambled to the location Leone had pointed.

Cain, now all alone, remained seated. His earlier bravado and confidence was nowhere in sight.

He thought he was just dreaming. That perhaps he was still on the way to the Aslan Tribe. He simply refused to believe the scene he was seeing with his own eyes. This simply should never have happened.

A loud slapping sound spread across the surroundings as Ulric’s palm smacked the living sh*t out of Cain. The pain was more than enough proof that this was reality, making Cain cry out in shock and panic.

"Ulric, make it even," Leone said. "Slap the other side as well."

"Yes, Great Chieftain!" Ulric replied and used a backhand slap to send Cain sprawling on the ground.

The man propped himself up and looked at Leone fearfully. This wasn’t what he had envisioned when he went to the Aslan Tribe.

His goal was to humiliate Leone in front of his people and make him grovel on his feet. Yet, the one on the ground wasn’t the one exiled from the Kingdom of Britannia.

Instead, the one on the ground and looking like a defeated dog was him!

"From the moment you entered my territory, you should have minded your manners," Leone said in a voice that made those who heard it feel as if a cold blade was gliding over their spine. "That is the price you have to pay for your arrogance."

Leone placed his hands behind his back and looked down at the man before him.

His gaze alone was enough to make Cain understand.

The one who would get to decide whether he lived or died was entirely the young chieftain standing before him.

"Well then. Aren’t you going to apologize?" Leone asked. "Say I’m sorry for belittling the Aslan Tribe."

Cain bit his lip at those words. But after seeing Ulric crack his knuckles, those very same lips loosened immediately.

"I-I’m sorry for belittling the Aslan Tribe," Cain said in a volume that was nearly impossible to hear.

"Louder!" Ulric shouted.

Cain clenched his fists so hard, feeling humiliated that he had to obey the orders of someone so lowly!

However, that was a mistake.

Ulric’s palm met Cain’s face, sending the latter collapsing on the ground once more.

Wayne thought he should at least try to mediate to stop this madness so Leone would not burn bridges with the Darkmane Tribe.

But at that instant, Leone glanced in his direction.

That gaze alone made Wayne subconsciously take a step back. It was filled with killing intent.

The words he wanted to say earlier were stuck inside his mouth, unable to see the light of day.

’A lunatic!’ Wayne screamed internally. ’This guy is a lunatic!’

Deep inside, he didn’t want to admit it.

As one of the heirs of the Warclaw Tribe, he had come to watch a good show. However, the show he expected would entail Cain as the leading protagonist, who would show Leone the prowess of the high-ranking tribes, making him lower his head to bow to them in fear.

Wayne would then step in to mediate and tell Cain to back off, showing everyone the might of the Warclaw Tribe, whom the Darkmane Tribe wouldn’t dare to offend.

However, Leone didn’t follow that script.

Instead, he made his own script. And in this script, he was the protagonist, and the heirs of the Warclaw Tribe were simply spectators.

Soon, this play would spread throughout the Borderlands.