From Slave to King: My Rebate System Built Me a Kingdom With Beauties!-Chapter 201: Rodell’s Request.

Borg was sleeping fitfully in his quarters, his body sprawled across the bed in a position that spoke of passing out rather than choosing rest. He had been drinking liquor a lot more than usual over the past weeks, the strong spirits the only thing that quieted the anxiety gnawing at his insides. The empty bottles scattered around the room bore testament to his increasing dependence—three just from today alone. He felt abandoned by Rodell, by the alliances he’d thought he was building, by the security he’d believed came with seizing power.

There was little he could do alone, and the limitations of his leadership were coming into sharp view now as the other orcs were beginning to question his authority. He heard the whispers during training sessions, saw the skeptical looks when he gave orders, felt the hesitation before warriors obeyed his commands.

The respect that had come easily to Kragg through decades of proven strength and fair judgment didn’t transfer to Borg simply because he’d taken the position. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Borg wasn’t stupid. He realized this truth clearly during his sober moments, which were becoming increasingly rare. But he could barely keep order to begin with—there were so many things he couldn’t explain or justify when questioned. Why had the goblin captives supposedly killed Kragg when they’d been secured and guarded? Why hadn’t anyone actually witnessed the murder? Why was there no body to honor with proper rites?

He knew it would only be a matter of time before he was formally challenged for his position, and that thought terrified him more than he’d ever admit. Borg wasn’t confident in his skills to defend his claim because there were warriors far more experienced than he was among Kragg’s former followers. He’d seized power through treachery and speed, not through proving himself the strongest or wisest leader.

And the most recent problem—the one that had driven him to drink even more heavily—was the orc they referred to simply as Mangler. The name alone struck fear into most warriors. His physical strength was legendary, enough to crush other orcs like they were goblins, breaking bones with his bare hands as easily as snapping twigs.

Mangler had been exiled by Kragg years ago for excessive brutality even by orc standards, for killing in ways that dishonored combat. But with Kragg dead, there was no reason for him to stay away from the territory anymore. He now had a legitimate claim to challenge for leadership—the exile had been Kragg’s personal decree, and with Kragg gone, that decree died with him.

The only reason Mangler had stayed away and honored his exile was because Kragg had defeated him in single combat before banishing him. Kragg had been truly strong, powerful enough to beat Mangler decisively, and out of respect for that strength, Mangler had honored his sentencing without complaint.

Borg knew he could theoretically uphold the exile sentence as the new leader, but there was no one who could physically stop Mangler from coming here if he chose to return. And this was the part they didn’t talk about openly but everyone understood—the orcs were far more likely to follow Mangler due to them recognizing his raw strength than they were to follow Borg, whose claim rested on questionable circumstances.

And if Mangler should challenge for leadership, Borg knew he had no choice but to accept under orc law. Refusing would mark him as a coward, and he’d be killed or driven out within days.

There had still been no word from Rodell despite multiple messages sent over the past weeks—at least until now.

A sharp knock on his door jerked Borg from his troubled half-sleep. "Message," a warrior called through the wood.

Borg stumbled to his feet, head pounding from the liquor, and snatched the sealed letter from the messenger’s hands. Rodell had finally sent him a reply after weeks of silence. Borg’s eyes lit up with desperate hope because he knew this meant the human wasn’t done with him yet, that the alliance might still hold.

He quickly tore open the seal and unfolded the parchment, squinting at the words in the dim candlelight.

It was a simple message from Rodell, brief and to the point: *Submit the body of Kragg for proper examination. I have grown suspicious that he may still be alive.*

The words hit Borg like a physical blow. His heart stopped, then began racing so fast he thought it might burst from his chest.

This should be impossible. Kragg couldn’t be alive. He’d killed him, watched him fall, watched the blood pool. Hadn’t he?

Why was Rodell requesting something so inconsequential after weeks of silence? Would he be able to rule if Kragg wasn’t dead?

It made no sense and infuriated him for the lack of trust, Borg tossed crumpled the letter before tossing it across the room.

This must be Rodell’s excuse to cut ties with him but Borg realized he had the power to do as he pleased.

He didn’t need Rodell, and knew he had to find a way to expand his reach.

Borg stumbled outside and screamed at the top of his lungs, everyone’s attention immediately turned to him.

"You fuckers think you are better than me?" Borg questioned before unsheathing his sword and pointing it out at everyone.

Borg was drunk and the scene bore a striking resemblance to Kragg before he was killed.

The irony hit Borg and he simply chuckled, he had worked hard to get here and he wasn’t about to let it go simply because these fuckers thought he wasn’t worthy.

This world wasn’t all about violence and if it was, Kragg would still be alive, Borg was tempted to let everyone know he killed Kragg so they would stop looking down at him.

However, this was simply his intoxicated thought talking, there was no way he would let something like that slip.

The orcs looked at him and they were not impressed. Borg kissed his teeth before returning inside.