Chapter 250 249 Good Will, Truly a Beautiful and Terrible Thing

Chapter 250 249… Good Will, Truly a Beautiful and Terrible Thing
Hogg quickly got his first quest since he returned to the Jackal’s Great Den.

Kenpot unsurprisingly asked it to go back to die again after escaping from danger, and it was clear that this Jackal warlord didn’t care about the life of a crippled pariah, and it didn’t even hide that at all.

But the good thing was that Hogg had never had any illusions about Kenport either, and thus it was not disappointed to get the situation at hand.

This wasn’t the only “hidden mission” Hogg had been tasked with.

At the moment, the skinny jackal was riding a dirty, matted coyote, leading his elite clan members through the rather large jackal camp.

Nominally, it was looking for a place for its “Blood Claw Clan” to set up camp, but in reality, it was using this opportunity to record the approximate topography of the entire jackal camp with the arithmetic beads hidden in its chest armor.

This is something that must be taken seriously!

Because Kenpot’s power had swelled to more than 30,000 jackals, it was definitely not possible to continue staying in the former border mountain pass, so Kenpot chose a new place to make his lair.

This place is not far from the section where the Cadman River flows through the Andman Hills, and it is also close to the woodlands for convenient logging, and there is a trade route to the East Prussia region, which makes it convenient for the supplies arranged by the Wolfsbane Clan to be sent over in a steady stream.

Sounds perfect, however, the atmosphere of the entire camp at this time can not be said to be “joyful, all the clans” can also be said to be “vibrant, everything is actually hair” scene.

What would be the scene if more than 30,000 jackals and their dog-headed vassals gathered together?

The answer is simple.

Chaos! Chaos! Still fucking confusing!

Although Kenports arranged his camp according to the four-tier structure of “core-elite-main force-cannon fodder”, even in the second circle where the elite brute soldiers were located, Hogg could always see jackals fighting with each other, or even dozens or hundreds of people fighting.

And they fought simply because the other party took an extra piece of meat, or glared at the others.

This was not at all a symbol of anything with a clear ruling system, and Warlord Kenport only symbolically sent its guards to patrol this area.

The only thing it asks of the Transylvanian pariahs under its command is that there be no mass deaths, other than that you can do what you like.

The elite barbarian soldiers are like this, the chaos of the cannon fodder in the outer circle is even harder to describe, if you have to say it, I guess even the migrating beasts are more disciplined than them.

“Black plague…”

Hogg, riding a hyena, ran up a hill outside the camp.

He had his most trusted guard, Nash, and three dog-headed geomancers with him, and from here he could vaguely see the entirety of the large camp.

As far as the eye could see, there was an “ocean” of people, a black-packed area with noisy voices, which really looked like a disaster brewing to engulf everything, and even more like a hungry savage beast waiting to be preyed upon.

Hogg has never seen a black disaster.

But it is from the front of this 30,000 jackals camp already seems to see the scene when the black plague occurred, that is not 30,000 people, not 300,000 people, most likely is three million!
This had already broken through the limits of what Hogg could imagine, and even made it feel fearful itself.

In contrast, Nash beside it was feeling honored to be in such a large and powerful super clan.

Its shoehorned face with missing teeth was filled with longing, as if it had already begun to imagine the scene after this great army attacked the Scarlet Fortress.

After all, who could resist such an army?

Hogg had a different opinion on this, but he wouldn’t be so stupid as to discuss this with Nash, whose brain wasn’t as big as a walnut, that would be more enjoyable than talking to a random rock by the side of the road, and at least the rock wouldn’t ask it any more stupid questions in return.

“Pack it up, Nash.”

Hogg said to Nash as he mounted the coyote so that he would be “taller” than his guards:
“You go find our companions and tell them to camp on the outskirts.”

“Why?”

Nash asked back, puzzled:

“We are the elite appointed by High King Kenport himself, Hoggle! We can stay on the inner levels where conditions are better, and the High King has made a point of giving us adequate supplies.”

“Because it’s not easy to escape when there’s chaos, you fool! You’ve only seen it once and you’re starting to be the Great King’s long and the Great King’s short, and I’ve never seen you treat me with so much respect when I’ve fucking saved you from death.

Until now, you still can’t see who is the boss, the asshole who worships his fists more than trusting his brain, really can’t be wanted”

Hogg growled in his mind, but the words came out as:
“Because we’ve got a job to do, and don’t forget the High King has asked us to take those vampires back for another trip .
Well, I know you all don’t want to, so I’ll go on my own.

While I’m gone, you and the others are going to recruit more leaders from the other clans, but remember, there can’t be too many of them, and we don’t want stupid people who can only eat meat, mate and fight. At least not dumber than you!”

“I’m not stupid by jackal standards! And Hogg, this isn’t the way we used to do it.”

Nash gave a terse bark as it bared its teeth:

“We have the power now, Hogg, we’re already more elite than High King Kenport’s elite, we can recruit hundreds or even thousands overnight, and there’s plenty of meat-hungry pups who’ll obey us.”

“But I don’t need so many fools who only know how to eat meat and only think about it!”

Hogg was losing patience with Nash’s meddling uncertainty, it aggravated its tone to say in a brusque manner:
“Stupid cannon fodder you can recruit whenever you want, there is simply no shortage of fighters in this great land, but hasn’t the shame of being in the gladiator arena taught you a lesson? The ones who can fight the most are often the ones who die the fastest as well!

Only a combination of strength and brains will keep our clan alive for long, and you don’t want to be able to hold on to a good piece of land because your people are dying too fast, do you?
Anyway, it might take me two days to come back.

When I come back, our clan can’t have more than 200 people! I’ll check them myself, and if they’re all stupid, you won’t be able to eat meat for a month after that.

You have to think for yourself, Nash.

You’re not exactly a capable fighter in your current clan, so if there are some more brutal assholes, will you be able to keep your mate, your slaves and the meat in your pot?”

Nash didn’t want to hear any of what Hogg had said before.

But the last line went straight to its heart, creeping out the guy who obviously had some brains but just didn’t like to use them.

“Understand now? You’re my lieutenant, you’re the number two alpha in the clan, and you have to maintain your power and authority, just like I did back in the day.”

Hogg said in a good-natured manner:

“Don’t recruit those fools with brains no bigger than walnuts until you are assured that you have full control over them, just as I recruited you, and you will learn from me as I learned from a greater intelligence . Ha, more than you can understand.

Go do something.”

He waved his paw, and sent Nash, shaking his head, off to find the clan with three loyal dog-headed men.

He stayed on the hillside and looked around to make sure no one was near before quietly taking out his arithmetic pearl, clumsily editing a “report” with the jackal’s claws that weren’t really suited for writing, and sending it out to his superiors along with a map of the jackal’s camp.

Of course, the signature is still that strange “wear mountain armor”.

“I can’t understand how this thing works at all… it’s said to be made by halflings.”

Hogg thought to himself as he scrutinized the wonderful arithmetic pearl in his hand, his green eyes glowing with a strange light:

“Maybe I’ll have to catch um, hire a few halflings to teach me when I have a territory later on. Lord Murphy used this to govern his warriors, and I’m going to learn from him, and maybe I’ll have my own Scarlet Fortress, maybe not as big as this mess of a camp, but certainly more loyal and more united!
I’ll call it ‘Fort Hogg’ or ‘Fort Wolf’!”

Drawing himself a big cake like this, the jackal leaned back against his coyote, opened another interface of the Computing Pearl, and began to read with some effort the History of the Continent, which had already been greatly simplified by Professor Malcolm.

It wasn’t that it loved learning.

This was one of its “tasks”!

Mrs. Adele, who was the direct leader, said that the exams would be held every five days, and that a total of ten exams would have to be passed a minimum of seven times in order to gain full control of the Smuggler’s Woodland.

Hogg did not dare to be slow.

Even if it knew that Kenport’s current power was far stronger than Scarlet Fortress, and that it seemed to have picked a less advantageous power to defect to.

However it appeared to have a choice, but in reality it didn’t have a choice at all.

Because that arrogant fool, Kenport, didn’t give it a chance to hug its thigh! —
“Our senior operative ‘Pangolin’ has sent over the map of the Andromeda Hills Jackal camp, now you two calculate the most perfect bearing for the opening of the Star Realm Rift.”

In the Blood Wyvern Cloister, Murphy said while sending the map from the Computing Pearl to Tris and Phineas:

“Let’s evaluate it in terms of maximum lethality, with a combination of deterrence on the enemy’s mind level, and leave a safe enough route of attack and retreat for our troops. Is this psychic spell construction finished?”

He asked.

Tris poured herself a glass of wine and sipped it as she spoke:

“It’s almost wrapped up, just a few more days and it’ll be almost done, but this jutsu needs coordinates to guide it when it’s activated, are you sure that that ‘pangolin’ can take on such a task? That’s almost like asking it to die.

The slightest mishap and it will be engulfed in astral psychic energy itself, and a jackal shouldn’t be so loyal to you to the point of death, should it?”

“I never use the word ‘loyal’ to describe a pangolin, that would be an insult to a true loyalist, but I’m absolutely relieved that it has no choice.” Murphy poured himself a drink as well as he explained:
“Hogg’s predisposition predisposes it to make little waves in Jackal society, and it has leverage over us, and even if that’s just a fictional identity, I don’t think Lord Kenport would let a bold Jackal who calls himself ‘Grandson of the Bitten Bone’ live a leisurely existence.

What’s more, it would have to contribute to this land if it wanted to fit in!
This is true for me, this is true for the witch hunters, this is true for my warriors, and it and its Bloodclaw Clan are not exempt from this, so how could it possibly want to get the dominion of an area as large as the Smuggler’s Woodlands without paying a small price?”

“Are you really going to grant it the title of ‘Baron’? Honoring a jackal? I can hardly imagine.”

Phimis marveled:

“The others will think you’re crazy.”

“You thought I was crazy too when I was going to unite the witch hunters against Salokdar, but look who now dominates the land?

Facts speak louder than words, but I don’t intend to give the pangolin any positive bounty, it’s a dangerous jackal in the eyes of the others, and it’s status as a ‘double agent’ could bring us unimaginable benefits later on if it’s used properly.

I do have to cede some power to it though, it’s part of the deal.”

Murphy said rubbing his chin:
“Anyway, our chosen front line of resistance against the Black Plague is in the middle of the Spectral Barony and the Filthy Swamp, and once that line of defense is established, the Smuggler’s Woodland piece is equivalent to being voluntarily abandoned, and it’s fine to hand it over to the Jackals to manage.

If the pangolin is smart enough, it might even be able to do some of the same interactions with my warriors that we do.
Anyway, I’ll leave the psychic decapitation aspect to you two.

I am not a professional.

So, I won’t comment on it.”

“You can specialize! You’re also a psychic, albeit with a bias towards summoning.”

Tris was quite displeased with Murphy’s lack of interest in psychic abilities, and she said in a long drawn out voice:

“Little Murphy, I know you favor swordplay more, but this won’t do, if you can’t pass the test I’ll give you in a few days”

“Ah, I’m already reviewing, Tris, and you know I’m busy, so give me some time, please.”

Murphy stopped drinking his wine and turned around rather lamely, leaving the patriarch’s office amidst the odd laughter of Tris and Phimis, he intended to find a place to seriously go through the handbook that Tris had given him, but he had just stepped out a short distance when he saw that the Earl of White Mountain was ahead of him.

This was no chance encounter.

Andre was specifically waiting for him.

“Can I help you?”

Murphy asked courteously and with distance, and without pleasantries, Andre blinked his own scarlet in gray-blue eyes at Murphy:
“I don’t know what you guys are planning, but I saw Lady Laneia earlier training her knights and squires, and it looks like she’s going to join in the crusade against the Jackals. However, when the Blood League knights came here, they clearly said that they would not participate in similar actions.

The situation has clearly changed, and I guess that it has something to do with the Wolfsbane Clan’s activities in Transylvania?”

“You are very perceptive.”

Murphy nodded, not denying it.

Earl Whitehill immediately said:

“Then, please give this part of the duty to me and my followers!”

“Hm?”

Murphy looked at the very formal and serious Fae vampire in front of him in surprise, and after a few seconds, he asked:
“Why? There’s no reason for you to help us, and it’s not in your personal interest to do so; as things stand, shouldn’t you be more looking forward to me getting dusted by the Jackals and you ending up on top?”

“If I were a fool or an authority-hungry short-sighted person, then I should indeed think that, but sadly or thankfully, I am not.”

Andre shrugged as the immature, but always trying to grow, leader of the vampire faction said:

“We do have a conflict of interest in that regard, but I would like to take this opportunity to lay out my philosophy to you once again.

The White Mountain faction that I have created does not exist for the benefit of the Thorn Clan, and it may seem arrogant and inconsistent with the ancient traditions and virtues of the Blood Clan to say so, but the fact remains that most of the members of my faction are vampires who, like me, are closely bound by the interests of the Noddtorf Crown.

Our goal is to help make the country a better place, far from stopping at power struggles within the clans.

We don’t care to immerse ourselves in so much as a pathetic ideal, nor are we content to feel satisfied with a little scraps of food.

In the face of the threat of the Black Calamity, whether or not I can get the position of Governor of Transylvania isn’t really important, getting through the Black Calamity safely, so that those of us who are trapped in Transylvania can live and have a ‘future’ to speak of is the most important thing at the moment.

And to be honest.

I’ve been here with you for almost a month now, and I have to admit that you are superior to me in every aspect.

In this case, me hunkering down and learning from you is the right thing to do.

Moreover, Archduke Shani and Archduke Tris have already formed a blood contract, which means that we have common interests when it comes to fighting against the Wolfsbane Clan.

I wish to shoulder this task!”

Earl Whitehill emphasized:
“It’s not just for my personal honor, but for my country and my clan.”

“A grand reason, how nice.”

Murphy nodded, seemingly accepting the statement, yet then he turned his words around, stared at Andre, and said:
“Yet I don’t believe a word of it! You’ll have to give me a little more reason that will convince me.

We’re vampires, Andre, and we won’t do anything that isn’t good for us, and this selfish nature doesn’t even come from our own will, but is a rule binding us under midnight.

Unless you are truly a rare vampire saint like Lord Kudel, who loves nothing more than to help people.

But from what I’ve seen, you’re not.

So, please, tell me honestly, what do you stand to gain from this to the extent that you are so motivated to want to help your competitor?”

Andrei hesitated.

After a few seconds, he lowered his voice and said:

“The remaining members of my faction will arrive at Scarlet Fortress tomorrow, the White Mountain faction has been revoked, which has greatly dampened the motivation within my faction and the unity that I’ve been struggling to maintain, and I’m in desperate need of a victory to bolster my spirits.

Most importantly, I must prove to those who watch me that I myself am still capable of becoming the leader.

To my followers.

To my clan leaders.

And finally, to my sister who sits high on the throne of the Ice Palace!
I want to prove my growth and my abilities, I want to prove that I can be the Earl of the White Mountains and the leader of my faction not just because of my bloodline, but also because of my abilities!
Most of all.”

He looked up at Murphy, who spoke in a hushed voice with a masked frustration and displeasure and obstinacy:
“You and I were transformed together, Murphy! If you can do something, why can’t I?”

This last reason was as good as child’s play.

It was definitely not something that a mature and high-strung vampire count should say.

But Murphy chose to believe it.

“Ah, the characteristic defiance and winning spirit among young people, what a terrible thing.”

Murphy sighed.

So did the voice of the mind he heard with his Desire Energy, which proved that Andre wasn’t lying.

Although he and Andre had been transformed at about the same time, and even the two were about the same actual age, Andre was indeed a bit impulsive and childish compared to himself.

It couldn’t be helped.

After all, he himself only looked young, what existed in his vampire body was a cunning sociopathic soul, and he himself had long passed the stage of intending to be brash because he was unconvinced, while Andrei
He was truly still young.

“Well, it’s all yours then!”

Murphy said with a wave of his hand:
“My heir, Adele, will cooperate with you in this ‘Dances with Wolves’ operation, you want to prove yourself, I’ll give you this chance, but please be careful this time and don’t screw up again.

The thing called face is often given by others, but it is also often thrown away by one’s own hard work.

I gave you face, Andrei.

So there’s one more person to whom you want to prove your abilities!
Don’t let me down!”

(End of chapter)