Chapter 41: Does Every Protagonist Like to Sing? (Part 1)

The people's songs surged like waves of the sea. At first it was Grant who led everyone in singing. By the second round many could no longer contain themselves and began to sing loudly, moved by the emotions and meaning hidden within the lyrics. Grant gradually fell silent instead. The song wrapped around him as he gazed toward the Valeria direction, a faint smile curving his lips. In novels from his previous life every protagonist had loved to sing and to steal others' songs, an aura that had become the trademark of transmigrators. Was his song today a harbinger of future victory? Warrenheit, do you have the chance to sing? And what song will you use to sway those you wish to deceive?

The singing suddenly ceased. The people below the platform watched Grant with reverence, standing motionless like a god as he gazed into the distance. No one could guess what thoughts were turning in this leader's mind.

After some time had passed Grant finally came to himself as if awakening from a dream. Now it was time for the next step.

"Everyone, listen to me." Grant swept his gaze across the square and lifted the thin booklet in his hand. "Do you know what is recorded in this little booklet?"

The people on the high platform shook their heads. Grant spoke loudly. "It records the interests that the original governor Hendry obtained from you through force and deception."

The statement ignited fury among the crowd. Recalling the oppression they had suffered from noble lords, they shouted, "Those nobles! Those nobles!"

"Yes! Those nobles!" Grant wanted exactly this reaction. "Today the Revolutionary Group has liberated you. From now on you are your own masters and will never again be bullied by them. But if another Hendry appears, what will you do then?"

The square fell momentarily silent. Everyone felt the urge to shout but waited for someone else to begin.

At that moment a figure strode from the city gate. Strangely, the man approached as though taking a leisurely stroll, utterly casual. Yet the originally congested crowd parted for him of its own accord. It was not his prestige like Grant's that compelled the way, but an invisible force emanating from him, like an unseen hand pushing and shoving anyone who blocked his path.

"That is Wei Wuji," someone said. "He walks that same direction every day searching for news of Xisili. He always returns disappointed and can only place hope in the Revolutionary Group's intelligence network. Today he set out again and, recalling that Grant was holding some kind of meeting, grew curious and returned halfway to observe."

After speaking, he forced his way into the crowd and withdrew his latent energy. The people, like a temporarily parted wave, closed in behind him, instantly concealing him among the masses.

Grant glanced at him. Wei Wuji's values differed greatly from his own, yet this remark was precisely what he needed.

As expected, the statement stirred the beastmen first. The alliance between the Per tribe and the Mank tribe with the Revolutionary Group in Gaul was no secret. Even joint raids on arms shipments involved young warriors from both clans. Only the two clan chiefs still refused to appear openly at such gatherings, for if the chiefs themselves showed up the matter would be completely exposed. Of course no explanation was needed for Landia, yet it would not do to displease the Beast King Court.

These young Per and Mank had been invited by Grant. They had not joined the earlier city-capture battle, fearing it might provoke resentment from the citizens of Gaul. Yet in open-field fighting the brave beastmen, armored by the Revolutionary Group, charged at the forefront. Otherwise the Revolutionary Group, even with its ammunition advantage, would never have driven away the remaining Second Legion.

Back then Grant had fled into the beastmen territories after being defeated by Landia and had clashed with the Per and Mank tribes several times, but later they became acquainted through battle. Grant possessed boundless strength, unmatched by any Per warrior, while the agility of the black-eyed spirit Leonardo left the Mank tribe defeated. The two had covered the proudest aspects of both peoples respectively. At the time the two tribes were already at odds, but Grant used a drinking contest as pretext to gather the disobedient young men of both clans again. In the Per territory he organized a titanic drinking feast, draining every captured and home-brewed bottle to the dregs. The Per and Mank had fought separately at first, but later dozens of warriors chosen from each clan united in enmity to challenge Grant together. In the end they still lost.

The beastmen prized martial valor above all. Grant was extraordinarily brave. Though human, he had persisted in peaceful coexistence with the Per and Mank in their lands, bringing only a small band with him and preferring to hunt himself rather than plunder beastmen civilians like other human adventurers. Thus the beastmen gradually grew accustomed to their presence. When the children of the beastmen saw the Revolutionary Group in their territory and no longer fled, they accepted it as normal. Especially after the drinking contest, those young beastmen disciples were thoroughly convinced. They could not prevail in single combat, nor were they opponents in drinking contests. Of course, if the Per and Mank had united from the start to expel the Revolutionary Group, it would have been easy. But the discord between the tribes had been resolved through the drinking contest, restoring old ties. In a sense Grant could be considered a benefactor; the beastmen were not the sort to cut off ties after crossing a river. The young beastmen were even more opposed to any such action. If carried out, the faces of the Per and Mank could be said to have fallen from the South Kentishus Mountains to the North Kentishus Mountains.

Thus the clan chiefs of the Per and Mank had no choice but to turn a blind eye and close one eye, regarding the Revolutionary Group as long-term guests. The beastmen youth were precisely at the age of restlessness. Some secretly followed the Revolutionary Group into battle, while others returned with spoils of war and boasted to their clans how they had disguised themselves as members of the Revolutionary Group and fought humans in Gaul. This stirred the bloodlust and greed of more beastmen youth, giving rise to a beastmen armed contingent within the Revolutionary Group that admired and worshipped Grant. With this happening repeatedly it also drew interference from the two clan chiefs. Yet the beastmen of the South Kentishus Mountains differed from the Wolf and Kate people of the North Kentishus Mountains. The former were simple and honest but far poorer, sincere to the point that treating them well earned their loyalty. By contrast the Wolf were known for being fiercer than humans, the Kate called more cunning than humans, and the Ford renowned for wisdom throughout the beastmen world. The North Kentishus Mountains were far richer than the south, the Wolf possessing Iron Fist Castle and the Kate having built Hope City, while the Mank and Per could only live in the valleys. To address this disparity the Revolutionary Group had delivered supplies to the two chiefs and the old beastmen who held opposing views within their tribes. The situation improved considerably, returning once more to the previous state of turning a blind eye and closing one eye. After all, it was better for the restless beastmen youth to have something to do; following the Revolutionary Group into battle would frequently return with great spoils. As long as full-scale war between beastmen and humans was avoided, the court would pay no attention.