"She has very deep eyes, but I don’t sense any hint of conspiracy from her."
"My dear, if you don’t trust her, you can always have her sign a slave contract."
Orion shook his head, then, after a mont’s thought, spoke to Delilah.
"I plan to take her with
to this southern alliance eting."
He stated his intention plainly; he wasn’t really asking for advice. He just wanted to hear Delilah’s reaction. Sotis, seeing things from a third-party perspective could be more illuminating.
"You want to test her?"
"In a way."
Delilah frowned. Until now, she had regarded Sylvana as just another female Beastman seeking a place on Orion’s bed, sothing Delilah didn’t really worry about. A mutual intrigue between a man and a woman was hardly her concern.
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But since Orion had specifically ntioned Sylvana, Delilah had to be more cautious.
"Make the arrangents. This ti, have the Arch Elder and Drakthul accompany
to the dragons’ territory."
Orion cut off Delilah’s train of thought by bringing up another matter.
"Lord, this trip south—shouldn’t we bring more of our bloodline warriors?"
Delilah was concerned for Orion’s safety and suggested reinforcing his escort.
"No need. Let Dace bring a few of our Giant Guards. We’re not going there to invade, and we shouldn’t mobilize too large a force. Besides, if a battle really breaks out between lords, even a huge number of bloodline warriors would just be aningless sacrifices."
Orion shook his head and turned down her proposal.
Several days later, a troupe of a hundred-plus Blood Elves arrived at Stoneheart City on griffins. Outside the city gates, Delilah arrived in person to greet Grand Elder Lireesa of the Blood Elves, guiding her into the castle.
"Esteed Orion, your na as King of Giants has rung out across the entire southern region!"
Hearing such flattering words from Lireesa—an elder of the Blood Elves—pleased Orion.
"The glory of the Blood Elves is what truly endures."
By returning the courtesy, Orion offered a polite response.
Orion studied Grand Elder Lireesa. This old Blood Elf possessed the strength of an upper Legendary level. For her to co to Stoneheart City in person to speak with him was already a great show of respect. Of course, Orion also knew that in the western reaches of the South, the only power capable of threatening the Blood Elves was the Giant race he belonged to.
As long as they maintained a stable relationship with the Giants, and the Giants and the Blood Elves moved forward together, the Blood Elves would be able to maintain their footing in the South. Equally, this situation spelled a win for the Giants, and Orion had no reason to refuse.
"Elder Lireesa, the Giants and the Blood Elves can indeed renew their friendship. But the Blood Elves must understand that Giants are no longer your vassals."
His voice turned from cordial to serious; he didn’t refuse Lireesa, but he made his own position clear.
"Most honorable Orion, a Giant is a Giant, and a Blood Elf is a Blood Elf. There is no question of one depending on the other."
Orion burst into hearty laughter, his voice echoing through the palace halls. In that mont, the alliance between Giants and Blood Elves seed provisionally set.
"Elder Lireesa, perhaps you should tell
more about this southern alliance."
Lireesa nodded. Her gaze carried the traces of a long life, hinting at many years’ worth of mories.
"This Southern Alliance is also called the Five-Race Alliance. Apart from humans, Dwarves, and us Blood Elves, there are the Dragons and your Giants. All five major races possess upper Legendary-level lords among their ranks."
At that point, Grand Elder Lireesa glanced up toward Orion, seated on his throne.
"Lord Orion, if you want to develop and stabilize the situation, the only way to achieve that is by stopping all wars. Do you agree?"
Orion nodded. Peace was the only route to tranquility. Once order was established, the people of every race could focus on planting and hunting, increasing productivity. Then, with plenty of food and warm clothing, it would naturally lead to a population boom—one that would bolster both the tribe’s workforce and its military strength.
"In this recent war between North and South, no one really ca out on top. We all lost far too many of our people and armies."
A look of sorrow appeared in Grand Elder Lireesa’s eyes. The Elf King of the Blood Elves had perished in battle, representing her people’s greatest loss.
"This Five-Race Alliance aims to keep our positions secure, to stand together and deter any other unsettled races, to give everyone so respite and a chance at peace. The balance has already been broken, and the lands we live in have descended into chaos. But if our five great races unite, at the very least, the South won’t suffer any major upheavals."
Truth be told, Lireesa’s proposal was just what Orion wanted. Absence of war, a comfortable environnt around the territory—that was precisely what Stoneheart Horde needed right now.
In the past, Orion had never had enough territory or resources for his Horde, so he had to keep waging war. But now, the situation was different—Stoneheart Horde needed ti to digest the territory they had taken, shoring up their foundation. The longer that period of peace, the better.
"Elder Lireesa, every one of our Giants desires peace on this continent. We seek friendship between the races, and we hate war and suffering."
"I’m weighed down by this North-South war as well. In our Horde, countless children have lost their fathers, crying out daily, and countless won lant the absence of their husbands. We have lost so many loved ones and dear friends."
Grand Elder Lireesa was montarily surprised; she looked up at Orion seated on his throne in a daze. She couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or simply putting on a show, yet his words and the imagery they evoked touched her profoundly.
After so ti, Lireesa fixed Orion with a long, deep look before averting her gaze.
"Lord Orion, as you say, this war hasn’t done any of us any good."
Having gathered her thoughts, Lireesa reasoned that Orion’s words were at least half true. She wasn’t about to trust him entirely. Still, regardless of Orion’s sincerity, Lireesa had no doubt he greatly regretted the losses among his own people. She had lived a very long ti and was adept at discerning whether soone was lying.
"So then, Lord Orion, will you be attending this Five-Race eting?"
Reorganizing her emotions, Lireesa posed the question again.
"For peace, and for the sake of my Horde.Elder Lireesa, I would be honored to accompany you southward."
At Orion’s words, Lireesa finally showed a look of delight.
Three days later, more than two hundred flying mounts ascended from Stoneheart City into the sky. Leading them were a thunderhawk and a griffin, both of Alpha-level.
At this point, one could clearly see the disparity in overall foundation. All of the Blood Elf riders had co mounted on griffins—uniform, orderly, and impressive. The Giants, however, rode an assortnt of creatures: thunderhawks, large ravens, and various other flying beasts Orion had seized during the war.
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