"I am Kieran. Lugar, the son of Roxar, I—challenge you to a duel."
Kieran’s sudden words stilled everyone in the group except for him.
A duel?
Does that an he is going to fight against that strong-looking orc?
On the other hand, Lugar looked at Kieran with an intrigued expression.
It was because it was particularly strange that a human knew about the orc’s duel.
"Duel. Why should I duel with you, human?"
"For an orc warrior, isn’t a duel an honorable battle to showcase his pure strength?"
"Indeed, but you are not an orc."
"Is not being an orc a problem? I am also a warrior.
Always ready to die a virtuous death in an honorable battle. Or that, you are unprepared to face one? Lugar, the son of Roxar."
"A chieftain’s position is not so light, that it will make fall for such trivial provocations. No need to ask again, my answer will be the sa.
For say, do I need to have a duel with sothing which I can kill like a bug just because of so trival words?"
Kieran put his hand under his arms. To which, the orc next to him raised his spear—ready to subdue him, but Lugar raised his hand to halt the orc’s movent.
Because what Kieran took out were six heavy-looking tabloids.
"Five hundred thousand each. All together, it’s three million gold. I will bet this as a wager for the duel. If you win, you can have all this money."
At the word of three million gold, everyone’s eyes shook except for Howl. This is because most people here were not qualified to hold even ten thousand, let alone three million gold.
Callios, the successor of a Viscount family, was the sa. It’s not that a Viscount family doesn’t have three million.
But, there’s no three million gold in cash.
To prepare three million gold in cash, they would have to sell a lot of their slaves, lands and assets.
He couldn’t help but be surprised that sothing like that was easily available in Kieran’s hands.
’Damn, I was right after all..!’
Callios was very resentful of the past himself, who talked nonsense for no sense.
But it didn’t matter, because people’s reactions didn’t matter to Kieran.
"Ah, Mr. Orc, can you stop pretending to be so casual? You think I don’t know anything?"
"What do you an?"
"Jeez, still pretending to the end. You think I don’t know that you orcs are buying scarce quantity of food from the Empire."
"....you even know that much?"
They farm around the oasis and loot food from the kingdoms. Even then, food was and is still a scarce commodity for them.
Farming does not always guarantee a bountiful harvest, and the weaker the tribe, the less food they receive after looting the kingdoms.
That is why most of the orc tribes use money as a dium to exchange it for food at the Empire’s borders.
In such a situation, a huge amount—that is three million gold was like a coveted fruit that any tribe will want to swallow.
"What do you want in exchange for winning the duel?"
"Guaranteeing the safety of and my companions, plus food and bed for one day. And, a guide to the border."
Kieran had no intention of travelling to the border on his own from the very beginning.
How can he get to the border with no food and proper navigation?
If he had been alone, it wouldn’t pose a problem for him, but the burden that he was carrying was too much.
So he chose to have a duel with the orcs. Surrendering to the outco of the duel was one of the Orc’s long standing traditions.
Besides, he had to visit an orc tribe soday anyways. Because he had to get that ability, the one Gis got in the ga.
"How about doing this? If you give us that money, I’ll fulfill every condition of yours.
We will give you food and a place to sleep, and I’ll personally guide you all to the border. I swear in the na of the chief."
People’s complexion brightened at Lugar’s suggestion.
To them—an easy way to survive was plated in a platter.
However, just as Kieran said his words with a smirk, their faces stiffened again.
"Wait, wait, wait, you don’t really an it, right? Do you think that treatnt, is worth three million gold?"
"I can kill you and take it away right now."
"Then do it, in the form of a duel. It’s the sa, ain’t I right?"
"It just ans that I don’t have to step up."
"You are frightened."
"Once again, a chieftain’s position is not so light, that it will fall for your trivial provocations. Choose—either give money and live, or die and then give money."
At Lugar’s threat, the group’s complexion looked more frightened than before.
They wanted Kieran to give that three million to this orc.
Sure, it’s a lot of money, but what about it?
—It’s not my money.
Callios poked Kieran on the shoulders.
"Hey, you... I think it’s getting a bit dangerous. Why don’t you just give them the money? No matter how much it is, isn’t it less valuable than your life?"
"Then will you put that three million gold on the tab of the Goldenbern family?"
"Wh, What?! No why, why put it on my family?!"
"It was the money that I spent to save the heir of their family, of course I have to put it in their na. Why, you don’t like it?"
"...it’s not that I don’t want to... but, if I go back with such a large amount of debt, my position as the heir will be a little jeopardized..."
"Then shut up and be quiet. The sa goes for others. Only those who can pay back three million, please kindly raise your hand."
Krappa standing on the side gently raised his hand and then quickly held it back.
Now he’s not Haley’s henchman, but Kieran’s companion Howl.
Confirming that the people had beco quiet, Kieran looked back at Lugar and said.
"A group of humans who were caught in distress and begged for a duel to the chieftain of the tribe against all risks, risking everything to catch that glimr of hope.
However, the chieftain didn’t accept it, and his tribesn cruelly annihilated the humans who weren’t even capable of resisting.
These are the real—very honorable orc warriors of a certain Wolftooth clan. How does it sound?"
"Didn’t I just say that provocation won’t work?"
"You did. You said, a chieftain’s position is not so light that it will fall for trivial provocations. But now, it will."
"Hgm?"
"Even if you order your subordinates to annihilate my companions, I will survive. Because I have the ability to take myself out of here safely.
anwhile, I will inform all the orc tribes around you about the disgrace you brought to the na of orcs. They will mock and despise you and your ancestors.
Let’s see then, if the chieftain’s seat will still be heavy even then. Or, will it beco light enough at that ti?"
"You wanna die?"
An unusual pressure emanated from Lugar. It was obviously hostile. People were terrified and trembled at the pressure that flowed from a strong warrior.
But Kieran’s expression was still the sa.
"Like I said, I won’t die here."
"...the other tribes won’t believe you."
"I will make them believe. Even if in the process—I have to use up all of this three million."
"In that case, wouldn’t it be better to quietly give us that three million gold and leave safely?"
In Lugar’s words, the hostility had already disappeared. Kieran relaxed his expression and shrugged his shoulders.
"As you value honor, I value self-esteem."
Seeing Kieran’s smirk, Lugar sighed and nodded his head.
"Okay, I accept the duel. Anyone of you who wants to challenge , co forward and challenge. I shall take it all."
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