Chapter Twelve: The Queen of the Fox Clan

As the ruler of the Bimon Kingdom, Shamii Tagore’s attitude was of utmost importance. He had previously disagreed with Kristin’s views, but this time he seemed to have realized something. Though his face showed no expression—necessary for a king to maintain dignity—his thoughtful gaze in those gleaming eyes excited Kristin greatly. Changing the mind of a man as resolute as rock would require considerable perseverance. Yet this time, she had chosen the right opportunity. The battering rams created by mortals proved extremely effective in battle, allowing orcs to easily breach their sturdy fortresses. While much of this was due to mortal warriors being demoralized by the appearance of these rams, it was undeniable that they played a significant role in subsequent battles.

The mortals’ relentless archery skills and powerful crossbows also greatly impressed this Bimon king. Seeing Bimon warriors charge bravely yet being killed by those humble mortals using various tactics, he must have realized that courage and passion alone were not enough to win every battle—war ultimately depended on the strength of military power.

Military strength also included the quality and advancement of equipment, as well as the application of strategies and tactics. The idea that strategic tactics could alter the course of war was gradually accepted by these leaders who had experience as warriors. However, issues such as weapons, logistics, and auxiliary methods had not yet been fully understood by them. The mortals, on the other hand, had long recognized this. The parchment obtained from Fort Saint Nicholas was clear proof of this, which was likely why the Bimon clan kept attempting invasions in the south but suffered repeated setbacks.

Judging from Moda and Munni’s half-understanding expressions, it was clear they hadn’t truly grasped the meaning of her words, which disappointed Kristin. Yet these two were the strongest tribes in the entire Bimon Kingdom, and Kristin could not change that reality.

Moda’s bear warriors have always been fighters on par with the wolf cavalry—one known for their resilience and strength, the other for their speed and ferocity. But the most important are still the oxen. Although Kristin has no fondness for Muni, she cannot ignore the power of the oxen. They are the most crucial force in the Bimon Kingdom. Though they may not be suited to become kings among the Bimons, their role cannot be underestimated. It can be said that Carter lost his throne not because of his own shortcomings, but due to Muni’s childhood friendship with Shami. It was Muni’s support for Shami that enabled Shami Tagore to seize control of the orc alliance’s throne.

The power of the oxen is not only reflected in their combat skills; they are also the most important force in construction within the Bimon Kingdom, far surpassing other races. All major labor and construction tasks in the Bimon Kingdom rely primarily on the oxen, along with their vassal races, the horses and sheep. This fact cannot be denied. The tiger and bear races have long been allies, the wolf and fox races are naturally allied, while the snake race maintains neutrality by avoiding involvement in conflicts over leadership. In fact, it is the support of the oxen that determines who becomes the king of the Bimons.

Fortunately, both Muni and Moda always follow Shami’s lead. As long as Shami understands the situation, even if Muni and Moda are not fully aware, they will unconditionally support his decisions. As for Dashler Snake, he will also only follow the king; there’s no need to worry about him having other intentions.

“Kristin is right. Look at our performance this time. Although we’ve achieved a great victory, we must understand that these siege engines came from mortals. It was their intrigues that gave us this opportunity—essentially, one group of mortals selling out another that allowed us to win so easily. Look at the quality of the weapons and equipment we’ve captured now; each one is several times better than what our warriors use. Though our warriors are not afraid to sacrifice themselves, they are our people. As leaders, it is our duty to create safer conditions for them to fight—that is our responsibility!”

Shami waved his hand decisively, drawing the attention of all the leaders. The tiger king was undoubtedly the most regal candidate. Even Kristin, who had always supported Carter, had to admit that, in terms of presence, Shami was indeed more suitable to represent the Bimon Kingdom than Carter.

“The novice is right. To achieve this, we must learn from the enemy’s strengths. Mortal warfare tactics are endless, but they generally fall into a few categories: first, numerical superiority; second, advanced weapons and equipment; third, their so-called military strategies; and fourth, their magical attacks.” A hint of excitement appeared on Carter’s thin face. This time, the Wolf Cavalry had gained much, far more than the Bear Warriors and Ox Infantry who followed behind, which filled him with pride. “Numerical superiority isn’t important to us. Mortal soldiers are far inferior in combat strength, and magical attacks are beyond our reach. The differences in physical strength are not something we can overcome on our own. It’s better to spend our energy elsewhere rather than wasting it on these. Only weapons, equipment, and military strategies are worth studying carefully—these are precisely the reasons why mortals keep suppressing us!”

If the words of the Fox Queen Christine failed to move Moda and Munni, then Carter’s words as the main commander of the Bimon Kingdom’s army surely made them think deeply. The Wolf Cavalry relied on charges and mobile raids, suffering far fewer losses than the Ox Infantry and Bear Warriors who were tasked with sieging fortresses. Their rudimentary siege methods and poor defensive equipment were the main factors causing harm to the soldiers of both tribes. Every time they saw the armor and weapons of the captured or slain mortal soldiers, Munni and Moda would feel envious. If these conditions could be greatly improved, it would undoubtedly be an encouraging boon for the soldiers of both tribes.

“Hmm, I believe Carter’s words should have an impact on all of you. The mortal forces that have been supporting us in our advance southward have sent envoys now. They demand that we fulfill our agreement and withdraw to the area north of Fort Saint Nicholas.” Novice Tagore quietly overshadowed Carter’s prominence.

“Oh? Withdraw to north of Fort Saint Nicholas? Does Fort Saint Nicholas even exist anymore?” Munni jumped up abruptly. Although they knew this was part of the agreement, they felt it was still too early for their side to withdraw.

“Yes, novice. Among these fortresses and cities, there are still many valuable items that can be taken away, as well as places that need to be destroyed.” It was rare for the Fox Queen to support the leader of the Ox tribe.

“Uh, Monk, can’t we delay things a bit longer? The children still haven’t collected enough.” Moda also hesitantly made a request. The large forces of bear warriors and ox infantry had fallen behind in this war. No one understood why some mortal armies, which still had combat strength, had collapsed so quickly this time, allowing the swift wolf cavalry to seize most of the gains. This made the bear and ox warriors regret not having rushed to catch up, forcing them now to raid the countryside—a stark contrast to the prosperous city towns.

“No, it’s time to return. We’ve already achieved what we wanted this time, and we’ve uncovered some clues about the forces behind us. It’s very likely they come from their religious sect—the Church of Light—and some neighboring countries of Nicomia. It’s possible that it was the Church of Light’s support that led to the Nicomians’ utter defeat.”

As soon as the Monk finished speaking, gasps of shock arose. Even the usually gloomy Carter and the clever Christine were filled with disbelief.

“Monk, that can’t be right. The Church of Light has always been the main force supporting the mortal Northern Alliance against us. Without them, perhaps we would have made breakthroughs in every direction long ago.” Carter was the first to express doubt. The mages of the Church of Light caused the greatest damage to the Bimon army in every battle, often exceeding even the damage done by mortal armies. Both bear warriors and wolf cavalry understood this well, and even the fox archers hiding in the back suffered greatly from their long-range magical attacks.

“Not bad. On the surface, the actions of the Light Church seem incomprehensible. But mortal minds are vastly different from ours, the Bimons. Intrigues and power struggles are rampant among them, and it seems acceptable for them to sacrifice the public interest for their own gain. This is probably why, despite having a huge advantage on the continent, they remain in a passive position, constantly under attack. The novice didn’t fully understand this either, but he had analyzed it carefully. The diverse beliefs of mortals and the competition among these faith-based factions for power have led to severe internal strife, which is what has caused the current situation. As for the specifics, he had plenty of time to understand them gradually. As the High Priest said, it was enough to focus on one thing: everything should be done for the benefit of the Bimon Kingdom.”