Chapter 22: The Deadly Hand

Mahagumi remained silent for a while, seemingly searching carefully for useful information in his mind. The unique tribal structure of the orcs made it extremely difficult for mortals to infiltrate and understand their inner workings. They could only gauge the relationships between these orcs through their daily actions and behaviors. It had taken him considerable time and effort to reach such a conclusion just from his own observations earlier. Now, the lord clearly intended to find a breakthrough among the orcs, and the conflicts between orc tribes were the key.

“Lord, although the Wolf Clan and the Tiger Clan are not on good terms, the Wolves have the support of the Fox Clan. The Fox Queen, Kristina, is extremely shrewd—rumored to be the wisest among the orcs. With her mediating, it’s hard for tensions between the Tigers and Wolves to escalate. Even the Tiger King, Shami Tagore, respects Kristina’s opinions greatly. So, it’s difficult to find an opportunity there,” Mahagumi said after careful consideration, pouring cold water on Komer’s hopes.

“No, I’m not asking for conflict between the Wolves and Tigers. I merely hope that the actions within the orcs won’t be too coordinated. If every tribe must act through their leader councils, our chances are slim. What I mean is, if tribes like the Tigers or Wolves, which have more autonomy, could act independently under external influence, we might be able to break this deadlock. That would be highly valuable for us.”

Komer shook his head. He knew Mahagumi still hadn’t fully understood his intent. He wasn’t expecting internal strife among the orcs—that was unrealistic. He only hoped that one of the orc tribes would violate their previously established principle: not interfering in the affairs of other regions in Nicocia. If they could do that and cause turmoil throughout Nicocia, his goal would be achieved.

Mahagumi raised his puzzled gaze.

“Mahagumi, what I mean is that among the six major orc royal families, the Tiger Clan undoubtedly holds the upper hand, as shown by their leader serving as the head of the Orc Alliance. But the Wolves also seem to possess considerable strength. In Jazair, are there any dissatisfactions among the Wolves with the policies set by the Tigers? Or are there conflicts between them over interests? For example, do the Tigers and their close allies reap greater benefits than the Wolves? Is such a situation possible?”

Mahagumi’s eyes lit up. “My lord, I understand what you mean. You want to split and weaken the unified front of the orc alliance, making them act on their own?”
“It doesn’t matter if they act on their own. What’s important is getting the orcs involved in the wars within the Kingdom of Nicocia. Only by drawing them in can we have a chance. Right now, the orcs seem to be holding back. I hope they can break this deadlock,” Komer explained patiently.
“Hmm, I see. You want some of the orcs to act on their own driven by interests, thereby breaking the current stalemate in the kingdom?” Mahagumi nodded excitedly. “That’s not impossible. There have always been conflicts between the Wolf Clan and the Tiger Clan over land and property distribution among ordinary people, especially since entering the Jazair region. The Wolf Clan has always wanted to move south to Galay or east to Cilicia to seize more wealth, but they haven’t been able to gain enough support. However, this desire is strong among the lower ranks of the Wolf Clan, especially in the border areas of Galay and Cilicia, where it’s easy for their light cavalry to break through.”
“Oh?” Komer became eager. “You mean internal discipline among the orcs is restraining the Wolf Clan’s actions?”
“Mm, that’s likely. The upper ranks of the orcs also have wise people among them; they’re not short-sighted. That’s why they remain restrained. But the lower ranks and a few in the upper ranks still long for the old way of life—living freely and unrestrained. They hope to gain benefits through the orcs’ usual tactics, but such ideas are suppressed.” Mahagumi knew the details well. The Wolf Clan was known for its ferocity, and it would indeed be difficult for them to adapt to a quiet and peaceful life.
“If that’s the case, then this is our chance.” Komer narrowed his eyes. If the Wolf Clan were just a small orc tribe, this possibility would be slim. But as the second-largest tribe after the Tiger Clan, with formidable strength and especially renowned for their mobility, could they really resist if great interests were at stake? Of course, careful planning would be needed. Once the Wolf Clan was drawn in, the Deer Clan and the Fox Clan would find it hard to escape, and eventually, all the orcs would be involved.
“My lord, what do you want us to do?” Mahagumi didn’t want to overthink it. He just needed to know what his lord wanted him to do.

“Keep an eye on the wolves, especially those mid-to-high-ranking officers who are very dissatisfied with the current situation. Use strategies to provide them with intelligence about Calais and Silesia. You can decide on the specific methods—perhaps contact the Giza people under the guise of a merchant, encouraging the wolves to attack Calais and Silesia. Merchants can help them cover up their crimes by taking bribes.” Komer smirked. “I believe once these orcs taste success, they’ll break free from their so-called discipline. No one can resist such huge profits, let alone orcs.”
Mahagumi gasped in shock, simultaneously admiring Komer’s ruthless tactics. To be a lord, one must use any means necessary and disregard trivialities to achieve great things. Calais and Silesia were thorns in their side, and to get rid of them, extreme measures were required. Using others as pawns was undoubtedly one of the best ways.
“Lord, this will likely require the support and cooperation of the Giza people,” Mahagumi said cautiously.
“I’ll arrange it. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Sharing profits is only fair. The Giza people may not be used to this approach yet, but they’ll soon realize its advantages,” Komer sneered.