The Serpentfolk's territory had once blocked the path, so Sethric and his people actually knew very little about the other northern tribes.

  Still, they had a rough idea of where the Hyena Tribe was located.

  Now that Draven was away from the village, the defenses were noticeably more relaxed. More importantly, among the group from the Hyena Tribe were quite a few young cubs—it clearly didn't look like a war party.

  Sethric's cloudy bull-like eyes flickered with suspicion, and confusion was plainly written on Goldmanes' face as well.

  The old chief of the Monkeyfolk rarely left his own village. Had Sethric not persuaded him this time, he wouldn't be standing here to witness the scene firsthand.

  The two leaders exchanged glances and saw similar doubts in each other's eyes. They both sensed there was more to this than what was being shown.

  Under their persistent questioning, Viola didn't offer many details, but her attitude was basically an admission—their suspicions were right.

  Martha, on the other hand, was far less subtle. Perhaps trying to pressure the two tribal leaders, she pointed openly to the north with a proud expression.

  "Our chieftain has already led the troops north. It won't be long before everything north of the Godwar Hills belongs to us."

  Just as she finished speaking, a loud cheer erupted from the village entrance.

  It turned out Gregor had returned, escorting the elderly, women, and children of the Leopard Tribe along with their supplies.

  A strange Serpentfolk leader, a large group of Leopard Tribe women and children—

  Sethric and Goldmanes didn't speak right away. They just stood there in silence, expressions growing increasingly complicated. They knew—they were no longer mere observers in this.

  The next day, Draven learned of Sethric and the others' reactions through the Serpentfolk doppelg?nger. He merely gave a faint smile.

  As long as the Black Tiger Tribe fell, the entire northern region would be firmly under control. After that, only the lands south of the Great River would remain.

  Each tribe had its own temperament, and each required a different approach. The Black Tiger Tribe was no exception.

  Though they had fewer than two hundred members in total, Draven remained cautious. He didn't like direct assaults—reckless, high-cost warfare wasn't his style.

  The heavy losses at the Hyena Tribe and the elegant victory with the Leopard Tribe had already swayed his mind—strategy would once again be the key.

  He set the tone for this final northern battle: take the Black Tiger Tribe with minimal cost.

  To this end, Elira and Thalia of the Leopard Tribe personally led a team. They dressed smartly and impressively, bringing dozens of tribespeople along with carts loaded with wine and meat, heading grandly toward the Black Tiger Tribe's village.

  Last night, the Werewolf leader had worked hard to coax from Liliana a mask that could suppress one's aura—something Sylvia had left her.

  Now, Draven was hidden within the Leopard Tribe's party.

  His appearance had been altered, and even the Leopard Tribespeople couldn't recognize him. He also used a skill to completely suppress his aura, making him seem like an ordinary Leopard Tribesman.

  To blend in better, Draven even asked Elira to include a few male tribesmen in the group. That way, in the otherwise female-dominated group, his presence wouldn't draw attention.

  Meanwhile, Gregor, Sardon, and Green Serpent led the rest of the forces along a secret route previously scouted by the Dorian brothers, silently approaching the Black Tiger Tribe village.

  They didn't intend to give their enemies any chance to react.

  The Leopard Tribe's team departed in the middle of the night, arriving at the Black Tiger Tribe's gates before dawn. At that time, the Black Tiger Tribe's hunting party had not yet left—

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  In fact, the entire village was already surrounded.

  The reason for the nighttime departure was clear: to capture the entire Black Tiger Tribe in one clean sweep.

  Thorin and Baldric, the two brothers leading the Black Tiger Tribe, had long harbored lustful thoughts toward the Leopard Tribe's mother-daughter pair. But the women had always been cold and aloof, barely giving them the time of day.

  Now, suddenly, they showed up in bright, elaborate outfits, bringing wine and meat with smiling faces—anyone would find that suspicious.

  But Thorin and Baldric were too full of themselves. After a brief exchange upon hearing their scouts' report, the two figured that since they were on their home turf, even if the Leopard Tribe was playing some trick, they had nothing to fear.

  If things stayed peaceful, great. If not, they were more than happy to deal with it on the spot—maybe even "split" the mother and daughter between them.

  So, the two brothers ordered the hunting party to stay put and the villagers to stay alert. Then, with grand gestures and loud voices, they ordered the gates opened to welcome the guests.

  When Elira and Thalia appeared at the gates dressed like sisters, the brothers' eyes lit up.

  Laughing heartily, they stepped forward and warmly invited the Leopard Tribe people into the village—all of them.

  They had just reached the gates of the Black Tiger Tribe's village when they were stopped by the guards. The guards demanded they surrender their weapons, saying they would"keep them safe" during the visit.

  This was part of the plan. The Leopard Tribe members didn't hesitate—they calmly handed over their weapons one by one, their demeanor composed and natural.

  Watching from the side, Thorin and Baldric felt some of their initial suspicion quietly dissipate.

  In fact, a new idea was already forming in Thorin's mind: should he take this opportunity to seize Elira and her daughter right now? After all, they had walked right into his hands—it would be a shame to waste the chance.

  But just as he was getting tempted, the smell of roasted meat and strong wine drifted from the chieftain's hall, rich and intoxicating, making stomachs growl. He swallowed his saliva and temporarily shelved the thought.

  He decided to first see what exactly these Leopardfolk were up to. In any case, they were already inside—they weren't going anywhere.

  Thorin's gaze swept over Elira, completely unrestrained. He had a weakness for mature, voluptuous women, and just one look at her made his blood stir.

  Baldric was even more blatant—he hadn't taken his eyes off Thalia the entire time.

  Leopard Tribe women were tall and lean, with athletic curves and firm, high breasts—far more enticing than the bulky tigress-women of their own tribe. It was as if these women were made to seduce.

  Elira and Thalia exchanged a glance—there was both disgust and unspoken understanding in their eyes. They both knew they had to endure for just a little while longer. Their moment was almost here.

  Elira smiled sweetly. Though her figure was full and rounded, she carried herself with poise and elegance, looking far younger than her actual age. She raised a horn cup and flashed a gentle smile at Thorin.

  "Cheers."

  Draven stood behind them, watching the two Black Tiger brothers grin from ear to ear, their faces wrinkled from smiling, and he almost found it funny.

  All that for one cup of wine? You'd think they'd just struck gold.

  The black-red bloodwine was fiery and potent, burning like a blaze in the throat. The two brothers tilted their heads back and downed it in one go, exhaling deeply and praising it loudly.

  "This wine is amazing!" Baldric wiped his mouth."Where's it from?"

  Thorin laughed even more shamelessly, praising the wine with his eyes glued to Elira. He didn't even bother hiding his crude intentions.

  Elira covered her mouth with a coy laugh, her gaze seductive, her tone light.

  "Oh, this wine? It's a gift—from the Black Werewolves in the south."

  She swirled the cup in her hand and deliberately glanced at Thorin, a glint of provocation in her eyes.

  "Black Werewolves?" Thorin's smile froze instantly, and his face darkened. It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head.

  He sat back down, his tone turning cold."Elira, what's the meaning of this? Surely you haven't forgotten the pact between our three tribes?"

  Elira didn't flinch under his questioning. Instead, she let out another wave of soft laughter, even more charming than before.

  Behind her, Draven muttered to himself: This woman really knows how to put on a show.

  After laughing for a moment, Elira suddenly reached out and lightly tapped the wine jug on the table, her voice laced with meaning."Take a guess—why would the Black Werewolves send me this wine?"

  Thorin's face was now completely cold. He frowned and said nothing.

  "You're planning to ally with the Black Werewolves?" he finally asked through gritted teeth. His voice was low, like a storm waiting to explode.

  Thorin had already made up his mind. If Elira dared confirm it, he'd strike immediately and tear the entire Leopardfolk party to shreds.

  He gave Baldric a glance. The two brothers exchanged a look, and silently began gathering their bloodline power.

  But just as they began to focus their strength, a wave of dizziness crashed over them—like being struck on the back of the head.

  Thorin's heart lurched. He grabbed the edge of the table, trying to speak, but when he turned his head, he saw Baldric already collapsed on the floor.

  "Damn it—!" Thorin only had time to shout before darkness took him and he fell hard to the ground.

  With the two chieftains unconscious, the hall fell into stunned silence. The Black Tiger guards froze in place, unsure of what to do. The atmosphere turned chaotic.

  Elira spat out the bloodwine she had held in her mouth, which had been infused with her bloodline power. Then she drew a short dagger from her waist and calmly placed it at the necks of both Thorin and Baldric.

  Thalia stepped forward:

  "If you want your chieftains to live—drop your weapons. All of you!"

  For a moment, the Black Tiger warriors hesitated, unsure how to respond. But soon, the sound of metal clanging to the floor echoed through the hall, one weapon after another.