Return of The Martial King

[ Chapter 216 ]

With a dull thud, the guard fell to the ground, nose bleeding, as the leading orc, Jalkato, quickly supported him.

“Up we go! This guy has a decent heart, so just knocking him out should be enough.”

Another orc standing behind him gestured with his hand.

“Everyone, come out!”

A group of orcs cautiously emerged from the dormitory, looking around nervously. Their faces were filled with fear.

The same situation was unfolding in other dormitories as well. Breaking down doors and taking out the clumsy guards, numerous orcs cautiously stepped outside, glancing around warily.

“Can we… really go out…?”

“We’re going to get in trouble for this…”

“Getting in trouble hurts…”

“I don’t like pain…”

Most of them were frightened and shrinking back, not showing much enthusiasm for escaping. However, the orcs leading them were different. With fierce expressions and glaring eyes, the leading orcs shouted loudly.

“Follow us!”

“What are you afraid of?!”

“Are you going to keep living like this here?!”

As the leading orcs yelled, the fear on the faces of the others was gradually replaced by anger. Remembering the abuse and suffering they had endured, a determined light began to appear on their previously simple faces.

“I… I’m going!”

“Me too, I’m going!”

“I can’t live like this anymore!”

Despite their fear, the other groups began to move steadily, following the orcs’ lead.

Jalkato smirked.

‘Karl was right after all.’

* * *

Karl explained.

“Even though we’ve done some preliminary work with things like storybooks, don’t expect that all the slaves will fully realize their situation. Especially not the orcs.”

Elves are fundamentally clever. Moreover, due to their usage as slaves, they are more aware compared to the orcs used for agricultural purposes.

Elves are mainly used as maids or attendants, serving humans directly. While they may not be as tightly-knit as the dwarves who gather in tribes, they are still more educated than the orcs, who are simply made to perform repetitive tasks.

“So, we’ve prepared other measures as well.”

Karl continued, tapping the documents.

“The atmosphere in the Principality of Chatan has significantly changed due to the rumors about the Duchy of Antares. They must be concerned that the slaves might get the wrong idea, so they’re treating the slaves even more harshly.”

Repenhardt gave a dry laugh and asked, “Won’t that only increase resentment?”

“Indeed. But that doesn’t mean the slave owners can treat their slaves kindly either. Just because they’re treated kindly doesn’t mean the slaves will become more loyal.”

Would treating the slaves kindly, paying more attention to their well-being, and making their lives a little better actually increase their loyalty?

The answer is ‘No.’

Of course, some slaves might be moved to be loyal. But to think that all slaves would respond that way is a naïve and overly idealistic notion.

“If that were the case, the Principality of Chatan wouldn’t have reigned as the mecca of the slave trade for so long.”

Slaves, after all, are bound to be treated unjustly. No matter how kindly or compassionately they are treated, it’s unlikely that a slave would genuinely feel gratitude and loyalty towards their master. If anything, they might begin to question their existence as a slave.

“This is not about the idea that being too kind will make them more demanding. The point is that as long as the life of a slave is inherently unjust, loosening their chains is meaningless. The Principality of Chatan is well aware of this.”

It’s not that the Principality of Chatan doesn’t know that harsh treatment breeds resentment. But given the inherent contradictions of the slave system, they have no other choice.

The pursuit of a free life is the nature of all living beings. Therefore, the only way to sustain the slave system is to invoke fear by threatening something even more fundamental: survival.

“As a result, the current resentment among the slaves in the Principality of Chatan has risen considerably.”

People are creatures who adapt to their environment.

And they also struggle to adapt to changing environments.

This fact doesn’t differ much whether they’re human or of another race.

“The slaves have already adapted to their current lives. What seems to us as a life of unbearable harshness is just an ordinary day for them. But if that ordinary day becomes even more harsh? While it might seem just as harsh to us, the pain the slaves experience in their lives will feel entirely different.”

Surviving on three pieces of hard bread a day may seem like an unbearably harsh life to an ordinary person. So, they think simply: even if those three pieces of hard bread are reduced to two, the harshness remains the same.

But it’s different from the perspective of the one suffering.

For them, losing one piece of hard bread is an invasion of their everyday life. And that’s when they start thinking:

I can’t live like this!

“If things were to pass without any incident, the slaves would eventually adapt to the changed circumstances once again. They would come to accept it as their life. But not right now. Right now, even ordinary slaves are likely to harbor significant dissatisfaction with their lives.”

As Karl grinned, Repenhardt clicked his tongue. So, in other words…

“Are you saying you deliberately manipulated the treatment of the slaves in Zeppelin to make it harsher?”

“It wasn’t a particularly difficult task. The slave owners didn’t have many options to begin with. I merely used some people to subtly provoke the anxiety of the slave owners. If something is bound to happen, wouldn’t it be better if it happens when it’s advantageous for us?”

So, because of Karl’s meddling, the slaves in Zeppelin have been subjected to even more brutal treatment than usual? Well, in the end, it was to rescue them, so there’s nothing to criticize.

“I didn’t see it that way, but Karl, you’re quite ruthless…”

Repenhardt’s incredulous words made Karl scratch the back of his head awkwardly.

“This is just basic royal education…”

Indeed, Karl was undoubtedly a person of good and righteous character, but he was also born into royalty and trained in statecraft. It wasn’t that Karl had any malicious intent; it’s just that, from his perspective, such behind-the-scenes maneuvers didn’t even qualify as cunning.

“In any case, at this moment, even orc slaves who’ve lost their wild instincts will likely respond to our actions to some extent. Unlike before.”

After calculating something for a moment, Karl presented the figures.

“I expect that at least 10 percent will actively participate in the uprising.”

“After all that, only 10 percent?”

Karl chuckled softly as he saw Repenhardt’s disappointment.

“Those who’ve been brainwashed their entire lives can’t possibly resolve to give it all up just because a few months have gotten tougher, can they? And when I mentioned the 10 percent, I was referring to those who would actively support us. If we include those who might not step forward but also won’t oppose us, that would likely cover the vast majority. After all, the life of a slave isn’t one that encourages active participation.”

“So, at the very least, we can create an atmosphere where most will follow the general trend.”

“Yes, the key factor is leadership. When people gather, they naturally divide into leaders and followers. Until now, the leaders have been the slave owners. But now, things will be a bit different.”

Karl concluded firmly.

“If 90 percent show passive support, they will inevitably follow the remaining 10 percent.”

* * *

Hundreds of orcs were running across the square in front of the dormitory. Most of them were powerless orcs who had lived as slaves, but their leaders were different.

“Do you want to become a true orc?”

“Do you want to become a true warrior?”

“Then run!”

The orcs who were shouting encouragements and commands like shepherds driving a flock were not slaves. They were warriors from the Blue Bear Tribe, who had infiltrated the auction house ahead of time, following Karl’s strategy.

Though it was the dead of night, there was no way such a large-scale movement could go unnoticed. The auction house’s internal guards, who were stationed elsewhere, were startled and rushed toward the scene in full armor.

“What’s going on?”

“Have these bastards all gone mad? What’s wrong with them?”

“Is there some kind of plague going around?”

About thirty heavily armed soldiers, equipped with swords, shields, and armor, saw the orcs charging from the far side of the yard and exchanged confused glances. A middle-aged man, who seemed to be the leader, shouted.

“You scum! Stop right there at once!”

Despite being outnumbered, the orcs were nothing more than a group of slaves, whom the soldiers had always regarded as insignificant. Moreover, the soldiers were fully armed from head to toe, while the orcs were barely clothed in tattered rags. The captain was confident that the orcs would comply with his command without question.

However, the orcs’ advance didn’t stop.

They continued charging toward the soldiers, barehanded and barefoot, without so much as a toothpick in hand, and with no sign of fear.

“If you don’t stop immediately, you’ll taste my blade!”

To intimidate them, the captain drew his longsword. At that moment, Jalkato, the leading orc, stretched out both hands toward the sky and shouted.

“Come, my fierce comrade!”

*Swish!*

A sharp sound sliced through the night sky.

A dazzling silver ring arced over the high walls of the auction house. The silver flash swiftly landed in Jalkato’s grasp.

It was two brilliant white swords. The soldiers, stunned, cried out in disbelief.

“What the…?”

“The weapon just flew to him on its own?”

“And it’s glowing too?”

This strange phenomenon was no longer unfamiliar to the people of the continent. Although they might not have seen it firsthand, they had certainly heard of it through rumors.

The captain, horrified, yelled out.

“That sorcery? An Antares Orc!”

By now, the tales of the civil war in Crovence and the Duchy of Antares had spread so widely that even the slave races were aware of them.

“Ugh…”

Fear flashed across the faces of the soldiers.

These so-called Antares Orcs, a new breed of orc, were monstrous beings capable of easily taking on five or six renowned knights at once. They were entirely different from the orcs everyone knew. These weren’t the kind of foes the soldiers were used to dealing with in the streets of Zeppelin.

Still, the captain, acting like a true commander, was the first to regain his composure.

“Calm down! No matter how powerful an Antares Orc might be, it’s just one! It’s nothing special!”

But then, it happened.

The dozen orcs who had been following Jalkato suddenly raised their hands in unison.

“Come forth!”

“My fierce comrade!”

“My sword, my friend!”

Another dozen flashes streaked through the air toward them, leaping over the walls. The night sky was illuminated by the soft glow of silver lights. Within that radiant wave, Jalkato lifted his sword high and roared triumphantly.

“Cut them all down!”

“Raaaargh!”

The orcs of the Blue Bear Tribe, leading the charge, pounced on the soldiers like wild beasts.

Swords clashed against shields, and sparks flew. Amid the deafening clash of metal, blood spurted, and screams erupted in quick succession.

Though they only carried weapons and wore no armor, their movements were far beyond what the soldiers could match. Comparing the elite warriors of the Blue Bear Tribe, who had earned the title of warrior through the communion of sword and soul, with the local guards was simply unfair.

Jalkato’s twin swords plunged deeply into both sides of the captain’s torso. The captain coughed up blood, weakly muttering.

“How… how did an Antares Orc get inside here…?”

Drawing his swords back, Jalkato smirked. Was he curious about how an Antares Orc had managed to infiltrate the auction house? They hadn’t even considered such a possibility in their preparations.

“You bastards bought us for five gold coins.”

Another warrior of the Blue Bear Tribe, Mataru, who had been standing behind Jalkato, looked up at the sky. Seeing the promised signal flare—its fiery light blazing in the sky—Mataru spoke.

“It’s about time for the others to make their escape. Let’s hurry and join them.”