The ancient Cao Prime Minister took Guan Yun Chang, and now Chen Yu takes the Lionfolk Village Chief.
It was all a scheme.
Chen Yu, the Lionfolk Village Chief, had to capture him.
However, his interest in the Lionfolk Village Chief was not like Prime Minister Cao’s interest in Guan Yu’s martial prowess. He didn't know much about this lionfolk.
He had only heard from others that he was skilled in battle.
Most importantly, he valued loyalty and righteousness.
Since the beastmen spoke so highly of the Lionfolk Village Chief, and Chen Yu happened to need someone to do things for him, the Lionfolk Village Chief might be a good choice.
"What do you want me to do?"
After a long period of contemplation, the Lionfolk Village Chief looked up and asked Chen Yu with a frown.
"It's very simple, just be absolutely loyal to me," Chen Yu said with a smile, spreading his hands. Seeing the Lionfolk Village Chief about to get angry, Chen Yu quickly raised his hand again. "Don't get angry yet. I know that with your proud personality, you would never submit to anyone. If you were forced to bow to someone, you'd rather die."
"Since you know this, what else is there to say?"
The Lionfolk Village Chief snorted with cold eyes.
He was a lion, a lion of extreme pride. Among the many beastmen in this outer cave, he was the absolute king.
There were always people better than you, and there were always heavens beyond the heavens.
He might not know this saying, but he knew in his heart that there were many people in this world who were superior to him.
However, these people could never make him submit.
He would rather die.
"From the beginning, I told you we would cooperate," Chen Yu said with a smile in his eyes. "Cooperation naturally is based on equal terms. If we weren't equal, what cooperation would there be? I would have simply asked you to be loyal to me. The loyalty I want is to be able to trust you with my back, knowing you won't betray me. Of course, I can also guarantee that I will never betray you."
The Lionfolk Village Chief frowned and looked at Chen Yu intently for a long time.
"An alliance?"
"That's about the gist of it," Chen Yu's smile widened. "What I want is an alliance of absolute trust. But unlike other alliances, we cannot rely on verbal promises. We must swear by our souls. Only then can I truly feel at ease."
"You truly baffle me."
After a long silence, the Lionfolk Village Chief suddenly let out a laugh and shook his head uncontrollably.
"If everyone could understand me, I wouldn't have the position I have today," Chen Yu’s eyes showed a hidden light as he lightly tapped the table. "Now, you should give me your answer."
"Clearly, I have no reason not to accept."
The Lionfolk Village Chief laughed and reached for the juice in front of him.
"It is my honor to be an ally with a hero like you. Cooperating with you will protect my loved ones and allow me to realize the ambitions I haven't had a chance to fulfill. Why would I refuse?"
"Welcome to the fold."
Chen Yu also raised his juice and clinked glasses with the Lionfolk Village Chief. The contract was sealed!
The Lionfolk Village Chief swore by his life and soul, and Chen Yu received the contract. As for Chen Yu, he also swore by his own life.
He was not a two-faced person.
Since he had promised not to betray each other, he had no intention of using the Lionfolk Village Chief.
"I will release you and your people shortly," Chen Yu whispered seriously. "The other village chiefs will also be handed over to you to handle. I believe you have the ability to control them."
"You can rest assured about that."
The Lionfolk Village Chief's eyes were filled with confidence.
When they were all village chiefs, he had suppressed the other village chiefs to the point where they couldn't even lift their heads. Now, with these people under his command, he was absolutely confident that they wouldn't be able to make any waves.
"The resources I promised you have now been buried at the designated location."
"There will be people guarding the area."
"When you arrive, they will leave on their own. All you need to do then is have people dig up the resources, which can serve as your initial startup capital."
"Subsequently, I will also provide you with resource assistance."
Chen Yu said with a smile, but unexpectedly, the Lionfolk Village Chief shook his head.
"No need."
"The initial resources you've given me are enough for my early transition. After that, I want to rely on my own strength to improve my forces."
"We are allies. If I accept too much from you, I will feel like I am becoming your subordinate."
Chen Yu understood the Lionfolk Village Chief's pride and did not insist further.
Saving resources was good for him too.
His own consumption of resources was also particularly large.
"Then, you can leave now." Chen Yu gently raised his hand, and the Lionfolk Village Chief nodded slightly. "Mr. Chen, farewell."
As the Lionfolk Village Chief left the dungeon, Chen Yu quietly watched his departing figure.
"You're really troublesome. If you just pressed his head to make him submit, would he still refuse?" The little demon and Sona walked out side by side. There was still uncleaned blood on the little demon's hand.
"Where did the blood come from?"
"Ah, that greedy kid. I broke his arm again."
"Hiss, so cruel!" Chen Yu exclaimed in feigned astonishment, drawing a sharp breath and frowning slightly. "Keeping this kid around is definitely a problem, but we can't let them die by our hands."
"Murder!!!"
Suddenly, a piercing scream came from the depths of the dungeon.
Chen Yu slammed the table and rushed down the stairs. He saw the Lionfolk Village Chief and the other village chiefs standing in front of Swaim.
Swaim looked like he had no breath left.
"Stop them!" Chen Yu shouted seriously. The Lionfolk Village Chief, however, charged forward with a sinister grin. Several prison guards couldn't stop him and even knocked Chen Yu down hard. "The worst thing you could have done was let me out. Goodbye, Steward Chen. I will return one day."
Several village chiefs, along with their families, rushed out of the dungeon in a hurry. Chen Yu, who was knocked to the ground, yelled at the prison guards to chase them.
However, he stayed behind and laughed.
"Interesting. I still owe you a favor," Chen Yu muttered, the Lionfolk Village Chief's whispered words echoing in his mind as he parted. "You let me go, and I'll solve a problem for you. I killed that kid. If the city lord comes looking for you, just blame it on me. It might save your city-state once."
"He's quite grateful, after all."
Chen Yu twisted his neck, got up from the ground, and grinned.
"Let's go out and take a look."
In the city-state, Chen Yu, Sona, the little demon, and Kaelen stood atop the city wall, watching the Lionfolk Village Chief and people from several camps desperately fight their way out.
Leading the charge, he truly looked like an unyielding lion.
No one could stop him.
In less than an hour, the several village chiefs had led their people out.
"Kaelen, give those injured brothers five gold coins each for medicinal fees and ensure they receive the best treatment," Chen Yu whispered, glancing sideways. "Make sure they don't suffer any lingering ailments."
"Yes!"
Kaelen nodded with a focused gaze and whispered.
"Then, what about those tribal members from the camps who didn't follow them out? They still need..."
"Those who are willing to stay, let them become our citizens. Give them a stable home," Chen Yu stretched lazily, looking up at the moon overhead. "Kaelen, I'll be entrusting this city to you from now on."
"Camp Commander, you..."
Kaelen moved her lips, then saw Chen Yu smile slightly.
"I will prepare to depart tomorrow for the Royal City!"