North of Camp Xing 10, Honnier Gallop and Jenny Gallop continued their conversation. Honnier's analysis of the war had Jenny nodding repeatedly.
"I estimate The Basin will stay quiet for a few days. During this period, the conflict between the Royal Court and the Scorch Wolves and Forest Cats has become extremely sharp. The Retainers on the Forest Cat side refused to hand over the humans in their tribes to the Royal Court. They even sent a group of humans to neutral city-states to resist the Royal Court's inspections."
"There are now nine neutral city-states in Hindukush. Looks like the Royal Court doesn't have enough troops!" Jenny said with some relief.
Honnier nodded. "That's how it is for now, but their reinforcements will arrive soon. After all, the Royal Court believes there are too many tribes on the plateau and wants to use Hindukush to wear some of them down."
"So that's how it is..." Jenny nodded. "I never thought that even atop the plateau, relations among the Beastmen would be this tense!"
"Don't find it strange. Perhaps the Human Empire's imperial family holds the same attitude toward the human nobles on its borders." Since Honnier could remember, she had stood at the very top of Hindukush, and she understood well the conflicts between the center and the regions among her own kind.
"It's all right. With Lord Landen here, the Retainers won't be able to cross Iowa."
"But you'd better watch out for that Toroniz. I found his ancestor in the family genealogy. Three hundred years ago, he was already a noble near Iowa. He may know Iowa no less well than you do!"
The two girls had not spoken for long before the cry of a hawk rang out overhead. Honnier knew she had to leave; any later,