As Falan's decision spread, the Northern Foreign Tribes also began to stir.
After all, they had long been accustomed to the Empire crippling them before turning around and leaving.
Now that someone suddenly intended to fight them to the death, they were somewhat unaccustomed to it.
The leaders of the various tribes gathered together to discuss the matter.
Tribal Chief A: "What do you all think about the Empire's actions?"
Tribal Chief B: "What is there to think about? Of course we fight."
Tribal Chief C: "Can't we avoid war? We clearly have more than enough food."
Tribal Chief B: "Heh, that's far too foolish. Even if you don't want to fight, the Empire won't let us go."
Tribal Chief A: "You can't put it that way. After all, the Empire is willing to open marketplaces to us..."
Tribal Chief B: "So what if they open marketplaces? Wouldn't it be faster to just take what we want?"
These three chiefs, A, B, and C, respectively represented the three prevailing ideologies among the Northern Foreign Tribes.
A represented the peace faction, the group that had had the deepest contact with the Empire's side.
B represented the radical faction. They preferred to feed off their enemies, and those who had traditionally raided southward belonged to this group.
C represented the neutral faction, or rather, the fence-sitters. When the tribes lacked food, they would join the B group in raiding. When the Empire was powerful, they would cling to the A group and obediently trade with the Empire.
Yet none of them could truly speak for the others. Together, they looked toward the hero who had unified the Northern Foreign Tribes in recent years—Numa Seca, the Brave of the North, prince of the Northern Foreign Tribes, a figure akin to Modu.
He was