Disposition

Dawn's faint light slowly pierced the clouds, scattering a pale golden glow across the mountains.

On the blood-soaked ground, nameless weeds greedily absorbed what the dead had left behind, striving to grow taller and stronger.

Several vultures circled overhead, already eager to dive down and partake in the feast.

Though he had not slept all night, Samwell remained full of vigor as he directed his men to clear the battlefield and settle the prisoners.

They had finally won this battle—and won it in a resounding victory!

Samwell understood that this victory was of tremendous significance to him.

First, the recruits he had raised had emerged from this trial no longer as mere decorations with empty forms, but as a formidable force he could rely upon.

Second, this victory had earned him immense prestige. He had once been known among the Reach nobility as a useless good-for-nothing, looked down upon by everyone except the recruits he had summoned. But now, every gaze directed at him was filled with reverence and respect. They had truly begun to see him as a lord expanding his domain.

Most importantly, after this battle, the new territory would no longer need to fear harassment from the Wildlings. At least in the vicinity of this valley, no Wildling tribe had either the courage or the strength to threaten him anymore.

At that moment, Todd approached, bowed to Samwell, and said:

"My lord, the preliminary tally for this battle is complete."

After this victory, the knight of House Tyrell was noticeably more respectful toward Samwell.

"How did it go?"

"We lost twenty-one warriors, and over thirty more were seriously wounded. But we killed more than two hundred and thirty Wildlings and captured nearly a thousand!"

By the end, even this battle-hardened bastard knight could hardly believe it.

He had taken part in many battles, but he had never witnessed such an outrageous result. Especially since he knew that the pioneering knight before him had led nothing more than a group of recruits fighting their first battle!

Even if their opponents had only been poorly equipped and even more poorly organized Wildlings, such a brilliant victory was enough to place this young knight among The Reach's finest commanders.

House Tarly truly produced generals in abundance.

At that moment, Todd no longer dared associate Samwell with the name of a worthless fool. In his view, it was either a misunderstanding or involved some filthy conspiracy within House Tarly.

"Mm. See to the wounded properly. As for the fallen warriors, issue compensation according to the standards I promised before. Get the money from Gavin."

"Yes, my lord."

"Did we capture the Wildling leaders?"

"We did. This attack was launched by a nearby tribe called Tiger Tooth. The ones who organized it were the three sons of the tribal chief. They have all been captured."

"Good. Bring them to me."

"Yes."

When the Tiger Tooth Three Brothers were brought before him, Samwell realized that one of them was the terrifying Wildling who had posed a deadly threat to him on the battlefield the night before.

"We meet again." Samwell greeted him with a smile. "What is your name?"

"Chika." Chika ground out the name through clenched teeth, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Samwell as though he would leap forward and bite out his throat at the slightest provocation.

Naturally, Samwell had no reason to fear a defeated enemy, especially when the man's hands and feet were bound.

"Chika, we have no grudge against each other, do we? I never harmed anyone from the Tiger Tooth Tribe. So why did you attack us?"

Chika snorted and snapped:

"Wherever you Reachmen go, you seize land and build cities, cut down forests, and hunt beasts. But all of these are gifts the gods granted us! Now you have ruined them all, and you still ask why we attacked you?"

"These resources for survival don't have your names written on them. What makes you think the gods granted them exclusively to you? Why can't we develop them together?"

"Heh. Since you won, these mountains and forests are naturally yours now. Why spout so much nonsense? Kill us if you want. Not one warrior of the Tiger Tooth Tribe fears death!"

"Is that so?" Samwell looked at the three brothers, who showed no trace of fear, and suddenly came up with an idea. "But I never said I was going to kill you."

"You won't kill us?" Chika frowned. "Are you planning to make us your slaves?"

Samwell shook his head again. "Enslaving others is an offense against the Seven, and the laws of the realm explicitly forbid the keeping of slaves."

"If we are not to be slaves, will you actually let us go?" the second brother, Chimu, could not help asking.

To his surprise, Samwell nodded.

"Hmph! You would be so kindhearted?" Chika clearly did not believe him.

"I never intended to make enemies of the Wildlings." Samwell's expression was entirely sincere. "It is only that you never gave me a chance to show goodwill. As I said before, nature's gifts are not yours to monopolize. If you are willing, we can become partners, friends, even family."

"You Reach nobles always make pretty speeches." Chika said disdainfully. "But in the end, you only want us to submit to you."

Samwell smiled and countered, "Isn't it only natural for the weak to submit to the strong? Isn't that how it works in your tribe as well?"

Chika was rendered speechless by that.

The Wildlings did indeed revere strength above all else.

But then he muttered:

"Only the chief of the Tiger Tooth Tribe—our father—can decide whether we submit to you."

"That is why I want to meet your father."

"Fine. Then release us first, along with our tribesmen."

But Samwell shook his head.

"Your attack caused us tremendous losses, so you must provide appropriate compensation."

"What compensation?"

"The tribesmen we captured must stay and build a castle for me. They may leave only after it is completed."

"Isn't that making them your slaves? You just said you would not keep slaves. So you really are a hypocritical noble!" Chika snorted.

Samwell ignored him and continued:

"And you must also pay a price, as punishment for starting this conflict."

"What punishment?"

"More than a hundred people died because of you. The punishment must be equivalent, so naturally, it must also be death!"

Chika burst into laughter. "So you still mean to kill us. Were all your earlier words just bullshit?"

Samwell shook his head again. "No. I will kill only one of you. I will release the other two, as a gesture of my sincerity in seeking reconciliation with the Tiger Tooth Tribe."

The three brothers froze for a moment, then nearly asked in unison:

"Which one will you kill?"

Samwell smiled mysteriously.

"How about this? You can decide for yourselves which one of you will atone for the dead."

As Samwell finished speaking, the atmosphere at the scene suddenly became subtle.