Submission

The Tiger Tooth Three Brothers, who had seemed ready to die heroically, suddenly fell silent.

No one wanted to die.

Especially when they still had a chance to live.

If Samwell had declared that he would kill all three brothers, they would surely have faced death with righteous fervor.

But when Samwell said that he would kill only one of them and release the other two, everything changed at once.

The three warriors were warriors no longer. They all lowered their heads and said nothing.

"Hey, three warriors, have you made up your minds?" Samwell pressed.

The three remained silent.

Samwell curled his lip disdainfully and added:

"How about this? Who was the first to suggest attacking the expedition? Let him take the blame."

An equally awkward silence followed.

"What? Three warriors, are you not even brave enough to admit the truth?" Samwell threatened. "If none of you speaks, I'll just pick one at random to kill."

"Chiman was the first to suggest it."

At last, the second brother, Chimu, spoke in a low voice.

The corner of Samwell's mouth rose slightly. "Which one is Chiman?"

He did not need an answer. He had already found Chiman.

For the man was glaring furiously at his elder brother, demanding:

"Chimu! Do you want me to die that badly?"

Chimu avoided his younger brother's gaze and muttered:

"It really was you who first proposed the plan..."

"Didn't all three of us agree to this plan? Why should I bear it alone? It's only death. If we die together, what is there to fear?"

Samwell drawled from the side, "Chiman, that's where you're wrong. How can all of you die? You have to leave some bloodline behind for your family. All right, then. Is Chiman the choice? Chika, you're the eldest. Say something."

Chiman immediately turned to his eldest brother, only to find him lowering his head in silence.

He gave a miserable laugh and demanded:

"Big Brother, do you want me dead too?"

Chika remained silent.

"Silence means consent." Samwell drew his longsword and walked behind Chiman. "Since both your brothers have said to kill you, then you shall die."

Chiman paid no attention to the sword approaching from behind. He continued staring fixedly at his two brothers, as though he wanted to see their true faces clearly.

Whoosh!

The longsword swung down.

But Chiman did not feel the pain he had expected. Instead, he felt the restraint around his wrist loosen.

When he turned around, he discovered that the sword had cut through the rope binding him!

Before Chiman's bewildered eyes, Samwell smiled.

"Oh, I've changed my mind. Only one of the three of you may live."

With that, he casually tossed the longsword before the three brothers.

If Samwell had done this at the beginning, he would only have humiliated himself. The three brothers would never have been so easily provoked into killing one another.

But now, everything was different.

The moment the sword hit the ground, the second brother, Chimu, lunged for it first.

Betrayal was like cheating: there was only the first time and countless times after.

Yet his hands and feet were still bound, making him too clumsy to compete with Chiman, whose restraints had already been cut.

"Younger Brother, listen to me!" Facing the longsword pointed at his heart, Chimu forced out his most amiable smile, trying to awaken the brotherly affection in Chiman's heart. "I was only stating the facts just now. The one who truly wants to kill you is that damned noble! This is all his trap. Can't you see it? He forced me to do it, he forced me—Aah!"

The sword pierced through his heart. In the end, Chimu died by his younger brother's hand.

Samwell clapped his hands, as though in praise—or perhaps mockery. Pointing at Chika, he said:

"There's still one left."

Chiman pulled out the sword and walked before his elder brother, Chika. His voice was hoarse, as though it had come from hell itself.

"Big Brother, look up at me."

But Chika still kept his head lowered.

"Look up at me!" Chiman roared hoarsely like a wounded beast.

At last, Chika looked up, but his gaze fell upon Samwell standing nearby.

Samwell met his eyes without yielding.

"You're a devil!" Chika ground out.

Samwell smiled calmly and retorted, "The devil has always been hidden in your own heart. I merely revealed it. What Tiger Tooth Three Brothers, what deep brotherly love? Heh. They were all lies that collapsed at a touch. You always call us nobles hypocrites, yet you turn a blind eye to your own hypocrisy."

"Look at me!" Chiman continued to roar relentlessly.

Chika finally turned to look at his younger brother, guilt impossible to conceal in his eyes.

"Just now, did you want me to die too?" Chiman stared into his elder brother's eyes and demanded.

But Chika did not answer. Instead, he sincerely urged:

"Younger Brother, kill me, then run as far away as you can. Don't think of avenging us. He is a devil who toys with people's hearts! You will never defeat him!"

"What right do you have to tell me what to do?" Chiman snarled.

Chika sighed and said no more. He raised his head, closed his eyes, and awaited death.

Chiman's expression changed rapidly—hesitation, sorrow, hatred... But in the end, he still aimed at his elder brother's heart and thrust his sword down.

Squelch!

Scalding blood gushed out, splattering Chiman from head to toe.

He staggered back several steps, then stood frozen in place like a statue.

Samwell's voice rang out again:

"Very good. I keep my promises. You are free now. Go back and tell your father that I am not fond of killing. Rather than destruction, I would prefer your submission. So, if he is willing to submit, let him come here to see me. I will accept all the Wildlings of the Tiger Tooth Tribe as my subjects. If he refuses, heh, then the Tiger Tooth Tribe had better have enough warriors left to withstand our blades."

Chiman stood there blankly without moving, as though he had not heard Samwell at all.

"What? Afraid to return to the tribe? Don't worry. As long as you do not become my enemy again, I will not reveal that you killed your brothers."

Chiman finally raised his head. His face was covered in blood, making him look especially ferocious.

Though his appearance had not changed, his bearing seemed completely different.

"My lord, I'm afraid you will find it difficult to gain my father's submission," Chiman said hoarsely.

"Oh?" Samwell raised a brow, somewhat surprised. "Why? Does the Tiger Tooth Tribe truly have enough warriors?"

Chiman shook his head. "No. The tribe's warriors have either died in battle or become your prisoners. The rest have likely already been scared witless. But even so, my father will never submit to you, because that would be a dead end!"

"A dead end?"

"Yes. The nobles of The Reach will surely kill him."

A suspicion formed in Samwell's mind. "Did your father once harm some noble of The Reach?"

"Yes. When Father was young, he left the mountains to raid and killed a member of House Hightower."

Samwell suddenly understood.

No wonder. Given House Hightower's influence in The Reach, Samwell likely could not protect the chieftain of the Tiger Tooth Tribe.

"Why are you telling me this?" Samwell studied the Wildling before him with interest.

"Because I want to tell you that Father will not submit to you, but I will!"

With that, Chiman suddenly dropped to his knees. He crawled forward on the ground to Samwell's feet, pressed his forehead tightly against Samwell's boot, and declared loudly:

"Noble and great knight, Chiman hereby swears loyalty to you! I am willing to become the sharp sword in your hand and clear away every obstacle in your path! Let the gods bear witness: should I betray this oath, may my blood run dry and may I die!"

Samwell looked down at the back of the Wildling's head, amusement in his eyes. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"I accept your loyalty."