Seeing the cheap boss's smug look, [ Ginseng Rooster ] stepped forward instead, pushing the plan forward while once again advising his "lord":
"Lord Colin, please acknowledge your position. You are now the undisputed Warlord, therefore your attendance at this meeting is mandatory."
Colin waved his hand again. He had always trusted [ the Ginseng Rooster ] and his attitude was quite good.
But [ the Ginseng Rooster ] didn't give Colin a second chance to refuse, immediately throwing out his outrageous remarks:
"If you don't go, you might not live to see sunrise tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, the soul fire in Colin's eyes instantly intensified.
He raised his head and stared intently at [ the Ginseng Rooster ]. The trust between them prevented him from immediately drawing his sword, but this was already an act of great leniency.
If someone could say something like that, I wouldn't mind killing him on the spot.
At this moment, Colin's hand was already on the hilt of the bone blade at his waist, and he was looking at [ Ginseng Rooster ], waiting for his answer.
The saying goes, "If you don't do it, someone else will." If [ the Ginseng Rooster ]'s answer at this moment doesn't satisfy Colin, then the warlord probably wouldn't mind replacing him with a cunning strategist.
However, [ Ginseng Rooster ] showed no panic whatsoever. Instead, he began to meticulously analyze the current situation for Colin.
Colin's rapid promotion and lack of vision were the root of his suffering and ultimately his downfall.
His weaknesses can be compensated for by [ Ginseng Rooster ].
He leaned a little closer to Colin and began to speak in detail:
"My lord, what I just said was not an exaggeration. Not all warlords like to command from the center; some warlords prefer to personally charge into battle."
"After a fierce battle all afternoon, many 10,000-strong units have changed their commanders, which is an indisputable fact. There are now only seventeen commanders left."
"Because there are many new faces, and some members of parliament have died or left, it is necessary to hold a meeting to determine the next strategy and concentrate efforts in one direction."
"Therefore, as long as you have the title of warlord, whether official or acting, and whether you have one or two 10,000-strong units, you must attend this meeting."
Colin pondered for a long time. He actually knew that [ the Ginseng Rooster ]'s idea was right, but like many people who know what is right but don't do it, Colin's current pride made him only want to temporarily give up, even if he might regret it in the near future, he was still willing to do it.
In the midst of the bustling battlefield, this silence lasted for about a minute before Colin finally looked up again:
"I understand what you mean, but will I die if I don't go?"
Seeing that Colin's tone was softening, [ Ginseng Rooster ] quickly continued:
"This is actually because you underestimate yourself."
"You should know that you are not only the new warlord, but you have also inherited the troops of warlords Osmond and Palmer, possessing nearly twice the strength of an ordinary warlord."
"I have just inquired and found that there are only three military governors like you who also command additional troops."
"The other two are only in charge of the official positions, and in reality, their soldiers are almost all exhausted. In terms of the number of combat troops, they may not have as many as you."
"Therefore, I can confidently assert that you, Commander Colin, currently command the strongest force among the current 170,000 to 180,000 Skeleton Alliance soldiers, with the Skeleton Warriors and Soul Returner mercenaries totaling nearly 16,000!"
Colin nodded. Although he was slacking off, he hadn't done nothing; at least he had done some of his assigned tasks.
After the battles of the High Tier soldiers came to an end, the intensity of the flesh-grinding battles for the Middle Tier- and Low Tier soldiers also decreased slightly. Colin took the opportunity to gather his troops and count the number of people, which was indeed almost the same as what [ Ginseng Rooster ] had said.
Thinking further, [ Ginseng Rooster ] said that there are currently seventeen warlords alive, which averages out to about ten thousand soldiers per person.
So, it seems the power I possess is indeed quite formidable.
Having figured this out, [ the Ginseng Rooster ]'s next words were like a wake-up call to his mind.
He asked Colin:
"Therefore, if the newly appointed warlord, who commands a large army and is a frontline promoter who knows no one, doesn't attend the meeting, then..."
How likely is it that he will be considered a traitor?
[ The Ginseng Rooster ]'s words certainly contain elements of exaggeration and labeling, but they do indeed have their own set of self-consistent fallacies and heresies.
He continued to explain:
"To unite the remnants of the army, a justification is needed, and if you are voted out, then regardless of whether you have actually betrayed them, killing you will become the justification for their warlords to unite."
That's why I said you absolutely must attend that meeting.
The explanation of "[ Ginseng Rooster ]" is nearing completion, and Colin has been largely convinced.
Seeing that the first step of his plan had succeeded, [ the Ginseng Rooster ] lowered his voice and added casually:
"Oh right, there's one more small thing, the meeting later this evening... I arranged it in your name."
"Ah?"
The unclear sound was captured completely by Colin.
Although he had no ears, for some reason he heard the muffled whispers clearly.
Colin suddenly sprang to his feet with a somersault, the movement so fluid it looked like a cutscene.
If Colin were a human, the results of his well-developed muscles would be immediately apparent.
Unfortunately, he was a skeleton, so his actions only evoked a sense of pity.
"Hey, this skeleton looks quite alive; it'd be perfect for performing in a circus of the dead!"
"Why didn't you say something so important sooner?"
Colin grabbed [ the Ginseng Rooster ] by the collar and questioned him.
Didn't I already tell you?
[ Ginseng Rooster ] shrugged:
There are three reasons to begin with, and this is the last one, which I'll mention last.
"We've already set off since you mentioned this in your first comment."
"But that would make you feel like I'm acting on your behalf."
"You've already been doing that!"
"Really? My lord."
[ Ginseng Rooster ] deliberately threw the original question back at him with a counter-question, and after a pause, said:
"After my explanation, you should understand that time was of the essence. If I hadn't done this, hadn't given the warlords or acting warlords an opportunity to vent their emotions, hadn't given everyone a place to communicate, then... neither you nor I would have survived until tomorrow."
Hearing this, Colin, though still clutching the Ginseng Rooster's collar, gradually calmed down.
"Grown ups."
[ The Ginseng Rooster ] looked at the sun on the horizon and said:
"Please set off."