Loyal but Scheming

After receiving Loa's affirmation, Shadra left.

He needed to go back and devise a real plan, one that would both fulfill his ambitions and completely annihilate these elves.

Shadra returned to his residence first and then sent his guards to summon his most trusted confidants.

Shadra began cultivating his own loyal followers even before becoming chieftain.

Bandersson Witherbark, the second-in-command among Witch Doctor doctors

General Liejian of the army, the one-eyed Kaostin the Fierce Cutter

And four Loa priests' personal disciples, all of whom Shadra personally selected and sent to the priests' sides.

These people helped Shadra gain control of the entire Amani Clan and monopolize Shadra Amani leadership.

Once the old guard dies, the younger generation will rise to power, and the entire Amani Clan will become Shadra's personal fiefdom.

"Shadra, we have brought them here." The guard had completed Shadra's task.

"Very good. Now you take a trusted brother and keep an eye on the other clans to make sure they don't cause trouble everywhere."

"Understood." After saying this, the Troll guard captain prepared to leave.

"Wait." Shadra called out to the captain of the guard who was about to leave.

"What is it, sir?" The Troll guard captain stopped in his tracks as he was about to leave.

"Report any unusual activity from those clans to me immediately," Shadra added.

"Understood, sir. I will immediately send someone to report as soon as any other clans make any unusual moves."

"Okay, go ahead." Shadra nodded, indicating that the captain could leave.

After the Troll captain left, Shadra's confidants also came in.

"Lord Shadra, what brings you here?"

Bandersson Witherbark, dressed in witch's clothes and wearing a wooden mask with patterns drawn with the blood of wild animals, asked.

"I called you here because I have something to discuss."

Shadra brought out a new map, which was very different from the previous one.

This map is much more detailed and the markings are more precise.

When Shadra took out the map, his confidants surrounded him.

"This map is more detailed than the ones I've shown to other chiefs; only those I trust can see it. You understand what I mean," Shadra said.

They were all Shadra's confidants, and thus understood the meaning behind Shadra's words.

"Of course we understand, sir; we are loyal only to you," said the pharmacist Bandersson.

His words resonated with the other Troll, who all pledged their allegiance to Shadra.

Shadra nodded; he was satisfied with their answer.

"I've called you here to devise a real war plan," Shadra explained, revealing the reason for summoning them.

"The real plan?" asked Kaostin the Fierce Cutter One-Eyed.

"Didn't you and the other chiefs already come up with a plan? Wasn't that the real plan?"

"No, my general, that plan was merely a plan I made them believe."

"The real plan is to completely absorb them," Shadra said, enunciating each word clearly.

The other Troll confidants were not surprised; they knew of Shadra's ambitions.

Since Shadra became chief, his ambition has continued to grow.

They all understood that the Forest Troll were about to have a true king, and the glory of the Forest Troll Empire would surely be restored.

This is why they became Shadra's confidants; an ambitious and powerful lord was exactly what the weak Forest Troll needed.

"My lord, what is your real plan?" Kaostin the Fierce Cutter asked.

"The original plan was for our Amani Clan to lure a portion of the elves away from the water."

"The Smolderthorn Mossflayer, and Firetree will lie in ambush. When Amani lures the elven forces into the ambush, we will swarm them and completely annihilate the pursuing elven forces."

"Once the elves are attacked, they will definitely begin to relocate."

"Meanwhile, the Witherbark, the Vilebranch, the Drybark, and the remaining smaller clans continued to send out harassment forces to slow down their movement."

"There's a forest right next to that lake, and their task is to slow them down while driving them towards the forest."

"Only by entering the forest can we take advantage of the terrain to eliminate the elves," Shadra repeated the original plan.

"A very good plan," said General Kaostin the Fierce Cutter.

"But if the plan goes smoothly, the strength of the other clans will not be weakened much."

"If we try to forcibly annex it, it will definitely lead to a bloody battle."

Even if we eventually succeed in annexing them, we will be severely weakened.

"Even if the few crippled clans join us, our clan's strength will never be restored to what it was before the war."

"Furthermore, public sentiment is still unstable, and it's uncertain whether the newly joined Troll will remain loyal to Amani."

Kaostin shared his thoughts.

"Therefore, we need to devise a foolproof plan to make them feel comfortable joining the Amani Horde," Shadra said.

"Actually, there's no need to go to such lengths. Wouldn't everything be solved if we just let Loa step in?" said the pharmacist Bandersson.

"No, that's simply unrealistic. The Loa wouldn't agree, and it would also damage Shadra's image in Loa eyes."

Kakaxiya, the next priest of Eagle Loa Akil'zon the Eagle, retorted.

"Indeed, the Loa will not intervene in such matters. They will not interfere with changes in the regimes of mortal tribes."

"If you want to conquer other clans, you can only rely on your own strength."

Shadra also rejected this method.

"I have another idea," said pharmacist Bandersson.

"What other options do you have?" Shadra asked.

"I can cast a voodoo spell to control them and make them give the orders themselves."

"This way, we can conquer other clans without bloodshed, and you can become the emperor of the new Forest Troll Empire."

Bandersson's eyes held only fanaticism, showing no sign of being controlled.

Only fanatical faith in Shadra.

"Your method is utterly dishonorable." The plan was met with opposition from Okaostin, a Warrior, as soon as it was proposed.

"If the Loa knew, they would be furious!" Kakaxiya said.

"While this is a good idea, I disagree," Shadra said after thinking for a moment.

"Why, sir? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"As long as I personally implant the witchcraft in them tomorrow, they will be under our control."

"And you can temporarily assume command of the allied forces, then lead your troops to wipe out all the elves in one fell swoop."

"Finally, I used witchcraft to control them, causing some of them to declare their allegiance to the Amani Clan."

"You can then become the new Troll Emperor." Bandersson was still not giving up and repeated his plan.

"Shut up and stop talking!"