Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Most of them looked at Belgarious as if he was an idiot but those that knew him, like the orc commanders understood the kind of resolve their general had and the person he was. He would never do something that would make them doubt and create uncertainty in the hearts of his subordinates.

"Hohh, I didn't think that you would reject. Becoming my second in command, it should be a pretty decent position; No, a prestigious position for any Diluvian High Orc. Can I know the reason why you are rejecting the offer?" Belgarious asked with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"The orc King is right, it is an incredibly alluring position and one that only a fool would reject. However, I believe that I'm not suited for that position yet as such, I think Berimal would be more suitable for that".

Since Berigard was having his head down in a bow, one couldn't see what kind of expression he was making. But from the tone of his words, it seemed like he was genuinely regretting letting go of this offer.

Belgarious gave a ferocious smile, his dreadful claws started extending out and even his dark eyes started to turn yellowish. If earlier he was only suspicious of Berigard, now he was absolutely certain that the latter knew about the trade he had been having with that kingdom.

The instinct to kill Berigard flashed inside his mind for a second before Belgarious suppressed it.

The orc king closed his eyes and reopened them, the earlier aggression and bloodthirst was nowhere to be seen in those eyes.

"Is that so, well if that's what you want to do, then be it. Now then let us start our annual meeting for the night of the moon dance. Since Berimal is absent this time, Berirock, you will be the one to preside over".

Belgarious stood up from his pedestal and walked over to the huge table meant for only the top brass of the Divulian High Orcs to sit.

The night of the moon dance besides being the event for the Diluvian High Orcs to meet, was also an event where important decisions related to the survival and continuation of the tribe were decided.

Each year, one of the orc generals would preside over the event and brief everybody the problem/threat and various other issues that they have been facing while living inside the ghastly winding forest.

Solutions would be offered, argument would be made until they arrived at a method that each of them agreed upon or at least didn't have any qualms with.

This year too, the watching diluvian high orcs crowd who didn't know anything, thought that another council would unfold without anything exciting happening. Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that this year's night of the moons dance would turn out to be the bloodiest council of all times.

One that would be remembered by the diluvian High orcs over the years.

"Since Berimal is absent, I Berirock would be the one to preside over this meeting as per the order of our king. I believe nobody has any problems?" Berirock glanced at every general. Since nobody voiced any issue, he started the meeting.

"Then first let us discuss the fooding problem our territory has been having for a while. Most of the colonies of weak monsters that have been living inside the western region, are almost wiped out. If we want to secure food for the upcoming days, we have to send our hunters to the other regions. However, doing so will leave our territory open for attacks by other clans. Especially those bastards from the ogre clan will not miss this opportunity".

The ogre clan was one of the ruler clans residing in the western region of the Ghastly winding Forest. The strength of the both tribe was used to be on par once upon a time but now that gap had slowly increased with the ogre clan pulling ahead.

Because the ogre territory bordered the diluvian high orcs territory, scuffles would break out every now and then with many casualties on each side. Hostility grew within the two tribes and now they were like ice and fire.

The only reason why the two clans never actually tried to wipe the other and spare all their efforts into it, was because they were wary of the other powerful clans residing within the western region that were eyeing them with the eyes of a predator.

"Those damn ogres and their constant invasion… we have lost more than twenty percent of our territory to them over the recent years and their soldiers are still inching closer to our villages from the northern front. I say instead of sending those hunters outside, why not let me borrow them".

The one to speak out was Berimond, the general in charge of the defense of their territory. Unlike the other generals who mostly saw internal and external affairs, he was mostly stationed at the borders of the territory and hardly left his post.

For him, the defense of their territory was paramount to whatever was happening within the clan. The only reason he left his post and came here was to discuss this issue.

The orc king, Berirock, and Beirgard all creased their brows at the mention of the ogre clan. It was true that their Diluvian High Orc clan was facing a major problem, the clan of ogres in these past decades, was slowly pressing in on their territory.

Their soldiers were constanly invading their lands and occupying their villages. Due to their race falling behind in strength gradually, they were unable to fight back and reclaim their lands. By now, they have lost a large part of their territory to the Ogre clan.

"I know what you are trying to convey… GUGA. However, we cannot send our hunters to the frontlines, or else we will soon be facing a food shortage problem. You don't want your soldiers in the eastern front to fight on an empty stomach do you?".

Berirock responded. Although he was revolted just by the mere mention of the ogre clan, he nevertheless chose to set it aside and discuss the much more easier problem and that was to gather food. The orc king silently sat on his seat while Berigard chose not to comment.

"Since there is no opinion against it, with the authority granted to me by the orc king, I will be sending the hunters to the northern region of the forest to gather food" Berirock declared.

Berimond could only make an ugly face after his proposition was shot down. The same thing would happen every year whenever he brought this issue and this year too it seemed like no decision would be taken on that part.

Berimond dejectedly sighed, the reason why they weren't retaliating even while being pressed so hard was because the ruler of the ogre race was one of the seven kings. It was only natural for beings in the higher pecking order in the food chain to suppress the ones down below.

They were somehow able to make do and keep the other clans at bay because of the existence of the orc king Belgarious. However, it didn't daunt the ogre clans whose ruler was one of the seven kings.

'If things continue like this… soon it would be our diluvian High orc's turn to be chased away from the western region' Berimond thought internally. It was not an unknown fact anymore that the race who have lost their territory and strength with time to be chased away from the western region by new and stronger races.

'Berigard do you still want to usurp Belgarious even while knowing that? If so then let me see what kind of future you want to bring to our race. Though everything will be for naught if you cannot even accomplish what you are setting out to do' Berimond looked at Berigard but did not speak out loud.

"Now off to the next issue regarding the ogres in the northern front. Berigard, this year you are to provide fifty thousand soldiers to general Berimond to defend against their invasion" Berirock surreptitiously glanced at the Orc King.

This issue was something that was ordered by Belgarious for him to raise when the time for the meeting came. Naturally, Berirock knew what his king was planning. Thus he couldn't help but marvel at the genius of his king.

With this move not only will the other party be unable to refuse the order because of the threat that the ogres represents, the army that Berigard has raised will also slowly dwindle in the battle against the ogres.

It was like killing two birds with one stone.

After Berirock finished reciting the order, all eyes were on Berigard who was yet to speak out. Silence descended around the table and was only broken when Berigard stood up.

"It is not a problem to lend my army to general Berimond. However, I ask you to wait for a while". Berigard's words made the onlookers frown, they couldn't help but turn towards Berirock who assumed an angry face.

"Are you telling that even while fully knowing about the threat the ogres represent?".

"I'm not saying anything about not sending my army, I'm simply asking for you to wait. In the first place, during the previous years, we all decided to share the burden send an equal portion of our army to the northern fronts".

"Why is that this year only I have to send my army to make up for that number?" Berigard did not lose his calm in front of Berirock's aggressive retort, he simply countered it by raising the decision they made collectively in the past meetings.