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Chapter 317: 317
The chief, wiping sweat from his brow, finally straightened himself, though his hands were still trembling. "We need to gather the council and decide quickly. This isn’t a simple matter. If we refuse, we could be wiped out by the Emperor’s forces, but if we accept... we’re marching our people into a war we barely understand, If we are to do that at least they should have a say in it"
Togg nodded. "But if what Gurnak said is true, we’re already at war. That creature is just the beginning. We’ve lost ratmen to it already without knowing it." His eyes flicked to the rest of the gathered leaders. "We can’t let that continue."
One of the older ratmen, his whiskers gray and eyes weary, spoke up. "A war above or a slow death below... those are the choices we’re left with. If we fight with the Emperor’s army, maybe we’ll have a chance to save our people. At least they offer us a way out."
The chief sighed deeply, his eyes scanning the room, seeking answers. "And what if we’re used as fodder? What if our people are sent to the frontlines, only to be sacrificed?"
The Chief’s words paused everyone as that was a fear they all had deep in their mind once they heard the order, they just didn’t want to entertain the thought but it was now brought up by the chief.
The chief, realizing he had brought everyone’s mood down, let out a breath before speaking. "I gave us two weeks because that’s enough time to confirm whether Gurnak’s words are true or not. We’ve only heard about these creatures from him and haven’t seen them with our own eyes." 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
"What if we can deal with this threat on our own, without the goblins’ help? The emperor’s offer may seem like a saving grace, but our history with the goblins should be enough for us to question the emperor’s sudden interest in our people."
Togg nodded slowly, absorbing the chief’s words. The room remained silent, the weight of the chief’s concerns settling heavily on everyone’s shoulders. The fear of being used as mere cannon fodder was now out in the open, a thought they had all been avoiding.
One of the younger council members, a wiry ratman with sharp eyes, spoke up, his voice hesitant but clear. "But Chief, if Gurnak’s warning is true, and these creatures are already in our tunnels, we might be running out of time. Can we afford to risk waiting just to confirm his words?"
The chief met his gaze. "I understand your concern, but we cannot rush into this without knowing all the facts. Two weeks is all I ask—enough time to send out scouts and gather information. If we can handle this threat ourselves, we may avoid the need for outside help altogether."
An older ratwoman, who had been quietly listening, suddenly chimed in, her voice raspy with age but filled with wisdom. "The chief is right. We’ve survived for generations down here, away from the surface. Trusting the goblins has never been in our best interest, and I doubt the emperor’s intentions are any more noble. If we can handle this on our own, it would be best to stay out of the surface dwellers’ war."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, though a few still looked unsure.
Togg glanced around, noticing the uncertainty still lingering. "We should prepare for both outcomes. If we find we can’t handle this threat alone, we must be ready to accept the emperor’s offer. The creatures Gurnak mentioned could already be multiplying, and if they’re as dangerous as he claims, we won’t stand a chance unprepared."
The chief rubbed his temples, the pressure of leadership clearly weighing on him. "Agreed. We will send out scouts immediately to confirm Gurnak’s story. In the meantime, we’ll begin bolstering our defenses. If the worst comes to pass, we’ll need to be ready to protect our people, whether we fight these creatures alone or alongside the emperor’s forces."
The younger ratman spoke again, his tone a bit hesitant this time. "In the slim chance that we are able to deal with this threat, what are we to do about the emperor’s order?"
Everyone turned to look at the chief, who sighed. "No need to focus on that for now, but I want you all to know this: I believe dealing with this threat on our own will grant us more freedom than we ever thought possible with the goblins."
The ratmen were confused at the chief’s word who shook his head "I won’t explain much but I will be leaving you all with a question, why would the ever produful goblins specifically a tower master make his way to the undergound to negotiate with ratmen, with all the power they have over us and how they have been using their power, why didn’t they do the same this time around?"
The room fell silent as the chief’s question hung in the air. The ratmen exchanged glances, trying to make sense of his words. The younger ratman, still standing, furrowed his brow in thought. "You mean... they could have forced us into this? Like they always do?"
The chief nodded. "Exactly. The goblins have never shown us any mercy, yet this time, they’re offering us tools, weapons, and a chance to leave the underground. It’s not out of the goodness of their hearts. There’s more at play here."
An older ratman, scarred from years of survival in the tunnels, grunted. "You think they need us. That’s why they came down here with their fancy speeches and emperor’s orders. They’re afraid of whatever this threat is."
The chief smiled grimly. "Precisely. The goblins are powerful, but something has them on edge, enough that they’re seeking our help instead of forcing us. That means we have leverage. If we deal with this threat on our own, we might be able to negotiate from a position of strength for the first time in our history."
A ripple of realization spread through the group. The ratmen, used to being at the mercy of the goblins, had never considered the possibility that they could hold any power over their oppressors.
"But Chief," another council member spoke, voice cautious, "what if we can’t handle it? What if Gurnak is right, and these creatures are too strong for us?"
The chief’s expression hardened. "Then we make a choice. Either we fight alongside the emperor’s forces and risk being used as fodder, or we gamble on our own strength and survival. But I’ll tell you this: the goblins fear these creatures, and if they fear them, that means they’re desperate. And desperation makes them vulnerable."
The room filled with quiet murmurs as the council members processed the chief’s words. For the first time in a long while, a spark of hope and determination flickered in their eyes.
Togg stepped forward, his voice steady. "I say we take the chance. Let’s send out the scouts and find out what we’re up against. If we can deal with this ourselves, we might be able to change our future."
The chief nodded approvingly. "That’s the spirit. We have two weeks, and in that time, we’ll gather as much information as we can. Whether we face this threat alone or with the emperor’s army, we’ll be ready."
To his amazement, Lavderh sank into the earth as if it were water. Vaegur, taken aback by this, was even more surprised when the carriage "swam" underground, only to emerge in a well-dug tunnel.
The carriage was enormous for the tunnel, but the two gods made sure that was no longer a problem. The tunnel would always expand just enough for the carriage to pass through, then shrink back to its original size once they had passed.
Inside the carriage, Ikenga and Keles were playing a game of chess, which Ikenga had introduced to Keles. Initially, Keles played to kill her boredom, but soon she found herself enjoying it.
As Keles made her move, she said, "I sense a lot of souls. We are getting close to meeting the ratmen."
Ikenga nodded absentmindedly, his focus still on the chessboard. "Have you blessed Lavderh with your gift yet? It’ll be a problem if there’s a commotion with the ratmen."
"Already ahead of you, brother," Keles replied, watching as Ikenga made his move.
Through the sight of a marked ratman, Keles and Ikenga had become aware of the civilization of ratmen living right beneath their feet.
The existence of these ratmen coincided with their goal in this world, making them their next destination. Soon, the carriage brought them near the settlement, where ratmen could now be seen going about their daily activities.
The tunnel stretched endlessly before them, dark and damp, yet the carriage moved silently, invisible to the eyes of the ratmen and any creatures lurking in the underground. Keles’s blessing had veiled it, like a wisp of a soul, passing through without stirring the air.
"Their civilization is intriguing, isn’t it?" Ikenga said "They are Just beginning to touch the surface of a system different from that of Mana. I wonder if they realize the potential of what they’ve discovered."
