Chapter 1284 - 860: Integrating Tendrils

Chapter 1284: Chapter 860: Integrating Tendrils

Inside the town conference room.

"...They’ve left,"

Mayor Wendell spoke heavily, breaking the silence, his voice carrying an enduring hoarseness.

"Thanks to the reputation of you Night Watchers, particularly Toru and Sela, we forced them to retreat; this might buy the town some breathing time."

He looked at Gertai: "Captain, we thank you and the Night Watcher brothers and sisters for standing in front of us. Without you, today..."

After expressing gratitude, the mayor took a deep breath, and his eyes became sharp.

"But this is definitely not a long-term plan! Those wolf cubs suffered such a loss, they won’t let it slide once they return! They will definitely embellish today’s events in their report."

"Say we turnips gathered to defy orders, refusing the Empire’s conscription—more importantly..."

He deliberately emphasized his tone, his gaze sweeping across everyone: "They will undoubtedly cite the Night Watchers’ ’interference’ as the core of the indictment!"

He had also been part of the military once, and understood these things all too well.

Especially the Night Watchers, already feared by many, any act of overstepping would touch the sensitive nerves of these forces, causing an excessive reaction.

He paused, surveying the table of kin and Night Watchers: "What time is it now? The Void is eroding our world, fronts everywhere are tense, the demand for Sentinels, for ’Pathfinding Pioneers’, is greater than ever!"

"They can’t recruit soldiers, can’t deliver results, the pressure will only cascade down. We’ve sparked ’resistance’ here, above they will inevitably take tougher measures to snuff out the spark once and for all!"

Unlike humans or other races, Beastmen inherently bear an animalistic ferocity, hence the name Beastmen.

It’s precisely this ferocity that makes their politics and certain actions somewhat rough.

This roughness may turn firm measures directly into a negative ’kill one to frighten a hundred’, outright massacre these tribes gathering to rebel.

Even if they haven’t truly rebelled, just merely resisted the conscription, and it’s an unreasonable conscription.

But given the current situation, even unreasonable conscription, daring to resist will still be forcefully suppressed, violently exterminated.

Not to mention, they are just the Rabbit Race, their numbers are countless, Rabbit Race settlements are everywhere.

A small rabbit town with but two or thirty thousand residents.

What’s more important is, what if such a lead ignites the courage of other Rabbit Race members?

Forced suppression and extermination seem almost inevitable.

Elder Elissa nervously twisted her fingers: "Then... how will they speak of the Night Watchers? The Night Watchers are protecting Toru and Sela’s homeland..."

"They will say the Night Watchers incite rebellion, interfere with Empire’s internal affairs, even attempt to split the Empire!"

Hop Copperbeard interjected, he was a Bronze Dwarf, during the past migration, his ancestors arrived here along with Silver Dwarves, having lived in the Beastman Empire for a long time, he was well aware of the high-level’s usual tactics.

"They will throw the mud viciously and quickly!"

The young Frey couldn’t help but ask urgently: "Then... will they immediately send the army to suppress us?"

"No," Captain Gertai’s deep and powerful voice resonated, as if a calming anchor amidst the stormy waves.

Everyone’s eyes instantly focused on him.

Compared to others.

Naturally, Gertai possessed greater insight, he was a Level Nine Night Watcher, having shifted his focus to other tasks later on, thus never reaching Level Ten.

He had been with the Night Watchers for a full eight years, seen more, understood more.

Compared to those confined within this small territory, having once grown alongside Kana and the newly formed Night Watchers, he understood the world’s situation and the status of each force better.

Simply put, he understood politics more, understood the political styles within various forces, various countries, and the personalities and thoughts of certain members.

"Why?" Wendell pursued, this was also the source of his concern.

Gertai’s gaze was steady, his explanation clear: "The reason lies in the ’Void’ you mentioned earlier. Now is not the usual time."

The Void invasion started more than two months ago and has persisted until now, and it won’t stop in the future, only escalating until reaching a certain point and suddenly erupting.

This is something every force is clearly aware of.

He raised a finger, covered in calluses.

"First: Reputation, in these past two months, the Night Watchers have gained great reputation and trust for their worldwide actions against the Void."

"Not just civilians like you have been saved, but also warriors and officers."

"As long as the Beastman Empire’s high brass isn’t blind or deaf, they know what Night Watcher’s support and resurrection promises mean to resisting the Void."

"Openly opposing the Night Watchers, especially for the ’matter’ of recruiting from a minor rabbit tribe, would seem extremely stupid and irresponsible, drawing condemnation from all over the Empire and even allies."

What wasn’t said is that Beastmen internally have many invisible allies of the Night Watchers and pro-Night Watcher factions.

Especially the frontline warriors have a high affinity for the Night Watchers.

Unjustified blame on the Night Watchers for something that’s wrong is like imposing an unfounded charge.

This would seriously draw dissatisfaction from internal and frontline warriors, unless one was truly out of their mind, otherwise, they wouldn’t do such a thing.