Since the tribe was shaken by the wave of reform, seven moon cycles had passed. With the participation of newborn orcs, production in the mines had reached full capacity, and the army had become stronger than before.
The changes experienced in the city of Nikonya were much larger and more violent. Although Godfrey's execution of the command echelon captured in the war drew great reaction, the people's new darling, Gulag, would manage to calm the events down.
The city had initially approached the shop opened by the orcs with reaction, and merchants wishing to do business were subjected to intense pressure. What people didn't know was that the people Gulag chose as operators were men of the Golden Leaf Merchant Guild sent by Dimitri.
After a while, when the enthusiasm created by the merchants flocking to the city for rare ores reflected on the business of all shops, people would break their prejudices. Regardless of the world, money had proven to be the tool that changes people the quickest.
Meanwhile, in the middle of a garden resembling a corner of paradise, the eyes of the old man listening to the strains of the harp were closed. Unlike the man sitting in his comfortable armchair, the young people standing a few steps away were waiting on foot.
"Master, we want to convey the latest news from Nikonya!"
The man, tucking the graying hair falling on his face behind his ears, signaled to continue with his hand.
"Young Master Godfrey is achieving a new success every passing day following the war. Nikonya is very close to becoming the largest of the trade cities."
Reaching for the crystal decanter on the table, the old man, rippling his gold-gilded robe, began to speak after filling his goblet.
"Since he is my only son, I unintentionally doted on him too much. When I sent him to the other end of the world, he made it a matter of pride at first, but it seems this defeat served him well. He rose stronger from where he fell; while carrying my blood in his veins, it couldn't have been otherwise in the first place!"
The old man was in high spirits, but one of those standing in front of him did not look that way at all.
"Master, I have a request. I want to punish the person who killed our brother."
The speaker was Eustace, and hatred was gushing from his eyes.
"This was a test Adhemar had to pass, but he failed. Apart from his own weakness, there is no one to blame!"
"If I don't take his revenge, I cannot rest even for a single day, master!"
The old man, looking into the eyes of his best student, continued his words with fury.
"I, Joffrey de Bouillion, sentence you to closed meditation for five years due to your grudge-filled attitude!"
In the Fellowship of Light Companions, the master-student relationship was determined by strict rules. The master had the authority to judge and punish those under him. Although the death penalty was almost never given for fear of not being able to add talented young people to their factions, the master had the authority even for this.
Joffrey, who cared more about the disruption of the order his son established than Adhemar's death, was showing with the decision he made that he had no tolerance.
While these were happening at the other end of the world, war machines were rapidly approaching Kasaphaydo's tribe. The guards did not rush forward; they preferred to wait calmly in their places. They had already received the news of the arrival of the war machines painted with the symbol of the core tribe.
When the duo consisting of a female and a male orc got out of the vehicle, they wandered their gazes carefully around. The tribe's guards and the orcs gathering at the sound were also watching them.
The short and scrawny male orc stood out at first glance, but no one could take their eyes off the female walking with a massive halberd in her hand. This weapon, which had giant axe blades on both sides, struck fear into hearts with its majesty.
"Ooh, look who I see; you finally got off your asses and came!"
As Nafız passed through the crowd with slow steps, Kitapkurdu ran to her side, recognizing his master's voice.
"Master, my sibling and I set off as soon as we left the presence of the ancestors. If we are late, we beg your forgiveness!"
Nafız, raising a single eyebrow at her student's words, continued to speak.
"What is the status of your other friends?"
"Master, upon your order, we came here urgently. Lady Dilber stated that she would take care of them."
Nafız, whose face soured upon hearing the name Dilber, cheered up a little when she saw that she wasn't the only person with these feelings.
"You found a weapon just right for yourself, what do you say? Shall we have a sparring match?"
Yarmagül, harassed by Dilber like every member of her sex, didn't know what to say. Just as she noticed that the crowd gathered around them was increasing moment by moment, she tried to speak by stammering.
"Ma'am, if I cause a person of your might to waste her time for me, I cannot forgive myself!"
Nafız burst into laughter, remembering her first meeting with the female orc speaking timidly.
"Well done, you have strengthened at an extraordinary speed in the time that has passed, and as a result, you have learned to gauge the power of the person standing in front of you."
"Yarmagül!"
The female orc, turning beet red at the last word she heard, began to walk towards the inside of the tribe with large strides.
"Dismissed! Everyone back to work!"
The crowd, gathered accompanied by the shouts of the orcs standing guard, was slowly dispersing. Nafız was proceeding to the chief's tent, taking her student with her.
"Your sister's weapon is dazzling; your father will lose his mind from jealousy when he sees it. Where is your grace, Kitapkurdu?"
Nafız, curious about the item her student obtained from the reward dungeon, asked her question without prolonging the conversation.
"Master, I don't know how to say this; you might think I've gone mad, but really, I am very confused too!"
Nafız, bored of Kitapkurdu beating around the bush, grabbed him by the collar, and her student started to speak.
"When the Goblin King died, a metal box appeared; when I wanted to take it, it turned into light and entered inside my head. Since then, very strange abilities have developed."
"Go on, give a few examples!"
"I think I can record everything I see inside my brain. When I want to remember, I just close my eyes and I can watch it again down to the finest detail."
Nafız got extremely excited.
"What about things you read? Can you remember them?"
"Yes, it's as if they are all written in my mind word for word."
Although the young orc couldn't figure out the change he experienced, Nafız could make a guess due to the experiences of her past life.
"We named you Kitapkurdu, but did we act too hastily? Look at you, you've literally become a computer!"
Kitapkurdu, whose mind was thoroughly confused after the words of his master laughing heartily, continued to walk silently beside her.
"I forbid you to explain the ability you obtained to anyone else, including your father. My guess is that you need to exert a tremendous effort every time you use your ability. You will not use your ability except for the books and recipes I will give you."
Although Kitapkurdu didn't take this barbarian woman very seriously at first, when she brought his sister to a near-death state with a single scratch, he believed she possessed high-level knowledge about alchemy. Now, the same person was saying she would give her books and recipes to him.
"Master, your secrets will be safe with me. I swear on my Orc honor!"
"They better be safe; such a smart orc comes into the world very rarely. Dying early would be a great waste!"
When Kitapkurdu, taking a deep breath, broke into a cold sweat, the chief's tent had entered their field of vision. The warrior orc standing guard at the door bowed respectfully and opened the leather door slightly, and those sitting inside turned their gazes to Nafız and her student.
"Please come in, I want to start the meeting!"
Alyon spoke quickly when he saw the duo who kept him waiting for quite a while. While Nafız took her usual place accompanied by stern looks, her student sat in the first empty spot he found.
Inside the tent, all high-level orcs of the core and the newly captured tribe were present.
"As I said before, you are the chieftain of the tribe, Kasaphaydo. This position was given to you because of your courage and your remaining loyal to the customs of your lineage."
Kasaphaydo, jumping to his feet following Alyon's words, gave his salute by hitting his chest twice after making a fist with his hand.
"Nafız, would you take over from here? We would like to hear the duties and the tribe's goals from you."
Nafız, looking at Alyon by raising a single eyebrow, began to speak without breaking her composure.
"The tribe's war chief is Sangre, and the logistics chief is Kitapkurdu. The lives and bodies of both are my property; their words are my words."
Everyone except the new chief was a member of the core tribe. Since they knew Nafız closely, they didn't make a sound. Kasaphaydo scanned his surroundings with furtive glances and concluded that speaking up wouldn't be very wise.
"Domuzkuyruk, you continue your duty as the chief of the core tribe. Regarding Miloş, everything I said before remains valid. I transferred his duties as war chief to him; you find a capable orc and appoint him to the logistics chiefdom."
Kasaphaydo was watching the female orc with amazement. Seeing her giving harsh orders to the core tribe chief as well, no question marks remained in his mind regarding her position in the hierarchy.
"Kasaphaydo, the commercial relations of the Tribe and Nikonya will be conducted through intermediaries we trust. While my student Sangre perfects the army in military terms, Kitapkurdu will organize production and the internal affairs of the tribe."
The new chief was trying to stand tall using all his will while being crushed under the gaze of the female orc.
"There is only one thing we want from you. To lead the first army of the Great Orc Empire in a manner worthy of its name. What do you say?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
While the voice of Kasaphaydo, shouting with the intense psychological pressure accumulating on him, rang inside the tribe, Nafız smiled and nodded her head.