Chapter 227

"Lei Meng, don't let those fish-people escape!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Thus, Lei Meng led Mi Gen and the others swiftly in pursuit of Lada.

Just one minute later, the once noisy and chaotic battlefield became utterly empty.

Only Toka and the surviving Buwa warriors stared at each other atop the wall.

Only after a moment did they realize: "We… we won? We won!"

"That's right! We repelled the invaders—our Buwa tribe has won!"

"We won! Waaah, the Sea God has blessed us—we won!"

Many Buwa fish-people wept with joy.

Toka, amid the cheers of his subordinates, finally came to his senses; though he too wanted to cheer wildly.

But as their leader, he remembered what he must do next, and turned his gaze toward Airen outside the city.

He immediately dashed down the wall and sprinted toward the outside.

"Lord Gervas, thank you for saving us—you are our great benefactor of the Buwa tribe!" Toka exclaimed, overcome with emotion as he approached.

Of course, to Gervas, Toka's words were nothing but a jumble of incomprehensible squawks!

"Gervas, my father says he is deeply grateful you saved our entire Buwa tribe—you are our great benefactor!"

Fortunately, Waga translated the rest, allowing Gervas to communicate with Toka.

Gervas, of course, replied with one "good friend" after another, using the same soothing words he'd used for Waga to comfort Toka.

Hearing Gervas casually call him "good friend," Toka grew even more emotional.

Gervas was unquestionably the noblest being Toka had ever encountered in his decades of life.

With just those words, the debt of gratitude he owed this "good friend" Gervas would never be repaid in this lifetime.

After a brief conversation, Lei Meng and the knights returned in due time.

As expected, they had bound Lada tightly and brought him back.

"Lada! This… this…" Toka was already overwhelmed by victory!

Now, seeing Lada captured, his body trembled uncontrollably.

Gervas smiled faintly. "Toká, Waga and I are good friends, you and I are good friends, and the Buwa tribe and I are good friends too—so helping a good friend resolve trouble is what a good friend must do!"

"Now, I hand this foul fish-man over to you—deal with him as you see fit!"

After Waga translated, Toka's eyes welled up, and he launched into another torrent of excited squawks at Gervas.

Then, Toka walked up to Lada.

"Lada, never thought this would happen, did you? Your plot has been crushed—victory belongs to the Buwa tribe!"

"Toká, you've allied with the human race? Don't get cocky! Have you forgotten the rumors from the powerful northern kingdoms? Humans are an omen of misfortune—any sea folk who associate with them will be cursed and meet a terrible end!" Lada's eyes burned with hatred and resentment.

Toka sneered. "Omen of misfortune? I don't know other humans—but this human, Gervas? The Buwa tribe's meeting him is our fortune, a blessing bestowed by the Sea God!"

"Since meeting Gervas, our Buwa tribe has grown wealthy and strong—and now, when these traitorous bandits among our own kind sought to destroy us, it was Gervas who saved us!"

"So this is no curse—it is our fortune. From now on, I, Toka, will ensure this fortune endures forever!"

"As for you—I will execute you now. Your banditry is unforgivable!"

Thus, Lada was executed by the Buwa tribe, filled with rage and despair.

The method was brutal: he was dragged into the sea, where a massive shark—presumably tamed by the Buwa—bit off his head in one gulp.

After disposing of Lada, the Buwa warmly welcomed Gervas into their camp, summoning women and children to prepare food and entertain Gervas and his party.

The Buwa soldiers and children stood cautiously beside Iron Bear and his men, gazing at them with deep awe.

Such powerful warriors filled them with a sense of reverence.

"Gervas, please accept this—without you, our Buwa tribe would have been annihilated. You are the great benefactor of us all. This honor—the position of our tribe's highest elder—is the only thing we can offer in return!"

"Alright then—I won't refuse!"

After a brief show of reluctance, Gervas accepted.

It turned out Toka, to repay Gervas's great favor, had decided to appoint him as the Buwa tribe's supreme elder.

With this title, Gervas now held status equal to Toka's within the Buwa tribe.

Everyone in the tribe, except Toka, must show Gervas utmost respect and obey his commands.

Then, Toka led the tribe's shaman before the Sea God statue to pray, and placed a bone staff adorned with countless pearls into Gervas's hands.

This staff was the symbol of the Buwa supreme elder's authority, seemingly carved from the bone of some sea beast.

When Gervas sensed it, he confirmed it contained magical energy—making it nearly impossible for ordinary fish-people to counterfeit.

After the ceremony, Toka still wished to host a grand feast of thanks, but Gervas had come to the ocean depths for more than seafood.

He needed to find a way to strengthen the Buwa tribe—otherwise, even after punishing Lada, others like Tuidá, Bōdá, Mádá, or Gāodá would surely rise in his place.

"Toká, do you have any plans for the future?"

"Plans? Gervas, we intend to continue trading with you, acquire more resources, and recruit more wandering fish-people to grow our numbers!" Toka now clearly understood the need to strengthen the tribe.

But Gervas shook his head. "Toká, your goal is good—but your method is far too slow."

"Th-this is slow?" Toka scratched a small fin on his head, embarrassed.

"Yes, it's very slow. Toká, do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you! Gervas, you saved our Buwa tribe—and now, under the Sea God's witness, you've become our supreme elder, the highest-ranking person in the tribe after me!" Toka did not hesitate.

Moreover, granting Gervas this title before the Sea God's statue proved Toka sincerely intended him to hold this position.

"Good. Then I will now tell you a way to rapidly strengthen your tribe…"