"Sunflower? What are you guys doing?"
Eric jumped down from Arthur’s back. Not daring to transform into human form to put on clothes in front of so many strangers, he kept his little wolf form and looked up at Sunflower.
Behind Sunflower was a group of Tiger tribe warriors; they looked at Arthur and Eric with strange eyes. When they heard this little wolf could even call their leader’s name, they simultaneously focused their gaze on the kid.
Sunflower recognized him as the Little Patriarch of the Hadu tribe, and a smile appeared on his angular face:
"It’s you, Little Patriarch. Just in time, we are discussing matters, haven’t decided yet."
Max conveniently picked Eric up, placing him on his lap: "We were hunting here and happened to meet the Tiger tribe warriors and these Rabbit beastmen."
Dozens of Rabbit beastmen huddled together, shrinking back and trembling all over.
Eric glanced at them, a guess already forming in his mind.
The expressions of the Tiger tribe warriors weren’t much better; everyone’s face was dark, sitting there without saying a word.
The atmosphere was a bit heavy, but it didn’t look like a conflict had occurred with the Snow Wolf people, which made Eric a bit confused.
Sunflower sighed, wanting to speak but stopping, eventually remaining silent.
Eric saw his awkward expression clearly. Not knowing what had happened, he turned his head to look at his own tribe members.
Grass’s expression behind him was cold as ice, and the others looked very unpleasant too. Michael forced a smile at him, saying:
"We were just discussing how much food and magic cores to use to exchange for these Rabbit beastmen."
This sentence made Eric even more suspicious: "Huh?"
What was this situation, using food and magic cores to exchange for... beastmen?
In his mind, he immediately recalled what Max had said, that the Golden Kingdom had opened up slavery, and those weak beastmen dependent on the kingdom gradually became slaves...
This scene before his eyes, could it be that Sunflower and the Tiger tribe warriors were chasing these Rabbit beastmen?
Eric looked around; there were at least fifty or sixty Tiger tribe warriors. Even the Hadu tribe didn’t have that many warriors, and most weren’t their match. Catching these tiny rabbits didn’t need so many warriors; it was truly using a cleaver to kill a chicken.
He swept a pitying gaze over the bunch of rabbits, then turned back to ask Sunflower with his skepticism:
"Can they be exchanged? If you only bring things back, won’t the kingdom cause trouble for you?"
Sunflower sighed, still wearing that difficult expression. He opened his mouth, his wheat-colored cheeks flushing red from suppression, not knowing what to say.
He was in a difficult position, and the group of Tiger tribe warriors sitting behind him were also in a difficult position. Finally, a tall warrior couldn’t bear it anymore, slamming his hand heavily on the ground, instantly sending grass and soil flying.
"Those traitors close to humans in the kingdom even incited the King to sell beastmen slaves! Selling to humans, who knows how they will be treated? Before, none of the cubs stolen by humans returned alive! Now we have to personally deliver beastmen into human hands!"
"Clitus!" Sunflower frowned, shouting.
Regardless, their Tiger tribe were people of the kingdom; they couldn’t say such words in front of the Snow Wolf people.
"Sell to humans?" Eric widened his eyes in surprise.
Beastmen and humans, although not having enmity, were full of animosity.
Initially, when they first picked up Evan and Arthur, the tribe members actually didn’t like them at all. Only out of respect for Eric did they not chase them away.
The root cause was that, even in a place full of dangers like the Fantasy Dream Continent, there were always human mercenary groups unafraid of death coming for adventure.
Those with bad intentions would sneak around the territories of beastmen tribes, patiently hiding, taking advantage of moments when they were careless to steal cubs.
They didn’t dare to provoke large beast tribes like the Tiger, Golden Lion, or Bear tribes, but other beastmen tribes suffered disaster.
Although the Snow Wolf people had never had cubs stolen by humans, beastman cubs were so precious. Each tribe only had a few children, treated like the apples of their eyes, always living in fear of being stolen. Therefore, they naturally didn’t have any good impressions of humans.
All races on the Fantasy Dream Continent, including the Elves, extremely hated this action of humans, which was why they guarded the coastline strictly.
It was just that previously the Elves guarded everything, but now there was the Golden Kingdom of equal strength, so even the coastline needed to be clearly divided. Just like that, the intermediate area between the two forces easily developed loopholes for various reasons.
This gray area wasn’t small; for example, the last time Eric went to the sea to refine salt, he had chosen such a place.
Now it was great; human mercenary groups using all sorts of methods to sneak into the Fantasy Dream Continent were already hard to guard against, and the Golden Kingdom even intended to sell their own kind to humans?
What kind of trick was this? Eric finally understood why Leo’s mother rebelled and won the position of Queen.
Likely, besides factional disputes, this slave trading matter had significantly agitated the beastmen of the royal clan, allowing Leo’s mother to successfully overthrow the incumbent King.
This matter, barring any surprises, would soon reach the ears of all beastmen on the continent. After all, with the Ox-Head tribe as an information transit station, everyone could exchange news.
The Spring Market this year, the Hadu tribe didn’t participate because they were busy reclaiming wasteland at the time, but most other beastmen on the continent would go. They went not only to trade but also to take the opportunity to see if other tribes had any changes.
The Golden Kingdom treating their own kind as slaves, presumably other beastmen had long been dissatisfied with them. Truly walking into a dead end by themselves. Also didn’t know how such a leader built the Golden Kingdom.
Eric sighed for this stupid King and his faction. Since ancient times, there were plenty of such examples; he just wasn’t clear which beastmen were playing the role of treacherous officials.
Being shouted at by Sunflower, Clitus sat back resentfully, but indignation remained on his face.
Their Tiger tribe had always been one of the most excellent tribes in the beastmen world; how could they reach the state of having to resign themselves to being henchmen, personally capturing weak beastmen to be slaves and goods?
They despised this matter the most, but unfortunately...
A female Tiger warrior sighed: "We didn’t want to either; it’s just that the Tiger tribe is now warriors of the kingdom, with no way to defy orders from superiors."
Speaking of this, a trace of pain appeared on Sunflower’s face. He used to be one of the strongest warriors of the Tiger tribe, but now...
"Although giving me the title of General, in the end, they make me lead my tribesmen to chase weak beastmen to be slaves. Also don’t know if our choice back then was truly wrong." His voice went slightly hoarse.
Eric remained silent, not knowing what to say.
Beastmen, even after establishing a kingdom, were still so straightforward. They could say these words even to the Snow Wolf people. If it were humans, they probably wouldn’t hand the handle of the knife to others like this themselves.
Beastmen straight as a horse’s gut really didn’t know how to do shady things. Also didn’t know how those crooked sprouts like the Black Wolf tribe grew up. Eric suddenly thought of the Black Wolf group chased out of the Red Grass tribe.
Actually speaking, the Black Wolf tribe was more suitable for the current kingdom; after all, their hearts were equally dark.