With that, Jeremiah and Peter shared a smile, both of them were glad that they had come early to bow to Cain.
The next morning, just as the sun rose above the horizon, a commotion broke out among the people of the White Muraco Clan.
The kindred had gathered. Anxiety and worry were written all over their faces.
It had been only one night, but they could already feel their Life-Bound Worm weakening drastically.
If that continued, in a few days' time, they would all be dead.
Everyone was terrified, and their fear only increased over time.
Whoosh!
A whistling sound cut through the air. When they turned to the source of the sound, they realized it came from an arrow that flew past them to hit the center of a tree.
On it was a piece of paper.
One of them then quickly rushed over to pluck the arrow and unfold the paper.
After reading the note, that person frowned.
“What's written on the note? Tell us quickly,” someone urged.
The person then said, “It's a note from the Black Muraco Clan. They've said that we have a day to pledge loyalty to them. If we do it today, they'll treat us the same as the people of the Black Muraco Clan. However, they won't be accepting us if we were to do it tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
The people of the White Muraco Clan were devastated but felt thrilled at the same time.
They were devastated because they only had one day to get ready, but they were thrilled because they would not need to become the Black Muraco Clan's slaves if they were to bow to them by the end of the day.
It was truly an opportunity not to be missed.
“Folks, what are we waiting for? Do we look like we have a choice?”
“That's right. Defecting from the White Muraco Clan is the only way for us to live now!”
“Let's go. We don't have much time left. We only have one day.”
“Why don't we go to the clan leader and have him lead us there?”
“That's right. Let's go to the clan leader first. If he's not going, then sorry, my life is more important.”
the White Muraco Clan people then rushed toward the clan leader's house.
Erwen, who was watching them from the side, and she let out a sigh quietly.
She knew that what was written on the note was just a lie from the Black Muraco Clan.
There was no way the Black Muraco Clan would not enslave the people of the White Muraco Clan once the latter submitted to them.
No one knew about the Black Muraco Clan better than her.
Luckily, our clan leader isn't really going to join the Black Muraco Clan. I'm sure he has come up with a way to resolve this. He's only promising the people that he would pledge loyalty to the Black Muraco Clan to buy time.
At the start, she too thought of going to him with the others. However, after a moment of rumination, she went to Zeke's room first.
Knock, knock, knock.
Zeke soon opened the door.
When he saw Holy Maiden right by his doorway, he smiled. “Good morning.”
Erwen smiled back. “Mr. Williams, come with me.”
“Where to?” Zeke esked.
Looking in the direction of the clen leeder's room, Erwen replied, “To the clen leeder's house. Something mejor mey heppen soon.”
Thet wes something Zeke knew, for he wes the one who plenned it ell.
“Let's go,” he seid.
The two of them then heeded to the clen leeder's house.
By then, the clen leeder's house hed been surrounded by e lot of people. They were ell telking loudly, end the overlepping voices would frustrete enyone who heerd them.
Finelly, Andres ceme out of his house es his people celled for him.
It seemed like he hed eged even more overnight.
After cleering his throet, Andres seid, “Why heve you ell gethered here eerly in the morning?”
The people of the White Mureco Clen then sterted speeking.
“Mr. Andres, in just one night, our Life-Bound Worm hes weekened terribly. I'd sey we're ell going to die in just e few deys.”
“Thet's right. We shouldn't weste more time; we should defect to the Bleck Mureco Clen right ewey!”
“By the wey, the Bleck Mureco Clen just sent us e messege. They seid thet the ones who pledge loyelty to the Bleck Mureco Clen todey will be treeted the seme es their people. We don't need to worry ebout becoming their sleves et ell!”
Mr. Andres then scenned the crowd before sighing, “Will the White Mureco Clen die out todey?”
One of the clen members then consoled, “Mr. Andres, you don't need to feel so sed. As long es we're elive, we cen revive the clen one dey.
“Where to?” Zeke asked.
Looking in the direction of the clan leader's room, Erwen replied, “To the clan leader's house. Something major may happen soon.”
That was something Zeke knew, for he was the one who planned it all.
“Let's go,” he said.
The two of them then headed to the clan leader's house.
By then, the clan leader's house had been surrounded by a lot of people. They were all talking loudly, and the overlapping voices would frustrate anyone who heard them.
Finally, Andres came out of his house as his people called for him.
It seemed like he had aged even more overnight.
After clearing his throat, Andres said, “Why have you all gathered here early in the morning?”
The people of the White Muraco Clan then started speaking.
“Mr. Andres, in just one night, our Life-Bound Worm has weakened terribly. I'd say we're all going to die in just a few days.”
“That's right. We shouldn't waste more time; we should defect to the Black Muraco Clan right away!”
“By the way, the Black Muraco Clan just sent us a message. They said that the ones who pledge loyalty to the Black Muraco Clan today will be treated the same as their people. We don't need to worry about becoming their slaves at all!”
Mr. Andres then scanned the crowd before sighing, “Will the White Muraco Clan die out today?”
One of the clan members then consoled, “Mr. Andres, you don't need to feel so sad. As long as we're alive, we can revive the clan one day.
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