Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3987

Chapter 3987: Outlaws (Part 4)

"I’ll go check on our patients." Tista cleared her throat in embarrassment. "They all lost consciousness outside the Starry Lagoon village, and when they wake up, they’ll have no idea where they are and what happened to them."

"Great idea." Quylla stood up and followed Tista.

Kamila and Morok left too, leaving only Solus and Lith in the room with Salaark.

’I want to check on the refugees as well, but I can feel that Lith has something more to ask.’ Solus thought.

"Grandma, can I ask you a question?" Lith said.

"Of course, Featherling." She nodded.

"You said that the yellow-robed riders are an outlaw tribe that turned to crime to make a living, yet I find it hard to believe that kind of people can thrive under your rule. To be honest, I’m shocked that a tribe like that is allowed to exist in the first place."

"You think too highly of me, Featherling." She chuckled. "The Blood Desert is the largest country on Garlen, and its people have been nomads long before my arrival. I have no way to keep every nook and cranny of the Desert in check at all times.

"Also, I couldn’t just kill anyone who refused to offer me their loyalty. It would have been pointlessly cruel and unreasonable. I took under my wing those who willingly submitted, hoping that the others would join them after witnessing how much their neighbors prospered.

"I was mostly right. I led by example like Valeron the First did, and never needed to resort to violence except in self-defense. More and more tribes asked to become part of my Blood Desert until we reached the point you see today.

"Yet not everyone did. Some tribes stubbornly clung to their traditions and independence, and I let them. Others went rogue, and I had to exterminate their armed forces whenever they threatened my people."

"So, you let their villages live?" Solus didn’t know whether to be upset or happy by Salaark’s generosity.

"Outlaws or not, I won’t touch civilians, children, or elders who had no voice in how the tribal leaders conducted their business." The Overlord nodded. "I always offered them to turn a new leaf, and some did.

"When they don’t, they either get destroyed by another outlaw tribe or go back to their old ways. On top of that, there are plenty of people willing to fill the ranks of such tribes. Criminals from the neighboring countries need a place to stay after crossing the border.

"Also, the criminals from my tribes who manage to escape capture join the outlaws as well. That and the support that the rogue tribes receive from my enemies in order to destabilize my country allow the outlaws to live a good life, if they know their place."

"It all makes sense, Grandma, except for one thing." Lith paused to stare her in the eyes. "These guys are no Organization or Thrud. They are not even at Hatorne’s level. They are just thugs."

"Like I would let anyone reach that threat level inside my country." Salaark snorted.

"Which leads us to my point." Lith nodded. "I refuse to believe that you don’t have at least a rough estimate of the number and the position of the various outlaw tribes. Especially when they expose themselves to attack like they did today."

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