Just then, two rat-like phantoms ripped through the depths of Diablo's mind. They were two manifested Ratman souls, their grayish-blue fur shimmering with a faint glow, their sharp fangs glinting coldly in the fissure of his consciousness.
Wielding swords and shields, they fought fiercely, the crisp clang of metal on metal echoing endlessly through the corridors of his mind.
The Ratman on the left brandished a flame-wreathed Longsword. With every slash, its blade plowed a scorched trail across his neural synapses, and its scarlet pupils roiled with violent fire:
"That damned human Lord! He snapped the Bakadi Leader's neck! He slaughtered the Warriors of the Poison Arrow Tribe like they were ants!"
Its bare claws stomped hard on the corridor of his consciousness, sending out sparks that made the air SIZZLE.
"Our brethren are struggling in the bloody waters of hell!"
"Can't you smell the stench of blood?"
"So we must tear out that human Lord's throat and offer his heart to our fallen brothers!"
The words had barely faded when the smaller figure on the right immediately raised a rune-etched Round Shield to block. An icy-blue glow burst from the shield's edge. The hand gripping its short blade trembled slightly, but its voice was laced with stubborn rationality:
"Hah?"
"Fight to the death?"
"Even the Bakadi Leader was no match for him. What do you think you can do?"
"You should be thinking more about the remaining members of the Poison Arrow Tribe… They've lost the power to protect themselves. You must become their new protector!"
"This human Lord before us, or rather, this Divine Chosen Lord—the fact he didn't kill you means he needs you!"
"This is an opportunity!"
"A chance for the Poison Arrow Tribe to survive the coming disaster!"
"And maybe even… become the most powerful super Ratman Tribe in the Northern Forest!"
The two figures dodged and weaved between his neural synapses, showering Diablo's conscious mind with sparks and ice crystals. Their debate was like a coiled serpent, burrowing madly through the folds of his brain, tearing every crevice of decision into a battlefield.
"Enough!"
"Both of you, stop!"
"I've already made my decision!"
Diablo's consciousness trembled violently, and the two rat-like phantoms froze in mid-air.
Their hunched backs turned in unison toward the core of his consciousness. Four sharp claws scratched at the void as they hissed in one voice, a sound like scraping metal.
"What do you plan to do?"
Diablo ignored the phantoms roiling in his mind. Instead, he turned his scarlet eyes toward the shadows of the cell, staring at the human figure leaning against the stone bed.
At that moment, Qin Feng was twirling the Beast Tooth Necklace with the Bone Whistle tied to it between his fingers. The corner of his mouth held a half-smile, and the Moonlight filtering through a crack in the stone wall happened to brush across the dried bloodstains on the sole of his boot.
A low growl rumbled in the Ratman's throat. His claws dug unconsciously into his palms, making a soft scraping sound against the damp straw.
"Lord, I can tell you all the information I know. I can even become your claws and fangs, fighting for your power."
"But you must help my brethren from the Ratman Tribe that raised me."
"To resist a group of enemies that are about to attack."
Hearing this, the Bone Whistle between Qin Feng's fingers spun a silver arc in the Moonlight as he suddenly let out a low chuckle.
The casual sound of amusement was enough to send the damp-loving insects in the stone cracks SCUTTLING away.
'Interesting!'
'As my Riding and Cutting captive!'
'This guy actually thinks he's in a position to negotiate with me, his master?'
'A Heroic Unit?'
'But the system didn't mark him as one… Could he be a nascent hero, one that hasn't awakened yet?'
Qin Feng didn't dwell on it. His territory was still in the development phase, and he was severely short on manpower. Not to mention, he had just accidentally lost a precious villager unit, making his already strained labor force even more stretched.
So, for ready-to-use, free Black Slave labor like these "Ratman Warriors"...
...there was really no reason to refuse.
"Alright."
"I can agree to your terms."
"But on one condition: the Ratman Tribe you speak of must be willing to bow their heads and submit."
"To become my subjects."
Hearing this, the tension in Diablo's nerves suddenly eased.
He had been worried that this human Lord would look down on the Ratman Tribe he represented, and that he would have to rack his brains to find a bargaining chip of sufficient weight to persuade him.
He never expected the man to agree so decisively, as if he had secretly planned to subdue the Poison Arrow Tribe all along.
"No problem."
"I will persuade my kin to let go of their resentment for what you have done, Lord, and to come under your command."
Qin Feng's gaze sharpened, and he looked directly at him.
"Diablo."
"Watch your words."
"I have never actively attacked your people. On the contrary, it was you who ambushed my territory in the dead of night, attempting to slaughter my subjects."
At these words, Diablo's throat tightened, and he was at a loss for words.
'Right…'
'He has a point…'
'We were the ones who were the aggressors, trying to bully the weak…'
'We just happened to kick an iron plate, and now we've ended up shooting ourselves in the foot…'
He lowered his head, a little humbled.
"My apologies, Lord. It was a slip of the tongue. I hope you can forgive me."
Qin Feng gave a light wave of his hand.
"It's fine."
Then, his tone suddenly shifted.
"However, your line of thinking isn't wrong."
"I did just kill the current leader of your Poison Arrow Tribe and take down several of its members. That act will certainly provoke hostility from the rest of the tribe."
"You want to persuade them to set aside their hatred, switch to my side, and even serve me."