Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 331: Smoked meat

Chapter 331: Smoked meat

Mavius's words rippled through the tent like the tide, washing over the gathered nobles, officers, and priests with undeniable logic and the weight of divine justification. His arguments struck a chord with many, not only because they were grounded in the holy texts but because they also made sense from a pragmatic standpoint.

It cost them nothing to attempt what he suggested. Conversion was, after all, a gamble with low stakes and potentially high rewards. Should Virguth and his tribes accept the faith of the Five, the empire would gain a valuable foothold in the east possibly even an ally to creat chaos in their eastern frontier .

The murmurs of agreement grew louder, heads nodding as the various men in the tent exchanged glances. The priests, some begrudgingly, began to admit that this approach aligned with the gods' will as they understood it. 

Mavius turned his gaze toward Virguth, his piercing eyes locking onto the captured chieftain. The look was as sharp as a blade, carrying a silent yet unmistakable message:

"I am giving you a chance. Take it. This is the hand that might save you from the flames.

Virguth, still on his knees and flanked by guards, seemed to sense the weight of that stare. He straightened slightly, his beads clinking faintly as his head tilted upward to meet the emperor's gaze. Whether it was pride, defiance, or the dawning realization that this was his lifeline, the expression in his eyes shifted subtly.