Lord Protector Novel

By then, the other team members were returning in succession.

No sooner had they come back than they sensed that the present situation wasn't quite right. Hostility hung thick in the air.

They all started whispering among themselves.

In the end, Hawkeye, who had been there from the very beginning, narrated the entire turn of events to them.

After learning the truth, they were in no hurry to hand in their spiritual water. Instead, they watched and waited.

They were all looking forward to knowing whether Megahead would continue being Decanus that day or the newcomer would end up replacing him as Decanus.

Closing the box of food, Megahead queried placidly, “Why are you declining my reward?”

“I don't need it. If I want to have meat, I'll exchange it myself with spiritual water,” Zeke replied.

“You don't have the right to trade for meat. Only a Decanus has the right to seek out the Chieftain and exchange for meat,” Megahead countered.

“If my memory serves, the sum of spiritual water I turned in has hit twenty drops. According to the rules, shouldn't I be replacing you as Decanus?” Zeke asserted.

Verily, his words were shocking to the core.

The instant his statement rang out, the gunfire blazed even hotter.

Everyone's hearts lodged in their throats.

They wondered about the kind of battle that would break out between a tyrant who had ruled over the territory for years and a warrior who was new to the place.

Snickering, Megahead stared straight into Zeke's eyes. “Are you sure you want to be a Decanus?”

Zeke nodded. “Yes, I'm sure.”

Following that, Megahead sighed. “I'm just afraid that you're not capable of occupying this position.”

“Why?” Zeke questioned.

Megahead started, “Being a Decanus is not as incredible as you see on the surface. When it comes to the higher-ups, I need to maintain a good relationship with the Chieftain, lest he target my team members. Externally, I've got to balance the forces of other Contubernia, lest any one Contubernium is overly strong and hurts my team members. And internally, I must have every team member submit to me willingly. Can you do all this?”

“Of course.”

Megahead guffawed. “Admittedly, you fulfill the last requirement since your relationship with the other team members is indeed chummy. You've only arrived a while ago, but you've won two people over. Let's talk about the second requirement. You don't even know where the Chieftain is. How can you maintain a good relationship with him? Then, there are the forces of other Contubernia. Are you aware of their true capabilities? And how are you going to balance things? In my opinion, you're only good on paper. Trust me when I say you're not suited to be a Decanus.”

At the end of his patience, Zeke smacked the man on the back of the head. “How long-winded! Since I want to become a Decanus, I naturally have that capability. You've got no right to criticize me endlessly.”

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Whoa! He's really domineering. Megahead was merely advising him, but he sent the man flying with a strike. How reckless, resolute, and... foolish!