The journey back to the Tuqluq Tribe felt far longer than Justin remembered.
When he had departed, he believed the mission would be simple.
Deliver the proposal.
Receive the acceptance.
Return with honor.
Instead...
He returned carrying humiliation.
Even now, the image of Varinder Vera standing before him refused to leave his mind.
Those calm eyes.
That overwhelming presence.
That absolute confidence.
For the first time in years...
Justin questioned whether he had underestimated the Vera Tribe.
Two days later...
The towering walls of the Tuqluq Tribe appeared before him.
Unlike Vera, Tuqluq resembled a small city.
Massive stone walls.
Endless rows of houses.
Disciplined warriors patrolling every street.
It was the pride of one of the strongest tribes in the Tribal Region.
Justin dismounted outside the chief's estate.
Before he could enter—
"Justin."
A familiar voice called out.
He immediately knelt.
"Young Master."
Ronnie Tuqluq approached with an arrogant smile.
Judging from his expression...
He had already imagined the outcome.
"Well?"
"When will Father receive the marriage agreement?"
Justin remained silent.
Ronnie's smile slowly disappeared.
"...What happened?"
Justin lowered his head.
"Chief Varinder refused."
The surrounding servants froze.
Ronnie's expression darkened.
"He refused?"
"...Yes."
"He also left a message."
"What message?"
Justin repeated every word.
Exactly as Varinder had spoken them.
By the time he finished...
The smile had completely vanished from Ronnie's face.
"A middle-ranked chief..."
"...threatened me?"
Justin remained silent.
"Come."
Without another word, Ronnie turned toward the chief's hall.
Lord Tuqluq sat quietly reviewing reports.
His expression remained calm as Ronnie and Justin entered.
"You have returned."
Justin immediately bowed.
"My Lord."
Lord Tuqluq looked toward him.
"Tell me."
Justin began recounting everything from the beginning.
He spoke truthfully.
He omitted nothing.
When he finished...
The hall became silent.
Lord Tuqluq did not become angry.
Instead...
He asked one simple question.
"When you entered Chief Varinder's hall..."
"...did you bow?"
Justin hesitated.
"...No."
Lord Tuqluq nodded.
"Did you greet him properly?"
"...No."
"Did you address him with the respect owed to another chief?"
Justin slowly lowered his head.
"...No."
Silence.
Then—
SLAP!
Justin collapsed to one knee.
His cheek burned.
Lord Tuqluq's voice echoed calmly.
"An envoy does not represent himself."
"He represents his tribe."
"When you forgot your manners..."
"You embarrassed Tuqluq."
Justin immediately lowered his head.
"This subordinate deserves punishment."
Lord Tuqluq said nothing.
Instead...
He turned toward Ronnie.
"And you."
Ronnie frowned.
"What exactly did you ask Justin to deliver?"
Ronnie answered confidently.
"I wished to take Ananya Vera as my tenth concubine."
The hall fell silent.
For a brief moment...
Lord Tuqluq simply stared at his son.
Then—
SLAP!
Ronnie staggered backwards.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He looked at his father in disbelief.
"...Father?"
Lord Tuqluq's eyes were colder than winter.
"You fool."
He slowly descended from his seat.
"Do you even know who Varinder Vera is?"
Ronnie clenched his fists.
"He is merely the chief of a middle-ranked tribe."
Lord Tuqluq closed his eyes.
For a moment...
He almost looked disappointed.
"When I first met Varinder..."
"He was only a boy."
"He had not yet founded Vera."
"He was accompanying Chief Cris Varien."
The elders quietly nodded.
They remembered those days.
Lord Tuqluq continued.
"Even then..."
"Everyone's eyes were drawn toward him."
"Not because of his talent."
"But because of his character."
"He listened more than he spoke."
"He respected his elders."
"He never abused his status."
Ronnie remained silent.
Lord Tuqluq looked directly into his son's eyes.
"Years later..."
"I heard he had abandoned his inheritance."
"I thought it was a foolish rumor."
"Until I investigated it myself."
His voice became softer.
"He willingly gave up becoming the next Chief of the Varien Tribe."
"He left behind power."
"Wealth."
"Status."
"And with only a handful of loyal companions..."
"...he built the Vera Tribe."
Lord Tuqluq slowly walked toward the window overlooking his city.
"Do you know why I respect him?"
Nobody answered.
"Because he proved something I never could."
He turned back.
"A great chief is not the one who inherits a tribe."
"A great chief is the one who creates one."
The entire hall remained silent.
Even the elders couldn't refute those words.
Lord Tuqluq looked at Ronnie once more.
"And you?"
"What have you created?"
Ronnie lowered his head.
No answer came.
"You inherited everything."
"But you have built nothing."
"You spend your days drinking."
"Hunting."
"And collecting women."
His disappointment was obvious.
"And yet..."
"You believed yourself worthy of Varinder's daughter?"
Another long silence followed.
Finally...
Lord Tuqluq sighed.
"You are not worthy."
Those four words struck Ronnie harder than the slap.
His fists trembled.
His face burned with shame.
Lord Tuqluq turned toward Justin.
"You will return tomorrow."
"You will apologize to Chief Varinder."
Justin bowed deeply.
"Yes, my Lord."
Then the chief looked back at Ronnie.
"As for you..."
"For one month..."
"You will not leave this estate."
"No wine."
"No hunting."
"No women."
"Use that time..."
"...to become someone worthy of calling yourself my son."
Outside the hall...
Ronnie walked in silence.
His father's words echoed endlessly inside his mind.
"You have built nothing."
"You are not worthy."
For a single moment...
He questioned himself.
Perhaps...
His father was right.
Then...
Another thought appeared.
Why?
Why did his father praise Varinder more than his own son?
Why was Varinder always the standard?
Why did everyone admire him?
The shame inside his heart slowly twisted.
It became resentment.
Then hatred.
He stopped walking.
His eyes slowly turned toward the western mountains.
"If Father won't defend my honor..."
"...I'll reclaim it myself."