From Slave to King: My Rebate System Built Me a Kingdom With Beauties!-Chapter 205: Borg Marked! [FIXED!]

Maui and Shava stood in the main hall of Byung’s settlement, the tension between them palpable but purposeful. Maps were spread across the table before them, showing the territories between here and Borg’s stronghold.

"We need to move quickly," Maui said, her finger tracing the route on the map. "Every day we wait gives Borg more time to solidify his position."

Shava nodded, her expression grim. "The marriage is close. Once those vows are spoken..." She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to.

"Then we agree," Maui stated, meeting Shava’s eyes directly. "Borg has to be stopped, and sooner would be better than later. We can’t afford to wait."

"Yes," Shava said quietly. "If we could do this—if we could remove Borg from power—I would become the single ruler of that territory."

Maui saw the strategic value immediately. "That would help tremendously in our search for Byung. We could use more manpower without the constant fear of being attacked by your orcs. We could become allies rather than threats."

"Exactly," Shava confirmed. "This would allow you to focus fully on searching for Byung instead of dividing resources between defense and search efforts. I could commit warriors, scouts, resources—whatever you need."

Maui was silent for a moment, weighing everything. There was a chance that what Gribnox had told them was just a dream, just a child experiencing his first lucid dreaming. The goblin had ridden here in panic, speaking of Grimgor’s warnings about Byung being trapped somewhere white and cold.

But her gut feeling told her otherwise. The details had been too specific, too vivid.

She wasn’t going to let anything happen to him. Not while she still drew breath.

"We do this now," Maui decided firmly. "Today. We waste no more time."

She had already wasted no time in the hours since making this decision. She’d assembled a force—a strong army of orcs from the Stonehide tribe, seasoned warriors who had proven themselves in countless battles.

However, it wasn’t to join them in battle but to establish a perimeter outside of this place so there would be no surprises.

And she knew Grishka’s presence would be enough to sway the orcs on the other side. The Chieftess was a living legend, feared and respected across all orc territories. Many of Borg’s warriors would have heard the stories. Seeing her arrive might end this with far less bloodshed than a prolonged siege.

Shava understood perfectly what needed to be done. This was her chance to make amends for her cowardice, her silence when it mattered most.

"I vow to be loyal to you going forward, Maui," Shava said formally, placing her fist over her heart in the traditional oath gesture. "To Byung’s settlement, to your causes. This would mean a formal treaty would be established the moment Borg falls and I take leadership."

"An alliance," Maui repeated, testing the word. It would be the first formal treaty between Byung’s settlement and a major orc territory.

"Thank you," Shava said quietly, genuine gratitude warming her voice. "Thank you for your help with this. I know I don’t deserve—"

"Stop," Maui cut her off sharply. "I already told you—I’m not doing this for you, Shava."

The words hit like a slap. Shava paused, then asked hesitantly, "Is it... is it for Kragg?"

Maui didn’t respond immediately. She stood there, her jaw clenched, her hands gripping the edge of the table. But the rage that flashed in her green eyes—raw, burning fury mixed with grief—told Shava everything she needed to know.

Yes, this was for Kragg. For justice. For the murdered goblins. For everything Borg represented that needed to be destroyed.

"Gather your things," Maui finally said. "We leave within the hour."

---

In the courtyard, Naruz approached Maui as she was organizing supplies.

"I should come with you," Naruz said firmly. "You’ll need every capable fighter."

Maui shook her head without hesitation. "You’re staying here, Naruz. You and all the other goblins." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"But Maui—"

"No arguments," she cut him off. "Naruz, listen to me. The goblins have lost enough to orc violence already. Too many have died in raids, in conflicts they never asked for. I won’t risk more goblin lives in what is essentially orc business."

Naruz understood the wisdom in her words. "You’re right."

"This is something the orcs know is their business to settle," Maui continued. "Borg is an orc problem that requires an orc solution. The goblins stay here, safe."

She looked around at the settlement. "Besides, this place needs defending while we’re gone."

Naruz nodded. "Then we’ll hold the settlement. We won’t let it fall."

---

Near the stables, Grishka stood with her four honor guards, checking their weapons. Maui approached them, and Grishka immediately raised an eyebrow in silent question, gesturing broadly at the assembled Stonehide warriors.

The Chieftess pointed at herself and her four guards with clear confusion. She held up six fingers, then made a sweeping gesture toward Borg’s direction, followed by a crushing motion with her fist. Her meaning was clear: "Why do we need so many warriors when the three of us could overrun Borg’s entire territory ourselves?" This was the case as they needed to stay alive long enough to challenge him for leadership

"The army stays here to protect the settlement," Maui explained. "It’s just going to be you, your four guards, Shava, and myself. Seven total."

Grishka’s expression shifted to deeper confusion. She gestured questioningly—if they weren’t taking the army, why assemble it at all?

"Because I wanted Borg’s spies to see it," Maui said with a slight smile. "I wanted word to reach him that we have overwhelming force available. But we’re not actually bringing them because I have a plan that requires finesse, not overwhelming numbers."

The Chieftess studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly with approval. She instinctively understood there must be more to Maui’s strategy, and she trusted the green-eyed orc had thought this through carefully.

One of Grishka’s honor guards—a battle-scarred warrior named Krez with a missing eye—spoke up. "Just the seven of us against an entire stronghold? That’s either brilliant or suicidal."

"Probably both," muttered Vekra, who carried twin axes.

Grishka shot them both a look that silenced any further commentary. Her expression was set in grim determination, ready for whatever came next.

Murkfang approached nervously. "This seems... risky. Only seven of you?"

"Seven is all we need," Maui replied confidently. "And more importantly, I want to make absolutely sure this mine is protected to its fullest capacity while we’re gone."

"But what if Borg has more support than Shava believes?"

"Then you hold these walls," Maui said firmly. "You protect every goblin here, you maintain order, and you wait for us to return. Can you do that?"

Murkfang nodded. "We’ll hold. I promise you, Maui. This settlement will be standing when you get back."

"Good. Because Byung built something worth protecting here. Don’t let anyone take that away."

---

At the settlement gates, the small strike force assembled. Shava checked her armor one final time. Maui sat astride her horse, scanning their group with a tactical eye.

Grishka and her four honor guards were mounted and ready, their horses shifting restlessly. The Chieftess sat tall in her saddle, her massive frame making even the war horse beneath her seem small. Her red eyes were focused forward, already calculating routes and threats.

Shava approached Maui’s horse. "I’m ready," she said quietly. "This is my chance to make things right. Or at least start to."

"Don’t think of it as redemption," Maui advised coldly. "Think of it as finally doing what should have been done from the start."

"I will," Shava promised, mounting her own horse. "I won’t fail this time, Maui. I swear it."

Maui didn’t respond, simply turned her horse toward the gates. Grishka moved into position beside Maui’s, and the four honor guards formed up behind them. Shava took her place at the rear.

The assembled settlement—goblins and orcs alike—had gathered to see them off. Naruz stood at the front.

Maui nodded once, sharply, then urged her horse forward. The small group rode through the gates at a steady trot.

As they left the settlement behind, Vekra leaned toward Krez. "Seven of us to overthrow a warlord. I haven’t been this excited in a very long time."

"You talk too much," Krez replied.

Grishka made a sharp gesture that meant both "silence" and "focus". The guards immediately fell quiet, their attention returning to the road ahead.

Shava rode in silence, her mind racing. In less than two days, she would either be the ruler of the orcs with a powerful alliance secured, or she would be dead.

She glanced at Maui’s back, at the rigid set of her shoulders, and felt the weight of all her failures. But she also felt something else—determination, purpose, the first stirrings of the warrior she used to be before fear had turned her into a coward.

This was her chance. Her only chance. And she would not waste it.

The seven riders moved steadily westward, carrying with them the weight of justice too long delayed and the hope of alliances that could change everything.

Behind them, the settlement continued its daily rhythm, defended by warriors ready to give their lives for what Byung had built. And somewhere far away, in a cursed forest that stripped memories and hope from all who entered, Byung himself fought for survival against threats he didn’t understand.

But none of the seven riders knew that yet. They rode toward one confrontation, unaware that an even greater crisis was unfolding beyond their reach.

For now, they had one mission: remove Borg from power, secure the western territories, and create the alliance that would give them the resources they desperately needed to find their missing leader.