Vikings: Overlords of the Icy Seas Chapter 284 284: The Ambitions of the Natives

In just half a day, the pirates captured two inland villages.

They looted cellars, slaughtered livestock, and celebrated this hard-won victory.

There was no doubt—their next target would be the plantations.

A Difficult Choice

After lunch, the plantation supervisor approached Helgi and urged him to make preparations.

"My lord, we can defend the camp behind the palisade, but the crops outside have no protection. If the enemy cannot break through and decides to destroy the sugarcane and wheat seedlings instead, everything we've worked for will be ruined."

Helgi shot him an irritated glance.

He had already considered the problem—but there was no good solution.

The plantation laborers were restless and discontent. They were suited only for low-risk tasks:

defending the camp

bullying weak native tribes

If he led them into open battle against the pirates, they would likely collapse after losing just ten percent of their numbers.

"My lord," the supervisor continued, lowering his voice,

"we could seek reinforcents—ask the Guanches to fight alongside us."

Turning to the Natives

The natives?

Ever since Hossa had married the chief's daughter Boti, hostilities between Helgi and the Guanches had eased. The two sides traded regularly, and the plantations even hired a small number of Guanche laborers. Relations were stable—but rely ordinary.

Over ti, Helgi had realized that the chief was among the most shrewd of his people—never one to accept a disadvantage.

If Helgi went to him for help, the price would be steep.

He sighed.

"…Let's hope they don't go too far."

Helgi accepted the proposal.

"After I leave, hold the camp," he ordered.

"Use negotiations as an excuse to stall the pirates. Do not let them destroy the sugarcane fields."

"Yes, my lord."

Into the Interior

Soon, Helgi selected a Guanche laborer as a guide and ventured deep into the jungle.

According to the peace agreent, the Vikings had not entered the interior for two years. The terrain was unfamiliar, and the deeper they went, the more uneasy the four accompanying knights beca, fearing for their lord's safety.

Late that night, they reached a valley in the island's interior.

From a distance, faint lights dotted the mountain walls on both sides. At the valley entrance stood a crude palisade and trench—an obvious imitation of Viking defenses.

The guide raised his hands and called out repeatedly.

Eventually, a drowsy sentry in the watchtower stirred awake.

After a brief exchange, the gate opened slightly, allowing the guide through before quickly closing again.

Helgi chewed on dry rations and muttered to himself:

"A sentry asleep on watch… I overestimated their vigilance—and their strength. Fighting alongside these fools, our chances of victory are probably less than sixty percent."

The Chief's Demand

Before long, the gate opened fully.

A squad of Guanche warriors carrying spears erged.

Chief Chavatu stepped forward to greet the uninvited guest, accompanied by his Viking advisor Adrian.

"Count, what matter brings you here in the middle of the night?"

The pirates had been ravaging the coast for four days—Chavatu certainly knew. He was playing dumb.

Helgi needed his help, so he held his tongue.

Instead of discussing matters imdiately, Chavatu led him to a central house in the valley.

Inside, food and drink had already been prepared.

Unable to refuse repeated invitations, Helgi drank several cups of rum. Before the alcohol dulled his senses, he made his request:

He asked the chief to send troops to assist.

After so aningless pleasantries, Helgi straightened in his seat and spoke bluntly.

"Chief, what exactly do you want?

Iron tools? Grain? Agricultural or dical knowledge?"

Chavatu shook his head.

"No. Those are secondary."

A Bold Ambition

In Chavatu's view, the peace treaty was never permanent.

It lasted only as long as the Vikings did not need more land.

Eventually, conflict would return.

Even if his tribe obtained so iron weapons and armor, they would still be no match for the well-equipped, tactically superior Viking nobles.

After long discussions with tribal elders—and Adrian—the chief had devised a plan he considered safe.

He wanted:

recognition as a noble of the Kingdom of Britannia

control of the second-largest island as his fief

the right to cultivate sugarcane and produce sugar independently

Through trade, he would build his own power—rather than depend on Helgi's charity.

Tense Negotiations

You think you deserve a title?

Helgi was furious inside, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"Could you choose another condition?"

Chavatu shook his head.

"This is our only demand.

If you refuse, I will cooperate with the pirates instead."

Helgi's tone hardened.

"Aren't you afraid they'll betray you and sell your people into slavery?"

"And behind stands the Kingdom of Britannia. Do you believe you can withstand Vig's wrath?"

"You've spent enough ti with Adrian. You know what he's capable of."

"If I die here—whether out of loyalty or to uphold royal authority—Vig will take revenge."

For the mont, Helgi set aside his pride and invoked his king's na as a threat.

Chavatu's face paled slightly—but he did not yield.

An Uneasy Agreent

The standoff lasted deep into the night.

Finally, Helgi conceded.

He agreed to the chief's demands—on one condition:

After Chavatu relocated, any remaining tribes on Sunshine Island would fall under Helgi's authority.

"Agreed."

The deal was sealed.

Chavatu imdiately ordered his aides to mobilize troops.

Over the past two years, he had absorbed many smaller tribes. His population had grown to five thousand, nearly forty percent of the island's Guanche people.

Seizing this rare opportunity, he conscripted every able-bodied man.

The result:

A force of one thousand warriors.

"Well, Count—what do you think?" Chavatu asked proudly.

Helgi thought for half a minute before replying dryly:

"…The young n certainly have good spirit."

A Weak Army

During years of trade, the Vikings had strictly limited the flow of iron weapons into Guanche territory.

As a result, most of their weapons were still wooden spears.

The only notable improvent ca from Adrian, who had taught them archery.

They now possessed:

Two hundred archers.

Compared with the armies Helgi had seen, these Guanche warriors were weaker even than Anglo militia.

But he had no choice.

They would have to do.

March to War

After breakfast, Chavatu's army set out.

As ti passed, their formation grew loose:

many chatted while walkingso passed around wine skins

By midday, they halted to rest.

When officers counted the n, ninety were missing—likely lost, or deliberately avoiding battle.

Noticing Helgi's barely concealed disdain, Chavatu responded decisively:

he broke up his personal guard

distributed them among the units to maintain order

halted periodically to reform the ranks

The asures worked.

That afternoon, only fifty n straggled behind.

On the Eve of Battle

As darkness fell, Helgi ordered them to camp in a concealed hollow.

Before leaving, he repeated his instructions carefully:

"Rember—battle begins at dawn. Your n will be responsible for—"

He finished his orders, then slipped away under cover of night and returned to the plantation camp.

There, he found the supervisor waiting anxiously.

"How are things?"

The man replied:

"The enemy reached the outskirts of the plantation this morning. They didn't attack the camp—they stayed nearby."

"I saw so of them destroying crops, so I followed your orders and negotiated with them."

"For now… I've managed to hold them off."

—------------------------------

Pat reon Advance Chapters: patreon/YonkoSlayer