"Oh, right — there's one more little gift for you all." Midway through the meal, Charlotte suddenly clapped her hands.
A 'meal-cart' was wheeled in, a black cloth draped over it.
And from within this 'meal-cart' came muffled cries and the sounds of struggling.
Everyone was drawn to this 'meal-cart,' curious just what was inside.
Charlotte stepped up and threw off the black cloth, revealing the thing within.
It was, plain to see, a beast-folk — a sharp horn atop its head, brown fur all over its face.
Those present very soon made out this one's identity.
"The Horned Wolf King!"
"It's that fellow who betrayed us!"
"This wretch — had it not been for his betrayal, the sentry-posts we'd set on the base's outer ring could never have been destroyed without our sensing a thing, could never have let us take the Warhammer interstellar legion's assault all unprepared!"
The whole company looked, at this moment, in fury upon this Horned-Wolf beast-folk — for he was the betrayer in this whole affair!
"This one I captured alive, on purpose, in the interstellar battle just now. Count it a gift from me to you all. As for how to deal with him — that I leave entirely to you." Charlotte pressed a button, and the gate of the 'meal-cart' opened.
The Horned Wolf King appeared before them all, looking in terror at the company of revolutionary-army leaders round about, whose eyes seemed as though they'd tear him apart on the spot.
Hands and feet both shackled, a small ball even stuffed into his mouth, all he could do was give off muffled cries.
At this point a male wolf-man of pure white fur walked over, and fixed his eyes on the Horned Wolf King on the ground.
"Why did you betray us?"
This was the supreme leader of the revolutionary army's wolf-kin; originally the Horned Wolf King had held the second seat.
"Mmph, mmph, mmph…" The Horned Wolf King's eyes carried a pleading look, as though begging for mercy.
The White Wolf King reached out and gripped the small ball in his mouth — but the motion very soon halted.
"Never mind. I have no wish, just now, to hear that damnable voice of yours." And with that, the White Wolf King crushed the Horned Wolf King's lower jaw outright.
Blood spurted, all at once, across the floor.
Not far off, Charlotte knit her brows slightly — this had dirtied her floor.
Afterward, the other revolutionary-army leaders, too, vented their fury upon this traitor without the least ceremony; for that battle a moment ago had, of all things, dealt the already-fallen revolutionary army a further grievous loss.
And all of it was because of this traitor!
In the end, this traitor's twisted corpse was flung out of the interstellar warship.
The company went on enjoying the food.
The three hours were soon up.
The air within the meeting-hall began, at this point, gradually to turn grave.
"All right — please, everyone, make your choice. Those willing to join us, please come to my side." Charlotte, her face without expression, looked upon the company of revolutionary-army leaders before her.
The company of revolutionary-army leaders looked at one another.
Someone — she couldn't tell who — was the first to step forth.
"We of the Black-Fox clan are willing to join General Charlotte." The Black Fox matron, with several people behind her, walked up before Charlotte and made a salute.
Charlotte returned it.
The Black-Fox clan was one of the several great powers within the revolutionary army, and, besides, a most important brain-trust.
The several people behind the Black Fox matron counted as vassals of the Black-Fox clan; small in strength, they took all their thoughts and their will from the Black-Fox clan.
Xin'er, following her mother, stood behind General Charlotte; this was the closest she'd been to General Charlotte — she could even see her fair neck, and her white fur.
But the air was still somewhat grave, for the other few revolutionary-army leaders had yet to make their decision.
Every eye, at this moment, fell upon the Deer King leader.
The Deer King leader's prestige was the highest here.
They all wished to hear how the Deer King commander would choose.
"Don't look at me. This is the moment that bears on the fate of each of your tribes; this old man can't decide it for you — it still comes down to yourselves. Until you've made your choice, I'll not speak." The Deer King's words took everyone by surprise.
No small number wore looks of inner struggle.
"White Wolf King — I near forgot. I have a video message here that someone bade me pass to you." Charlotte, suddenly recalling a thing, looked toward that wolf-kin leader.
The White Wolf King started, and looked at Charlotte, uncomprehending — someone on Charlotte's side had left a video message for him?
Very soon, the White Wolf King's end received a set of data, within it a video recorded ahead of time.
Once the White Wolf King opened it, his gaze turned to disbelief — for he saw a person he'd never in the world have imagined.
The video was very short, a bare dozen-odd seconds.
But the weight of this video message, for the White Wolf King, outstripped even the victory of the battle a moment ago.
The White Wolf King looked at Charlotte, stunned.
Charlotte said with a smile: "I've come back alive, haven't I? What is there, then, that can't happen?"
The White Wolf King laughed — laughed most gladly.
This was an expression the other revolutionary-army leaders round about rarely saw upon the face of this famously cold-blooded White Wolf King.
"We of the wolf-kin join!" The White Wolf King raised his hand, and strode toward Charlotte.
Passing by Charlotte, the White Wolf King halted his steps, and asked, in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Is she… is she doing all right?"
"She's in a very safe place now, and doing very well. So long as everything on our side goes smoothly, you'll be able to see her before long," Charlotte answered.
"Thank you." The White Wolf King looked at Charlotte in gratitude, then walked to Charlotte's rear, and stood at the side of the Black Fox matron.
The Black Fox matron looked at the White Wolf King in surprise, and then at Charlotte's back.
By her understanding, the White Wolf King was a man of exceedingly stubborn temper, and inwardly most arrogant besides; toward a manner of behaving like Charlotte's — hiding things, holding things back, and yet asking their cooperation — the White Wolf King ought to feel deep aversion.
Yet who'd have thought he'd, of all things, agree to join Charlotte this fast.
With the wolf-kin's declaration, the other revolutionary-army leaders, too, began gradually to declare themselves.
"I join." The Bull-Head leader raised his hand, and walked over with a guileless grin.
"I join too." the Ram-Head leader said.
Gradually, more than half the revolutionary army at the meeting had walked to stand behind Charlotte.
And at this the Deer King leader, who all this while had made no move, looked very much the odd one out.
"Grandpa Deer King." Charlotte looked toward Grandpa Deer King.
Grandpa Deer King let show a kindly smile, then looked toward those revolutionary-army leaders behind him who had yet to move: "You lot — none of you are willing to go with Charlotte, is that it?"
"I do thank her for saving us, truly. But she won't say what power, in the end, stands behind her; I still can't wholly trust her."
"And that 'sustaining war by war' strategy of General Charlotte's is, in truth, too reckless and rash."
The Deer King leader didn't listen closely to these people's reasons; he turned his head and looked toward Charlotte, gazing tenderly upon this child he could count as having watched grow up.
He reached out a hand, and stroked Charlotte's head: "The little white cat has grown up — become a great white cat. Lead everyone well, and carry on. This old man won't go with you; I can't run about anymore."