Free Web NovelChapter 46: Chapter 41: The Fate of the East River Tribe
At the Garlic Tribe’s docks, larger galleys had replaced the canoes.
Unlike canoes, which could be handled by a single person, a galley required several people to operate. It used sails with a tailwind and oars against a headwind.
Compared to canoes, galleys could enter deeper waters, were faster, more stable, and sturdier.
With galleys in their possession, the Garlic Tribe’s sphere of influence expanded further. Their footprints spread along the East River, and they made their first formal entry into the East Sea, beginning their preliminary sea voyages.
However, this also led to a resource problem. Building a galley required large amounts of wood, flax, and some copper, and the construction time was more than ten times that of a canoe.
The Garlic Tribe had very little flax, relying entirely on gathering it from the wild, though they had no shortage of wood and copper. Due to material and craftsmanship issues, the Garlic Tribe only had three galleys for a very long time.
Luh Yao wasn’t worried.
Now that they had the technology to build galleys, the next step was to continuously upgrade that technology and gather more resources.
As the Garlic Tribe was exploring the coastal areas, the long-unseen East River Tribe appeared at the docks once more.
They still traveled in old canoes, carrying traditional bows and arrows. Aside from not being accompanied by a Sea Monster, the women looked no different from their first visit.
The Garlic Tribe’s docks had grown quite large, and a wide, sturdy galley was moored nearby. In comparison, their canoes looked particularly shabby.
The leader, the Grandmother, said, "Friends of the Garlic Tribe, we have seen your great ships. They are very fast and incredibly agile."
"Your vessels have entered the ocean, but you only linger in the coastal waters. Sailing on the great sea is a very dangerous endeavor. Without the proper experience and techniques, you could face destruction and death at any moment."
"The East River Tribe is a branch of the East Sea Clan. We have the experience and skills for seafaring, and this knowledge is invaluable."
"We hope to trade our [Navigation Technique] for your [Galley] technology."
The tribal leader, Yuzou, did not answer immediately.
He consulted with Astrologer Shahan and Yulian, the inventor of the galley, before giving his response.
"Back when the Prophet and the Shaman were still alive, our two tribes maintained a long-standing friendship. Although we had our conflicts, we ultimately respected each other. Many of the young people in our tribe are the result of unions between our two peoples."
Yuzou said, "However, the trade you propose is extremely unequal."
"Our galleys can enter any waters. Mastering the Navigation Technique is only a matter of time for us."
"And in the meantime, our galleys will only grow stronger. Soon, our fleet will cover the rivers and enter the sea, and all the waters we reach will be our tribe’s domain."
"But you cannot build galleys."
"The East River Tribe’s population is in constant decline, and the Salt Pool Tribe no longer appears on the river. Everything you need comes from our tribe: wood, wool, meat, potatoes, garlic."
"You are a branch abandoned by your clan. Ever since you lost the ability to birth Sea Monsters, the East Sea Clan has offered you no support. You can’t even return to the sea, because without Sea Monsters, the wind and waves will destroy your canoes."
"The Garlic Tribe has always been helping you."
"If you join the Garlic Tribe, you will gain the knowledge of [Galleys]. Then you can ride these mighty ships back to the sea, and you will no longer have to grovel before the East Sea Clan."
"There are many ways to earn respect, but the best way is to be strong enough! Believe me, my best brother and comrade-in-arms died because of this, so I understand this principle all too well."
Yuzou’s persuasion was rejected by the East River Tribe.
As stubborn as ever, they departed in their canoes.
Just as Luh Yao was wondering if he should give things a push himself—perhaps with a Hurricane or a Scorching Sun—the East River Tribe’s long-simmering internal conflicts finally erupted.
On Ship Island, the East River Tribe split into two factions.
Three female captains wanted to join the Garlic Tribe, but the Grandmother insisted on preserving the East River Tribe’s independence. Neither side could persuade the other. In the end, the female captains took 74 people, traveled to the Garlic Tribe in their canoes, and formally integrated.
The Grandmother took the remaining people and sailed her canoes east toward the East Sea, apparently hoping to return to their origin, the East Sea Clan.
Luh Yao didn’t know if they successfully crossed the sea and returned to their homeland.
What was certain was that from this day on, the East River Tribe would become a part of History.
The arrival of the female captains brought with them the important [Navigation Technique]. They also brought their own nautical charts, clearing away much of the unexplored fog of war over the surrounding waters.
Luh Yao dragged his mouse, looking down over the East River and the East Sea.
Compared to the vast expanse of the East Sea, the land where the Garlic Tribe resided seemed very small.
The East Sea Clan’s main base was on a medium-sized island to the southeast, across the East Sea. But that area was shrouded in fog, indicating that the East River Tribe hadn’t been in contact for a very long time.
Without knowing the sea routes and having the Navigation Technique, it would be difficult to make the journey all the way from there.
Even with the right skills, a canoe without a Sea Monster escort would find it nearly impossible to cross the sea.
Luh Yao had a feeling that the Grandmother’s faction of the East River Tribe, the one trying to return to their ancestral home, was probably done for.
But that didn’t matter.
What mattered was the group of women who had just joined the tribe.
To Luh Yao’s delight, the women of the East River Tribe displayed their hidden racial talent. They possessed incredible fertility, able to become pregnant and give birth to infants in a short amount of time.
In a way, this was the most powerful ability in a tribal era!
As long as they could maintain continuous population growth, the tribal civilization would eventually be able to advance to the next stage and enter a new era.
A random thought popped into Luh Yao’s head.
’Maybe primitive tribes on Earth went through something like this too.’
’Some tribes were skilled hunters, with every member strong; some had high fertility; others mastered agriculture... Different tribes merged in various ways, combining their strengths to form a new human population capable of entering the next era.’
...
In the simulator, Luh Yao was multitasking across three threads.
In the castle, Isabel was still continuously bombarding the boss, the Blood Knight, with psychic attacks, waiting for an opportunity.
In the Ghost City Saniluo, the Ghost Souls were continuing to perfect the city of the Dead.
In the Garlic Tribe, the age of sailing was quietly dawning.
All three groups needed some time to digest these changes and evolve.
Taking advantage of the lull, Luh Yao minimized the simulator, planning to find a comedy to watch and relax a bit.
This recent series of multi-threaded operations had left Luh Yao quite exhausted.
’When the little pixel people are looking for trouble, I have to be ready to save them at a moment’s notice.’
’When the little pixel people are just lazing around waiting to die, I have to give them a good kick in the pants to get them moving.’
’It’s a really complicated feeling.’
’A God truly gets no vacation days.’
’Compared to me, the God who works six days and rests on the seventh is just slacking off.’
He hadn’t even found a movie yet when a message suddenly came from Isabel.
"My Lord, the Forest Wolves have discovered a Burrower Monster tribe of about 40 individuals in the mountains."
’Awesome!’
’A perfect chance to test the combat strength of these Forest Wolves.’
But Isabel’s next sentence was: "Before the Forest Wolves could even attack, they surrendered and offered to become vassals of the Garlic Tribe."
Luh Yao was suddenly disappointed.
’They surrendered without a single shot fired?’
’I wonder where these Burrower Monsters picked up such a bad habit.’
