Lupus’s report made Enzo pause for a moment, then he understood.

Before the camp relocation, he had sent some team members to search the now extinct tribes for gold leaves and other supplies. It must be those team members returning now.

But who were the other strange tribe members?

Could it be… the caravan?

According to the previous tribe members, the traveling merchant who sells goods had arrived in the jungle area these past few days.

Enzo thought to himself and instructed Lupus, ‘Let them in.’

The new camp had two entrances.

One was through the lake, exiting from a specially opened entrance in the bamboo wall. The other was in the deep jungle on the shore, which had not yet been fully repaired.

The people Lupus mentioned had come over the floating bridge on the lake.

…

Outside the bamboo wall.

Douglas, the traveling merchant from the Gold Oak Tribe, and his group were waiting there. Their faces were showing impatience. Behind them were eight yaks, loaded with goods piled high.

“Yves, is this your tribe?”

Douglas asked a frail-looking man nearby, glancing at the extensive bamboo growth and then at the trees violently broken around the bamboo wall. His expression turned more serious.

Those bamboos didn’t grow like this naturally.

It was definitely the effect of supernatural powers!

Moreover, such thick trees could be broken. How powerful was this force?

Douglas realized this but remained relatively unfazed.

He came from the Gold Oak Tribe. In this vast region, the Gold Oak Tribe was an invincible presence. If anyone dared to target him, they would have to see if they could withstand the retaliation of the Gold Oak Tribe.

In addition, Douglas had hired several warriors from his own tribe.

At the same time,his own strength was equally formidable.

With these thoughts, Douglas felt confident and, without waiting for Yves’ response, urged impatiently, “Yves, how much longer are we going to wait? If it weren’t for your tribe needing trade and supposedly having many precious items, I wouldn’t have wasted my time coming all this way!”

Yves was growing increasingly anxious.

In many jungle legends, traveling merchants were known to carry precious treasures.

Those were crucial for the tribe’s development.

That’s why, after gathering the gold leaves and coincidentally encountering Douglas’ caravan, Yves had gone to great lengths to invite Douglas and his group to the new camp.

If Douglas were to leave now, all efforts would be in vain.

Yves hurriedly reassured, “Mr. Douglas, I assure you, this trip will not be in vain!”

Douglas smirked and replied, “Your assurance? Hah, Yves, I never believe anyone’s assurances. I only trust what my eyes see. Perhaps in your eyes, your tribe’s possessions are exceedingly precious. But let me tell you, they are nothing but junk!”

Douglas’s words infuriated Yves, who struggled to restrain himself from retorting.

At that moment, Lupus arrived and upon seeing the yaks specifically used by traveling merchants for transporting goods, he confirmed Douglas and his group’s identity. Lupus addressed them, saying, “Respected guests, Lord Priest invites you inside.”

Douglas’s demeanor softened considerably as he looked at Lupus.

The fact that the tribe had sent warriors to greet him indicated they understood basic hospitality, or else he wouldn’t have stayed.

“We’re going in!”

Douglas declared haughtily to the others in his caravan.

Despite Lupus feeling some dissatisfaction with Douglas’s arrogance, he reminded himself it was Lord Enzo’s command and led Douglas’s group inside, while instructing Yves to return with the gathered gold leaves to report to Enzo.

Before long, Yves arrived at the bamboo structure carrying a bag made of animal skins.

He took out fifty gold leaves from the bag and handed them to Enzo, saying, “Lord Priest, these are the gold leaves we found from the extinct tribes, along with some other supplies still on their way.”

“This is what they call gold leaves?” Enzo took the gold leaves and examined them closely.

He frowned slightly, feeling somewhat disappointed.

They were roughly shaped like leaves with uneven surfaces, aside from a special anti-counterfeiting aura, they didn’t seem particularly remarkable.

Enzo sighed inwardly with disappointment as he put away the gold leaves and asked, “Yves, what goods did they bring?”

Yves shook his head and replied, “Lord Priest, the traveling merchant Douglas said he only displays his goods in front of the tribe’s leader. Others are not qualified to know.”

Enzo became intrigued upon hearing this.

“I hope those goods won’t disappoint me!”

He thought to himself. Calling for Amy, he walked to the slope overlooking the lakeshore.

From there, he could see Douglas and his group crossing the floating bridge.

While their view was obstructed outside the bamboo wall, upon entering, Douglas sensed something distinctive about this tribe – confidence!

Yes, it was confidence.

In past trades with other tribes, their members would lower their heads in respect upon seeing him.

However, the people of the Crimson Star Tribe were including the fishermen on bamboo rafts and the bamboo cutters…All had smiles of contentment on their faces. After seeing him, they still dared to openly stare at him.

What impudence and ignorance!

Douglas concluded that the people of the Crimson Star Tribe were isolated and had no understanding of what a traveling merchant like him represented.

His arrival was an honor for the Crimson Star Tribe!

At that moment, a member of the caravan remarked, “Lord Douglas, this tribe seems different. This floating bridge is exceptionally sturdy and can bear a considerable weight. It’s not something a small tribe could construct.”

Douglas remained arrogant and said, “What’s so special about a floating bridge?”

Just then, the yaks carrying the goods suddenly became restless.

Douglas anxiously shouted, “What’s going on?”

The caravan member pointed in alarm towards the lakeshore not far away and said, “Lord Douglas, there… there’s a Huge Silver Backed Bear!”

Douglas immediately looked over.

On the lakeshore stood a massive bear with silver-white fur, its huge paws slapping the water surface, creating splashes that stunned fish swimming in the lake. It would then scoop them up with its mouth and swallow them whole.

The caravan members became instantly alert.

Seeing this, Lupus, who was responsible for guiding them, smiled and said, “Mr. Douglas, no need to panic. Betta is Lord Priest’s pet. Without Lord Priest’s command, it won’t attack anyone.”

“A pet? You mean this Huge Silver Backed Bear is a pet?”

Douglas found it hard to believe.

Such a large creature like the Huge Silver Backed Bear couldn’t be tamed as a pet even in the Gold Oak Tribe, as such beasts were naturally opposed to humans.

Yet here it was, right in front of him.

Judging from the reactions of others, Lupus wasn’t lying.

The Huge Silver Backed Bear had indeed been tamed by someone.

This realization tempered Douglas’s arrogance somewhat.

However, the presence of the Huge Silver Backed Bear made the yaks carrying the goods hesitant to move forward. Douglas had no choice but to ask Lupus, “Can you make that bear leave?”

Lupus shook his head and replied, “Only Lord Priest can command Betta.”

As Lupus finished speaking, Betta, who was still fishing, suddenly turned around and dashed up the slope towards a young man standing on the shore, affectionately rubbing its head against him.

Witnessing this scene, Douglas finally believed everything Lupus had said.

Lupus seized the opportunity and said, “Mr. Douglas, it’s Lord Priest’s doing. Let’s go up quickly.”

Douglas recovered from the shock.

However, his inner turmoil persisted.

He turned his head slightly, exhaled deeply, and quietly asked a poker-faced man on his right, “Richard, did you sense anything from that bear?”

Richard, Douglas’s companion from the Flame Association and the most powerful member of their team.

He nodded gravely in response. “That bear will soon ascend into the ranks of supernatural creatures!”

“Supernatural creatures!”

Douglas knew his intuition was correct.

He became curious and wanted to meet the priest of this tribe who could control such a powerful creature.

Such a person would be worthy of trading with him.

With the disturbance from the bear’s presence gone, the yaks carrying the goods finally calmed down. Douglas and his group crossed the floating bridge smoothly and ascended the slope towards the lakeshore, where they got their first glimpse of the campsite.

Dozens of bamboo structures were nestled in the jungle.

These bamboo structures were surrounded by busy individuals laying stones on the ground, filling gaps with fine gravel. In the center, a massive stone over five meters tall stood upright, with someone wielding a stone hammer, seemingly carving something into it.

Richard also noticed this and remarked, “They seem to be constructing a plaza.”

Douglas nodded, feeling perplexed. Unable to hold back his sarcasm, he commented, “What a strange tribe. The rainy season is almost upon us, yet they remain so optimistic, wasting time on such meaningless tasks.”

Lupus frowned even more at Douglas, feeling increasingly displeased.

How could Douglas dismiss the construction of a ritual plaza as meaningless?

The other members of the caravan shared similar confusion.

They curiously surveyed everything in the Crimson Star Tribe’s camp until Lupus led them to a young man and reminded them, “Mr. Douglas, this is our tribe’s priest, Lord Enzo!”

Upon hearing this, Douglas laid eyes on Enzo.

He noticed the young appearance, the deep gaze, and a subtle yet powerful aura emanating from him, accompanied by a fox-like girl… It reminded Douglas of the nobles from the Gold Oak Tribe. He dared not underestimate Enzo but remained inherently arrogant, speaking in a casual tone, “Respected priest, I am Douglas, the traveling merchant from the Gold Oak Tribe.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep