The Fate of the East River Tribe

On the dock of the Garlic Tribe, larger galleys had replaced the dugout canoes.

Unlike the dugout canoes, which could be handled by a single person, a galley required several people to operate—using sails when the wind was favorable and relying on oars when rowing against the wind.

Compared to dugout canoes, galleys could venture into deeper waters, were faster, more stable, and more durable.

With galleys in their possession, the Garlic Tribe's reach expanded further. Their footprints spread along the East River in all directions, and for the first time, they formally entered the East Sea, embarking on their initial voyages of navigation.

However, this also brought up resource issues. Building a galley required large amounts of wood, flax, and some copper, and the construction time was more than ten times that of a dugout canoe.

The Garlic Tribe had very little flax, relying entirely on wild gathering, though they had no shortage of wood and copper. Due to material and craftsmanship limitations, the Garlic Tribe only had three galleys for a long time.

Lu Yao wasn't in a hurry.

Having mastered the technology to build galleys, the next steps were continuous upgrades in manufacturing techniques and gathering more resources.

When the Garlic Tribe was exploring the coastal waters, the East River Tribe, which had been absent for a long time, once again arrived at the dock.

They still rode their old dugout canoes and carried traditional bows and arrows. Aside from the absence of sea monsters accompanying them, the women looked exactly the same as when they first met.

The Garlic Tribe's dock had grown quite substantial, with a wide, sturdy galley moored nearby. In comparison, their dugout canoes looked especially shabby.

The leading [Grandmother] said, "Friends of the Garlic Tribe, we have seen your big ships. They are very fast and quite agile."

"Your vessels have entered the ocean, but you only linger in the coastal waters. Sailing on the sea is an extremely dangerous endeavor. Without the corresponding experience and skills, you could face shipwreck and death at any moment."

"The East River Tribe is a branch of the Donghai Clan. We have experience and techniques in water navigation, and this knowledge is very valuable."

"We hope to exchange our [Navigation] for your [Galley] technology."

Tribal leader Yu Zou did not reply immediately.

He discussed it with the Astrologer Shahan and the galley inventor Yulian, then gave his response.

"When the Prophet and the Shaman were still alive, our two tribes maintained a long-standing friendship. Though we once had conflicts, in the end, we respected each other. Many of the young people in the tribe are the result of unions between our two tribes."

Yu Zou said, "However, the trade you propose is extremely unequal."

"Our galleys can enter any waters. Mastering navigation is only a matter of time."

"And before that, the galleys will only grow stronger. Until our fleet can cover the rivers and enter the sea, every waterway we reach will be within our tribe's domain."

"But you cannot build galleys."

"The East River Tribe's population is steadily declining. The Salt Pool Tribe no longer appears on the rivers. Everything you need comes from our tribe—wood, wool, meat, potatoes, garlic."

"You are a branch abandoned by your clan. Ever since you could no longer nurture sea monsters, the Donghai Clan has stopped providing you with any support. You cannot even return to the sea, because without sea monsters, the wind and waves will destroy your dugout canoes."

"The Garlic Tribe has been helping you all along."

"As long as you join the Garlic Tribe, you will master the [Galley]. Then you will ride these mighty ships back to the sea, no longer having to grovel before the Donghai Clan."

"There are many ways to gain respect, but the best way is to be strong enough! Trust me, my best brother and comrade died because of this—I understand this principle well."

Yu Zou's persuasion was rejected by the East River Tribe.

They remained stubborn as ever, and the group left on their dugout canoes.

Just as Lu Yao was considering whether to give things a push himself—maybe conjure up a hurricane or a scorching sun—the long-suppressed internal conflicts of the East River Tribe finally erupted.

On Ship Island, the East River Tribe split into two factions.

Three Female Captains wanted to join the Garlic Tribe, while the [Grandmother] insisted on preserving the East River Tribe's independence. Neither side could convince the other. So the Female Captains led 74 people on dugout canoes to the Garlic Tribe, formally integrating into it.

The [Grandmother] took the remaining people and sailed their dugout canoes eastward into the East Sea, seemingly intending to return to the Donghai Clan's ancestral home.

Lu Yao didn't know if they succeeded in crossing the sea and returning to their homeland.

What was certain was that from this day onward, the East River Tribe would become history.

The arrival of the Female Captains brought crucial [Navigation]. They also came with nautical charts, clearing the fog over many nearby waters that had yet to be explored.

Lu Yao dragged his mouse, looking down at the East River and the East Sea from above.

Compared to the vast and boundless East Sea, the land where the Garlic Tribe was located seemed very small.

The Donghai Clan's main base was on a medium-sized island southeast of the East Sea. But that area was shrouded in fog, indicating that the East River Tribe had not been in contact for a long time.

Without mastering sea routes and navigation, it would be very difficult to come all the way from there.

Even with the relevant skills, a dugout canoe without sea monster escort could hardly complete the crossing.

Lu Yao felt that the [Grandmother]'s faction, the East River Tribe returning to their ancestral land, was most likely doomed.

But that didn't matter.

What mattered was this new group of women joining the tribe.

What delighted Lu Yao was that the women of the East River Tribe revealed their hidden racial talent. They possessed extraordinary fertility, able to become pregnant and give birth in a short time.

In a way, this was the strongest ability of the tribal era!

As long as population growth could be sustained, the tribal civilization would eventually move to the next stage and enter a new era.

A random thought popped into Lu Yao's mind.

Perhaps primitive tribes on Earth also went through such a phase.

Some tribes excelled at hunting, with everyone strong; some had high fertility; some mastered farming techniques... Different tribes merged in various ways, combining each other's strengths to form a new human group capable of entering the next era.

Inside the Simulator, Lu Yao was running three threads simultaneously.

In the castle, Isabelle continued her relentless psychological warfare against the boss Blood Knight, waiting for an opening.

In Ghost City Sanilo, the Ghosts were steadily perfecting their city of the dead.

In the Garlic Tribe, the Age of Sail was quietly dawning.

All three sides needed time to digest and transform.

Seizing this lull, Lu Yao minimized the Simulator and prepared to find a comedy to watch and unwind.

This recent stretch of multi-threaded operations had worn Lu Yao out.

Whenever a Pixelated Villager went looking for death, he had to rush in for damage control.

Whenever a Pixelated Villager coasted along eating and lazing about, he had to slap them upside the head to get them moving again.

This state of mind was, to say the least, complicated.

A God truly gets no vacation.

Compared to him, even the Lord God who worked six days and rested one was practically slacking off.

He hadn't even found a movie yet when a message suddenly came in from Isabelle.

"Milord, the Forest Wolves discovered a 40-man Cave Dweller tribe in the mountains."

Nice!

Perfect chance to test the Forest Wolves' actual combat strength.

But Isabelle's next sentence was: "The Forest Wolves hadn't even launched an attack when they surrendered voluntarily, willing to become vassals of the Garlic Tribe."

Lu Yao's excitement instantly deflated.

Surrendering without firing a single shot?

Where the hell did these Cave Dwellers pick up such a bad habit.