Defense and Advance

If Reze possesses the Organizer's Skill.

With these words, coupled with his status as the leader of the team, he will surely win people's hearts soon.

But he is not.

So after Reze finished speaking.

Instead of cheers and support, he was met with silent stares.

"Reze, I think this place is fine."

Soon, one of the awakened ones spoke up.

But he immediately and bluntly refuted Reze's point of view, and his reasons were quite valid:

"Since Nine Bends City is currently experiencing war, and we cannot return, we should instead focus on developing this newly reclaimed land. Since danger lurks both ways, why invite trouble upon ourselves?"

As soon as he finished speaking, those around him who had awakened immediately agreed, "That's right!"

"We've already managed to hold onto this empty land, why should we risk it again?"

"The rioting forest and the war will end sooner or later. Why don't we just wait here?"

"..."

The awakened ones in the camp readily embraced this conservative view.

Reze stood in the center of the camp, looking at these guys who recognized each other, and sighed softly.

He glanced around.

It wasn't that no awakened individuals supported the explorer's ideas, but it was limited to the core members of the original Exploration Team. For example, the female doctor was nodding to him, expressing her support as she always did during adventures.

"That works too, I suppose."

Reze nodded slightly. He didn't continue to rally people, but instead frankly stated his own opinion:

"Since that's the case, I won't force everyone to agree with me."

"We have differing opinions, so before we part ways, I wish you all safe travels..."

Reze said goodbye.

But as soon as the idea of splitting up was uttered, other awakened individuals felt uneasy.

The explorer and his companions were all skilled wilderness survivors.

It is essential to maintain this camp.

Before Reze could finish speaking, someone immediately tried to stop him. "Reze, don't be impulsive! Do you think you can guarantee success just by going into the forest?"

"That's too risky! Why don't we guard this open space together? At least there won't be any unexpected dangers."

"Don't forget the swarm of snakes last night," Reze pointed out the flaw in their words. "Devil Beast will attack when they follow their violent instincts. Whether you hold your ground here or venture into the forest, you will inevitably encounter such risks."

At this point, Reze took a long breath.

He mustered all his strength and shouted in a deep, resonant voice to those around him. "And I am an explorer!"

"If we can turn back from Nine Bends City, I will definitely send you back safely. But now we are facing a dilemma! The changes in the forest not only threaten our own safety, but also affect the villages and towns in the forest."

"If my actions can improve this crisis, then even if the hope is slim, I will definitely try my best!"

Reze's words were resounding.

The awakened ones who were just refuting or trying to persuade him all fell silent, leaving only their shifty eyes.

They watched Reze cautiously.

Those who are timid steal glances at those who bravely forge ahead, their eyes like a mouse looking up at a lion.

After a long pause, someone timidly asked, "If we continue deeper into the forest, can you guarantee we'll succeed?"

"Ha—success?" Reze shook his head and laughed, pointing to his heart. "So-called adventures never look at the success rate. They look at this, at the courage and wisdom of human beings!"

"..."

The awakened one beside him was momentarily stunned.

He had expected Reze to provide some solid and reliable data, but he didn't expect him to make such an explorer-like statement.

At this point, the two groups' ideas were basically completely divergent.

The team's split was imminent.

But just then, someone else stepped forward.

One of the ordinary people who had been merely observing the argument among the awakened ones without intervening spoke up:

"Mr. Reze, I'm willing to go on an adventure with you!"

"It would be truly foolish not to take action when you have the opportunity to do something!"

"Let's go explore the forest!"

"Perhaps we can find the treasure the city lord mentioned; that would be killing two birds with one stone!"

"..."

The awakened ones present.

No one expected that these ordinary people would support Reze at this time.

Even the explorer himself, all the awakened ones wore subtle expressions of surprise.

And seeing this scene.

Linsey, who had just gotten up, sat back down on the wooden bench in the shelter.

Weikena, who was next to him, saw this and asked in a low voice:

"Mr. Drake, do you think the adventure Lord Reze mentioned is worth trying?"

Linsey replied calmly, "Only those who have the courage to take action have the right to choose their own destiny. The road ahead may be Broad Road or Ten Thousand Zhang Cliff, but at least it is a choice you made yourself."

At this point, Linsey looked at the young man beside her, her eyes becoming serious. "Just like Weikena, aren't you a hero too?"

"..."

Weikena's lips trembled, and he couldn't speak.

He felt that Linsey in front of him was somewhat different from the other awakened ones, but his lack of expressive ability prevented him from expressing his specific feelings.

Linsey looked toward the camp.

Ordinary people kept expressing their support for Reze, and the sentiment within the team reversed instantly, like a tsunami passing through.

"That was indeed overlooked."

Linsey sighed softly.

When Reze and the other Awakened were debating.

They focused on the awakened ones themselves, ignoring the thoughts of ordinary people.

But the truth is—even though they were influenced by the Organizer's Craft, the ordinary people who dared to be among the first to leave the city at this time were all people who wanted to seize the opportunity!

The strange changes in the forest and the internal strife in Nine Bends City.

After the two things were over.

As long as the awakened ones do not cause problems themselves, they will remain the high and mighty awakened ones and can enjoy all the conveniences they have in the past.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with considering things from your own perspective.

But these ordinary people are a different story!

Inspired by Mu Le Na Hu En, and already driven by a desire to change their fate, they left Nine Bends City and joined the group exploring the forest.

They are even more eager for success!

They were countless times more eager than the Awakened! So much so that when the Awakened wanted to play it safe, and the Explorer Reze was clearly at a disadvantage.

These ordinary people did not hesitate to express their support for the latter.

They were willing to risk their own safety to follow the adventurers into the depths of the forest.

There is only one reason.

This might be their chance to change their fate!

"Mr. Drake, you must be joking."

Next to the shelter.

Weikena, who was being watched by Linsey, scratched his cheek somewhat embarrassedly.

But like the ordinary people outside the camp who supported Reze, he replied in a small but firm tone, "I am definitely not worthy of the title of hero."

"However, if I had to choose, I think it would be more appropriate to continue into the forest."

"Perhaps our actions can resolve the anomaly in the forest?"