The energy railcar screeched to a halt at the border outpost.
Tu Hu stepped down alone, setting foot on the muddy ground.
The only thing he carried was a slightly worn wineskin at his waist.
When he chose to come negotiate at the border in person, Tu Hu had also considered his unique innate ability: automatic translation.
He had discovered it much earlier, during the journey after leaving Star Valley and leading the second generation of the Rongling Race in their wanderings.
He could understand every inscription on the ruins they explored along the way.
It seemed that no language or written script could pose a barrier to him.
Although he had no idea why he possessed such an inexplicable innate ability, it would clearly be an important asset in negotiations. At the very least, there would be no communication barrier.
Before his arrival, envoys from the Rongling Race had already made contact with the Bonecrushers.
Bearing carefully prepared gifts, they had conveyed their willingness to submit through sign language and other means.
Though the language barrier had made communication difficult, their humble posture and the gifts they offered had at least made it clear that the Rongling Race dared not make an enemy of them. Now, all he had to do was make that "submission" more valuable.
Several days later, Tu Hu appeared before a fortress built of enormous animal bones and black stone.
The stronghold known as Bonebreaker Fortress was even more primitive than he had imagined.
There were no technological devices of any kind. Dozens of rotting corpses hung from the outer walls, and their varied forms showed that they belonged to different races. They were like trophies the Bonecrushers displayed to boast of their victories.
The air was thick with the stench of blood.
Nearby, guards