139. Tattoo

"They actually... killed Russ!"

Geri looked at Sulu with a complicated expression.

With that kind of power, he could practically wield immense influence in Kangni State's underworld, right? How come she'd never heard of him before?

"Russ is a Class B wanted criminal by the Federation. Including other private bounties, the reward is five hundred Gold Dragon. Go and collect it; I want half!"

Sulu, however, was not so sentimental. He looked at the increase in experience points with delight and then said to Geri.

"No, no! I only assisted a little; taking half is too much!"

Geri quickly waved her hand; she couldn't interfere in the fight between Sulu and Russ.

"No... you're only giving half because of the danger after receiving the bounty!"

Sulu waved his hand.

The Grede Bandit Gang isn't just Russ alone. Once Geri spreads the news of Russ's hunt, she'll definitely face their furious retaliation!

Considering the risks involved, taking half is still worthwhile.

"Well... alright! But even bars in ordinary small towns might not have five hundred Gold Dragon in reserve... We need to go to the city and go directly to the police station and banks..."

Geri secretly plotted.

With such a large sum of income, the cost of purchasing the Tier 2 [Ranger] class information is more than enough.

As for possible retaliation? She didn't even consider it a concern.

I was mentally prepared for this job long ago.

Moreover, after completing this bounty, she plans to rest for a while and ideally advance to the second tier of [Ranger]. That way, if she has a good horse, even if she accidentally encounters someone on the plains, she will be confident of escaping!

"It's decided then. You go and collect the reward, then hand it over to me."

Sulu smiled and guessed that the other party was likely going to Charles City.

At this moment, he arrived at the camp and was shocked to see a bloody scene.

"Ah! You guys..."

Geri, who had followed him, covered her mouth and stared at the carnage before her.

The female slaves were unguarded and had escaped, wielding weapons and committing a bloody massacre.

The bandit who had been turned into a vegetable by Sulu was already a corpse, with blood flowing all over the ground.

Even now, facing their saviors, their eyes were filled with vigilance, and they gripped their weapons tightly.

"You... are free. Go back through the canyon!"

Sulu looked at the corpse on the ground, sighed, and said nothing more, Gulam Language.

These indigenous people didn't understand the common language at all; Gulam Language was the only language they could use to communicate, and he had heard the chief shout it.

In the field of ancient linguistics, Geri was illiterate. Hearing that Sulu could communicate with the Gaosuo, she was quite surprised. Only then did she believe that Sulu's identity as a Scholar was not necessarily an act.

There was no objection to the idea of letting them go back on their own.

She wasn't exactly a pushover, and seeing the hostility and wariness in these women's eyes, she might not be willing to let them escort her.

As for the dangers that might be encountered along the way? That's up to fate.

After hearing Sulu's words, a commotion arose among the group of Gaoso slave girls. After a moment, the crowd parted, and a little girl who appeared to be only eleven or twelve years old stepped forward, answering in the same Gulam Language: "Outsider! What is your purpose?"

"Not everyone outside is a bad person!"

Sulu's eyes lit up when he saw the little girl.

He then realized that the language of the Gaosuo might not be the same as the Gulam Language. It was a mysterious language, the oldest language, and probably only a few upper-class people in the Gaosuo tribe, such as chiefs and military nobles, and priests, knew it.

However, he didn't understand the Gaoso native language at all, so he could only communicate in this language.

And this little girl can speak Gulam Language, so she must be either the daughter of a chieftain or a priest's Apprentice —in short, of very high birth.

"Outsiders invade our land and slaughter our people... They are all evil and deserve to be cursed!"

The little girl spoke in a low voice, her eyes, which should have been innocent and childlike, now filled with hatred.

Sulu was speechless for a moment.

"However... since you rescued the Quake Tribe, I will give you a reward that will satisfy you!"

The little girl clearly didn't want to owe anyone a favor, and added, tilting her head back.

"That's perfect... I want a potion that can enhance mental strength, or what you would call willpower or willpower!"

Sulu immediately revealed his purpose.

The little girl paused for a moment, whispered to the women around her, and nodded. "Okay!"

She turned around, revealing a black tattoo on her shoulder.

"Huh?"

Sulu exclaimed in surprise. Only then did he realize that the other person's tattoo was quite unique, composed of a large number of twisted black lines like snakes, and it was actually in the Gulam Language!

'So the priests of the Gaosuo made some of their inherited information into tattoos and branded them onto their Apprentice? Is this a method of inheritance without paper records?'

Sulu was curious and quickly jotted down the information the other party had presented.

"Vicious Potion: Blood of Two-tailed Lizard, seeds of Kuding Flower..."

The tattoo artist's skills were mediocre, and the Gulam Language was somewhat obscure, but Sulu memorized everything he saw, intending to study it slowly when he got back.

"That's enough, you can go now!"

A few minutes later, the little girl turned around, her dark face showing no sign of shyness.

"Thanks!"

Sulu politely thanked him and turned to leave.

"By the way, I haven't asked your name yet?"

After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned around and asked politely.

"Maya!"

The little girl uttered two syllables as she watched him leave.

"Is that what you wanted?"

Beside her, Geri asked curiously.

She had absolutely no knowledge of the Gulam Language, so reading the potion recipes was like reading a book written in a foreign language.

"Yes... what a pity!"

Sulu sighed.

The other person's tattoos covered their entire body, clearly indicating that the [Witch Doctor] lineage went beyond this, and perhaps even included professional information.

But the little girl only showed him the part related to the medicine, which was a bit of a disappointment.

'And... the natives really are a bit dim-witted; they revealed the secret in just a few words... If I wanted more, all I had to do was kill a tribal chief or priest, skin them alive, and the secret manual would be right there!'

'No... if I were Gaosuo, I would still need to be aware of this... or, like a puzzle treasure, tattoo the most important information onto different people?'

However, Sulu Lu still had some integrity; he couldn't bring himself to kill right after saving someone.

Moreover, he didn't care too much about the legacy of the [Witch Doctor] or [Totem Warrior], since he had already chosen his path and could go straight to the legend!

Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine.

He felt as if he had guessed Grede's purpose.

'They seem to be looking for something, perhaps a Treasure Map or something?'