Nara

In the mountains, a low-hanging crescent moon cast its last faint rays, struggling to hold back the encroaching darkness.

But it was ultimately futile. Soon, the entire world would sink into the darkest hour before dawn.

"Madam, I counted them. We're missing more than thirty brothers."

"So many?" Nara's brows drew tightly together. She found the number hard to accept. "But we didn't encounter any fierce fighting when we broke out. How could we have lost so many?"

"Quite a few tribesmen probably failed to keep up with the group and were trapped inside the Blue-Skin Tribe's camp."

Nara nodded, then rose resolutely.

"I'll go back and bring them out!"

"Madam, you absolutely must not go back!"

"Yes, Mother. If you go, you probably won't be able to come back." Natalie clutched her mother's arm tightly, as though afraid that she truly would never return.

"No, I have to go back." Nara insisted. "I was the one who led them into danger, so it should be me who leads them out."

"Madam, then we'll go back with you!"

"No. You stay here. If I don't return for a long time, take Natalie and leave."

"I'm not leaving!" Natalie was so frightened that she was nearly crying.

Nara gently patted her daughter's little hand and smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry. The situation may not be that bad. From what I know, that Reach nobleman is not a bloodthirsty man. Besides, our Wandering Crow Tribe had nothing to do with Liniya's plot. He shouldn't make things difficult for us."

"Then you should bring more people with you, just in case."

"No need. If he truly means me harm, even if I bring everyone from the Wandering Crow Tribe, we won't be able to stop him."

Everyone fell silent at those words.

The Wandering Crow Tribe was only a small tribe, with fewer than five hundred people in total, and more than half were elderly, weak, women, or children. They truly had no way to contend with the powerful Reachmen.

"All right, don't worry. I received no warning from the gods, which means this trip will not be dangerous."

After soothing her tribespeople, Nara fixed the direction in her mind and walked alone into the darkness.

"So, my subjects will increase by more than 9,300 people?"

"Yes, my lord." Gavin, with faint dark circles beneath his eyes, said, "This is a preliminary count of the population from the thirteen tribes. The final figure may differ slightly, but it shouldn't be by much."

Samwell stroked his chin, looking troubled.

An increase in population was naturally a good thing for the territory, but when it came too quickly, it became a headache.

These nine thousand people, together with the more than two thousand people from the original Tiger Tooth Tribe, brought the total to over ten thousand.

And this had all happened in less than a month.

For a territory that had only just begun its development, this was no longer a population surge. It was a population explosion.

The territory's food stores had already been nearly exhausted. Such a sudden population boom was simply adding fuel to the fire.

With just over two thousand people before, Samwell could still go to Arbor and sweet-talk someone into investing, enough to get through this period.

But now that the number of mouths had suddenly risen to over ten thousand, how was he supposed to sweet-talk anyone?

Did they really think Count Paxter was some gullible fool?

And Brandy, their money tree, was still in its infancy. It could not immediately bring in a large income for the territory.

Thinking of this, Samwell finally sighed and could only decide to let these newly acquired subjects fend for themselves for the time being.

"We can't provide for so many people right now. So release all the more than two thousand prisoners we subdued last night. Let them return to their former way of life—hunting and gathering."

"Yes, my lord."

Gavin nodded, though he felt it was a pity.

He understood the lord's difficulties, but he also knew that if these prisoners were released now, it would be difficult to gather them together again in the future.

It was a shame the territory did not have enough food to feed so many people. Otherwise, sending all of them to build the castle would have been perfect.

The winery was also desperately short of manpower.

But these prisoners truly could not be put to work. After all, they were the main hunting force of the thirteen tribes. If they were sent to build the castle, the remaining savages in the tribes would face a food crisis.

Therefore, unless Eagle's Beak could support all nine thousand savages, these prisoners had to be released.

Thinking this, Gavin asked again, "My lord, then will the Orphanage also refuse to take in the elderly and young children from these thirteen tribes?"

Samwell thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth.

"Take them in! Otherwise, the people of those tribes will lose heart."

"Yes."

Samwell sighed, knowing that he had to set out for Arbor as soon as possible. Otherwise, his subjects would truly be left drinking the northwest wind.

"Also, turn all thirteen of the newly joined tribes into villages. Draft a list of candidates for village chiefs as soon as possible. Remember, use only tamed savages."

What Samwell meant by "tamed savages" were savages who had intermarried with the Reachmen or their relatives.

For example, Gavin's newlywed wife Una, and his brother-in-law Ucha.

The reason Samwell had insisted on eliminating those tribal chiefs this time was to make it easier to install people he trusted, so he could better control these savage villages.

He did not want the savages to start rioting again after he left.

"All right." Gavin hurriedly wrote it down, then asked, "What about taxes? Should we follow the example of Tiger Tooth Village and exempt them for three months?"

Samwell hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded.

"Yes."

Though the territory's finances were strained, he still intended to treat everyone fairly.

After all, winning people's hearts was the most important thing right now.

Besides, those savages were dirt poor. Even if he collected taxes, how much could he possibly get?

Hunting and gathering were extremely inefficient means of production. The savages could barely feed themselves. If he truly made them pay taxes, even Samwell would feel guilty.

Of course, after three months, taxes still had to be collected.

Even if the taxes collected were returned as welfare, they still had to be collected.

It was a subject's duty.

If the tax exemption continued, it probably would not be long before no one remembered they had a lord.

What was more, Samwell had already established an Orphanage to help his subjects care for the elderly, the widowed, the orphaned, and the young, greatly reducing their burdens. Collecting some taxes would not affect their lives too severely.

After that, the two discussed a few more details regarding the resettlement of the savages.

When they were finished, Samwell was about to catch up on some sleep when his attendant Katu came running in to report.

"My lord, a woman claiming to be the chief of the Wandering Crow Tribe wishes to see you."

"The Wandering Crow Tribe? Bring her in."

"Yes."

After learning last night that most of the Wandering Crow Tribe had fled amid the chaos, Samwell had been quite disappointed.

That was because this tribe possessed Ghost Grass, which could increase his Spirit attribute.

When the people of the Tiger Tooth Tribe had previously delivered his invitation to the Wandering Crow Tribe, they had been refused.

He had been worrying over how to contact them when, unexpectedly, the Wandering Crow Tribe had come to him on their own initiative.

Samwell naturally knew that they were likely here for the tribespeople he had captured.

As he considered this, a tall woman walked into the wooden house.

A dark veil covered most of her face, revealing only a pair of violet eyes. Her long dark-brown hair draped over her shoulders, and though her deerskin clothing was plain and rough, it could not conceal the mysterious, noble air about her.

She approached Samwell with elegant steps, bowed, and said,

"Honorable Lord Caesar, I am Nara, chief of the Wandering Crow Tribe. On behalf of all my tribespeople, I offer you our most sincere greetings."