First Expedition Team Status, Communication Ship Arrives

"Oh, Kishuu, you've worked hard!"

The Great Leader, panting, swallowed all the stew in a few bites. He took the statistical sheet Kishuu brought and began to examine it closely by the campfire.

The Wilderness Master made way for Kishuu, and an Felyne immediately scurried over with hot water and food.

"Thank you!"

Kishuu took the food, thanked the busy Felyne, and then spoke with a serious expression.

"The Herbivore Dragons near us migrated today. Due to the long distance and the extreme danger along the way, the investigators tracking them couldn't keep up. With our current food reserves, we can only last for three more days at most."

This was a conservative estimate. Hunters were powerful, but their appetite was directly proportional to their combat strength. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that some small, three-to-four-meter carnivorous dragons ate less than a hunter. The three-day estimate was based on Aunt Cat's new recipes, which substituted some vegetables and mushrooms with cactus balls.

"Besides food, our medicinal herbs, bandages, and Guide Bug fruits are also running low. For the next few days, we can't use the Guide Bugs as freely as before."

"Out of sixteen hunters, eleven are injured. Odeno's injuries are so severe that he can no longer participate in investigation missions. We ventured too deep into the Great Antlion Desert and haven't made contact with the Beastkin here. The Cat Car from the forest also can't reach us."

Hearing this, the Great Leader nodded. This was a serious problem. Even though hunters had strong physiques, Odeno had been directly hit by a furious Barroth while saving a scholar nearby. He had multiple fractured ribs. If he wasn't treated promptly, his hunting career would likely end.

This was something the Great Leader could not accept.

Their First Expedition Team only had 18 hunters in total. Losing an elite member so easily would be too great a blow to the Investigation Team.

Seeing the Great Leader's furrowed brow, Kishuu sighed and continued.

"Actually, these aren't the most troublesome issues. Odeno's condition can be managed by assigning two extra hunters to escort him back to Astera. The real problem is our weapons and ammunition."

"Even though we collected a lot of fruits that can be used to make ammunition along the way, the Ballista users are almost out of ammo, and the archers have very few arrows left. Each hunter's armor has some damage, and two Longsword Users' armor is no longer usable."

"Longsword Users, that's normal."

The Sword Master opposite nodded. Although he used a Great Sword, he was also proficient with the Longsword. The Longsword Users of the First Expedition Team had also received his teachings, learning some extremely risky but highly rewarding techniques.

Reward was proportional to risk. When fighting on the front lines, the Longsword Users were often the ones who sustained the most damage.

"Armor is one thing, but the weapons aren't looking good either. The weapons of the three Dual Blades Users who are in the worst condition are nearing the point of being scrapped. They've even run out of Whetstones and can only re-gather materials to forge new ones. However..."

Kishuu didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present had enough experience to understand.

Re-forging them would be slower than simply gathering new materials to craft a new pair.

"Umm, it seems that once we get back to Astera, Lubomir is going to scold me to death!"

The Great Leader said with a wry smile.

Lubomir was a Dragon Person Blacksmith and also a Dragon Person Mechanist, responsible for the First Expedition Team's weapon and equipment crafting, maintenance, and the construction of the base's defensive facilities.

He and his three Felyne apprentices were the only ones in the entire First Expedition Team capable of handling this work.

The hunters' equipment was made from various monster materials combined with metal, a very intricate process.

Not only did they gain nothing from this expedition, but they also pushed the hunters' equipment to its limits. Even if he worked overtime, it would take him a month to repair all the equipment. Until then, the combat strength of the Star Base would be significantly reduced.

"We can't delay any longer. This investigation has been a complete failure. It's better to return early, regroup, and lay a good foundation for those who might come later," the Dragon Person hunter said calmly, his face devoid of strong emotion. His somewhat disheartening words did not cause his emotions to fluctuate at all.

The atmosphere around the campfire immediately turned cold.

This was a harsh reality.

Their First Expedition Team had arrived on the New World five years ago!

For five full years, they had been as good as forgotten by the Hunter's Guild. No Communication Ships had come to check on their progress, nor had any Supply Ships provided them with resources.

If everyone hadn't been mentally prepared before coming to the New World, the hardship of surviving for these five years alone would have been enough to break most people's will.

"Hmph! Then let's go back! As you said, we need to preserve our strength and make a good start for those who come after us!"

The Great Leader slapped his knees and stood up, shouting his decision to the entire camp, informing everyone that they would start their return journey tomorrow.

The next day, at the Star Base on the New World.

While examining a document and comparing the 'Moonstone' with the picture in the literature, Nori let out a sigh.

"It's not it again..."

The cool Moonstone in his hand reflected a purple hue in the sunlight. He was one of the personnel left behind at Astera. In recent days, Nori had been immersed in a sea of books, constantly searching for the secret of this stone he had named 'Moonstone'.

Unfortunately, he had found nothing so far.

Just as he stretched and was about to pick up some fruit to fill his stomach, which he hadn't eaten for ten minutes, a sail appeared on the horizon. Soon after, a keel ship emerged from the sea.

This discovery stunned Nori, and then he became extremely excited.

Five years! Five whole years! A ship had finally appeared!

He bit into a large pear, pulled out a grappling hook from his waist, and rushed to a nearby rope. He attached the hook and slid down to the coast at the foot of the mountain.

This area had undergone some rough modifications, using the broken wreckage of the Starship to create a simple platform.

The Acting Leader, who was also staying behind, worked here.

"Acting Leader! Acting Leader!"

The excited shouts made the Acting Leader, Carlos, sigh.

This glutton, while an excellent Editor, was not only a big eater but also incredibly energetic. He once managed to stay on the back of a rampaging Great Jagras for a full half-hour without being thrown off.

Carlos had recently had some new ideas. He believed that the current responsibilities of the Editors had exceeded what an Editor should bear, becoming a new profession. Therefore, he intended to rename Editors to Chroniclers, who would primarily be responsible for recording everything they saw and handling some clerical matters in conjunction with the hunters.