The energy railcar came to an abrupt halt at the border outpost.
Tu Hu stepped off alone and onto the muddy ground.
The only item he carried was a slightly worn wineskin at his waist.
In choosing to come to the border negotiations himself, Tu Hu had also considered his unique innate ability: automatic translation.
He had discovered this long ago, during his wandering journey with the second-generation Velvet Spirits after leaving Star Valley.
He could read every inscription in the ruins they explored along the way.
It seemed that no language or writing barrier existed for him.
Although he did not understand why he possessed such an utterly illogical innate ability, it would clearly be an important asset during negotiations.
At least there would be no barriers to communication.
Before his arrival, envoys from the Velvet Spirit Tribe had already made contact with the Riftbone Tribe.
Bearing carefully prepared gifts, they had conveyed their willingness to submit through gestures and other means.
Although the language barrier made communication extremely difficult, their humble posture and offerings had at least made the other side understand that the Velvet Spirit Tribe did not dare oppose them.
Now, he needed to make that "submission" more valuable.
Several days later, Tu Hu appeared before a fortress built from enormous beast bones and black stone.
The stronghold known as Shattered Bone Fortress was even more primitive than he had imagined.
There were no technological products whatsoever. Dozens of rotting corpses hung outside the walls, their forms revealing creatures of different races, like trophies with which the Riftbone Tribe flaunted its victories.
The air was thick with the stench of blood.
At that moment, guards resembling lizard people patrolled nearby in bone armor, their eyes gleaming with ferocity as low growls occasionally rumbled from their throats.