Chapter 1145, Laying the Groundwork Beforehand

Translator: Silavin

“How long do the insects generally live?” Su Bai asked.

He wanted to understand how long these insects could survive, in order to plan how they might be put to use.

“If the food supply is sufficient and conditions are suitable, living thirty or forty days is no problem at all.” Qiong said immediately.

“What do these insects generally eat?” Su Bai continued.

“They rather prefer tender green leaves. Sometimes they will eat a little meat as well, though they prefer carrion.” Qiong continued to explain.

“Can everyone in the Horned Goat Tribe control insects?” Su Bai asked.

If that was truly the case, then the entire Horned Goat Tribe would represent a considerable fighting force.

“Not everyone is able to control insects. Only a small number can, because it requires learning.” Qiong hesitated a moment, then raised his head and said. “This was taught by our Tribe’s Shaman. Only those who have studied it know how to control insects.”

This was a closely guarded secret of the Horned Goat Tribe. Not everyone could learn it, and not everyone who tried was able to master it.

“So how many people in the entire Horned Goat Tribe have learned it?” Su Bai asked.

“Including the three of us who came this time, plus the others in the Tribe, there are fifteen people altogether who know how to control insects.” Qiong said without holding anything back.

He had not wanted to reveal the Tribe’s secrets, but there was nothing else he could do now. It was the Horned Goat Tribe’s own weakness that had brought them to this, leaving them with no choice but to be at another Tribe’s mercy.

“How many Totem Warriors does the Horned Goat Tribe have?” Su Bai continued, intending to get a full picture of the Horned Goat Tribe while he had the chance.

“Our Tribe has forty Totem Warriors and over twenty Warrior Trainees. The scale is not particularly large.” Qiong’s tone was full of resignation.

Nobody wanted to lay all of their Tribe’s foundation bare before a stranger, but what other choice did he have?

“What is the total number of people in the Horned Goat Tribe? What is your main food source at present?” Su Bai had of course heard the resignation in the other party’s voice.

But that was not his concern. He understood the logic of the strong preying upon the weak. If he were soft-hearted, the one who lost in the end would only be the Flame Dragon Tribe.

In a world where the strong held dominion, unnecessary sentimentality would only lead to total defeat.

And so, he had to harden himself. For the sake of the entire Flame Dragon Tribe’s development, this was what he had to do.

“Our Tribe has a little over four hundred people in total. It is a Small Tribe. Our main food source comes from trading insects for food.” Qiong said, one word at a time.

He knew he had no other choice. In order to win favour with the powerful figure before him, what did it matter to lay out everything the Tribe had?

“The rift between your Tribe and the Coiled Goat Tribe has not been a short one. Have they also joined the Dark Scorpion Tribe?” Su Bai asked.

At this point he was no longer very keen on working with the last remaining Tribe. After all, the Horned Goat Tribe had already joined the Flame Dragon Tribe.

Under these circumstances, why go to the extra bother of cooperating with the Coiled Goat Tribe?

“Since we split from them into two separate Tribes, the two of us have had no dealings at all. However, they should not have joined the Dark Scorpion Tribe.” Qiong shook his head.

“After the split, both of your Tribes must have suffered a significant reduction in strength. Since the Dark Scorpion Tribe occupied your Tribe, why didn’t they also go and occupy the other one?” Su Bai asked.

He had noticed a gap in the other party’s account. Combined with the intelligence he had gathered previously, the Horned Goat Tribe’s predecessor had not been a particularly Large Tribe even before the split.

Su Bai recalled that after the split into two Tribes, both sides had been roughly equal in strength and numbers.

Since the Dark Scorpion Tribe had gone to invade the Horned Goat Tribe, they would certainly also have gone to invade the Coiled Goat Tribe with the same strength level. There was no logical reason they would remain self-governing to this day.

“The position of the Coiled Goat Tribe is more favourable. Although it is also near a great river, there are quite a few tall mountains around it that block access. You have to cross those mountains to reach their Tribe…”

Qiong explained the reason carefully. The main thing was really the other side’s geographical conditions.

What one might call a place easy to defend and difficult to attack. The Dark Scorpion Tribe did not mobilise their entire force when occupying other Tribes. They always moved unit by unit.

Since both sides had been evenly matched to begin with, the Coiled Goat Tribe’s advantageous geographical position was what had allowed them to remain self-governing.

“I see. Mountains on three sides, a river on one. It truly is indeed a great geographical position.” Su Bai nodded thoughtfully.

He was beginning to take an interest in the Coiled Goat Tribe. If this Tribe could become part of the Flame Dragon Tribe, it would bring considerable room for future development.

“Shaman, is there anything else you need to know?” Qiong had already learned how to curry favour.

This was something he had been forced to pick up immediately. Only this way would life be easier for the Horned Goat Tribe going forward.

Of course, Qiong had somewhat misjudged things here. He kept assuming Su Bai was the sort of cruel and tyrannical figure. Su Bai naturally had no idea the other party thought of him that way. But it did no harm, and he would not soften when it was unnecessary.

“Then do you know the number of Warriors in the Coiled Goat Tribe?” Su Bai asked.

Since the other party had raised it themselves, there was no reason to refuse intelligence that came delivered right to him.

“Their overall numbers and Warrior count are similar to ours. The number who can control insects is also roughly the same.” Qiong said without reservation.

At this point the Horned Goat Tribe had already fallen under another Tribe’s command. Added to the fact that they had always detested the Coiled Goat Tribe, selling them out felt rather satisfying.

“I see. Noted. You may all go now, and I will have someone take a ship to see you home.” Su Bai waved a hand.

He had already gathered most of the intelligence he wanted. What remained was to have them go and prepare for the signing of the Contract.

“Yes.” The three of Qiong’s group gave a nod and turned to leave.

*Step step step…*

Yu Ying watched their departing figures, then turned around and asked curiously: “Shaman, why did they agree so quickly this time? There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation.”

Yu Ying at the side had been watching in a complete fog. Just a few words, and the entire Horned Goat Tribe had joined the Flame Dragon Tribe. It was simply too extraordinary.

Yu Ying could hardly believe what she had just witnessed. It was like children playing house.

A normal exchange between two Tribes was nothing like this. The Horned Goat Tribe had conceded far too quickly.

Though this was good news for the Flame Dragon Tribe, for Yu Ying it left her small head full of very large questions.

“Because the groundwork was laid beforehand.” Su Bai laughed brightly.

It was mainly because seeing the other party’s stunned expression was rather amusing. Naturally, someone who did not understand the whole story would be astonished.