"Since we’re already here, we should definitely take a look!" Maximus imdiately showed interest.
The group headed straight for the Iron Workshop.
Along the way, Capito casually remarked, "Earlier, when I saw the paper they made, I was overly excited, but you, leader, remained as calm as always..."
Maximus blinked, recalling the recent rumors in the tribe about him being favored by the Divine, and said softly, "If I told you that I have seen much better paper in a dream, which is why I could stay calm, would you believe ?"
"I believe!" Capito replied with certainty this ti.
........................
When Hagux found Emrich, he was brewing herbal concoctions at Snowdonia Hospital. Upon receiving orders, he set out imdiately.
With no extra horses available, he rushed to the dock just as a small boat transporting supplies to Westeni was about to leave. He got permission to board, and the boat swiftly sailed downriver, moving almost as fast as a horse.
By the ti he reached the Westeni dock, crossed the wooden bridge, and arrived before Gowes, Emrich was already out of breath.
"It’s Emrich Sage!" The Skodisqi people beca excited upon seeing Emrich, even those injured showed their respect with grand bows.
Only Gowes frowned and asked discontentedly, "Sage, why didn’t the leader of the Nix Tribe co?"
"Why should the leader co?" Emrich, seeing Gowes’s disgruntled deanor, felt it necessary to dispel his illusions and spoke bluntly: "In the past few months, dozens to hundreds of compatriots have fled from Brochi, obediently following the tribe’s arrangents, without anyone demanding to see the leader before seeking refuge;
During this ti, the leaders from the Alde Tribe have visited several tis, each ti politely going to the main house to et the leader;
Even the envoys from the Segestica people, whom we despise the most, have dutifully followed the tribe’s arrangents... You tell , with your group of less than a hundred, looking like refugees, what right do you have to demand the leader co to see you personally?!"
"We...we..." Gowes was at a loss for words, then gritted his teeth and said, "If it weren’t for us constantly launching attacks within the Segestica Territory, distracting them, would these outsiders have it so easy?! We did them a great service, we’re their benefactors, shouldn’t their leader co to see us in person?!"
"Gowes, first I must remind you, stop calling ’outsiders, outsiders,’ my tribe has a na, it’s called Nix!" Emrich gravely reminded him, "Gowes, when you attacked the Segestica Territory, was it our tribe’s leader who asked you? I recall Leader Maximus wanted you to stay, but you insisted on leaving, and it was due to your hatred against the Segestica people that led you to actively launch attacks, which has nothing to do with the Nix Tribe.
As for why the tribe now enjoys a stable life, it’s not your credit, but because Leader Maximus led the tribesn courageously to attack the mighty Segestica people, capturing two fortresses in one day, then defeated Segestica Great Leader Andres’s 20,000 troops in a battle against the odds, and finally held the camp, thwarting the Pannonian Tribe Alliance’s 30,000 army, even severely injuring Andres...
It’s precisely because of these successive victories that Segestica’s strength was greatly reduced, and they dared not go to war with the Nix Tribe again, which has little to do with your raids on the Segestica Territory. On the contrary, I recall when you left us last ti, you took nearly 700 tribesn with you, where are they now?!"
Emrich’s words deflated Gowes’s montum, he dared not face the questioning gaze, lowering his head, and after a mont, said angrily, "Isn’t it because these outsiders... the Nix Tribe no longer fights the Segestica people, letting them focus on dealing with us!
There are too many Segestica warriors, and like dogs, no matter where we hide, they can find us!... Sage, you’re our compatriot too, once oppressed by the Segestica people, you should persuade the Nix Tribe’s leader to continue the fight against Segestica—"
"Gowes!" Emrich loudly interrupted him, unceremoniously questioning, "Did you co to our tribe’s territory today just to say these things to Leader Maximus?!"
Gowes did not respond.
Emrich further said, "I’ve heard so things about you in the tribe, you’ve led multiple raids on Segestica people’s territory, indeed rescuing many of our compatriots, reportedly at tis up to 2,000—"
"No, over 3,000," Gowes corrected.
"But where are these over 3,000 compatriots now! Most either died under the Segestica long spear or were recaptured by them and suffered even more horrific abuse! You’re not saving them, you’re bringing disaster upon them!"
Emrich grew angrier as he spoke, genuinely feeling heartbroken for the deceased compatriots: "They could have endured a little longer, and led a free life like the compatriots in the tribe, but because of you, they’ve lost their lives! Now with only these few pitiful compatriots left by your side, tell , have you brought them here with the genuine intention to join the Nix Tribe?!"
Before Gowes could answer, the others began to clamor, "Sage, we genuinely want to join you!"
"I’m long tired of living in fear, hiding and fleeing! I haven’t had a restful sleep in ages!"
"Sage, many of my familiar companions have died! I’m truly scared of being killed in the wilderness like them, with my body being eaten by wild wolves and crows!"
"Sage, I haven’t had a full al for days now, my stomach hurts from hunger!"
"Sage, sobbing..."
...
Everyone gathered around, rushing to complain, and as one person began to cry, many others followed in tears.
Gowes, observing this scene, rembered what Emrich had said earlier, feeling deeply disheartened and dejected for quite a while before saying in a downcast manner, "Sage, we genuinely wish to join the Nix Tribe."
"If that’s the case, I must declare sothing first!" Emrich heightened his tone, drawing everyone’s attention, "For those wishing to join the Nix Tribe, there are specific decrees: after joining, you must comply with the tribe’s arrangents and obey the tribe’s commands, or face punishnt! If you beco a tribesman of the Nicos Tribe, leaving the tribe without permission will be seen as treason, and in severe cases, you will be publicly executed!"
"What?!" A commotion erupted in the crowd.
Gowes was particularly shocked, imdiately questioning loudly, "Sage, if the Nix Tribe is so harsh on newcors like us, how is it different from being slaves to the Segestica people?"
"Completely different!" Emrich stated earnestly, "Among the Segestica people, we were slaves, poorly fed, poorly clothed, poorly rested, forced to labor to death, constantly at risk of being beaten to death, worse than their cattle and horses;
While in the Nix Tribe, you beco part of the tribe, with specific decrees safeguarding your life and dignity, and anyone who dares to disrespect or violate you will be punished. You will eat well, sleep well, and after three years, beco Official Tribe mbers, receiving more than 50 acres of land!—"
"50 acres of land!" The crowd gasped in surprise, "Is that true?!"
"Of course it’s true! In front of the main houses in the two fortresses, wooden plaques stand with various decrees from the tribe carved on them, including those about this, with specific people to explain them, you can go see and listen when you have the chance. Actually, it’s not just 50 acres of land, if you contribute to the tribe and achieve Great rit, you can gain even more land!"
A further wave of surprise spread through the crowd.
Soone asked, "Sage, if the Nix Tribe is so great, why not distribute land to us when we join the tribe?"
Emrich patiently explained, "You should know, even by Skodisqi or Pannonian traditions, compatriots not of the tribe, even if accepted, mostly just helped tribe mbers for ten to twenty years, never truly becoming part of the tribe, let alone receiving land. The Nix Tribe is already very lenient!
The reason you are given land after three years is, first, to let the original tribesn accept it, as the land was bought with their blood and lives, and you can’t just arrive and share their fruits;
Second, the Nix Tribe is very different from other tribes here, you need ti to adapt, and during these three years, it’s also an assessnt period by the tribe, frequently violating tribal decrees and generally misbehaving individuals may see their ti extended before becoming Official Tribe mbers, while exemplary individuals may see their ti shortened towards land distribution—"
Seeing that everyone was eager to ask more questions, Emrich raised his voice and said loudly, "It’s getting late, soon I need to take you to complete the procedures for joining the tribe, so that you can have dinner by dusk, we need to hurry! Now give a clear answer, do you wish to join the Nix Tribe?!"
Imdiately, the crowd quieted down, everyone looking to Gowes, who appeared indecisive.
Finally, soone couldn’t hold back and shouted, "I wish to join the Nix Tribe!"
With soone leading, others also began to express their will: "I also wish to join!"
"And !"
...
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