Chapter 61: The Concept of the Adventurer's Association
But now, he had an even crazier idea.
Enzo exclaimed excitedly, "We can create an Adventurer's Association where everyone can become adventurers. As long as they complete tasks issued by the guild, accumulate enough points, and pay a certain fee, they can advance to higher ranks of adventurers. Of course, this plan needs further refinement."
Clara's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
However, Amy had some doubts and asked, "But how do we ensure they will join the association?"
Confidently, Enzo replied, "By giving them strength, making them tribe's warriors!"
The others immediately understood.
Survival and propagation are inherent human traits, and the pursuit of strength is an eternal aspiration for everyone. Stimulated by the lure of great power, members from numerous tribes in the jungle would undoubtedly choose to join.
At that time, Enzo would harvest a large group of "adventurer warriors".
However, Tia asked, "Enzo, who will be in charge of the Adventurer's Association?"
According to the plan, after the Adventurer's Association is established, it will attract a large number of combatants. These people are inherently strong and likely to conflict with others. The person in charge of the Adventurer's Association must have enough wisdom and strength to resolve these conflicts.
Amy thought of a suitable candidate and said, "Perhaps Priest Lucy can help."
Enzo immediately cheered, "Amy, you're brilliant! Priest Lucy is always in Venom Tribe, as Jessica said, studying the scepter of the barren mountain all day long, but she hasn't made any progress. This is a perfect opportunity to give Priest Lucy something to do for free."
...
Venom Tribe.
After another failed attempt to use the scepter of the barren mountain for sacrifice, Priestess Lucy seemed even older, her eyes filled with confusion and disbelief as she muttered, "How could this happen? Failed again..."
At that moment, Jessica's voice rang out, "Grandma Lucy!"
Priest Lucy smiled at Jessica and asked, "Jessica, why have you returned?"
Jessica replied, "I came to see you, and I feel like my strength has increased a lot again. Grandma, look—"
To Priest Lucy's astonished gaze, Jessica directly controlled the several golden leeches.
As one of Venom Tribe's hidden cards, although golden leeches were extremely powerful, their intelligence was very low and they could only understand simple commands. Even she had spent several months successfully communicating with the golden leeches and could only perform simple manipulations, nothing like Jessica's ease.
Is she really getting old?
These are supernatural creatures!
Priest Lucy sighed inwardly and couldn't help but ask, "Jessica, how did you do it? And how did your strength increase so quickly?"
Upon hearing this, Jessica blushed.
She whispered in reply, "During this time, I've been spending a lot of time with Enzo. We've been… you know, doing that quite often…"
Seeing Jessica's expression, Priestess Lucy understood, though she felt more dismayed.
She looked towards the scepter of the barren mountain and suddenly had an idea. Turning to Jessica, she said, "Jessica, let's go back to the Crimson Star Tribe again. I need to try out an idea."
Jessica nodded eagerly.
She quickly ran back to her room, packed all her belongings, and returned to Priest Lucy, saying, "Grandma, let's go!"
Seeing Jessica carrying a large bundle, Priest Lucy was stunned and asked, "Jessica, what's all this?"
Jessica said directly, "Grandma, I've decided to live with the Crimson Star Tribe from now on. Not only do I have Tia, Amy, and Clara to keep me company, but there are also many new and exciting things. We're even building a market recently, and I've applied for my own shop to sell some goods from the swamp. Enzo says it's a great way to earn a lot of currency."
Hearing this, Priest Lucy couldn't help but repeat, "Currency, a shop..."
She sighed and remarked, "I didn't expect the Crimson Star Tribe to undergo such big changes in such a short time. This rate of development is truly frightening..."
Afterwards, she gently touched Jessica's silver hair and said, "Jessica, if you want to go, then go."
Jessica nodded vigorously and then accompanied Lucy to the Crimson Star Tribe.
...
Meanwhile, Heru, responsible for contacting other tribes, arrived with members of the Vanguard squad at the nearest tribe to the Crimson Star Tribe's camp - the Flower Cat Tribe.
They were quickly discovered upon approaching.
Heru spoke first, "We are from the Crimson Star Tribe, we mean no harm!"
The people of the Flower Cat Tribe hurriedly informed their priest, Lester.
After Lester came out and assessed Heru, noticing Heru's single arm, he immediately recalled the person who stood next to the powerful priest of the Crimson Star Tribe during the extermination of the Chew Bone Tribe. He hastily asked, "Are you one of those who participated in the extermination of the Chew Bone Tribe?"
Heru answered, "Yes, it was me."
After confirming their identities, Lester's face lit up with a smile as he turned to the others and said, "Welcome!"
However, Lester suddenly froze, incredulously exclaiming, "Tribe's warriors! They're all tribe's warriors!"
"Tribe's warriors!"
Lester's astonishment drew more gasps from the Flower Cat Tribe members. They looked at Heru and his team, unable to restrain themselves from asking Priest Lester, "Priest Lester, are you saying they're all tribe's warriors?"
Lester nodded solemnly, "Yes, I am sure of it. They are indeed all tribe's warriors!"
Heru chuckled and said, "Priest Lester, you're correct. Thanks to Lord Enzo, all of us here have become tribe's warriors, gaining the ability to protect ourselves in this dangerous jungle."
At this moment, Heru's admission left everyone in the Flower Cat Tribe in shock.
The Vanguard squad consisted of ten people, all confirmed tribe's warriors. It was certain that there were even more tribe's warriors in the Crimson Star Tribe, as no tribe's leader would risk sending out all their core forces far from the camp.
But if that was the case...
Just how powerful was the Crimson Star Tribe?
And why did such a powerful tribe dispatch such a formidable team?
Priest Lester realized the implications and fell into contemplation.
After a brief distraction, he quickly recovered, slightly bowing and respectfully ushering Heru and his team into the camp, asking, "Captain Heru, is there something urgent you've come to the Flower Cat Tribe for?"
Lester was visibly nervous.
Heru glanced at the other members of the Flower Cat Tribe.
These people were thin and pale, better off than Yara's group whom they had first encountered, but still showing signs of fatigue. Their gazes towards the Vanguard squad revealed both fear and longing.
The Flower Cat Tribe was clearly in a difficult situation at present.
Worsened by the disasters brought by the rainy season, they were far more severe than expected.
Confirming this situation, Heru directly stated, "Priest Lester, the Crimson Star Tribe has recently established its own market. Lord Enzo allows neighboring tribes to come to the market to sell goods or purchase supplies. My visit here is to inform you of this development, hoping that the Flower Cat Tribe can become an important seller or customer at the market."
Lester was astonished, "A market?"
He had heard of markets, but such things were usually only seen in larger tribes.
Moreover, in this barren jungle, apart from animal skins and meat, there was hardly anything else to sell. Establishing a market seemed pointless and superfluous.
He thought this but dared not say it aloud.
Nor could he refuse, so he merely replied, "Since it's Lord Enzo's command, the Flower Cat Tribe will certainly comply. May I know when the market will begin? I will make sure to attend."
Heru hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.
He replied, "The market will open in two weeks."
Priest Lester nodded in acknowledgment and bid farewell, inviting Heru once more to enjoy the prepared roast meat. However, seeing the charred appearance of the meat, Heru had completely lost his appetite. Moreover, he was eager to move on to the next tribe and did not linger, swiftly departing with his Vanguard squad members from the Flower Cat Tribe.
After the Vanguard squad left, the people of the Flower Cat Tribe began discussing among themselves.
Someone asked, "Priest Lester, did the Crimson Star Tribe really build a market to sell goods?"
Priest Lester didn't know for sure. Without seeing it himself, he couldn't confirm.
However, he leaned towards skepticism and speculated, "Hard to say. Rather than establishing a market, I'm more inclined to believe this is a display of power by the Crimson Star Tribe. Sending people to notify us to bring goods for trade likely means they want us to offer resources. After all, such plundering is the norm in the jungle."
Many of the tribespeople cast resentful glances but felt powerless to do anything about it.
Sensing their discontent, Priest Lester sighed and continued, "There are still three blank-faced giant tiger skins left in the camp. I will take a few people to deliver them to the Crimson Star Tribe. With these three skins, hopefully, the Crimson Star Tribe won't trouble us."
Some of the tribespeople voiced their displeasure, "But those three tiger skins are treasures of our tribe!"
Priest Lester also felt the pain, seeing the gathered tribespeople with their mournful voices. He said sadly, "My people, this is the cruel reality of the jungle. If you are weak, you will be preyed upon by the strong tribes. Just like the Chew Bone Tribe before, which was wiped out by the Crimson Star Tribe. Now, in this jungle, the Crimson Star Tribe is the new king!"
After his words, silence fell over the Flower Cat Tribe's people.
They understood all too well that what Priest Lester said was true—
It was the harsh reality of their jungle: the strong ruled supreme.