This group of Feder People was cautious. They didn’t rush to plunder this tribe, which on the surface, had no combat strength left.

This proved they were all veteran warriors, forged in blood and fire, which made the people of the Evil Fang Tribe feel as though they’d been plunged into an ice cave.

When the men saw another group of Beastman Barbarians in Iron Armor lurking in the woods, their resolve to resist shattered like an icicle falling from a winter eave.

No one understood the terror of these Beastmen better than them!

...

Levi hadn’t expected these Northern Barbarians, notorious throughout Debei for being wild and untamable, to surrender so quickly.

"My Lord, the Northern Barbarians aren’t truly uncivilized savages. Why wouldn’t they know how to read the situation?" the little old Shaman trailing at the Lord’s heels complained resentfully. "The Debei People are just too prejudiced and discriminatory against the Northern People of the Wilderness."

"You’re a fine one to talk about knowing how to adapt to the times!"

Levi, who still hadn’t received a party invitation from this old coot, snapped irritably before striding toward the Evil Fang Tribe’s camp.

The Evil Fang Tribe was a medium-sized tribe of about a thousand people in the Kas Mountain Range. Aside from the fewer than one hundred able-bodied men left, there were nearly a thousand women, children, and elderly.

These Northern Barbarians generally had wheat-colored skin and curly brown hair. Their eyes were the color of yellowstone, a somewhat dull shade of yellow.

The able-bodied men were bare-chested, wearing simple animal-skin trousers. The women were slightly better off, though their clothes—also made of animal hide—were just enough to cover their chests and groin, leaving their flat abdomens and long, powerful thighs completely exposed.

Unlike Debei women, most of whom grew thick-waisted by middle age, these tribal women all maintained slender, fit figures.

’Like those women from my past life who practically lived in the gym.’

Most of the children in the Evil Fang Tribe didn’t even wear clothes. It was hard to say whether this was to reduce wear and tear on clothing or simply because they couldn’t be bothered in the summer heat.

However, thanks to the climate of the Northern Lands, these Northern Barbarian children looked sturdy and strong-headed, and would likely grow up to be as burly as their fathers.

The homes in the Evil Fang Tribe were mostly simple wooden structures with animal hides stretched over the roofs for waterproofing. In the livestock pens, they raised some cattle and sheep.

Although the people of the Wilderness didn’t farm, herding was second nature to them. Thus, in addition to hunting, every tribe raised some livestock to ease the pressure on their food supply.

But looking at their overall situation, it was clear this tribe was still struggling to subsist.

As a territory, High Cliff Castle was still far from complete. It was mostly composed of Warriors, with a scarcity of civilians—like a weapon that was all blade and no hilt.

Without a hilt to support it, the blade was impossible to wield.

Levi had once wondered how to get the common people of temperate, fertile Debei to abandon their homeland and move to this poor, desolate land. His conclusion: ’Yeah, right. Keep dreaming.’

He later realized he was being too narrow-minded. Why fixate on the people of Debei? Once he broadened his perspective, he saw that the Wilderness was teeming with potential subjects.

Leaving aside the other Alien Tribes, the sheer number of Northern Barbarians within the Kas Mountain Range was immense.

Therefore, this trip wasn’t just about finding the stone slabs that Sam said recorded Magic; the main goal was to bring these Northern Barbarians into the fold of High Cliff Castle.

Levi ordered Zat to lead the Beastmen and Feder Warriors in herding the people of the Evil Fang Tribe toward the Feder Tribe’s camp. The women and children, terrified of what was to come, burst into tears and wails, and the scene descended into chaos.

According to the law of the jungle that ruled the Wilderness, it wasn’t uncommon for a conquered tribe to be executed en masse. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

It was precisely this knowledge that made them tremble uncontrollably, their faces etched with despair.

Levi watched all this calmly, offering no explanation. They had been enemies on the battlefield, after all. The fact that he wasn’t enslaving every last one of them was the last shred of mercy he carried from his world’s nine-year compulsory education.

"My Lord, let me take you to find the Magic Scroll I told you about," Sam said hurriedly, hoping to gain his favor.

Sam felt that life was a curious thing.

He was an opportunist through and through. After his capture, he had only been feigning submission while looking for an opportunity to escape.

After all, as a Shaman who could use two types of Magic, he was a hot commodity who would be treated as an honored guest wherever he went—not like the Lord of High Cliff Castle, a complete novice at Witchcraft who was blind to his talents.

Besides, anyone with eyes could see that the Feder Tribe, having submitted to High Cliff Castle, was about to be crushed by the great army of the Wilderness. He had no intention of being collateral damage.

But ever since he had witnessed the Lord’s demonic strength and saw the great army of the Wilderness utterly routed by a few hundred men, he had become desperate to win the favor of the Lord of High Cliff Castle.

With his years of experience, he was certain this Lord was destined for great things in the Wilderness. Before long, his name might even be known throughout the entire Middle Ages Continent.

And when that time came, beside the renowned Lord would stand one Great Mage Sam, whose contributions to this success were legendary.

Sam found himself lost in daydreams about the future.

"Hm?"

Just then, Levi glanced at Sam, and his system panel suddenly lit up with a party invitation from the man.

Sam was an old fox who’d been around. A classic sly dog, too slippery to get a grip on.

Ever since his capture, no matter if Levi used carrots or sticks, Sam would agree to anything on the surface while secretly plotting. His loyalty had never reached the minimum threshold required by the system to join the party.

If he weren’t such a rare Caster, the Lord would have long since put him on a ’round-the-clock work regimen.

Now, for some unknown reason, his loyalty had suddenly spiked, finally meeting the system’s requirement for a party invitation.

’No matter how devilishly cunning you are, you still have to drink this Lord’s...’

Ahem. ’...you’ll never escape the palm of my hand.’ Just as Levi was smugly about to hit ’confirm,’ the party invitation flickered twice and disappeared.

’Damn it, the old coot’s loyalty only lasted for a few moments before vanishing!’

’How dare you be two-faced? Even *I* don’t do that!’

Levi shot Sam several harsh glares, then snapped in a rage, "You’re not eating tonight! Go and reflect on what you’ve done wrong!"

"Huh?"

Sam was stunned, and at the same time, his conscience pricked him.

He had, in fact, just had second thoughts. He’d decided to observe High Cliff Castle for a while longer to see if it was truly worth joining.

After all, he still hadn’t even seen what High Cliff Castle looked like.

But judging by the Lord’s reaction, it seemed his minor wavering had been discovered.

He grew anxious and hurriedly scurried to keep up with him.

Soon, the group arrived at the place where Sam had hidden the Magic Stone Slab.

No wonder the old coot had been so confident no one would find it. Levi was surprised to see the hiding spot was an underground passage of unknown age.