The second-floor building, the main hall.

The bloodstains had been cleaned, and the damaged tables and chairs were replaced with new ones.

In the center of the hall stood a long table made of several thick wooden planks, covered with a slightly coarse but clearly marked beast-skin map.

Lin Feng sat at the head of the table, wearing his green leather armor, with the Wildfire Spear leaning against his hand.

After a night of rest, the wound on his left shoulder had mostly healed thanks to Uncle Wu's careful treatment and his own powerful recovery ability, leaving only a faint, dull pain.

Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Jian Yan, Shadow Snake, Uncle Wu, and the newly joined A Wang sat around both sides of the long table.

"Everyone is here," Zhao Hu, acting as the de facto second-in-command, spoke first in a steady voice. "Lin Feng, following your orders from last night, the camp has been preliminarily settled."

"The night watch changed twice last night without any anomalies. Old Wu has inventoried and registered the stored grain, weapons, and medicinal herbs."

Lin Feng nodded, his gaze falling on the map on the table. "Brother Zhao, tell us about the situation around us first."

Zhao Hu took a deep breath and pointed his finger at the center of the map—where a simple triangular symbol was drawn in charcoal, with "Black Wind Camp" labeled next to it. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Our place, to put it nicely, is a camp. To put it bluntly, it's just a corner where we can barely catch our breath."

Zhao Hu's tone held self-deprecation and gravity. "To the east is this river."

His finger moved east, tracing a winding blue line. "This is the river next to our camp, called the 'Black Water River,' flowing southeast."

"About ten miles down the river is the largest force in this area—the Black Wolf Den."

At the mention of this name, the expressions of everyone present turned solemn.

"The Black Wolf Den has three leaders," Zhao Hu said heavily. "The First Boss, 'One-Eyed Wolf,' is a Level 10 Warrior. It's said his strength is very formidable."

"The Second Boss, 'Blood Hand,' is a Level 10 Assassin, ruthless and cold-blooded."

"The Third Boss, 'Jackal,' is also Level 10, with attributes focused on agility and constitution. He's very difficult to deal with."

"Under them, there are six Level 9 enforcers, over ten Level 8s, and no fewer than a hundred NPC lackeys. Moreover, most of the Awakened there are cold-blooded fugitives with fierce combat power."

Tie Dun sucked in a breath of cold air. "Three Level 10s? And so many experts?"

"This... even if we all banded together, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ we wouldn't be enough to even be a snack for them!"

Zhao Hu nodded. "That’s not even the most troublesome part. The trouble is that the Black Wolf Den isn't just a simple bandit den."

"It occupies the most fertile alluvial plain downstream of the Black Water River. The land can grow crops, and they have their own cultivated fields."

"Furthermore, they have a complete system of craftsmen—the blacksmith shop has two masters who can forge white-grade equipment and one who can forge green-grade. The tailor shop has a tailor who can make green-grade cloth and leather armor. There are also woodworking workshops and even a small tavern."

"Most importantly, they have established a fixed 'trading market' there."

"A market?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," A Wang took over the conversation, clearly more familiar with the place. "Our Black Wind Camp, as well as the Xiaoyao Stronghold and Juyi Manor further downstream."

"When we have excess pelts from hunting or gathered herbs and ores, or when we want to exchange for better equipment, medicine, or food, we all have to go to the Black Wolf Den's market to trade."

"They take a cut, but they also provide a venue and protection. At the very least, violence is forbidden inside."

"How much is the cut?" Lin Feng asked.

"It depends on the item," A Wang said. "They take ten percent for common materials. For good things like energy crystals, rare herbs, or high-integrity monster materials, they take twenty or even thirty percent."

"But they do have the things we desperately need—armor, prepared medicines, salt, and weapons."

Zhao Hu added, "The people of the Black Wolf Den are mostly fugitives. They are ruthless, and their rules are strict."

"They've seized the most fertile hunting grounds in the eastern swamp. Our Black Wind Camp could only pick up the scraps in the northeast corner before."

"The situation is similar for Xiaoyao Stronghold and Juyi Manor."

"Xiaoyao Stronghold is ten miles downstream from the Black Wolf Den, near the southeast direction of the swamp. Their leader is called 'Guo Shan Feng,' Level 10. He was originally a lone master thief. Most of his subordinates are outlaws, but some are also refugees who fled after their territories were destroyed. It's a complex mix."

"Fifteen miles downstream from the Black Wolf Den is Juyi Manor. Their leader is 'Cloud-Piercing Eagle,' also Level 10, and it's said his archery is superb."

"The people in the manor are relatively more orderly. Many came as refugees with their families. Their combat power might be weaker, but they are more united."

"In other words, Black Wind, Xiaoyao, and Juyi—the three of us have similar strength and are all suppressed by the Black Wolf Den?" Lin Feng summarized.

"Exactly," Zhao Hu confirmed. "The Black Wolf Den needs us on the periphery to act as a buffer against threats from the wilderness and the Stone Forest."

"They also need us to provide pelts and materials, so they usually don't drive us to extinction, but the exploitation never stops."

"Once we show any sign of growing stronger or discover any valuable resource points, they will definitely annex or destroy us immediately."

Silence fell over the hall. The cruelty of reality far exceeded their imagination.

They had thought that by dealing with the bald boss, they would gain a chance to breathe, but they hadn't expected the behemoth that was the Black Wolf Den to be looming over them.

“The location of the Black Wolf Den...” Lin Feng's gaze fell once more on the map, on the wolf-head symbol representing the Black Wolf Den. “Close to a water source, fertile land, and special NPCs...”

Zhao Hu understood his meaning and smiled bitterly. "Yes, that is a good place to establish a formal territory."

"I've heard that the greatest wish of the Black Wolf Den's First Boss, One-Eyed Wolf, is to obtain a 'Village Establishment Order.'"

"By establishing a village there recognized by the National Fortune Cauldron, he could shed his status as a bandit and even gain the blessing of the national fortune. Unfortunately, a Village Establishment Order is too hard to come by."

Lin Feng's heart stirred. Even if the probability of a Village Establishment Order dropping was only one in a million, under his Eye of Probability, it would be one hundred percent! If he could get his hands on a Village Establishment Order first...

The thought made his heart race, but he immediately suppressed it. Thinking about that now was too far off; the immediate priority was to stabilize the camp and increase their strength.

"A Wang." Lin Feng looked at the newly joined hunter captain. "You are familiar with the surrounding terrain and monster distribution. From now on, you will be primarily responsible for the camp's hunting and reconnaissance, reporting directly to Zhao Hu."

"Yes, Chief!" A Wang stood up and responded respectfully. He was a lean, tough man with a scar on his face and sharp eyes, possessing the typical demeanor of a hunter.

"There are several primary tasks at hand," Lin Feng began to deploy. "First, consolidate our defenses. Zhao Hu, take men to reinforce the walls and set up more traps, especially in the direction of the Black Wolf Den."

"Second, increase our strength. All Awakened are to step up their training and take turns going out to hunt and level up as quickly as possible. Resources will be prioritized for combat personnel."

"Third, stockpile supplies. Inventory the warehouse and be frugal. We can try to make contact with Xiaoyao Stronghold and Juyi Manor to see if there's any possibility of uniting against the Black Wolf Den's exploitation, but be extremely cautious."

"Fourth, explore the Stone Forest. Information about the Ancient Tomb is to be kept confidential for now. Once my strength has increased further, I will personally lead a team to investigate it again."

Everyone accepted their orders, feeling convinced by Lin Feng's clear and organized arrangements.

The Black Wolf Den was a massive threat, but it could also be an opportunity.

That fertile Riverbend Land, those special NPCs... if they could take that place in the future, the starting point for establishing their territory would be much higher.

"Strength... I still don't have enough strength." Lin Feng clenched his fist. Level, equipment, and influence—all needed to be improved rapidly.

"It seems that exploring the Ancient Tomb, killing the Skeleton Centurion, and obtaining the Village Establishment Order must be put on the agenda as soon as possible."

He needed that one hundred percent guaranteed drop, and he needed everything a Village Establishment Order could potentially bring.