New World, within the wilderness not too far from the coast, the Tupa Tribe's encampment.
Within the vast camp pieced together from various simple shelters, the Tupa Tribe members bustled about. Like many native tribe camps, the very center of the Tupa Tribe's camp was the large sacrificial tent built atop a small hill. This was an important place of worship for the tribe, and also the location of the tribe's most respected Shaman.
With a rather serious expression, Kapak walked quickly along the path leading to the sacrificial tent on the hill. After a while, he reached the entrance of the tent. There were already two figures waiting for him there.
One was Kapak's teacher, the Old Shaman Uta of the entire Tupa Tribe. At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged on the seat by the tent entrance, his white hair flowing down. He wore a long robe covered in various small Ornaments and tassels, and habitually held a pipe in his hand, the tobacco in the bowl burning with tiny sparks.
The second was a young man about the same age as Kapak. His black short hair was quite messy, and he wore clothes sewn from beast hides and rough cloth. He was slightly bent at the waist, respectfully standing beside Uta, a hint of unease in his expression. Kapak recognized him; his name was Keija, and he was part of the hunting team. Kapak had acted with him before when he was still in the hunting team, killing beasts and invaders. However, after Kapak became the tribal physician and Shaman's Apprentice, he had hardly seen the other person again.
"Teacher Uta..."
Coming before Uta, Kapak performed a tribal greeting towards him. Uta took a puff from his pipe, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and nodded, signaling Kapak to rise.
"Teacher Uta, did you call me here because of Sado? I heard he disappeared? What exactly happened?"
With a solemn tone, Kapak asked Uta. Uta sighed, then opened his mouth and replied.
"Early this morning, the hunting team gathered as usual to prepare for the hunt, but Sado, the Captain, didn't show up. Afterward, they went directly to Sado's house and found it empty. When they asked Sado's neighbors, they were told that Sado hadn't appeared for two consecutive days. Three other hunting team members also disappeared with him, and those people were all very close to Sado."
Holding the pipe in his hand, Uta spoke with a serious expression. Hearing Uta's words, Kapak was slightly startled, then furrowed his brows and spoke.
"Four people, including Sado... disappeared for more than two days? How could something like this happen? Where did they go?"
Listening to Kapak's words, Uta squeezed the pipe in his hand, then looked towards the distant horizon, and spoke with a hint of worry in his tone.
"These guys... I'm afraid they've gone to the invaders' Kingdom now."
"The invaders' Kingdom?!"
Hearing Uta's words, an expression of disbelief appeared on Kapak's face. At this moment, Uta casually pointed at Keija beside him with the pipe in his hand, and then said.
"For the past few days, Sado has been trying to enlist more people to act with him, especially many in the hunting team. He has secretly talked to some of them, and some followed him, while most didn't. Among those who stayed behind, Keija knows his situation best. Tell Kapak in detail what you know."
"Yes, Utar Shaman..."
Keija first respectfully replied to the Shaman, then turned to look at Kapak, and then spoke solemnly.
"Physician Kapak, this is how it is. A few days ago, Captain Sado secretly came to find me, took me aside, and talked to me about the invaders. He asked me if I hated those invaders very much, and if the occasional attacks usually felt satisfying.
"You know my situation. I was once injured by that group of invaders, and my property was also stolen, so I hate those invaders very much. So I answered that it was definitely not satisfying. Sado left very satisfied after hearing that. After some time, Sado would come to me from time to time, talking about more topics concerning the invaders.
"Sado always said that our occasional attacks on the invaders' patrol teams were just minor skirmishes and couldn't make them understand what pain was. They send their soldiers to our land, steal our land, and kill our people. They extend their hands far out and grip our necks, and no matter how we resist, we only manage to pull out a few hairs from this big hand, leaving only a small wound. For the invaders themselves, these injuries are nothing."
Recalling Keija recounting Sado's past words, listening to Keija's words, Kapak felt increasingly uneasy in his heart.
"So, Sado told me that we need to truly harm the invaders themselves to make them feel real pain, truly the same as us, or even deeper pain. He proposed that I go with him to the invaders' Kingdom, to their heart, and inflict truly unforgettable harm on the invaders there, making them pay their blood debts."
Keija finished speaking, then fell silent and did not continue. After hearing Keija's words, Kapak, with a somber face, remained silent. After a long pause, he looked at Keija and slowly spoke.
"So, Sado has gone to the invaders' Kingdom for revenge? Then why didn't you follow him? He should have invited you."
"I... I was afraid. Sado didn't need to say that this was a very dangerous mission. Going to the invaders' Kingdom for revenge and attacking their patrol teams are two different things. It's almost impossible to come back alive, so when I determined where Sado's target was, I got scared. On the day he announced the assembly, I escaped from the tribe and didn't return until today."
Spreading his hands, Keija spoke with cowardice in his expression, while Kapak continued to speak seriously.
"Then why didn't you tell Teacher Uta at that time."
"At that time, Sado was still here! I was afraid he would retaliate against me afterward! Kapak, you know how ruthless that guy is when he hits people who disobey him! So I could only wait until he was far away before I dared to come back... Utar Shaman, please understand my difficulties."
Keija said helplessly. As he spoke, he looked towards Uta, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground mat beside him. At this moment, he was smoking his pipe while looking into the distance, and then slowly spoke.
"Sado's original tribe was wiped out in conflict with the invaders. His relatives and many people he knew died under the invaders' guns. I had foreseen that his deep hatred for the invaders might incite certain things, but I didn't expect it to become this extreme. Sado's actions were beyond my expectation. Keija... tell me honestly, has Sado been in contact with any other people recently?"
Uta stared at Keija as he said this. Stared at by Uta like that, Keija's expression panicked, and then he answered truthfully.
"Yes, when Sado came to me and others for secret meetings and discussions recently, there would occasionally be an extra man from another tribe with him. Sado would often ask him for advice. Sado called him Banu."
"Banu..."
Hearing Keija's words, Kapak's eyes widened slightly, and then he spoke in astonishment.
"It was actually Banu who was causing trouble! That guy didn't run far, he still dares to appear around here!"
Kapak said loudly. He had a deep impression of the name Banu. Banu, the Shaman Apprentice from a nearby tribe, was originally his friend who practiced Shamanism with him. However, after the incident some time ago, his true nature was exposed. He was a completely despicable person who colluded with the invading Extraordinary organization Netherworld Coffin Society, betrayed the location of the Wilderness Spirit Wooden Hoof, and secretly ambushed him.
After Kapak was rescued by the Detective and returned to the tribe, he immediately reported the issue regarding Banu to Uta. After hearing this, Uta took Kapak to Banu's tribe to find him the next day, but Banu had fled beforehand because he had received wind from the Netherworld Coffin Society. Unexpectedly, he hadn't run far but had been wandering nearby, and now he was actually secretly instigating people!
"Indeed... it seems this matter is not as simple as it appears on the surface. Since Banu has connections with the Extraordinary organization on the invaders' side, his instigation must have ulterior motives."
With a serious expression, Uta said this. Then, after taking another puff from his pipe, he turned his head to look at Kapak beside him and continued speaking.
"Kapak, you will set off immediately in a while, go to the invaders' Kingdom, and bring Sado and the others back."
As soon as Uta spoke, Kapak and Keija present were both surprised. Kapak looked at Uta with some astonishment and spoke.
"Bring them back... is it still not too late to go now? Sado and the others have been gone for at least two days, haven't they...?"
"Whether it's not too late or not, you must try. You must stop Sado before he acts, otherwise, the consequences could be unimaginable."
"Kapak, I will write a letter for you to the chief of the Kezi tribe. They live on the bank of the Whistling River. Ride there and bring them the letter, and ask them to arrange the fastest boat for you to go downstream. At their speed, it will only take a day and a half to reach the invaders' city on the coast. After that, you must find a way to take a boat to the invaders' Kingdom... Hmm... how do you pronounce it... Puliete? Since Sado is going to the heart of the invaders, he will definitely go to the most central place of that Puliete. You have connections there, so you should know more."
Uta instructed Kapak, and listening to Uta's words, he also knew where Sado was going.
There are many Main Continent countries carrying out colonial activities in the New World. Multiple different countries have established colonial territories in the New World. However, among the colonial territories of these countries, the one closest to the Tupa Tribe is Prit's colonial territory. They have also had the most contact with Prit. Therefore, the invaders' Kingdom Sado referred to is clearly Prit. Kapak, who has read many Prit books and is proficient in prite language, naturally knows where the heart of Prit is, which is its capital, Tivian.
"I understand, Teacher Uta, I will do my best to get there as quickly as possible!"
Listening to Uta's words, Kapak said solemnly, while Keija, standing beside him, spoke with some confusion at this moment.
"Utar Shaman... why bother trying to bring Sado back? Although I was scared and ran away for a while... I still think it would be good if Sado could show those white skins a thing or two..."
Keija muttered this way. After hearing his words, Uta immediately glared at him, causing him to flinch back, and then continued to speak seriously.
"Teaching the invaders a lesson is one thing, but our entire tribe being affected because of this lesson is another. Sado compares us to having our necks squeezed by the invaders' outstretched hand. Our resistance here is just pulling out the fine hairs on his hand. To make the invaders feel pain, we must hurt their body."
"But have you thought about it? No matter how desperately Sado and the others fight, they can at most cause the invaders some pain. It's impossible to kill them. And because of this pain, the other side might tighten the hand around our necks and potentially choke us to death."
"Sado's actions will come at a cost. The attacked invaders will launch a frantic retaliation. Even if Sado has come to terms with life and death and doesn't care about these things, the invaders' rage will not be satisfied with merely burning Sado to ashes. They will eventually vent their anger on the tribe. They might break the status quo and attack us recklessly, and no matter what, we will face incalculable losses."
The Old Shaman said so. Listening to his words, Keija's expression beside him became increasingly grim.
"Sado is taking revenge on the invaders regardless of the cost. In the end, besides his own life, the remaining cost will be paid by us. He doesn't consider the consequences, but we are the consequences. He can easily give up his life, but others in the tribe have the right to live. His actions have no other meaning than simply venting. What's more, all his actions are being carried out under the manipulation of someone with ulterior motives; he is being used as a spear by others!"
Uta said angrily in the end. It seemed that in his opinion, being used as a pawn by others was the most unacceptable thing.
Listening to Uta's words, Keija swallowed, and then stopped saying anything more. At this moment, Kapak, who was beside them, seemed to have thought of something and spoke.
"Oh, right, Teacher Uta, although I roughly guessed where Sado went, it's just a general location. The invaders' cities are very large, and it might be very difficult for me to find him accurately..."
"I have already considered that. You don't need to worry too much. I have prepared a way for you to find him. Come with me."
Saying this, Uta stood up and turned to walk into the large sacrificial tent behind him. After seeing this, Kapak also followed him in.
Entering the large tent, what came into Kapak's view was a mysterious ground drawing drawn on the sandy ground. Around the ground drawing stood several not-too-thick totem poles, and in the center of the ground drawing was a very abstract animal image. In front of the sand drawing, a small offering table also had a few bone pieces placed on it.
Kapak had seen similar scenes before. When the Wooden Hoof was communed with and returned, Uta had also drawn a similar ground drawing and erected totem poles beside it, but the scale this time was a bit smaller.
"Teacher Uta... Captain, this is..."
"I am going to commune with a Wilderness Spirit skilled in sensing and identifying spirits from a long distance, named Soul Xu. I will ask it to accompany you to the invaders' Kingdom to find Sado. A Wilderness Spirit cannot stay away from its environment for too long. Once you get there, remember to find Sado as quickly as possible and bring him back."
Uta said this, then he sat down before the ground drawing, extended his hand, and began muttering some incantation under his breath. At the same time, Kapak felt that the surrounding """Silent""" Spirituality was becoming active.
As Uta chanted, an invisible wind seemed to begin blowing around. The ground drawing drawn on the sand began to stir, and finally, amidst the incantation, it suddenly scattered and rose up, splashing dust throughout the large tent.
As the dust settled, Uta's incantation also stopped. At this moment, inside the large tent, within Kapak's spiritual vision, a spirit body appeared—a translucent, bobcat-shaped spirit body. At this moment, it was crouching in the center of the original ground drawing. After licking its paws, it looked at the others in the large tent with sharp eyes, its whiskers on its mouth trembling slightly.
"This is... Soul Xu?" Looking at the scene before him, Kapak couldn't help but murmur.