Chapter 88: Another Calmness

Several days had passed since the cremation ritual, but nothing significant had happened. Right now, I watched Leva, who was still bandaged and lying down. The girl had kept her eyes closed for the past few days, showing no sign of waking up. Because of that, I kept stopping the fast-forward feature just because I wanted to check her condition.

My only hope was that this woman's quick healing powers could save her life.

My ears heard loud barking from outside. Kat, already carrying her bow and quiver, crouched down and stroked her beloved dog's head.

"No, Rox. We're not going to that place again." Kat spoke, of course with her signature no emotion face. "Today we will go hunting."

Can you really talk to him, Kat?

As Kat and Rox walked away, I came out of the shelter to find Seb lying on the grass after watering the plants, Pif doing push-ups, and Lara making a shirt.

The scenery around the shelter has been cleared of the corpses of the stump scorpions. My colonists also no longer needed to go near the salt cave to collect resources because there was nothing else to take.

It was peaceful, but I couldn't calm down. This was the fifth day since the rest of the party from Redtooth chose to leave rather than stay. They should have reached their tribe by now. I'm sure those people hold grudges and will not be able to move on.

I used the warp feature to get to Manu's location, one corner of the Redtooth tribe. He was alone, loading wet clay pots into a structure. The structure was cylindrical in shape and was as high as Manu's chest.

A kiln? Is he learning to make jugs and stuff?

Looks like he's okay. So, I circled the tribe in search of Tosa and his friends. However, after a while of doing it, I never found them. The atmosphere also still looks safe, and there is no sign of anything suspicious.

There are two possibilities. Tosa's group did not survive, either because of the stump scorpions or some other danger facing them. They can also take a detour so that it takes longer to get here.

I can only guess. However, when I got to the most prominent house in the tribe, I found something unusual. In front of the tribe leader's house, which was covered with carvings, I saw the guard was tighter than usual. Several men were sitting around on the ten-meter-long staircase, carrying their own weapons.

Ah, it must be because of Red. The guardian spirit was anticipating Tosa's arrival, which might trigger a rebellion.

Maybe I should take Manu home? No. It's still complicated. Suja had made it clear that Manu could only go home when the salt had reached the tribe.

I decided to check Manu again before using the fast-forward feature until Tosa's group arrived. It was then that a gray-haired old man with an almost bald head approached my male colonist. Maybe the old man looked over 60 years old, but his body was still sturdy and somewhat muscular.

"Excuse me, young man. Can I bother you for a moment? You are the one who came from that tribe in the east, right?" The old man asked with a sharp look.

Manu, just starting a fire under the Kiln, smiled and stood up. "That's right, sir. Can I help you?"

Instead of answering immediately, the old man looked at Manu intently. Manu could only be silent while maintaining his smile.

"Sir?" Manu asks again.

"I am Leva's father." After a few minutes, the old man finally spoke again. "My name is Noel."

My heart felt like it was being hit hard. Memories of Anne's tragic death flashed through my head again. I didn't expect a man this old to be the sisters' parents.

Seeing the speechless Manu, I gave him some hints.

"Leva is one of the most important members of our tribe." Manu smiles again, this time wider. "She contributed a lot to our development."

"You mean contributing as a slave?" Noel's tone began to rise.

Manu shook his head. "Yes, we indeed bought her. However, we don't treat her as a slave at all."

Noel looked Manu in the eye again, and I ordered my colonist not to look away or make any unimportant gestures. I know Noel is looking for signs that Manu is lying.

"I hope what you say is true." Noel hissed, with veins starting to bulge down his neck. "After Leva left, my wife became very sick. And I kept your arrival a secret so that my wife wouldn't ask about Leva's condition. I'm afraid any answer that comes out of your mouth will only make her illness worse. She can detect a liar."

So, Anne was lying? When she saw her big sister again, Anne said their parents were fine.

"I'm not lying, sir." Manu gulped. From his expression, I guessed that he was getting intimidated.

"My daughter is on the expedition. Let her judge it. If it turns out that Leva is suffering, I will do something to you. I can't touch Tosa and Reha because I don't want to be punished. I have to take care of my sick wife. There's no way I'd put that task on Anne alone." Noel's face stiffened even more. "And because yesterday my wife died, I have nothing to lose. I will really punish you if Anne says your tribe tortured Leva."

Oh, shit. I can't imagine Noel's sadness when he finds out that Anne is gone too. This family really had an unfathomable barrage.

Manu doesn't answer. I don't even know what to say to my male colonist.

"Keep this in mind." Noel hissed again, bringing his face closer to Manu. "If it turns out that you are indeed lying, you will not forget what I was about to do to you. And you can't run away from me, young man. I will chase you even to hell."

After saying that, Noel took a few steps back, turned around, and walked away from Manu.

I don't know. I felt something intense from the old man. It's like when Leva was about to go berserk.