"Paper? What''s that?"


    Priest Lucy had never heard of it and was quite curious.


    Amy wasn''t entirely sure either, but she offered a rough exnation,"Lord Enzo mentioned it''s simr to bamboo slips or te, useful for conveniently recording information."


    Upon hearing this, Priest Lucy''s curiosity waned.


    In different regions, humans used various tools to record text. Some carved important information onto stone walls or te, while others cut down bamboo and ttened it into long, narrow strips to use with charcoal for recording. Of course, there were more luxurious methods, such as using animal skins or linen.


    In Priest Lucy''s understanding, this so-called "paper" might have been an improvement made from linen.


    She didn''t find it particrly remarkable.


    After all, winter had arrived, and linen clothes weren''t warm enough. Moreover, in the damp climate of the jungle, linen was prone to mold and rot. Repurposing it into what was called "paper" could actually be quite useful.


    Thinking this over, Priest Lucy didn''t forget her main task.


    She took the bamboo slips Amy handed her and used a charcoal pencil made from wood to update the task information onto the bulletin board in the Adventurer''s Association hall.


    [Task One: Explore ta in (Dangerous)]


    [Details: ta in borders the jungle, and the tribes there are not friendly towards it. To prevent potential conflicts in the future, someone is needed to explore ta in. Payment depends on the information gathered.]


    ---


    [Task Two: Construction of the Tribe Camp (Simple)]


    [Details: A lot of manpower is needed to transport bricks and build walls and houses for the tribe camp. Those with construction experience will be prioritized. Payment: 10 silver coins per day]


    ---


    [Task Three: Resource Search (Simple)]


    [Details: Large quantities of tree bark and bamboo are needed. Payment: 1 silver coin per bundle.]


    With the release of the new tasks, many members gathered around, especially upon seeing the need for arge workforce in the new taskswhich made some of them shout.


    Some shouted, "President Lucy, I''ll take the camp construction task!"


    Others quietly slipped away while discussions were ongoing, calling theirpanions and rushing out of the camp to the forests and bamboo groves to gather bark and bamboo. Tasks like resource gathering didn''t require registration. One only needed to submit the resources obtained to receive payment.


    Meanwhile, discussions about the first task—exploring ta in—were also taking ce.


    Outside the tribe camp''s walls, marked by the boundary of the Crimson Star Tribe camp, rows of bamboo houses stacked together, built by foreign tribes, stretched out endlessly.


    Enzo did not intervene.


    Although it didn''t look very appealing, for the Crimson Star Tribe, this was a good thing.


    It deepened the other tribes'' sense of recognition towards the Crimson Star Tribe.


    In fact, in the jungle area, almost all tribes looked up to the Crimson Star Tribe, especially after Lester led the Flower Cat Tribe to relocate near the camp. Other priests from different tribes followed suit, bringing their members to the Crimson Star Tribe''s camp.


    Especially after the snowfall, they hastened their pace.


    Thus, outside the tribe camp, many people could still be seen transporting wood and building houses.


    At the gathering ce of the Flower Cat Tribe members outside the camp, Lester served steaming hot meat soup to Gene and his party as they arrived, casually asking, "Gene, what brings you here this time?"


    Enjoying a sip of the soup, Gene sighed contentedly, "This is delicious."


    Lester gave him a sidelong nce, then turned to the others, all members of Gene''s Adventurer squad, one of the few adventurer teams within the current Adventurer''s Association.


    Why Gene hade?


    Lester wondered. Gene said, "Lester, do you know thetest tasks released by Adventurer''s Association?"


    "I see."Lesternodded.


    He had already arranged for someone to guard at Adventurer''s Association, and as soon as the new mission was released, a member of his tribe came back to tell him.


    Hearing Lester''s answer, Geneughed and said, "Since you know, it''s easier. Lester, are you interested in another job?"


    Lester was puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    He furrowed his brow, then caught on and asked, "Gene, are you nning to explore ta in?"


    Gene admitted candidly, "Exactly. I intend to take on the task of exploring ta in, and I can''t do it without your help, Lester. Your farsightedness is exactly what we need. Plus, this is an opportunity. If we excel at this task, it could be a chance to propose integrating our tribe into the Crimson Star Tribe, something you''ve always wanted, isn''t it?"


    Lester fell silent at Gene''s words.


    He had always wanted the Flower Cat Tribe to join the Crimson Star Tribe.


    The members of the Flower Cat Tribe knew this and fully supported it.


    It wasn''t an exaggeration to say that members of tribes across the jungle desired the same thing. In the cutthroat world of survival, merging with a powerful tribe like the Crimson Star Tribe was not only normal but also a guarantee of survival.


    Lester nodded and agreed, "I promise. When do we leave?"


    "In two days." Gene replied with a smile.


    With Lester joining them, the already formidable Gene''s Adventurer squad was now truly a force to be reckoned with.


    Over the next two days, numerous members of the Gene''s Adventurer squad procured several iron weapons, and Gene personally dug into his own purse to gift Lester fifty iron-tipped arrows, known for their increased lethality.


    Additionally, they bought several bags of jerky for sustenance.


    Once their preparations wereplete, Gene gathered the members of the Adventurer squad, and they set off towards ta in.


    Meanwhile, Gorn and Kevin''s group returned to the Thorn Bush Tribe to report on their journey into the jungle to Chief Linda.


    Linda asked first, "Gorn, how did it go?"


    Gorn furrowed his brow and sighed, "Due to Kevin''s arrogance, we couldn''t establish friendly rtions with the Crimson Star Tribe. In fact, as we left, Priest Enzo dered a deration of war."


    Linda frowned deeper and asked, "What exactly happened?"


    From the perspective of the entire Thorn Bush Tribe, Linda was unwilling to provoke the Crimson Star Tribe, even though she saw them as a minor nuisance. She understood that dealing with them was feasible, but it would deplete their own strength and might invite the attention of other tribes.


    The only enemies of the Thorn Bush Tribe were the other tribes in ta in.


    Gorn continued speaking, particrly emphasizing criticism of Kevin''s arrogance.


    Such criticism left Kevin feeling very displeased.


    However, within the Thorn Bush Tribe, Gorn not only held a high position but alsomanded the Giant Bone Wolf Riders, making him the tribe''s second-inmand—a figure of significant authority.


    Suddenly, a voice echoed in Kevin''s mind, "Why not just kill him?"


    Startled, Kevin stood up abruptly, his expression one of bewilderment. "Who?" he questioned aloud.


    Both Linda and Gorn noticed Kevin''s unusual behavior.


    Gorn, filled with disdain, and Linda, as his mother, though disappointed, still cared and asked, "Kevin, what''s wrong?"


    Kevin shook his head dismissively. "Nothing." he replied.


    After sitting back down,then he heard another voice in his mind, saying, "I will grant you great power, so you can defeat all your enemies without facing any consequences. And all you need to do is pay a small price."


    Subconsciously, Kevin asked, "What price?"


    The voice answered, "There''s no rush. But I can give you some power now, to show you what true strength is!"


    With these words, Kevin felt warmth spreading throughout his body.


    His arm wounds healed rapidly, and his hands brimmed with immense strength. With a gentle squeeze, he could crush even the hardest stones. This newfound power fascinated and emboldened him.


    In front of Linda''s astonished gaze, Kevin stood up defiantly.


    "Mom, I don''t think I did anything wrong! The strong should rule over the weak! That priest from the Crimson Star Tribe is just an uncivilized monkey who has no respect for the Thorn Bush Tribe. He even dared to strike me!"


    He then turned to Gorn with scorn. "Gorn, you im to be part of the Thorn Bush Tribe, yet you constantly favor the Crimson Star Tribe. Are you really so afraid of a mere jungle tribe? You''re a disgrace to the Thorn Bush Tribe! What right do you have tomand the Giant Bone Wolf Riders? Even if it means the people of the Crimson Star Tribe must die, they should kneel and await our judgment!"


    Hearing this, Linda''s eyes lit up with approval. "Well said!"


    Though she didn''t understand why Kevin was suddenly so confident, Linda saw this as the kind of assertiveness she expected from her offspring, rather than the submissive behavior he had shown before.


    Gorn, meanwhile, became increasingly uneasy with Kevin''s transformation.


    His expression darkened, and he warned, "Kevin, if you continue like this, you will bring disaster upon the Thorn Bush Tribe!"


    "Disaster?" Kevin scoffed disdainfully.


    Kevin swung his hand and pped Gorn across the face, brazenly proiming, "I am the disaster of the jungle! Just now, I received power bestowed upon me by a deity. This is the deity''s recognition of me!"


    Gorn''s face turned pale. He finally realized what was wrong.


    Kevin''s arm hadpletely healed!


    How was this possible?


    Could it be that Kevin truly gained recognition from a deity? Otherwise, how could his nearly fractured arm heal so quickly?


    The realization left Gorn deep in thought, momentarily forgetting the pain in his face.


    Ignoring Gorn, Kevin turned to Linda and demanded, "Mother, we should send out the Giant Bone Wolf Riders to teach the Crimson Star Tribe a lesson!"