"Kevin, you have disappointed me greatly!"


    Linda reprimanded without mercy, tly rejecting Kevin''s proposal.


    She continued, "Winter hase unusually early this year, and I have a bad feeling about it. At a time like this, Thorn Bush Tribe should consolidate our strength to withstand the cold winter. Acting out of anger and sending the Giant Bone Wolf Riders would be a foolish move. If we encounter a blizzard, it could result in tremendous losses!"


    "Starting today, you are to stay within Thorn Bush Tribe and not leave!" Lindamanded firmly. "Do you understand, Kevin?!"


    Kevin clenched his fists tighter, growing angrier, but he dared not defy Linda''s wishes at this moment. Reluctantly, he replied, "Yes, LordMom."


    Linda corrected him sharply, "Call me Chief!"


    Head bowed, Kevin replied slowly, "Yes, LordChief ."


    With that, he turned and left the chief''s tent, clearly upset.


    Observing all this, Gorn stepped in once more, advising, "Chief Linda, although Kevin has made mistakes, he did have a point. The Crimson Star Tribe does not treat us well. We need to strengthen our defenses in theing days."


    Linda nced at Gorn and nodded in agreement.


    She instructed, "Gorn, I need you to be more vignt. You will be in charge of patrols."


    Gorn acknowledged, "Understood."


    And then she left the chief''s tent as well.


    However, what Gorn didn''t know was that as soon as he left, Linda''s expression darkened further, bing ominously grim. She couldn''t hold back her anger, muttering under her breath, "Damn Gorn, how dare he insult Kevin!"


    Narrowing her eyes slightly, a murderous intent flickered in Linda''s gaze.


    She wanted to kill Gorn.


    As the only son of Linda, Kevin was undoubtedly capable, and Linda understood that Gorn''s concerns were valid. Yet, from a mother''s perspective, she couldn''t tolerate an outsider insulting her son.


    From a chief''s standpoint, Gorn''s prestige was also too high.


    During the election for chief, the tribe had favored Gorn to take the position. Even Linda''ste husband, on his deathbed, had hoped Gorn would lead the Thorn Bush Tribe.


    However, Linda had concealed her husband''sst wish.


    She presentherself as the rightful candidate for chief.


    As a result, Linda sessfully became the leader of the Thorn Bush Tribe. However, to this day, there are still many voices of opposition within the tribe, supporting Gorn to be the new leader.


    This often made Linda feel uneasy, fearing that Gorn might overthrow her.


    The scene where Linda reprimanded Kevin was deliberate, a ruse to deceive Gorn.


    Whew~


    Linda sighed heavily as she left her tent, seeking out Kevin.


    At that moment, Kevin appeared to be sulking in his own tent, but he was actually engaged in a conversation with the voice in his mind.


    He spoke aloud, "Great deity, what should I do?"


    The voice replied, "Your strength is still too weak, and your position too lowly. If you seek my favor, you must at least be one of the tribe''s decision-makers."


    Kevin looked troubled and said, "But I cannot do that."


    The voice tempted him, "Just go and do it. I will grant you power. Anyone who stands in your way, you will effortlessly ovee! Of course, before that, you need to gain enough trust from your people. You need to disguise yourself."


    Kevin was enlightened by the voice''s words.


    He wanted to ask more questions but then noticed his mother entering.


    Kevin quickly stood up and greeted her, "LordMom."


    Linda sighed and said, "Kevin, I know you are still upset. But I hope you understand, even though I am the leader of the Thorn Bush Tribe now, and you are my son, bing the leader of Thorn Bush Tribe in the future won''t be an easy task. You need to face Gorn''s threat!"


    Kevin earnestly replied, "Mom, I understand."


    Thinking of the voice''s advice, Kevin pretended to repent, saying, "LordMom, from today onwards, I will study diligently how to tame Giant Bone Wolves and lead the troops. I will use my own strength to personally defeat the Crimson Star Tribe and silence all doubters!"


    Linda was greatly relieved and excited, "Good!"


    She turned and went back to her tent, fetching several pieces of animal skin which she handed to Kevin, saying, "These contain the secrets to taming Giant Bone Wolves. Study them well. If you have any questions, ask me."


    Kevin nodded.


    Seeing Kevin''s genuine change, Linda was overjoyed, even forgetting to inquire where Kevin''s newfound power hade from.


    ...


    The Crimson Star Tribe


    Enzo released his grip on the Scepter of the Barren Mountain, withdrawing its power, and rubbed his forehead as he recalled the contents seen on the animal skin, jotting them down on bamboo slips with charcoal.


    As he wrote, he couldn''t help but reflect, "Unexpected gains indeed."


    The voice Kevin heard wasn''t an unknown deity, but intentionally simted by Enzo.


    When Kevin, Gorn, and their group departed, Enzo had left totemic powers on several of them. Besides pinpointing Thorn Bush Tribe''s location on ta in, it was also for monitoring Kevin''s group.


    Unexpectedly, a dispute erupted among them.


    So, Enzo decided to manipte Kevin, sparking internal conflict within Thorn Bush Tribe.


    Enzo''s n appeared to be working.


    Consequently, conflict between Kevin and Gorn seemed imminent. From Linda''s actions, it was clear she unquestionably supported her son, Kevin.


    Before long, conflict between Kevin and Gorn could escte.


    That was potentially leading Thorn Bush Tribe to disintegrate without Enzo needing to lead the Crimson Star Tribe members into action.


    This was the essence of wisdom.


    Thinking of the potential oues, Enzo couldn''t help but smile.


    He then called for Amy and instructed her to summon Ward and Watt.


    Ward and Watt exchanged puzzled looks, especially Watt, who was currently responsible for tending to boars and other wild animal offspring, including a recent batch of Giant Bone Wolf cubs that kept him upied all day. Even though the Adventurers'' Guild had issued tasks recently, his routine remainedrgely unchanged.


    "Lord Enzo, why did you summon us?" Ward inquired.


    Enzo pointed to the bamboo slips on the table and said, "Take a look at this."


    Ward examined the slips, growing increasingly rmed. Unable to contain himself, he asked, "Lord Enzo, is this really a method to tame Giant Bone Wolves?"


    Enzo nodded.


    Without much boration, hemanded, "Ward, Watt, in addition to your regr duties, you will primarily be in charge of this task going forward. I will have Tia and ra''s Battle Squad assist you. By the end of winter, I expect the Crimson Star Tribe to have its own Cavalry Battle Squad!"


    Ward and Watt eximed, "We will ensure the task ispleted!"


    They wasted no time, copying the contents from the bamboo slips and hurriedly heading towards the animal pens.


    Next, they approached the members training under the Battle Squad, exining the new task. Under Tia and ra''s direction, fifteen members were selected. These fifteen would coborate with Ward and Watt to execute the n for taming Giant Bone Wolves and boars, bing the Crimson Star Tribe''s inaugural cavalry unit.


    And on Enzo''s end, he was not idle either.


    Turning to Amy, he asked, "Amy, how''s the collection of bark and bamboo going?"


    Amy replied, "We''ve collected quite a bit."


    Enzo nodded and said, "Good. Please gather a few more tribe members and also bring Brian over. I have a new task for them toplete."


    Amy acknowledged with a nod and soon returned with the requested individuals.


    Enzo''s new task was naturally papermaking. As he exined the process, everyone listened with a mix of confusion and curiosity, wondering what could possiblye out of it. However, in the Crimson Star Tribe, no one questioned him.


    Over the years, Enzo had proven his vast knowledge.


    Within just two or three days, a paper factory constructed from bricks appeared.


    Under Enzo''s guidance, manufacturing proceeded smoothly, though it would take some time before they could produce paper suitable for writing.


    During this period, Enzo also made ink.


    Thenhe crafted quill pens from bird feathers, a much simpler taskpared to papermaking and requiring less time.


    Three dayster, a heavy snowfall arrived.


    Feathery snowkes drifted down from the sky, covering the earth in a nket of white. The weather turned even colder, and the roars of beasts in the jungle, like Yara and others hunting, became more frequent. Almost every day, they were able to capture wild animals.


    This was highly unusual!


    Typically, as the weather grew colder, the frequency of wild animal activity decreased—a rule of nature.


    But now, the opposite seemed to be happening.


    This anomaly caught Enzo''s attention.


    He was preparing to gather everyone and investigate the specific conditions in the jungle. However, before he could issue any orders, Heru appeared with a heavily injured person.


    "Dous!" Enzo eximed in surprise.


    Heru supported the bloodied figure, who turned out to be the traveling merchant Dous.


    Enzo quickly infused Dous with a totemic power to heal him, and Dous swiftly recovered. Upon seeing Enzo, he was both excited and anxious, urgently pleading, "Mr. Enzo, could you please help rescue my caravan?"


    Enzo didn''t agree immediately but instead asked, "Dous, what trouble did you encounter?"


    Dous''s face turned pale, and he hesitantly said, "It''s not trouble—it''s a herd! In the reeds of ta in, my caravan encountered the Giant Tooth Wind Wolf!"