"Haah, my age is catching up to me." The old man groaned as he returned to his room and stared at Zakzak in irritation, "Fine, I can't stop Wittral anyway. He wins. But know that this information shouldn't reach the rest of the Clan."
"I'll first make a trip and relay the details to our Chief. We'll let him decide our course of action."
"Yes, Settlement Leader." Zakzak nodded and waited until a team of Cooter Clansmen arrived. There were twenty of them in total, all at the peak of the Body Stage, sourced from the four Settlements in the region.
Acting as captains for teams of five each were masters at the 2-Life Stage. There were four of them in total. And finally, the one in charge of the entire operation was a man at the 3-Life Stage.
His golden robe fluttered in the wind as he bowed before the old man, "I formed a scout team of experts. We're all specialised in mobility and information gathering."
"You're here, Yulyul." The old man nodded and relayed to him the details of his mission, "You don't need to head into the Dieng Canyon. That'll take you forever. And if you get lost, the mission will become a failure. Instead, head towards the region with the Mud Viper nests. We have a small base there."
"We have a base there?" Zakzak asked in shock, "How long have our Clansmen been stationed there?"
"Not our Clansmen." The old man shook his head, "There's a Silver Grade Pranic Beast race there whose Ravaged Tribe is being supported by us. We are the ones providing them with Free Humans and valuable Elixirs."
"They call themselves the Hen Tribe and are one of the Ravaged Tribes that worship the Empyrean Snappers." He threw a vial to Yulyul, "It has all the information you need to know about the Hen Tribe. Drink it and make preparations accordingly."
"Since they hunt the Mud Vipers and live right next to the Dieng Canyon, they ought to know everything that had transpired." The old man waved his hand, dismissing Yulyul, "As long as you contact them, you'll get the full picture."
"We have a water pathway leading to their Settlement. So, the round trip would only take you eight months."
"Yes, Settlement Leader." Yulyul nodded and exited the house, "We'll return with the news as soon as possible."
Within the same day, a ship set off from the region, quickly exiting the Dralh Sea through one of its eight channels. Considering the dangers involved, a time period of eight months was already very fast.
"I'll leave now," Zakzak bowed in response and intended to return to Fral Island.
"You said he's conversing with a woman from the Brimgan Empire?" The old man asked all of a sudden.
"Yes, is that an issue?" Zakzak expressed his confusion.
"Ah, the joys of ignorance!" The old man sang in frustration before hitting Zakzak lightly on the head, "Tell Nurnur to keep a close watch on her. Free Human women from the Brimgan Empire are very cunning. The last thing we need is her bearing Wittral's child and fleeing to the Brimgan Empire."
"Even if that happens, the child would only be a Cooter Clansman and not an Empyrean Snapper." Zakzak felt that the old man was unnecessarily paranoid, "So, what's the issue with that?"
"Without the resources produced on an Empyrean Snapper, it's impossible for a Cooter Clansman to reach the Body Stage. Moreover, they cannot cultivate using Free Human cultivation techniques." Zakzak groaned in annoyance, turned around, and fled, "I'm leaving, Settlement Leader. Don't worry too much in your final years."
"Ah…shit!" The old man slumped in exhaustion, muttering, "Relationships are generally a mess. Wittral already has too much to bear. This will simply add to his burden."
He then snapped his finger, stating when a master at the 4-Life Stage appeared, "Take our fastest ship and inform the Chief about Wittral getting close to a Free Human woman from the Brimgan Empire. We'll let him decide whether or not to kill her."
"Can't I kill her now?" The master asked, "What if they become close before the Chief makes a decision? Isn't killing her now better? Wittral wouldn't be attached to her yet."
"He isn't a child," The old man waved his hand, "He knows best what to do. I'm simply doing this because of my anxiety. Now, go."
"Okay, Leader." The master's figure flickered away.
"I should retire," The old man muttered, having observed the dwindling respect he garnered from the masters of his Settlement, "I'm too old and weak for this shit."
He was merely at the 7-Life Stage and had grown into old age, reaching the final years of his lifespan, "I should just laze around. Yeah, that's the correct thing to do."
"Is it finally time for me to become the Settlement Leader, Father?" A voice resounded from behind him, gentle in nature, almost pleasant to hear. Judging by the presence behind the voice, the one speaking had strength superior to the old man.
The old man thought for a few seconds and grumped, "No!"
"You're too young for the responsibility."
There was silence for a while before the gentle voice stated with a hint of disappointment, "Father, I'm 180 years old and am halfway into building my eighth body. Masters weaker and less experienced than me have become Settlement Leaders long ago."
"I'm way stronger than you. Isn't it time you retired?"
"No, I'll become useless if I'm not a Settlement Leader." The old man refused adamantly.
Fral Island!
Seated in the stone house in a meditative pose was Inala, comprehending the Mudropper's data, 'Amazing! Simply amazing!'
'The Mudropper is a spectacular creature. I made the right decision in getting its data.' He thought, concluding as he comprehended some more information, 'Based on this, it seems the Mudropper might have gained the Tertiary Nature of Cultivator by now.'
"I'm more confident, armed with this information," Inala grinned and switched to Lurt's data, learning more about drugs and medicine.
The Cooter Clan produced a variety of medicines, some of which also improved one's comprehension rate. Basically, this place was perfect for Inala to finish digesting the data he obtained from the variety of Humans and Pranic Beasts in the Sanrey Plains.
Through that, he'll be able to derive stronger Skills. His abilities weren't the strongest among the reincarnates, but were the most versatile. And by digesting these memories and experiences, armed with competent skills, his versatility would only increase.
He knew the troubles that would come next. And hence, he could create Skills to prepare for them accordingly. 'There have been a few mishaps, but I'm in the general right direction.'
'Since the Mudropper can now take on a human form, it probably has no use staying in the Sanrey Plains.' Inala thought, 'Since it's aware of the Boar King's arrival, it knows he would come for it after it lays down an egg.'
'If it plans to hide from his senses, its best bet is to transform into a human and hide in the Brimgan Empire while gathering strength stealthily.' Inala grinned, slightly excited, 'Since I'm heading to the Brimgan Empire, this will be perfect.'
'I can get more Sandy-Grey Bombs.'