Everyone sat down. Afraid of retaliation, Michael squeezed in, pushing Eric to sit between him and Max.
Sure enough, Max’s expression softened considerably.
As for Eric’s intense glare, he just pretended not to see it. Who told him to keep the salt refining a secret?
Although he understood in his heart that it was because of the salt’s importance, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
Especially seeing Max’s "I knew all along" expression. If not for the fact that he couldn’t win, Michael really wanted to rush over and beat him up.
After settling down, Eric kept feeling that the way everyone was looking at him was strange. He looked suspiciously at Joseph.
"Eric, how do you even know how to refine salt? If you were human, you would definitely be an excellent alchemist," Joseph said with emotion.
To know so many skills in a primitive environment like the beastmen’s, even he wanted to utter the word "miracle."
Thomas was so proud he wanted to stroke his beard like a Dwarf: "Our Eric, even as a beastman, is better than many human alchemists!"
So the salt matter had been revealed. No wonder everyone was looking at him so strangely, Eric suddenly understood.
He immediately understood why Michael had such a weird expression and turned to smile ingratiatingly at him.
"I’m sorry, Michael. Thomas said this matter was very important and told me not to reveal it yet..." He sold out Thomas without hesitation: "Besides Max and Luci, I haven’t told anyone else. I definitely didn’t intentionally hide it from you."
Eric clasped his hands together, his eyes wide and round like a puppy’s, looking at Michael.
Almost defeated by this gaze, Michael had to give a light cough to reluctantly maintain his composure, continuing to pretend to be sulky to see how Eric would keep coaxing him.
"It was right not to tell him." Max, sitting beside him, huffed coldly, using his strength to pull Eric upright.
That cold huff reminded Michael of his mother, and he involuntarily got goosebumps.
Thomas looked helplessly at the young ones for a moment, then said to Eric:
"This year, when going to the Red Grass tribe, let Joseph go along, and bring a few more warriors. It’s cold, the other Dwarves don’t need to go."
Eric nodded. Joseph going along was largely to discuss the merger with the Ox-Head tribe.
It was said that when they first arrived on this continent, they had received a lot of help from the Ox-Head tribe.
Back then, the Dwarves had struggled to escape here with nothing, and this continent was full of danger. Fortunately, the Ox-Head tribe took them in for a while.
Thanks to that, the Dwarves had a chance to regain their strength. After resting and recuperating, they began to search for a safe place to live. During that process, the Ox-Head tribe also sent people to help them clear out the surrounding magical beasts; otherwise, the Dwarves couldn’t have settled down peacefully.
The Ox-Head tribe was quite special among beastmen. They didn’t live scattered everywhere like other beastmen; even those of the same race didn’t live together.
On the contrary, the Ox-Head tribe liked to live communally. All the Ox-Head people on this continent were concentrated in one place, diligently farming every day.
But never look down on the Ox-Head tribe’s combat strength just because they are vegetarian. Being vegetarian is their characteristic, not all they can do. The combat strength of the Ox-Head tribe is hard to find an equal for in the beastman world.
The Ox-Head tribe’s settlement has several thousand people. Such a terrifying fighting force made both the Elf tribe and the Golden Kingdom wary.
However, to this day, the Ox-Head tribe has never participated in any wars, and they even help the weak who come seeking aid. Therefore, those two major powers reluctantly leave them alone.
For an opponent with no territorial ambitions, but whose strength was very tough, they also didn’t want to break their heads trying to chew on this hard bone.
When he was young in his hometown, he often heard of people being gored or kicked and injured by cows. If most cows weren’t docile by nature, perhaps humans wouldn’t have dared to raise them.
Thinking of this, Eric couldn’t help but feel a little scared. The physique of the Ox-Head tribe here was much more terrifying.
It was said their beast form was over ten meters tall, truly giants.
But their temperament was mostly gentle; otherwise, they wouldn’t have helped the Dwarves.
Of course, there was also the intention of asking them for help forging farm tools. But they traded properly with the Dwarves, much more reasonable than the other two powers who only knew how to forcibly collect taxes.
All their dedication was put into their fields, so when they needed magical beast hides, they would trade with other beastmen. This was also meaningful as charity.
Their strength was great, and they grew a lot of grain. Even with their large bodies, they couldn’t consume it all.
Surplus grain would spoil if left too long, so it was better to use it for trade, and occasionally donate some to small tribes that were too poor.
"Then for me to go to the coast to refine salt, I don’t need many people." Eric looked at Max and Michael, saw both were looking at him with meaningful eyes, so he clapped his hands and decided:
"It’s enough to have Max and Michael go with me!"
As for his other friends, Sam was busy in the kitchen. Although there was much less offal processing now and cleanup time was shortened, cooking for so many people was by no means relaxing.
Kevin, besides hunting, had to make felt with Nguyen. Grass was researching how to knit sweaters with Bruno and the others, so he couldn’t take them.
"Their combat strength is both decent. It’s enough for them to go." Thomas was very satisfied with his decision. It seemed Eric really had a talent for being chief; he was already performing well right from the start.
Eric, having finally satisfied both sides, also smiled contentedly. Bringing them, one would be in charge of lookout, and one in charge of boiling salt. It was perfect.
It’s good that Eric didn’t forget me this time, but why does it feel a bit... weird? Michael stroked his chin, thinking. Whatever, I can finally see how salt is made with my own eyes!
As for the other warriors going to the Red Grass tribe, Thomas would decide. He understood their combat strength and personalities better.
After the personnel were arranged, Thomas and Joseph were responsible for preparing the items for trade.
Eric was responsible for preparing the salt-boiling tools.
His large cast-iron wok was essential. He also used strong animal hide to make a very large backpack and put everything he needed inside it.
Two days later, everything was finally prepared. Everyone decided to set off.