Chapter 21: The Sacrifice

Hiliard did not ask why Ian could tell who was a guard and who was the leader. As a Spirit Energy User, knowing the kinds of information that ordinary people struggle to understand was something he had grown accustomed to.

"I cannot guarantee your brother's safety,"

the old knight stated simply, "That's something you must strive for yourself, Ian. I hope you have prepared for failure."

He had noticed that Ian had thought about how to deal with a native attack from the beginning; he just hadn't expected the enemy to arrive so quickly, or in such numbers.

Given that, he was interested to see what Ian would do.

"It's enough, teacher, thank you."

Ian responded softly, his tone calm, "When I dealt with my uncle before, I had plenty of 'preparations' inside the house... Most of which I didn't use. Now they might be of use again."

Saying so, he took a deep breath and then stepped forward alone, walking towards the house.

Entering the house, the floorboards creaked, the air once heavy with the stench of blood was now dissipated, and instead, the lingering scent Ian left from cooking meat and fish still wafted through the corridor.

The light from the Algae Oil Lamp in the living room cast upon the patchy wooden walls, its dim glow half-hidden, just as it was when he left.

Ian sensed that the hunters hidden in the corridor were watching him through the gaps in the wood paneling, their emotions tinged with surprise—not realizing the visitor was not Ossenna, but rather his nephew.

Indeed, this was unexpected, but it had nothing to do with their assignment. Their sole task was to stay alert for any neighbors or the Guard Squad might notice something amiss.

As for this, Ian pretended to be oblivious, his breathing relaxed as he crossed the passage. The traps on the floorboards had been well repaired, and from the outside, there was no sign of tampering.

"They've prepared for the possibility that neither I nor Ossenna would return tonight, thus they've hidden their traces quite well."

Of course, Ian could guess that the reason these Redwood Natives were staying in his house was that they intended to have a chat with Ossenna.

When Ian was still a child, he would often see his cheap uncle talking to some unrecognizable people in the dead of night.

Although the former Ian had not yet awakened his memories at that time, he was smart enough not to reveal that he knew these dealings and began to prepare. He wanted to hide a few Small Silver Coins and escape this home.

His appearance would indeed surprise the Natives but would also bring them doubt, which could grant opportunities to Hiliard and himself.

With his mind set, Ian proceeded to the living room.

There, a figure was waiting.

"It's you."

The awkward Imperial language rang out as the figure tending to an injury on his foot stood up, his slightly slit pupils fixating on the boy.

Ian looked up as well.

This young Native had no hair or eyebrows, his skin a tawny brown, with his body including his cheeks covered in dense, peculiar patterns. He was not much taller than Ian, who was seven or eight years old, but the circle of feathers around his neck attested to his status as a Shaman.

Redwood Natives were of short stature, with even their strongest hunters only reaching about one and a half meters, indeed much weaker than the Imperial People, but they were quick and possessed certain night vision capabilities, a more acute sense of smell, and higher resistance to toxins, making them natural hunters of the woods.

During The Empire's colonial era, many Imperial People perished in clashes with the local Natives, so in South Ridge, parents often threatened their children with 'being caught and eaten by the Natives,' allowing Ian to be quite familiar with their situation.

Elan, wrapped in a blanket, was placed on a chair next to the Shaman. The white-haired child slept soundly, smacking his lips, clueless about the danger he was about to face and the situation enshrouded in a blood-red mist.

"It seems that Ossenna is the one who died, hard to imagine."

The Shaman's face showed surprise, a twitch at the corner of his mouth causing the tattoos to twist in a strange way, "He often said his nephew was very clever, the best material for a sacrifice, so he demanded more money... But he probably never imagined you would be clever to this extent."

"Indeed, the best sacrifice," he asserted.

Ian remained silent in response.

Sensing the meaning behind Ian's silence, the Shaman narrowed his eyes and spoke gravely, "You dare to come back alone... It seems that Ossenna told you everything before he died."

"Or perhaps, you have already told everything to the Guard Squad?"

A child, who could kill his uncle and then witness his own aftermath with such calm silence, the Shaman guessed that the other party might have already reported the facts of Ossenna's connections with them to the local Guard, asking for protection...

Maybe behind Ian, a team from the Harrison Port Guard was already on its way.

But soon, this suspicion was cast aside.

Not just because the Guard would not follow a child, leaving him to go home alone, but also because Ian had started to speak.

"No."

The boy stood at the other end of the living room and stated calmly, "If I told the Guard Squad, my brother would surely die, so of course I wouldn't do that."

"He is a sacrifice."

Looking at the child beside him, the Shaman said thoughtfully. He then turned his gaze back to Ian, "And so are you."

"But not necessarily now."

Flashing a grin, the feather-circled Shaman revealed a strange smile, "Ian... I remember your name. Do you plan to take over your uncle's job, to become our partner?"

"You are smart, Ian. With my help, you can live comfortably, freely, you are much smarter than your uncle, not insane like that mushroom-sniffing fool..."

He extended an invitation, "Our Mountain Bone Tribe likes to work with smart people."

The Shaman thought Ossenna died in a mushroom-induced delirium, attacked by his own nephew during his deep slumber—a foolish death that was within his expectations.

The Shaman's offer was not impulsive. Because they indeed needed someone to provide them with news from Harrison Port, children might be inconvenient, but they were easier to control.

There weren't few native tribes around Harrison Port, nor were there a lack of people cooperating with those in the port, but Ossenna was his only exclusive partner. Had it not been for Ossena providing a portion of food and various tools, as well as the occasional sacrifice, he would not have become a Shaman at such a young age.

Ossenna's death was indeed a loss, but that mushroom-sniffing madman was too hard to control. If replaced by Ian, the clever child, it might actually not be a bad choice.

At worst... he could still be used as a sacrifice.

"Smart people will make the right choice."

So the Shaman revealed his strange smile, believing Ian would not choose death.

As for Elan's life or death... the Shaman didn't say, it was needless to say.

He didn't think there was a need to haggle with a child. That was his stepping stone to catch the eye of the Great Shaman, and also a necessity for the tribe.