Emma's conversation with Chief Inkmane took place in his tent, the atmosphere heavy.
"Father, this year's tuber and nut gathering must be more efficient," Emma began bluntly, her tone as cool as a military briefing. "Last year, due to chaotic distribution and miscalculations, much food rotted in the fields or was wasted after being hastily gathered and improperly stored. Winter is approaching—we cannot repeat those mistakes."
Blackmane rubbed his temples, weariness etched on his face. "I know. But the gathering teams have always been led by the women and elders of each household, each operating independently. It's difficult to unify them. Greymane is responsible for hunting records and cannot spare the time."
"We don't need Graypaw," Emma said calmly, her tone carrying an unquestionable certainty. "That slave, Gu Liang. You saw his skill in calculating and distributing the hunt." She paused briefly before stating a specific figure: "Based on his estimates after helping Graypaw reorganize the records, last year we wasted enough food to feed fifty adults for ten days due to disorganized gathering and improper storage."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjJ4iKw6qM
Inkmane's fingers paused at his temples, his gaze sharpening abruptly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vgFlxBPOs
"Assign him to plan the gathering," Emma met her father's gaze, her voice clear and icy. "He doesn't need to dig a single root himself. He just needs to stand there and calculate which fields are richest, how many people are needed, how many days it will take to harvest, and the most efficient way to transport it back. Even if we only cut waste in half compared to last year—we'll have five extra days' worth of stored food this winter."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtllPgyn3xJ
"He belongs to no household, so he holds no bias. When it comes to food, his status is irrelevant." She paused, adding pointedly, "Besides, keeping him away from the tribal center will reduce some... unnecessary complications."
Mo Zong fell silent for a moment. He was well aware of the friction between A Lie and that slave. Temporarily removing the slave would indeed ease the tension. And Emma’s point about gathering efficiency struck right at the heart of the matter.
"Very well," Mo Zong finally nodded. "Let him try. You take a team with him to ensure safety and supervision. If he handles this task well, the tribe won't shortchange him. If he messes it up..." The rest went unsaid, but the implication was clear.
The next day, the order was issued. Gu Liang was temporarily reassigned from Greyclaw's side to join Emma's advance autumn gathering squad. The news sparked considerable discussion within the tribe.
A slave participating in the core gathering operation? And led personally by the Chieftain's daughter? Such treatment was unprecedented.
When A Lie heard the news, his face darkened so much it seemed water could drip from it. He sought out Mo Zong and protested vehemently: "Chief! Allowing a slave of unknown origin to access our gathering grounds? What if he sabotages us in secret, or sells information to the wolf clan? I demand to lead the expedition!"
Mo Zong glanced at him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Gathering is women's work. Warriors have their duties. Patrols and defenses must not slacken. Emma is more than capable. This decision stands."
A Lie hit a brick wall and stormed off. He knew this was Mo Zong and Emma teaming up to weaken his control over Gu Liang. Staring at the gathering team about to depart, a flash of viciousness flickered in his golden pupils.
The gathering party set off. It comprised over a dozen experienced female orcs, several young orcs tasked with transport and guard duty (primarily Emma's confidants), and Gu Liang.
Stepping beyond the tribal walls into the vast primeval jungle and open gathering grounds, Gu Liang drew a deep breath. The air carried the fresh, free scent of plants and trees, offering temporary respite from the pervasive oppression and hostility within the tribe, allowing his taut nerves to relax slightly.
But his task was far from easy. Emma led him to a slope covered in a type of tuberous plant and gave a concise order: "Estimate this plot's yield, how many people will be needed for how many days to harvest it, and the most efficient method for transporting it."
This was an extremely complex task involving multiple variables: area estimation, plant density, average tuber weight, harvesting speed, manpower, transport tools (primarily back baskets and sleds), and round-trip distances.
The female beastfolk accompanying them watched with curiosity. They had harvested here for generations, relying solely on experience and instinct, never considering that such work could be "calculated."
Gu Liang remained silent. He walked into the field, carefully observing the spacing between plants. He randomly dug up several, examining the size and quantity of tubers, weighing them in his hands. He estimated the slope's area and assessed the ruggedness of the paths. Then, he found a patch of flat muddy ground, gathered a handful of small stones, and began silently arranging them.
The beastmen gathered curiously around him. They watched as he divided the stones into different piles, each representing a meaning. His fingers traced patterns in the dirt, his lips moving silently, completely immersed in his own world of calculation.
Emma stood nearby, watching quietly. She saw Gu Liang's focused, composed profile, his eyes unusually bright from rapid thought, and felt a slight stir within her. In this moment, he was no longer the anxious slave, but more like a strategist... a scholar.
After a long while, Gu Liang lifted his head, his eyes gleaming with certainty. He approached Emma and reported in a clear voice: "This slope requires roughly fifteen people for three days of gathering. Two round trips per day are needed for transport. Larger sleds should be made, wrapped in animal hides to reduce jostling damage. Ultimately, we should obtain approximately... (he stated a specific weight figure) of tubers."
The female beastfolk gasped and murmured in disbelief.
"How could you possibly calculate that?"
"You're just making that up!"
"We've always needed four or five days to harvest this plot before!"
Emma ignored their murmurs, fixing her gaze on Gu Liang. "Are you certain?"
"The margin of error won't exceed ten percent," Gu Liang replied calmly. This conclusion was based on his modern engineering estimation experience and his observations of the beastmen's labor efficiency and tool effectiveness over the past few days. He was confident.
"Alright." Emma nodded and issued the order directly, "Proceed as he says. Fifteen people will harvest and build the sled. The deadline is three days."
The order was carried out. Though the female orcs remained skeptical, Emma's authority was not to be challenged.
Three days later, the results astonished everyone. When the final batch of tubers was transported back to the temporary camp for weighing (using a simple lever and stone weights), the total quantity matched Gu Liang's estimate with astonishing precision!
The efficiency far surpassed anything seen before! Thanks to meticulous planning, proper allocation of manpower, and efficient transport coordination, not only was the collection completed ahead of schedule, but losses were also drastically reduced!
The female beastmen's gaze toward Gu Liang had completely transformed—from skepticism to awe and conviction. They even began proactively seeking his advice on which plots might yield higher harvests and the optimal timing for gathering.
Gu Liang remained reserved, yet answered every question with precise, practical insights. He seemed to have found his ideal battlefield—numbers and logic were his weapons, and this vast land his sandbox.
Emma observed it all, silently nodding in approval. [Target individual Gu Liang's abilities are being fully utilized. He has gained recognition from some tribe members, boosting his sense of accomplishment and reducing his darkening value to 20%. His understanding of his own worth has become clearer.]
Yet she remained vigilant. A Lie would never let this rest. The wilderness offered apparent freedom, but it also meant stepping outside the direct protection of tribal rules—danger still lurked.
She intensified patrols and vigilance around the camp.
Sure enough, on the second night after the gathering party moved to another remote river valley, the orc on night watch sounded the alarm!
In the darkness, several pairs of glowing green eyes flickered through the jungle surrounding the camp, accompanied by low, menacing growls.
Not beasts. It was a patrol of the Wolf Clan! They had clearly spotted the Leopard Clan's gathering party and were attempting a nighttime ambush!
The camp instantly sprang into combat readiness. Female orcs seized stone axes and bone spears, while the young orcs of the guard unit formed an outer perimeter, facing off against the Wolf Clan lurking in the darkness.
Gu Liang's heart sank. Combat was his weakest link.
Just then, Emma drew her stone axe, stepped forward to the camp's edge, and barked into the darkness: "Wolves! This is the Leopard Clan's gathering grounds! If you want to steal, ask my axe first!"
Her voice rang clear and powerful, echoing through the silent river valley.
The wolves in the darkness seemed to recognize her. After a moment of commotion, a hoarse voice answered, "Emma? Hmph. You're lucky! Let's go!"
The eerie green eyes slowly receded, vanishing into the dense forest.
The immediate danger had passed. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their gazes toward Emma brimming with admiration and reliance.
Gu Liang also watched Emma's retreating figure. In that moment, she was no longer the mysterious woman with strange behavior and unclear motives, but a truly powerful warrior and leader capable of protecting her people.
A complex emotion surged within him. Gratitude? Yes. Dependence? Perhaps a little. But more than anything, it was a clear realization—in this world, wisdom and calculation could bring sustenance and efficiency, but ultimately, what protected it all was still absolute power.
He glanced at his own hands, gradually recovering yet still far from strong, a shadowed gleam flickering in his eyes.
Emma turned, her gaze sweeping over the group before pausing briefly on Gu Liang's face. She saw the complexity in his eyes, but also glimpsed the fleeting hunger for power.
[Target individual Gu Liang encounters external threat. Sense of security shaken once more, deepening understanding of absolute power. Reassessment of host's combat capabilities initiated. Dependence and vigilance coexist.]
"Rest now. We have a journey ahead tomorrow." Emma withdrew her gaze, her tone returning to its usual calm. "Gu Liang, calculate the optimal route and estimated time for the next collection site."
"Understood." Gu Liang lowered his head, concealing the emotion in his eyes, and immersed himself once more in the world of numbers and logic.
Life in the wilderness offered not only opportunities but also trials. And the shadow of A-Lie seemed far from gone. The timing of that wolf patrol's appearance felt far too coincidental.
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