Erik contemplated Samuel's question. His interactions with the thaids were anything but pleasant, but he had no choice but to accept them as part and parcel of life in that region.
"The thaids are a concern," he admitted. "I don't think the beast living there should be a problem for one of you; the problem is that there is an Acidspitter Arthropods' nest. Eradicating them all won't be simple."
Amos and Samuel exchanged a glance. There was still much to discuss and consider, but Erik's insights were invaluable, especially on the farming side. Their resolve solidified further - the villagers' future may be uncertain, but they were not without hope or options.
"Is it your intention to relocate there?" the young man inquired, his eyes flicking between the two leaders. The question hung in the air, a silent echo that resonated in the quiet room.
Amos did not move as he steadily looked Erik in the eyes and returned his gaze. His response was a simple "Yes," but that one word conveyed the meaning of a thousand different ideas. Even the simple act of confirming it caused a wave of a surprise to run through Erik. Even though it was an ambitious plan, Erik couldn't help but feel a surge of hope on behalf of the villagers.
"The problem is that there's more to the underground city than just the Acidspitter Arthropods and the unknown thaid," Erik began, his voice low and sober. He recalled his journey through the labyrinthine network of tunnels, the chiseled path of a leviathan presence not meant to be taken lightly.
"When I reached the underground city, I found numerous tunnels, clearly carved out by some colossal creature. A giant thaid, if I had to guess. It was as though the very earth had been remodeled at the will of this behemoth. If you were to relocate, you would inevitably come face to face with this creature. I don't need to tell you that battling such a monster won't be a straightforward task."
Samuel shifted uncomfortably in his seat, a look of concern crossing his wrinkled face. On the other hand, Amos was able to keep his cool despite the upheaval caused by Erik's revelation.
The young man went on by saying, "And then there's the food issue. In the past, the settlers used hydroponics, but now all the facilities are destroyed or are not working. In a location as inhospitable as that one, putting together a functioning agricultural system will be an extremely difficult task. It's improbable that anything could grow there, given the conditions, in my opinion. It would be foolish to uproot your lives and move there, putting everything on the line on such precarious ground."
Everyone in the room seemed preoccupied with their thoughts, so there was complete silence for a few tense moments.
The scope of the problem was gradually becoming more apparent to them, and along with it came the stark reality of the options available to them. It was obvious that whatever course they chose next would be fraught with peril and ambiguity, with the outcome of their journey hanging precariously in the balance.
Nevertheless, there was a glimmer of determination and a shared resolve to fight for their home, people, and future, even amidst the worry and fear they were experiencing.
"Since our ancestors first set foot on this land, it's been our home. For countless centuries, we've coexisted peacefully alongside Frant," Amos began, his voice bearing the heavy weight of history. "That all changed, however, just half a year ago."
A trace of distress crossed his face as he continued, "One of our hunters was found in an awful state, barely clinging to life by Frant's soldiers. They nursed and healed him and brought him back to us. As grateful as we were, something was amiss in his behavior."
His eyes hardened into a piercing gaze that seemed to see right through Erik. His gaze became more resolute. "You see, from Frantian soldiers' point of view, the boy had an unnatural number of neural links, but he was too young. He had way more than a person his age should have, in their opinion at least." The seriousness in Amos's tone emphasized the gravity of the situation, and Erik felt a twinge of unease.
Of course, he was aware that the villagers had some secret technique that allowed them to make more neural links than the technique Frant developed. If he found that out, it was impossible Frant didn't.
Amos remained silent momentarily, allowing Erik to process the information before continuing. The wrinkles on the elder's forehead and the serious expression on his face provided a clue as to the severity of the issue. Making neural links was a challenging endeavor.
To increase one's numbers over time, one had to practice with diligence and perseverance. It was highly unusual for a young villager to have as many as the young hunter had. It was a peculiarity that suggested the existence of something significantly more intriguing.
That was also the conclusion Erik reached based on the villagers' conversations and what Vanessa said when he arrived at the location.
"Erik, do you know what I'm trying to say here?" Amos's question finally broke the tense silence that had descended upon them after they had been talking for so long. His words lingered thickly in the air, silently witnessing the difficulties yet to come.
As Erik took in Amos's revelations, his thoughts raced, and he began to put together the pieces. The unexpected interest shown by Frant in their village and the mysteriously strong hunter all provided clues that pointed to a plot that was significantly more complex than a simple territorial dispute.
Erik's gaze met Amos's. The elder's gaze was unwavering and steadfast, which was a clear indication of the seriousness of the situation. Erik began his statement by saying, "I had my suspicions, but now I think I understand," with his voice carrying an undercurrent of worry.
"Frant believes that Liberty Watch has a technique, doesn't it? Something that allows villagers here to acquire neural links at a faster rate."
After what seemed like an eternity, there was finally a lull in the conversation as the echo of his words spread throughout the room. Given the circumstances, the hypothesized explanation seemed plausible and even likely.
All of the evidence, including the abnormally powerful people, Frant's persistent incursions, and what Vanessa said to him when he arrived, pointed in the same direction, leading him to this conclusion.
Erik's suspicions were confirmed after noticing that Amos was nodding slowly in agreement.
The seriousness of the situation that they were in became even more apparent. They were dealing with more than just a disagreement over territory. They were up against a nation bent on acquiring a new method to fast-track power acquisition.
"But do you really possess such a technique?" Erik asked, breaking the awkward silence that had ensued. Despite the gravity of the inquiry, he couldn't help but sense a glimmer of optimism in the situation. If they had access to such a tool, maybe it would allow them to shift the scales of power in their favor.
However, he was also aware that this was the very reason why they were in the situation that they were in.
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