Chapter 15: Negotiation

In the face of the Amazon chieftain’s grand welcome, Li Bin remained indifferent. In his view, after all he had done for the Amazon tribe, this small courtesy was the least they could offer him.

But the Crusader Ram saw it differently. Back then, he’d waited outside the Amazon camp for a long time; if not for Elder Hefeng taking a liking to his unique skills, he wouldn't even have had a chance to enter.

Led by the Amazon chieftain, Li Bin and the Crusader Ram were invited into the main tent at the center of the camp.

Before anyone could even sit down, the chieftain spoke, “This matter could not have been resolved without the two of you. Had you not stepped in to help, I might have lost my place as chieftain of this camp.”

“You flatter us, Chieftain. With your strength and wisdom, this trifling problem would have been nothing for you to handle. We merely happened to be there and lent a little assistance,” Li Bin replied politely.

“Is that so…” The chieftain seemed ready to heap more praise upon him.

At that, the Crusader Ram grew impatient and shouted, “Are you two done yet? I’ve got things to do—just hand over the reward so I can be on my way.”

Hearing this, the chieftain’s expression darkened, but Li Bin shot the Crusader Ram a grateful glance, then turned to the chieftain and said, “Our friend here is right. As players, we complete tasks for the reward. Have you prepared it, Chieftain?”

“Of course,” the chieftain replied with a cold snort, clapping her hands. At her signal, a squad of Amazon warriors filed in.

These warriors, just as the chieftain had described, each bore a spear, a curved blade, and a composite bow. Accompanied by massive bears, black panthers, and soaring eagles, they were clearly seasoned veterans of countless battles.

Li Bin examined the levels and stats of these forest trackers with care, nodded, and accepted them into his personal guard. Then he looked back at the chieftain.

Meeting his gaze, the chieftain smiled. “I know this force hardly matches the help you rendered. What do you think of this instead?”

As she spoke, two Amazon honor guards carried out a stone tablet from the back of the tent. Li Bin, who had seen many such tablets before, wondered about its purpose.

But when they placed the stone in front of him, he felt a pang of disappointment—it was merely a summoning stone. Although it allowed him to summon level-five-or-below Amazon units for gold, it wasn’t of much use to his own advancement.

Just then, Li Bin noticed Crusader Ram, who was so overjoyed by his new squad of Amazon bear warriors that he could barely contain himself. An idea struck, and Li Bin called out, “Brother Stone, could I trouble you to come here a moment?”

“Huh?” Crusader Ram turned to Li Bin. “What’s up?”

“It’s nothing much,” Li Bin replied. “I managed to complete this quest thanks to your invitation. I can’t assign you a quest reward like an NPC, but if you find this useful, please take it.” He pushed the Amazon summoning stone forward.

“Is that all right?” Crusader Ram glanced at the now pale-faced chieftain, asking cautiously.

“I’ve no use for it, and it’ll help your development go faster. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll have to ask for your help,” Li Bin said with a casual smile.

“In that case, I won’t say thanks—if you ever need anything, just send word,” Crusader Ram replied, pounding his chest. He was not one to linger on ceremony.

Li Bin smiled, gave him a contact number, and watched as Crusader Ram quickly left the Amazon camp.

Once he was gone, Li Bin turned back to the chieftain. “Chieftain, I suppose it’s time for me to leave as well.”

“If you want to go, just go,” the chieftain replied coldly; any goodwill she’d felt for Li Bin was now gone.

“But before I leave, there’s something I’d like to tell you.”

“Out with it, then,” the chieftain snapped.

“This matter isn’t over yet. If you don’t make preparations, you might not be so lucky next time.”

“So what? We survived this time, and we’ll survive the next,” the chieftain replied loudly.

“Really? If it’s just one or two enemies, your current strength is enough. But what if it’s a guild next time? Surely you know the power player guilds wield on the continent.”

“What are you getting at?” the chieftain demanded, knowing Li Bin was not to be underestimated but unable to see another option given the circumstances.

“Actually, I’ve just accepted a quest to find a goddess named Avia. I wonder if you’re interested,” Li Bin said with a mysterious smile.

“Avia? The Lady Goddess?” the chieftain murmured, then suddenly looked up. “Mr. Li, it seems you’ve won again. Please wait a moment.”

As she spoke, the chieftain opened a hidden compartment in the center of the tent, revealing not only the recently recovered Evergreen Divine Vine, but also a stone tablet bordered with gold.

She gestured to the stone and the vine. “Take these. When you have your own lands, bury them in good woodland, and a new Amazon camp will arise.”

Li Bin looked at the two items, then at the chieftain. Finally, he asked, “And you?”

“I’ve been here a long time. I don’t wish to leave, and besides, I have the strength to defend this camp, don’t I?” the chieftain said, smiling.

As he looked at her smile, Li Bin, for the first time, doubted whether all his calculations were right or wrong. Perhaps to him, this was just a game, but to those within it, this world was everything.

With that thought, Li Bin said nothing more, quietly packed away the two items, and left the Amazon camp alone.

“Master.” After leaving the camp, Li Bin wandered aimlessly through the valley with his troops, his mood heavy. Deirdre and Lidas, trailing behind, were run ragged trying to keep up.

“What is it? Where are we now?” Li Bin finally snapped out of his reverie at Deirdre’s call.

“We’re still in the valley, Master, but…” Deirdre hesitated.

“Just say it. I’m fine,” Li Bin said, understanding her concern.

“I think we’ve wandered into the lumberyard’s territory,” Deirdre whispered.

“The lumberyard? What’s going on?” Li Bin’s brow furrowed.

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