Mushroom Lord in the Underground City-Chapter 305 - 297: The Tribal Ethos

They called it moving, but it was actually just transferring assets like Sunstones and small gold vaults in advance. People still had to stay in the Far North for the time being.

One Fat Otaku Puki after another kept shuttling back and forth, successfully catching Xiao Hai’s attention.

She was clutching the latest ruby in her claws, observing at the Rift’s edge for quite a while.

Once confirmed that the Puki were moving dens, Xiao Hai acted decisively, grabbing an empty Fat Otaku Puki, dragging it back to her "Treasure Vault" (Norris’s Mushroom House), and stuffing all the Bright Crystals into it.

One wasn’t enough, so she brought in a second one to finish packing.

Puki are best at hiding stuff. Xiao Hai’s intuition told her, when the Puki move their homes, following them can’t go wrong!

Lin Jun certainly noticed Xiao Hai’s actions; helping her move some stuff was a minor task.

However, after crossing the Rift, Lin Jun deliberately mixed four Fat Otaku Puki together so they would separate into pairs!

"The left side!" Lin Jun reminded, "Your Bright Crystals are in the left team!"

Xiao Hai was suddenly dazed on the spot, her head quickly darting between the two groups of Fat Otaku Puki, at a loss.

Fortunately, she was fast, darting over to each side to confirm, finally recovering her "treasure transport team."

Thus they headed all the way to a cave storage Lin Jun specifically used to store ordinary items nearby.

Seeing her Bright Crystals stuffed into a large Mushroom Warehouse, Xiao Hai finally set her mind at ease.

This place wasn’t far from the Rift, within the range Xiao Hai could remember the way.

In this cave, besides Lin Jun’s special warehouse allocated to Xiao Hai, there were many other Mushroom Warehouses.

Xiao Hai wasn’t polite, sticking her head into each one to take a peek!

Most were gray, dusty rubbish, completely incomparable to her Bright Crystals!

But occasionally, she would spot some bright shiny things, making Xiao Hai stomp her feet in envy.

Unfortunately, these things were still Puki’s for now, Xiao Hai restrained herself from taking them.

Xiao Hai had a dream, to eventually earn all of Puki’s Bright Crystals into her own den!

As long as she helps Puki one, four, two more times...

...

While the Puki were busy transferring their belongings, the Far North was also bustling, as the prisoners’ "re-education" officially commenced.

First lesson: lining up for meals!

Four long lines, nearly four hundred people in each, each receiving a bowl of mushroom soup distributed by the Demon Race.

Not full? Then re-queue to get another serving.

It wasn’t that Lin Jun couldn’t set up more distribution points to increase efficiency, but it was intentionally done this way.

These four hundred Half-demons and one thousand two hundred Lizardmen were all tribal stragglers.

To them, discipline? What’s that?

The fear from their recent defeat stopped them from daring to mess with the guarding Puki and Demon Race, but internally, the lines were already a chaotic mess.

Many strong-armed their way in, Half-demons and Lizardmen pushing and cursing each other relentlessly.

Marshal Puki, with a crimson cape and a wide brimmed hat, steadily stood atop the heavy cap of a Heavy Armor Puki, observing the chaotic scene.

In one of the lines, the Demon Race busily scooped another bowl of mushroom soup from within a Drilling Puki, handing it to the next prisoner.

A dirt yellow Lizardman reached out but was pushed aside by a taller, stronger Lizardman.

The dirt yellow Lizardman recognized the other as an upper-level warrior from his own tribe and said nothing, stepping back a few paces and squeezing back into the line.

Cutting in was one thing, but to directly cut to the front!

The Demon Race responsible for distributing the mushroom soup did not hastily hand over the bowl but instead turned to look at the Hunter beside Marshal Puki.

However, the superior Lizardman warrior brazenly snatched the bowl, chugged down a big gulp, and then complained loudly, "It’s fine for these wastes to drink soup! But for upper-level warriors like us, we don’t even get a tiny bit of meat or oil?"

The loud voice drew all eyes to him.

The Hunter turned the spear in his hands, stepping forward to teach this troublemaker a lesson.

Facing the oncoming spear, the Lizardman did not back down. Either dodging or blocking with his claws, as an upper-level warrior, even without a weapon, he wouldn’t be defeated in a few rounds.

Thanks to Lin Jun not starving these prisoners or overly restricting them after shackling them, just letting them cultivate some mycelium.

After several swift exchanges, Slick suddenly leaped back a big step, creating distance, and boldly growled at the Hunter, "What are you boasting about! I, Slick, am an upper-level warrior too. If I had a handy weapon, would I fear you?"

At the words, his demeanor abruptly changed, surprisingly turning towards the real master of this place, the high-up Marshal Puki, dropping heavily onto one knee with a resounding "thud" in the permafrost!

His posture was respectful, yet his head remained high, "Sir! I am Slick! My claws are sharp, my muscles and bones sturdy! To tear apart your enemies for you, I won’t be worse than these Demon Race brats under your command! Please accept my loyalty, allow me to fight for you! I will prove my worth!"

Queue-cutting, provoking, sparring with the Hunter in public... it was all a buildup, all a self-promotion.

Slick understood the survival rules of the tribe well; Power was the ticket, demonstrating strength to a mightier force and pledging loyalty could win not only survival but a position of utmost respect.

The more aggressive and combative you were, the more respect you received!

His fiery gaze locked tightly onto Marshal Puki, awaiting the ruler’s response.

And Lin Jun indeed responded to him.

"Interesting."

That familiar, bone-chilling voice abruptly sounded, instantly as if invisible frost froze the entire camp.

The Demon Race were still okay, merely shrinking their necks out of instinct. After all, it was their boss, they had heard it plenty and were somewhat used to it.

But the prisoners’ reaction was significantly worse!

That voice was like opening the gates of fear, instantly dragging them back to that blood-soaked nightmare, many uncontrollably shaking like a sieve, teeth chattering noisily.

Even Slick, kneeling, had his body stiffen suddenly, but he forced himself to suppress his instincts, managing to hold his ground.

From beneath Marshal Puki’s wide-brimmed hat, a Voiced Puki quietly poked out its head, lightly bouncing down, landing right by Slick’s feet.

Climbing leisurely up his stone-stiffened body, it eventually coiled coolly and slimily around his sturdy neck.

"The strong naturally deserve respect." The voice vibrated against Slick’s scales, carrying a non-human texture, "Hunter! Bring some meat!"

Just at the command, the Hunter, hear and obey, promptly halted and responded crisply and neatly, "Yes!"

Turning and striding away, executing Lin Jun’s order without a hitch.

With this nearly affirmative response, a trace of smug satisfaction finally emerged on Slick’s stiff face.

When the Hunter returned with a bowl of oily and meaty soup and handed it to him, he took the bowl, even casting a provoking glance at the Hunter.

Within the queue, the prisoners reacted calmly. In the Northern Territory’s tribal law, this scene was all too normal.

In fact, some other prisoners with upper-level warrior strength were also speculating, pondering in secret when they might find a chance to "promote" themselves similarly.

Only not far away, lazily leaning against the cold stone wall, Louisa crossed her arms, a barely concealed, heavily sarcastic cold smile on her lips, watching Slick’s smug expression with interest, her eyes twinkled with expectation.