CHAPTER 348: CHAPTER 227: ENCOUNTERING OLD FRIENDS IN A FOREIGN PLACE

"Examination?"

Valles explained, "The school regularly tests the knowledge students have learned. Those who perform well can smoothly proceed to the next stage of learning, while students who repeatedly perform poorly may be dismissed. Hence, exams are very important to them, and no one is allowed to disturb during exam periods."

Hearing this, Karsipengpas felt a bit uneasy, "I fear my foolish son might find it difficult to pass such an exam, right?"

"Rochemnix lives with us, and I know him well. Although he was illiterate before coming to school, he is very clever and learns quickly, especially in arithmetic. He easily passed a previous exam, and this time won’t be a problem for him, rest assured."

Valles’ confident response reassured Karsipengpas. He glanced at the slightly open courtyard gate, then turned around and went to the shade of a large tree nearby.

"The exam will take a while to finish; why don’t I show you around the area during the meantime?" Valles suggested.

"No need." Karsipengpas sat down heavily on the ground with a sigh of enjoyment, "Age is catching up, and my stamina isn’t what it used to be. I rushed here by carriage from your Snowdonia this morning, and it was quite tiring." He closed his eyes to rest after speaking.

Valles wisely remained silent.

The school courtyard was right by the roadside in town, with few pedestrians who were all busy, so no one bothered the two as they rested. This continued until a middle-aged man, carrying a bundle of wheat straw and limping slightly on his left leg, appeared before Karsipengpas, excitedly shouting, "Chief!"

Karsipengpas suddenly opened his eyes, staring at the man before him in surprise. Then he swiftly stood up and gave the man a powerful hug, "Ekbarnus! You’re alive still, I thought you had died long ago!"

Ekbarnus forced a bitter smile, "There were several times I almost died; luckily, the gods protected me, so I survived..."

Karsipengpas released the hug but kept a hand on the man’s shoulder, worried he’d escape, as he scrutinized him while complaining, "Where have you been hiding these years?!"

"That time we raided the merchant ship and fought, my leg got injured, so I had to leave the fleet and return to the tribe to recover. The tribe and my family took good care of me, plus you occasionally sent people to deliver supplies, so life was quite good. My injury healed in a few months, but my leg never fully recovered. At that time, I decided not to return to the fleet to avoid dragging you down—"

Karsipengpas angrily interrupted, "How could you think this way! Many crew members got injured; Damara Licus lost a hand and fitted an iron hook, but still continued working on the ship!"

"Chief, he lost a hand, I injured a leg. With the rough seas, I couldn’t even stand properly, how could I board a ship and raid!" Ekbarnus first smiled helplessly, then spoke with resentment, "Later those damned Segestica people invaded our territory, my tribe, located the northernmost and adjacent to theirs, was the first to suffer. Most men in the tribe died in battle...

Since I was injured and didn’t go to the battlefield, I survived luckily. But the tribe only had about a hundred people left, mostly the elderly, women, and children. For survival, we temporarily joined another tribe.

But we kept losing, and nearly all tribes along both banks of the Kupa River withdrew south of the Murenica River, but there wasn’t enough land southward. We later had to live in the mountains, enduring tough days—"

"At that time, I heard your tribe had perished. I believed you were dead, unexpectedly..." Karsipengpas sighed heavily, then questioned, "Since you’re alive, and life’s tough, why didn’t you come find me these years?!"

Ekbarnus shook his head honestly, "A couple of winters ago, the snow in the mountains was heavy, and our tribe struggled to survive. I heard you worked hard to gather large quantities of food to help us through the hardest times. You’ve done your best to help us. How could I disturb you further!"

"Oh, you, what can I say about you!" Karsipengpas punched him twice firmly, "These years I’ve gained much at sea, even after contributing to the entire tribe, I still have some savings. If you had come to find me, life would surely be much better than now!"

"Since the Nix tribe moved here, life has improved for me," Ekbarnus smiled, comforting, "My family signed a deal with a Nix person to help farm their land. We get food for our work, and after harvesting in September, I can receive 28% of the yield—"

"Only 28%, that’s not much."

"But that Nix person has a hundred acres of land, all planted with wheat. Their Agricultural Department taught new farming techniques. The wheat is growing well; it’s bound to be a bumper harvest, and 28% is enough for my family’s year-round supply!"

Ekbarnus spoke excitedly, then in a lower voice, "And that Nix person was originally Illyrian. Seeing my large family working hard, they increased my share significantly, as most others helping to farm only get 25%."

Valles quietly listened nearby. Though usually quiet, he was perceptive. When Leader Maximus announced entering the Illyria Mountain, he began learning the Illyrian Language from Illyrian companions. Now, he could understand and speak it fluently, prompting him to softly ask, "May I ask, what’s the name of the Nix person who hired you for farming?"

Ekbarnus glanced at him, seeing just a teenager, casually replied, "Fesaros."

Karsipengpas immediately turned to Valles.

Before Valles could be questioned, he said, "Fesaros is our tribe’s First Legion Legion Commander, indeed Illyrian by origin, a warm and cheerful person highly regarded by the leader."

Karsipengpas felt reassured, yet Ekbarnus realized the boy was no ordinary child, "May I ask who you are?"

Valles stood straight and solemnly said, "I’m an attendant to Leader Maximus of the Nix tribe, here today to accompany Leader Karsipengpas to visit his child."

"Your child studies in this courtyard too?!" Ekbarnus pointed to the courtyard, surprised.

Karsipengpas explained in a calm tone, "Ah, I have some... business dealings with this Nix tribe leader, so I sent my youngest son here as a messenger, never expected Leader Maxim would send him inside for study."

"That’s such a wonderful thing! I hear the children studying inside all learn to write and calculate. Unlike us, who raided merchant ships but couldn’t even tally spoils..." Having often passed by, Ekbarnus knew the inside’s affairs well, showing envy on his face, "If only my kids could study inside too!"

"If you truly want your child to study here, I could mention it to Leader Maximus—" Karsipengpas was about to promise but was interrupted by Valles, "Actually, enrolling a child to study here is simple. Just join the Nix tribe as a Reserve Tribe Member."

Ekbarnus froze for a moment, shaking his head, "You’re young and don’t understand; how could I leave my tribe and join a stranger’s tribe?"

"But your original tribe no longer exists, haven’t you already joined another tribe now!" Valles continued to persuade, "Then why not join the Nix tribe? At least here, you won’t go hungry.

And after a couple of years, once you’re a formal tribe member, you’ll receive at least 50 acres of land, maybe more in the future. You’ll live in more comfortable houses, graze many cattle and sheep, and fill your granary with harvested grain. Your children, after studying here, will grow into your best helpers..."

Listening to all this, Ekbarnus couldn’t help swallowing hard, trying not to yield to the temptation stirring within. He hurriedly picked up the straw bundle from the ground quickly saying, "Chief, I must rush to the fields to build a scarecrow, I’ll be off now. I’ll come find you later." With that, he swiftly bounded forward along the road.

Karsipengpas just considered chasing after him when a burst of cheering erupted from the courtyard, the gate swung open, and a group of children poured out.

After a moment’s hesitation, Karsipengpas stopped, loudly asking, "Where will I find you later?!"