Time passed.

Three days slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Aaron sat on the deck, fishing, his face dark and brooding. For the past three days, he hadn't received a single useful drop. And as they neared Green Fort, the sea creatures grew stronger. Even the Level 2 fish were too much for his rod to handle.

He had already broken one rod in the process. Fortunately, he had a spare, otherwise, he'd be sitting idle and frustrated.

Just then, Captain Monga scanned the horizon and said,

"Lord Aaron, we've reached Green Fort."

Aaron stood, handed the rod to Kelly, and looked around.

The area was a bay, enclosed on three sides by land. The trees were heavy with coconuts, and some had clearly been cut down, a sign of human activity.

He opened the map interface and spotted human settlements about 3,000 meters inland.

Inspecting the shore, he noticed moss growing on coconut trunks, a clear sign that high tide or storms could flood the area, "Not ideal for permanent settlement," he thought.

He turned to Captain Monga, "Give the order to land. Also… how did you recognize this place?"

Captain Monga replied, "Lord Aaron, though the landscape has changed, I remember this bay well. It's the only place I've seen where the sea is enclosed on three sides."

Aaron nodded, "Makes sense."

He watched as Monga gave the order. The sailors rowed the boat toward the shore.

Once docked, Monga asked, "Shall we unload the goods?"

Aaron shook his head, "Leave them on the ship for now. We still need to locate Green Fort. I'll take a team to explore while the rest settle here temporarily."

Monga nodded and checked the sundial, it was still eleven in the morning.

"Who will you bring with you?" he asked.

Aaron replied without hesitation, "Jake, Blake, and ten sailors. Make sure they're armed with armor and weapons."

A few minutes later, a simple camp was set up.

Torvald approached Aaron. "Aaron, what's the plan? Have we reached your territory yet?"

Aaron's expression turned uncertain.

He remembered how, back in Starfall City, the map had displayed buildings in blocks, smithies, training grounds, tailors, inns, etc, all marked with icons.

But here… nothing.

A bad feeling crept into his heart. Still, he hoped it wasn't what he feared.

He looked at Torvald and said, "I still need to locate my territory. Once I do, I'll lead everyone there."

Torvald nodded, understanding. It was Aaron's first time here, after all.

-----

Tumba, as usual, decided to head to the beach to catch something to fill his stomach. But before reaching the shore, he climbed a few tall trees to scout for danger. Occasionally, Tier 1 monsters would wander ashore, and unless Uncle Rumba personally intervened, they were difficult to kill.

As he neared the shore, something caught his eye, black smoke rising from the coastline.

He frowned. No one from the tribe should be free today. Most were busy with tasks assigned by the Village Chief.

Tumba, however, had always been different. Since childhood, he disliked following orders. Most villagers avoided him, until the chief gave him the role of scout. It suited him perfectly. Even when he visited the shore, he could always claim he was "scouting."

But today, the smoke made him uneasy.

He moved cautiously, climbing another tree for a better view.

What he saw shocked him, three boats docked, and strangers cooking food on the beach.

His instincts screamed: This was important.

He turned and raced back to camp, branches and leaves scratching his arms and face as he ran.

As he neared the camp, he shouted loudly:

"The strangers are coming again! Hurry up and hide!"

The last time strangers arrived, people had died. This time, he was determined to warn them early He sprinted toward the largest tent.

Inside, the old chief, Jumba, and Rumba heard his voice.

The old chief sighed softly, "This day has finally come."

Jumba looked worried, Rumba growled, "Chief, let me lead my warriors and kill them!"

The old chief raised his wooden staff and knocked Rumba on the head.

"What are you doing, Rumba? Did you forget the plan we discussed?"

Jumba rubbed his forehead helplessly, "Chief, you must take me with you."

The old chief nodded, "Alright. You'll come."

He paused, then added, "Rumba, you'll come too. But leave your warriors behind. If the strangers are as strong as last time, we won't even have a chance to escape. Let them stay and protect the village in case monsters attack."

Jumba asked hesitantly, "Village Chief, do we really have to go and meet them?"

The old chief nodded, "Indeed. Meeting them first allows us to create a good impression. It's better to approach with peace than suspicion."

He then turned to Rumba and added firmly, "Also,do not take any action unless I give the order."

Rumba nodded, though his face was slightly sullen.

-----

An hour later.

The fish had been baked, the apples sliced, and the oranges peeled and plated alongside the baked fish on wooden plates. A sprinkle of salt and spice added aroma and flavor.

Holding plates in one hand and eating with the other,

everyone agreed, the taste was far better than the usual baked fish.

Just then, Aaron looked up and said, "Captain Monga, prepare four plates for our guests."

Everyone paused, surprised. Then they remembered, Lord Aaron could sense things others couldn't. Without hesitation, Captain Monga gave the order. Thankfully, there were extra portions of fish, apples, and oranges.

Five minutes later.

Four figures emerged from the forest, dressed in animal skins. The crew was startled. They had never seen people like this before.

Despite their primitive clothing, their bodies were clean,

which made some of the sailors feel embarrassed by their own appearance.

Aaron stepped forward with a warm smile. "Welcome, guests. We've been waiting for you."

The old chief was stunned. This was not the scenario he had imagined.

Jumba's mind went blank, he had prepared countless questions, but now couldn't think of a single one.

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