YM778.TV Chapter 74: Expansion!
Barnett eyed the maltose with a slight grimace. "I\'ll pass on the sugar, it\'s too sweet and sticky for my liking," he commented, recalling how a piece given to him by a young grandchild had left his mouth uncomfortably sticky.
His attention, however, quickly shifted to the wine. "Is this wine?" he asked, his interest piqued as he uncorked a bottle, releasing a rich, inviting aroma.
"It smells wonderful!" Barnett exclaimed, his face lighting up with a satisfied grin.
Begon and Reynolds, unable to resist the aroma, each took generous sips, their expressions one of immediate delight.
After a moment of savoring the wine, Barnett\'s surprise was evident. "This is excellent wine, truly top-notch! It\'s been ages since I\'ve had such a fine brew outside our own reserves."
Logan smiled and generously pushed a bottle towards each of his uncles, encouraging them to enjoy more.
As they indulged, Barnett, seemingly struck by a sudden thought, fixed a keen gaze on Logan. "Your strength, it\'s nearly at the sixth level, isn\'t it?" he asked, his tone mixing astonishment and pride.
The room fell silent at his observation. Begon and Reynolds turned towards Logan, their eyes wide as they considered the implications of Barnett\'s words.
The air was thick with the scent of wine and the weight of revelation, as they all pondered just how formidable Logan had become.
Logan was taken aback by his grandfather\'s insight. According to his own understanding, he was on the brink of the sixth level, but how had Barnett discerned this merely by observing him?
"How did you see through my progress so accurately, Grandpa?" Logan inquired, his surprise evident.
Barnett chuckled heartily at the question, shaking his head in amusement. "You haven\'t yet grasped the full extent of your own power, have you? Can\'t you feel that your Heavenly Spirit is on the verge of forming a core?"
Logan, no stranger to introspection, quickly turned his focus inward. Sure enough, beneath the surface of his consciousness, a golden energy core was taking shape, its form becoming more distinct by the moment. He realized then what this phenomenon was, the Dou He, a vital step in achieving the next level of his strength.
"Is that the Heavenly Spirit?" Logan asked, finally understanding.
"Yes, once the havenly Spirit matures, you\'ll be capable of advancing to the sixth level, becoming a high-level warrior," Barnett explained, his voice tinged with pride.
"And how exactly did you manage such rapid progress from the fourth to the verge of the sixth level in just over twenty days?" Barnett probed further, his excitement palpable. "There\'s even a trace of your fighting spirit emanating, which suggests your core is nearly complete."
The tribe regarded the emergence of a high-level transcendent as an event of great significance, and Barnett\'s curiosity about his grandson\'s swift advancement was intense.
Reflecting on the recent weeks, Logan decided to share the catalyst for his rapid development. "It was the dragon blood potion, given to me by my father in law" he confessed, trusting in the bond of family to keep his secret.
Barnett nodded, understanding the gravity of what had been entrusted to Logan. "Ah, a master-level dragon blood potion? Your father-in-law must hold you in high regard to part with such a rarity."
The concoction was renowned for its potent effects, made even more extraordinary by its ingredients, dragon blood and dragon heart.
"Indeed, this is both your fortune and your blessing," Barnett concluded, his eyes twinkling with a mix of admiration and envy at the remarkable path his grandson was on.
Barnett couldn\'t help but smile warmly at his grandson\'s bright prospects. It was clear that he took great joy in knowing that Logan was poised for a promising future.
Upon hearing the conversation between Barnett and Logan, Begon and Reynolds couldn\'t suppress a twinge of envy. They had lingered at the fifth level for years, their progression as sluggish as the passage of time itself. The realization that their window of opportunity was narrowing with each passing year hung heavily over them; missing the prime of their strength would mean missing it forever.
Meanwhile, their nephew had not only secured a powerful alliance through marriage but had also gained the favor of a generous father-in-law. Though they recognized the folly in envying such fortune, it was hard not to feel a pang of longing for similar luck.
"I\'ve heard from Begon that our tribe could be looking at a monthly income of one thousand gold coins soon. What are your thoughts on that?" Barnett asked Logan, his gaze laden with significance.
Barnett himself, despite his many years as chief, had never seen such wealth accumulate at once. His envy was palpable, yet it was mixed with a profound sense of hope for the future that Logan was bringing to their tribe.
Logan, catching the hint in his grandfather\'s smile, returned it with one of his own. "That\'s precisely why I\'ve gathered you, Grandpa, along with the two uncles. We need to discuss the future expansion of our tribe."
"Expansion?" Begon interjected, a hint of disbelief in his voice. It had only been a month since the annexation of the four divisions, and already Logan was plotting further growth?
"Yes, expansion," Logan affirmed confidently. "With our current resources, we can sustain more people. Meanwhile, there\'s a famine ravaging the lands beyond our borders. It\'s an opportune moment for the Silver Mane."
"I\'ve learned that there are disaster victims nearby who desperately need help. We have the means to help them. My plan is to send out search parties to rescue these victims and bring them into our fold," Logan explained, outlining a vision of growth that was not just about territory, but also about mercy and strength.
"As we chart our course forward, it\'s imperative we also consider the smaller tribes in proximity. We should seize the opportunity to incorporate them swiftly and decisively."
Logan confidently projected, "I anticipate that within six months, our tribe will boast a strength of at least 20,000 members."
This declaration took Begon and the other leaders by surprise, sparking an immediate reaction.
Barnett, too, was taken aback. He had thought the tribe\'s financial health might support modest expansion, perhaps influenced by the grand gesture of a thousand gold coins he had hinted at earlier.
He had hoped this sum would tempt his grandson towards growth, but the scale Logan now proposed was staggering, more than 20,000 new tribesmen, effectively absorbing the population of six or seven neighboring tribes.
Begon, sensing a rash move, could not help but voice his concerns. "Isn\'t this too rushed? As of now, our tribe hasn\'t achieved full self-sufficiency in food production. Even with the income of a thousand gold coins per month, sustaining over 20,000 individuals could prove challenging."
He continued, trying to instill a sense of caution, "Wouldn\'t it be wiser to wait until next month? If our cultivation of sweet potatoes and potatoes hits the targets you\'ve set, then perhaps it would be safer to consider expansion."
Begon then looked towards his father, Barnett, knowing well that his own influence was limited. The final persuasion, if any, would depend on the elder\'s stance.
Barnett weighed his son\'s words before addressing his grandson Logan. "While I support the idea of expansion, your proposal to swell our ranks to over 20,000 in such a short time is indeed startling."
"Consider that it\'s been merely a month since we last integrated four tribes, and their loyalty is not yet solidified. I have no objections to assimilating those in need, but we must tread carefully."
"Is the tribe truly prepared for such a rapid increase? Do we have the governance capabilities to manage a population exceeding 20,000? Is there adequate sustenance available?"
"And which tribes are you considering for this annexation? The nearby small tribes alone won\'t suffice to reach your target. What about medium-sized tribes like duskin? Are we prepared for the potential repercussions of such ambitious expansions?"
"Does our tribe currently possess the strength for such an expansion?" Logan inquired, already bracing for the cautious perspectives of his elders.
Barnett, reflecting on his experience as a former chief and the current patriarch, addressed Logan thoughtfully. "As your grandfather, your ambition fills me with pride. However, as someone who has led our people, I must urge you to proceed with caution. As Chief, the wellbeing of our tribe is your ultimate responsibility."
Logan listened intently, having anticipated some pushback from his grandfather and uncle.