Chapter 77

On the other hand, at that time, in the Maren tribe's village, a meeting was being held at the assembly hall.

The discussion was about the disappearance of a certain Otem enthusiast and the other issues that came with it.

In addition to the heads of influential families in the village, Zeleroot, Abel's father, who was at the center of this issue, was also called to the meeting.

The meeting was centered around the tribal chief.

About a dozen people were gathered.

Norman Kalko, who usually skipped meetings in opposition to the tribal chief, had shown up on this day.

Norman, ever since his son Noswell had made a series of blunders at the exchange market, had been struggling with the family business of incense leaf cultivation.

He had been bedridden from the shock until recently.

Thanks to the tribal chief's mercy, he had managed to recover his health by exchanging the mountain of incense leaves, which had become nothing more than garbage, for a low price in magic ore currency.

Norman was in no position to refuse the tribal chief's summons.

There was also a possibility that he might be entrusted with a new job related to the cultivation of incense leaves, which the tribal chief would lead.

There was no reason to miss this meeting and offend the tribal chief.

His ambition to take over the village in place of the chief's family had not disappeared.

However, now he had to yield to the chief's family and regain the lost authority.

Norman was a calculating, cold, and intelligent man.

He was generally excellent, except for his weak mental fortitude and tendency to panic in unexpected situations.

On the other hand, Zeleroot, Abel's father, was elated.

The Bereik family had never been called to a small meeting like this before.

Indeed, his son had broken the village's rules, but fortunately, Abel had already completed the coming-of-age ceremony.

The rule against leaving the village was in place because those who left usually met with bad ends.

It wasn't the kind of thing that would result in family members being blamed.

More importantly, it was about the rights to the incense leaves.

The Kalko family's near-authority in the village stemmed from their near-monopoly on the rights to incense leaves.

Zeleroot believed that with Abel missing, the rights to the incense leaves would all come to him as the father.

He thought the meeting was probably about the rights to the incense leaves and couldn't sleep until late last night.

He had been so restless in the morning that his wife and daughter glared at him.

Zeleroot was not a bad person.

He regretted that he might have pushed his son too hard.

However, he was able to switch his focus.

He saw this meeting as a historic event for the Bereik family.

The Maren tribe, who often married within the family, had strong ties among relatives, but they tended to be exclusive towards complete outsiders.

The imbalance of power and wealth was significant, and opportunities to overturn it were rare.

The Bereik family had never been a prominent one, and in recent generations, they had been viewed with suspicion due to Abel's eccentric behavior.

For the Bereik family, the incense leaf war at the exchange market was a miraculous comeback.

He couldn't help but be restless.

Zeleroot was not a bad person, but he was weak for power.

He didn't think his reclusive son would do well outside and expected him to return soon.

However, he was not without regret and reflection.

He thought that if Abel returned, he would make concessions.

Zeleroot had been visiting the tribal chief's house recently.

He began to think that it might be a good idea to marry Abel to Filo, the tribal chief's granddaughter, rather than forcing him to marry his sister, Giselle.

He thought Abel's resistance would be less in that case.

Even if Abel would be taken in as a son-in-law, selling him to the chief's family would be very advantageous in terms of the rights to the incense leaves. It would be a decisive move.

The biggest obstacle would be Giselle, but he thought it could be managed.

Zeleroot was a bit overconfident because things had been going smoothly recently.

Human desire knows no bounds.

When you see a higher position, the instinct to climb is strong.

"Sorry, my son caused trouble before."

"…No, no, don't worry. It's only natural for better things to circulate."

Zeleroot glanced at Norman Kalko next to him and vowed not to fall as low as this man.

Norman had become completely humble, losing all the arrogance he once had.

Norman, while being humble on the surface, was burning with anger at Zeleroot's veiled attitude.

"People, thank you for responding to my summons. There are several issues, but… first, I must apologize for my mistake."

After everyone had settled down, the tribal chief began to speak.

The assembly hall fell silent, and everyone listened intently.

"Regarding the incense leaf cultivation method left by Abel… it was impossible to reproduce. Only Abel could make it. The detailed records made this clear."

With a thud, two chairs fell over.

Zeleroot had collapsed to the floor, his elbows on the ground.

"M-m-m, Abel…"

In contrast to the sinking Zeleroot, Norman stood up with a burst of energy.

"Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss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