Chapter 103: The Dispute
Chapter 103: The Dispute
"I believe that for the sake of the people's future, we can't just stay hidden in this frontier town forever."
"But the reality is, we are also powerless against the crisis brought by the Dragon Beast. After all, the gap in strength between us is too vast."
Lin Sai openly shared his thoughts.
He didn't feel the need to hide anything and was frank with Iriel, directly telling the Awakeners in town about his ideas, a straightforward approach that could also be effective.
Upon hearing Lin Sai's honest response, Iriel nodded in agreement.
But what he said next was something Lin Sai had thought about before, but hadn't realized the severity of:
"Everyone understands this."
"But Lin Sai, unlike you who have only been in town for three years, many have been living in this hidden frontier for thirteen years!"
"They didn't plan to stay here for life when they first arrived. In other words, these people have been imprisoned here for thirteen years, and they've run out of patience!"
"..."
Thirteen years is not a short time for anyone.
Lin Sai reflected on his situation.
He was marked by the Law Knights and living in the hidden frontier, which could be considered an ideal situation to evade capture.
However, the Awakeners and commoners in town might have initially come to this frontier town for a short stay, or like the Huntress Dan, they could be trapped here due to unexpected issues.
They all had their own lives to return to.
It wasn't their intention to be buried in a place like this outpost.
Moreover, there was the constant threat of the Black Mountain World.
For many, the years spent living here were akin to enduring a prison sentence!
Realizing this, Lin Sai understood the town's people's thoughts even more and fell silent.
Iriel, sitting across the table, continued, "So, Lin Sai, do you still support staying in town?"
Lin Sai composed himself before answering, "For now, we must stay in town, but that doesn't mean things can't change. We also need to find a solution to the crisis or a way to deal with the Dragon Beast."
Iriel almost interrogated him, "Where do you plan to find this solution?"
Lin Sai replied firmly, "Of course, through action."
Hearing Lin Sai's response, Iriel's eyes narrowed, and he asked in a soft voice, unlike his usual deep tone, "And what action do you propose? Are you suggesting we challenge a seven-stage Dragon Beast?"
Lin Sai answered, "The records left by the town's scholars and the potential help that might exist in this hidden frontier."
The former needs no further explanation; naturally, they would refer to the records for any useful information. As for the latter, Lin Sai was inspired by the open-pit mine and his journey to Black Mountain.
Although the hidden frontier is not a complete large-scale world, it still covers a significant area.
In the past, it served as an outpost and a camp for expeditionary forces.
The level of development here is quite low, and human activity is mostly concentrated around the frontier town.
Lin Sai believes that if they carefully survey this world, they might uncover some unexpected gains.
For instance, when he climbed the sky-reaching vine, he discovered a hidden map and obtained a treasure like the Purpleleaf Vine Branch.
However, Iriel didn't seem supportive. He shook his head and said, "All your efforts will be in vain. A seven-stage Dragon Beast is not that easy to deal with."
Lin Sai's tone remained unwavering, "That's still better than passively resisting or seeking death at the Dragon Beast's hands!"
Iriel shook his head, remaining silent, and raised his glass to indicate the conversation was over.
Lin Sai didn't say anything further.
He bid farewell and left the wooden house.
After he closed the door to the Craftsman's Cottage and walked over ten meters away.
In the foyer where the two had just conversed, a barely audible sigh of disappointment could be heard.
As dusk approached, Lin Sai returned to the southern part of the town.
His mind was still occupied by the conversation he had with Iriel.
According to the information Lin Sai had, the old craftsman was in favor of staying in the town, and his attitude towards the Dragon Beast further proved this point.
However, even with this knowledge, when Lin Sai expressed his intention to find a solution, Iriel directly encouraged him...
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Lin Sai paused in his tracks.
He was about to return to his work for the day when, just before reaching the wooden house, he passed by the huntress' abode and spotted Som Jin's figure exiting.
Som Jin also noticed Lin Sai.
This merchant immediately put on a courteous, formulaic smile:
"Lin Sai, you're back?"
"This afternoon, I was going to look for you. I couldn't find you in your house, so I came here to ask, and even Ju said he didn't know where you had gone."
So, he was looking for Lin Sai.
Lin Sai's eyes instantly understood.
Unlike Iriel's idea of staying in town, the merchant before him was one of the most important representatives of the radical faction in Black Mountain.
At this moment, Som Jin specifically came to find Lin Sai, and he wouldn't have any other intentions.
"I went to the mine," Lin Sai understood everything in his heart, but on the surface, he maintained his politeness, "Mr. Som Jin, what brings you here?"
Som Jin chuckled and said:
"I just chatted with Ju, and he said that you also want to leave the Hidden Frontier and try to breach Black Mountain's obstacles."
Lin Sai bluntly refused:
"Even if we do this, it's only under the premise of having a certain grasp of the situation that we would take action."
Hearing this response, Som Jin's smile instantly faded.
"Do you know how long this town can last if we continue like this?"
Lin Sai naturally replied:
"At least six years, up to ten years. This is also the time required for the Dragon Beast's advancement."
Som Jin continued to press, and his tone became aggressive:
"Do you think this time is sufficient?"
"Or, in this longest decade, we can nurture a powerful individual who can defeat a seventh-tier Dragon Beast!"
"Or, we can entrust our lives to luck, hoping that the outside world will send someone to kill the Dragon Beast and save us within these ten years!"
Lin Sai still insisted on his viewpoint:
"I agree with taking action, but this is not the same as pure suicide."
Som Jin's gaze became oppressive:
"But some people can't wait any longer! Not to mention the threat of death is right before our eyes!"
Lin Sai seriously replied:
"Different people, different choices. When faced with the same problem, everyone will have different choices."
"Different people, different choices. That's a good point," Som Jin first praised Lin Sai's statement, then continued to ask, "So, what do you think the people in town should do now?"
Lin Sai gave the same answer he had given Iriel:
"It's not yet time to give up hope completely, so we can continue to look for solutions."
"..."
At this point, both fell silent.
They looked at each other, and eventually, Som Jin spoke first.
The merchant's tone was as if he was drawing a conclusion.
"You probably think my approach is too radical, even to the point of dragging most people to their deaths." The merchant lowered his eyelashes and shook his head, "But the fact is, even if we do nothing, people will still die in the end."
Lin Sai still didn't budge:
"In our Death Cult, there's an old saying—no one can outrun death in a race."
"It's not yet time for the final decision."
"..."
Their conversation ended here.
The shrewd merchant already knew that his persuasion of Lin Sai would be futile.
After that, the aged figure turned and headed towards the town without glancing back at Lin Sai.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
