In the desert west of Yew Territory.
This land is actually very large, but there aren't many good places. Although the places aren't great, many barbarian tribes live here.
However, as the population gradually increased, the corresponding resources did not increase, so wars also broke out between barbarian tribes. However, these were all small-scale wars. Most of the barbarian wars involved raiding the richer areas to the east.
Because those are the places where you can grab more good stuff, zero-dollar purchases are always popular.
"Stubborn Sen, the crops in the eastern territories are almost ripe. Shouldn't we go and help with the harvest? Otherwise, those noble lords might forget about us."
The barbarian raised his battle axe, his eyes fixed intently on the fertile land to the east. He wished he could live on that rich land, not in this place where hardly any oats could be grown.
However, this was just his fantasy. Those noble lords were not easy to deal with, and at least for now, their tribe alone was not enough.
Fortunately, this area is large enough to give them enough space to run. Running away when they can't win is a tactic they've developed and passed down, and it's very effective.
Stubborn Sen was not interested in his companion's words, because this was something they had to do. How could they, as poor guys, not visit their wealthy neighbors?
However, visiting neighbors' homes is not without risk. Many people have died there each time they go. But there is no other way, as the tribe's population is too large now, and if they don't go, there won't be enough food.
"Stubborn Sen, can you hear me? What's so interesting about that black stone? You can't eat it, and it just gets your hands all black. Is it more important than the food we eat?"
Some of his companions were unhappy with Stubborn Sen's behavior, feeling that he hadn't focused on their main task at the moment.
"Hurricane, don't rush! We still need to prepare, right? We won't get anything by just going in. But I feel like this black stone is a treasure."
Jiang Sen held a dark stone and looked at it repeatedly. However, he only said it as a treasure casually. He still hadn't found anything special about the stone except that it was shiny black.
"Treasure? I think you're dreaming! There are so many black stones over there on the ground. If they were treasures, they would have been picked up long ago. Do you think it's your turn to pick them up?"
The hurricane already knew about those black stones; they weren't just on the surface, but probably underground as well. You could get a lot just by digging around.
If these things are all treasures, then they don't need to covet their neighbors' property. They can just go and dig up the stones.
"Hurricane, these black stones are somewhat different from other stones. You'll see if you look closely. Perhaps we just haven't discovered their use yet."
Although Jiang Sen did not find anything special about this black stone, he still felt that it must be something unusual.
Aren't those precious irons obtained from inconspicuous stones? And aren't the copper and silver coins used by those noble lords in the east also obtained from inconspicuous stones?
"Stubborn Sen, you only discovered this stone today? Didn't you burn it before? It doesn't yield precious things like iron or silver; it leaves nothing after being burned."
Hurricane was right, but Stubborn didn't throw the stone away; instead, he took one and put it in his pocket.
Watching Jiang Sen's actions, Hurricane suddenly remembered what Count Worsis had said last time.
"Stubborn Sen, last time that stupid guy Woxis said we robbed his ore. What kind of ore did he think it was that made him need to come all this way to find us?"