As the first sounds of labour started to reverberate through the eastern courtyard, morning light slowly moved across the Osborn compound. The day before, the old storage area had been almost completely cleared. The worn wooden beams and broken stone blocks that had once held up the abandoned building were now neatly stacked along the outer wall. The locations of the new structure were already being marked by several clan labourers moving across the open space. Piles of recently cut stone were waiting close by, and thin lines had been drawn across the dirt to delineate the foundation.
Robert stood near the edge of the courtyard and watched the activity in silence. The air still carried the coolness of early morning, and a faint mist hovered just above the ground before slowly fading under the rising sun. Workers spoke quietly as they moved tools and asured the foundation lines again and again to ensure the structure would sit properly. It was not a large building compared to the clan's training halls or residential houses, but it had a different purpose.
Most of the younger clan mbers who passed through the courtyard glanced toward the construction site with curiosity. Few of them understood why the clan needed another building when the compound already had enough space. To them, it looked like a small administrative structure, perhaps another storage room or a planning office. None of them realised that the building would eventually hold the most valuable resource the clan could gather.
Information.
Robert remained there for several minutes before turning away and walking toward the outer training yard. By this ti, the morning drills had already begun. Wooden weapons struck against each other in a steady rhythm as pairs of younger cultivators practised their movents under the supervision of several older mbers.
Ronan and Taylen were fighting as they stood close to the middle of the yard. Neither of them attempted to dominate the other; instead, they moved quickly but with discipline. Rather, they concentrated on maintaining their balance and observing each other's responses. Sai leaned against one of the stone pillars at the edge of the yard, watching the sparring session while occasionally correcting the stance of nearby disciples. Sarah and Eissa had just finished their own training round and were adjusting their breathing beside the weapon rack.
Robert walked across the yard without interrupting the drills. The group noticed him imdiately, and Ronan ended the sparring exchange with Taylen before stepping back.
The forest was quiet yesterday, Ronan said after wiping the dust from his sleeve. Most of the beasts we encountered were still near the outer territory.
Robert nodded slightly. The hunting group had returned without injury, which ant the outer sections of the Forbidden Forest were still manageable for their current strength. However, that did not guarantee the situation would remain stable. The forest rarely stayed predictable for long.
Sai stepped forward and spoke in a calm voice. If we continue hunting at the sa locations, the beasts will eventually scatter deeper into the forest. It may beco harder to track them.
Robert had already considered this. Repeating the sa hunting routes too often would slowly reduce the number of beasts in those areas. When that happened, the group would be forced to travel deeper into the forest where stronger creatures lived. For now, their strength allowed them to manage the outer territories, but unnecessary risks would only slow the clan's progress.
He looked at the group for a mont before speaking. Future hunts will be organised differently. Instead of moving as one group every ti, we will begin rotating smaller teams.
The others paid close attention. Robert clarified that splitting up the hunting group would enable them to cover more ground without repeatedly using up the sa hunting areas. Different routes could be taken by two or three smaller teams, which will be more reliable. It would also allow each mber to gain more independent combat experience instead of relying on the sa formation during every encounter.
Ronan considered the idea briefly before nodding. Smaller groups will need to be more cautious.
They will, Robert replied calmly. But that is also part of the training for other mbers of the clan.
Eissa remained quiet while listening to the discussion. Her cultivation had already reached the fifth level of the Spirit Root Realm, which ant she could handle most of the outer forest beasts without difficulty. However, Robert knew that raw cultivation strength was only one part of survival in the forest. Observation, positioning and patience were just as important.
After the brief discussion ended, the group returned to their training while Robert stepped aside and watched them for a while longer. The rhythm of their movents had improved steadily over the past weeks. The spirit stones extracted from the hidden vein had quietly strengthened the clan's cultivation resources, and the effect was slowly becoming visible.
Robert eventually left the training yard and walked toward the eastern section of the compound again. The construction site had beco much more active during the past hour. Several workers were digging shallow trenches along the marked foundation lines while others carried stone blocks into position. Wooden fras had already been assembled nearby, waiting to be raised once the foundation was prepared.
Loran stood near the outer gate, speaking briefly with one of the guards before noticing Robert approaching. He ended the conversation quickly with the guards and walked toward him.
The eastern gate has been quiet this morning, Loran said after greeting him. Most rchants will begin arriving closer to midday.
Robert nodded slightly. Loran had already begun adjusting to his new role. Observing the gate required patience, but it also provided the first glimpse of anything unusual entering the city.
A few minutes later, Cedric arrived from the southern path leading toward the trade road. Dust clung lightly to the edge of his boots, suggesting he had already travelled so distance earlier that morning. He greeted Robert and spoke without unnecessary delay.
Several caravans entered Magical City before sunrise, Cedric explained. That part is normal. But two groups arrived that I have not seen before.
Robert studied him quietly. What kind of caravans?
Cedric shook his head slightly. Not caravans exactly. More like travelling cultivators moving with supplies. Their clothing was unfamiliar, and their accents did not sound like the nearby clans.
Robert did not respond imdiately. Travelling cultivators were not unusual in Magical City. The city sat along several trade routes, and outsiders often passed through while searching for resources or opportunities. But Cedric was observant, and if he had noticed sothing unusual, it was worth rembering.
Did they enter the city peacefully? Robert asked.
Yes, Cedric replied. They paid the entry fee like ordinary travellers. But they did not stay near the rchant quarters. They moved toward the northern districts.
Robert folded his arms slightly while thinking about the report. The northern districts contained several cultivation shops and resource exchanges where outsiders often traded beast cores, herbs and weapons. That alone was not suspicious. However, unfamiliar cultivators arriving in small groups sotis ant that sothing larger was happening beyond the city.
As he considered the information, Mira approached from the inner path leading toward the market district. Her pace was steady but not rushed. She greeted Robert and then shared her own observation.
The market has been busier than usual since yesterday evening, she said quietly. Several travelling cultivators are exchanging beast materials.
Robert looked at her carefully. From where.
Mira shook her head slightly. That part was unclear to her. Most of them avoided speaking about the location directly. But a few ntioned hunting deeper inside the Forbidden Forest.
Robert remained silent for several seconds.
The Forbidden Forest was vast, and many independent cultivators hunted there for resources. But increased activity sotis ant that stronger beasts had appeared in certain regions. When that happened, hunters from outside territories often arrived quickly to take advantage of the opportunity.
Robert walked a few steps toward the construction site and looked down at the rough foundation lines being prepared in the ground. Workers continued moving stones into place without paying attention to the quiet conversation nearby.
Cedric's report about unfamiliar cultivators and Mira's observations about increased market activity began forming a subtle connection in his thoughts. If new hunting groups had arrived in Magical City, it ant they believed the forest currently held sothing valuable.
Perhaps stronger beasts.
Or sothing else.
Robert slowly unfolded the map of the surrounding region that he carried with him and studied the forest lines marked along its edges. His eyes moved across the familiar hunting routes the Osborn clan had used during the past weeks.
If other hunters had entered the forest recently, those routes might soon beco crowded.
Robert folded the map again and looked once more toward the distant forest beyond the city walls.
Soone else had begun hunting there. And they were not from the Osborn clan.
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