Chapter 7

Chapter 7 < Determination. >

There was a simple way.

It was to conquer the surrounding tribes by force.

Blood would flow in the process of conquest, but there was no doubt that there was no easier and faster way to solve the population problem.

It could be an excuse, but there was a very high possibility that it would be advantageous for their survival if they were conquered by the Creek tribe, and ultimately under him. 

Wasn’t this a win-win situation?

‘Tsk.’

He didn’t feel very good. He knew very well that this was the logic of the conquerors who had shed a lot of blood.

But he had no choice. He wasn’t doing this for his own sake, right? 

All his actions were ultimately related to the survival of all mankind.

Of course, he didn’t mean to start conquering activities right away.

He had to clear enough farmland around him to store enough food, make enough weapons to arm the warriors, and finish all the training for group warfare.

That would be the time for the Creek tribe to expand around. Kim Ki-woo had been planning that way until then.

*

“You all look very happy even though you are working hard. This is all because of…”

“Stop!”

“Yes?”

“Stop trying to flatter me. How many times do you do that a day?”

“Ha ha. I’m just so happy… I’m happy because of that.”

This guy was very emotional. Tears welled up in the eyes of the upright tree.

The tribesmen were working hard without rest. 

Yet, their mood was very good. That’s why the upright tree reacted like this.

‘They all understand why they are busy. Humans work harder as they become richer, and they see a bright future.’

They didn’t starve first of all. This was the most important thing. There were even many delicious foods developed that they didn’t even look at what they used to eat.

Among them, Kim Ki-woo’s favorite food was kimchi.

He ate it as soon as cabbage and peppers were cultivated.

He also produced a lot of convenient goods for living by his efforts. Clothes, shoes, and other essential items made of iron or wood.

They were gradually getting used to the taste of civilization development.

But Kim Ki-woo didn’t fall into the same sentiment as the upright tree. He felt the same way even when he saw the tribesmen farming in this scorching sun.

The reason was nothing else.

The surrounding major tribes were moving faster than he thought. As a result, Kim Ki-woo had to modify the plan he had made last spring.

As he thought about this and that, he arrived at the meeting hall. Kim Ki-woo entered with the upright tree.

“Welcome, Chief Spirit!”

“Ha ha. You look radiant today!”

“Nice to see you all.”

Kim Ki-woo greeted each of the warriors’ lively greetings and sat down in his seat.

Now, wooden chairs and tables made by carpenters were common in the meeting hall. 

As a result, he could sit comfortably on a sturdy wooden chair.

Although it was hard because he didn’t put cushions or leather on it.

“Well, let’s proceed with today’s meeting.”

Before he knew it, declaring the opening or closing of the meeting became Kim Ki-woo’s job. 

As soon as Kim Ki-woo finished speaking, various issues that were scattered throughout the tribe were discussed.

“Iron production is increasing steadily. You all know that we have one more blast furnace. It’s hard to handle with our current staff.”

“Our carpentry shop is the same. How can we do this when we have more wood but the same number of people?”

“We are also…”

Most of them were complaints that they needed more people for their work. This had been an annual event since the basic industry was completed.

They were afraid that if they didn’t say this, the replenishment of manpower would be delayed compared to other work.

Kim Ki-woo had always said that he would prioritize the necessary work after the harvest was over. But today was different.

“Let’s discuss that later.”

A changed conclusion. 

From then on, some of the warriors began to feel something strange.

After this issue was settled, various incidents that had occurred in the tribe were discussed. 

From petty theft to fraud, robbery, and murder.

Since there was no legal system, the warriors who participated in the meeting became jurors and decided by majority vote.

After this kind of verdict was over, it was time for…

“Like Chief Spirit said, we treated our sixth son and he got up cleanly a few days ago. There is nothing wrong with listening to Chief Spirit.”

“Ha ha. I’m just saying…”

‘Ugh.’

It was like this. They competed to praise him. They even bragged that even the small events in their family happened because of Kim Ki-woo.

If he listened to their words, Kim Ki-woo was just a flawless being. He felt his face getting hot.

If it had been usual, he would have listened to them all and ended the meeting without ruining the mood. That was one way they expressed their joy.

But he couldn’t do that today. Kim Ki-woo raised his hand.

Then the meeting hall became quiet.

“You all look happy.”

“…”

A heavy voice. At least the warriors who participated in the meeting had some sense. They realized in an instant that Kim Ki-woo’s mood was different from usual.

“Do you remember what I said two years ago?”

“Of course we remember. The warriors will all remember too.”

“Is that so? It seemed to me that you all forgot.”

Kim Ki-woo’s eyes became cold.

Indeed, a position makes a person. As he led a tribe for quite a long time, Kim Ki-woo’s momentum was great. As evidence, many of the warriors were swallowing their saliva in tension.

“I clearly told you about my great ambition. And you all agreed to it. Didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“But!”

Kim Ki-woo shouted. The words stopped for a moment and the atmosphere cooled rapidly. It was hard to find when it was friendly.

“Why doesn’t anyone say anything about preparing for the current crisis? Our tribe is in a great crisis right now!”

The faces of the warriors were filled with doubt.

It was natural. Kim Ki-woo knew the intelligence that had just arrived, and most of the warriors didn’t know the situation.

The Creek tribe felt busy but better every day.

But Kim Ki-woo deliberately ignored that fact and continued.

“Hunting Chief?”

“Yes.”

He had already talked to Hunting Chief Swiftfoot before the meeting. To change the atmosphere in an instant.

It was a play in a way. But Kim Ki-woo couldn’t decide everything by himself yet, so appropriate agitation was essential.

“What is the situation of the surrounding tribes?”

“Something is off.”

“Be more specific.”

“Some of the major tribes’ chiefs have recently held a meeting. Without telling us anything.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s not certain yet, but it seems like they want to mess with our Creek tribe, which is growing day by day.”

It was not a sure thing, just a suspicion based on the circumstances. But it was probably accurate.

He had instructed the agile scouts to keep an eye on the movements of the neighboring tribes in preparation for such a situation.

The Creek tribe was weaker than the other large tribes. It was natural, since they had fewer people.

The other tribes must have been jealous to see a weaker tribe than themselves, who could make their own clothes from fabrics, and who knew how to get enough food.

It was like feeling sick when your cousin bought a piece of land. They could have asked how the Creek tribe’s situation had improved. But they didn’t.

They still had the old image of the Creek tribe that used to be poor and miserable. They thought they could easily gain a lot of benefits and knowledge by fighting them.

And now, some of the major tribes were showing signs of meeting. In other words, it could be an alliance of several enemy tribes. The situation was much more urgent than he thought.

Only then did the faces of the warriors become serious.

“War chief?”

“Yes?”

“What did you decide to do with the guy who tried to rob us earlier?”

“I decided to make him work in the hardest part of the mine for ten years without any compensation.”

Mining was one of the hardest jobs among all the current work. 

And it would only get harder as the mine got deeper in the future.

That’s why the pay for the work was also the highest. But he had to work for ten years without pay, just getting food and clothes, for one robbery attempt.

It was a powerful punishment.

“That’s right. If you take someone else’s property by force with a weapon, you have to pay a fair price for it. Especially since they are trying to take away everything we have built with our sweat every day. How are they different from robbers!”

Bang!

Kim Ki-woo deliberately slammed his fist on the table and vented his anger.

“Aren’t you angry? Am I the only one who feels this way!”

“No!”

“Those damn Chokto bastards…”

“We can’t let them get away with this!”

The atmosphere became tense. They were all warriors of the Creek tribe. They were not the kind of people who would tolerate and ignore such unfair threats.

“It’s all because the Creek tribe was weak. But are we still weak? I don’t think so. They don’t know our true face that has developed. They don’t even know about the existence of steel weapons. The situation is completely different from before!”

“Then what?”

Kim Ki-woo nodded and said.

“We have to prepare for external invasion. From now on, the Creek tribe will enter a state of war. The harvested food and the future industry will be focused on preparing for war for the time being. If anyone has any objections, speak up now.”

If anyone did, they would have been branded as traitors in this mood. As expected, no one stepped forward.

“Then I’ll take it as everyone agrees. I have no intention of showing any mercy to those robbers who covet our great fruits. I will make them feel painfully that we are not the same as before!”

“Woo! Woo! Woo!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The warriors stomped their feet and shouted the warrior’s cry.

Kim Ki-woo looked around at the warriors who had changed their determination and thought.

‘To be honest, I don’t care either way. Even if they hadn’t shown their ambition, I was planning to absorb them by force in a few years anyway. And I will continue to do so.’

It was an essential thing to do in order to fulfill his declaration from two years ago. But they acted first. Then he had nothing to hesitate about.

He would be in a very tight situation with food shortage by advancing his original plan by a few years, but if he could barely survive with the increased number of people after the war, the situation would improve faster.

‘Just become our precious labor force quietly. Hehehe.’

Kim Ki-woo let out a wicked laugh in his mind.

< Determination. > The end