While Austin was engrossed in his transformation experiments, the development of the Dragon Nest Tribe did not halt.
At this time, the Dragon Nest Tribe had already entered a normal developmental track. Several new houses were built in the village, and the surrounding weeds were cleared. Many stone tools in the process of being made were placed on the open ground, with a designated area for spear weapons nearby.
This was considered the workshop for making various weapon stone tools. The land reclamation project was ongoing. As there were currently no copper or iron tools, the daily consumption of various stone tools and wooden spears by the Beastmen for land reclamation was quite a large number. To improve efficiency, the Kobold leader Vini, under Austin’s guidance, selected six or seven Goblins with skilled craftsmanship from the Dragon Nest Tribe to specialize in making wooden spears and stone tools.
One must admit, this division of labor significantly improved the production efficiency of the Beastmen. These Goblins seemed to possess a manufacturing talent, even replicating some tools to expedite wooden spear manufacturing from Austin’s occasional hints, using wooden shafts to rotate grinding stones and speed up the sharpening of wooden spears.
Recently, these Goblins gathered to attempt whether they could fire pottery from clay to facilitate the Dragon Nest Tribe’s various daily activities. Through several firing experiments, these Goblins drew inspiration from Austin’s Smoke Tower design and devised a rudimentary blast furnace. Although it had not yet succeeded, the Goblins said they were close and would soon be able to supply the tribe with various pottery utensils.
Being able to successfully fire pottery utensils would indeed greatly facilitate the Dragon Nest Tribe’s various daily activities.
The expansion of the village did not stop during this half-month period.
The walls surrounding the village were further reinforced, relying on the Dragon’s Nest Cliff at the back, with only one main entrance for entry and exit.
A short lookout tower was erected on each side of the main entrance, with two Beastmen guarding each side regularly. Although wild animals near the Dragon Nest Territory had reduced to quite a low level due to the prior collective hunting, necessary precautions still had to be taken.
The population of the Dragon Nest Tribe had reached one hundred and twenty-three people. Not long ago, they even attracted two stray Minotaurs who joined the Dragon Nest Tribe, though the Smoke Tower side was no longer attracting stray Beastmen.
Over a month had passed since the cold winter, and the plants had fully grown lush leaves. The entire Kawa Great Forest entered its most prosperous period. Beastmen generally could find enough food within the Kawa Great Forest; having settled down, the number of stray Beastmen in the Kawa Great Forest had decreased to a very low level.
Moreover, the Smoke Tower side had produced enough charcoal for firing forty to fifty furnaces of copper and iron without issues. The trees on nearby hills were mostly cut down, and lighting smoke columns required heavy manpower, so the Smoke Tower was halted.
Without worrying about tending to the smoke columns, a portion of manpower was freed, slightly accelerating the land reclamation work.
Early in the morning.
After completing the morning routine training, the Beastmen grouped into formations under their respective captains, who received today’s tasks from the Dragon Nest Tribe Village Chief Vini, whether hunting, fishing, gathering vines, searching for stone tool materials, making wooden spear wood, weaving nets, land clearing, etc.
With the day’s schedule laid out, there was hardly any idle time for the Beastmen.
While the captains received tasks, the Beastmen relaxed nearby, chatting and bickering.
"I really envy Rodney and those guys—they don’t have to work or do military training, just lie down and get fed every day." Follow current novᴇls on N(o)vᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt
"Ha ha, if you want, you can go too. Anyway, you don’t have to do anything, just lie there for a few days without working, and after the experiments, you can get stronger—how great is that!"
Austin didn’t hide the fact that he used Beastmen as test subjects—news of it spread early in the Dragon Nest Tribe.
Of course, with daily brainwashing propaganda and the "generous" life of having enough to eat, these clan members wouldn’t have complaints even if they sacrificed their lives for Austin.
After all, this world didn’t really have any concept of human rights, especially for Beastmen who lived day to day. Sacrificing themselves for the revered Blue Dragon was their honor.
However, the Blue Young Dragon’s experiments didn’t take their lives, but the experience wasn’t pleasant. The electric stimulation was something ordinary Beastmen couldn’t endure, especially when one day they saw Rodney emerge from the lab twitching, incontinent.
Saying they envied them was just banter.
"I’ve heard that if His Highness’s experiment succeeds, we will all gain extraordinary power."
"Extraordinary power, huh? It used to be that only leaders and elites could possess that power in our tribe."
In conversation, some Beastmen showed longing expressions.
Living in a place where the strong prey on the weak, the desire for power was an instinct for every creature.
Not long after, the captains, having received tasks from Vini, returned, shouting orders.
The Beastmen stood up one by one, approaching their own captains to form ranks, and then dispersed in various directions within the Dragon Nest Territory under their captain’s lead.
"Brother, if His Highness succeeds, will we also get extraordinary abilities?"
In a small group, Aisha asked her brother walking upfront.
This small group consisted of juvenile Beastmen from the Dragon Nest Tribe. They handled tasks that were manageable for them, as not all tribal duties were suitable for these young ones.
Aisha and her brother Meng Bi were among this group, tasked with clearing the field for planting kudzu root. After half a month of growth, the vines had sprouted thick tendrils. To increase sunlight exposure, Austin ordered branches to be cut and inserted into the ridges for the vines to climb and increase sun time.
Works demanding physical strength were generally handled by adult Beastmen, while these young Beastmen attended to these kudzu vines, handling tasks like weeding.
"This is an experiment personally overseen by His Highness Austin—of course, it will succeed. His Highness Austin is a mighty Giant Dragon; how could it not succeed?"
Meng Bi patted his sister’s head and said.
"Then can I fly in the future?"
"Mm, you definitely can."
Amongst the chatter of a group of young Beastmen, the team soon arrived at a green expanse.