6 The Value of Knowledge (1/2)

”What of the remaining, any relevance?” as he wore his robes, the elder was solemn after hearing the first news.

”Second, there were packs of dire wolves seen moving in large groups, numerous group have sighted them when they hunted.”

The Elder had raised an eyebrow upon hearing it.

The ones hunting were juniors, below the age of 15, but to make sure no danger arises them, they could at least have one senior, who finished their training to guide them.

But even seniors hunt wolves that were isolated from their hunting teams, rarely targeting beyond groups of 4 or 5, so they are also not aware how 'large' they were referencing them.

They had used them as a form of basic training by grouping greenhorns[1] in their clans, all the elders had experienced it, even himself were thrown in the mountains to hunt and survive.

Areas with larger pacts are avoided for a reason, green horns would be food if they encountered them, while for veterans, although difficult they can at least survive from being mauled to death.

'A large group could vary, depending on what prey they are hunting, large could mean anything.'

He also studied their hunting patterns, methods, including eating habit when he was young, so such news about wolves in large groups was an exaggeration if it came from a youth.

”How is that related?”

To his knowledge, there are packs of direwolves in every territory, even in the mountains it was regular to see them.

So it considered perfect for them to train in the mountains along with gaining some food.

Until they hunted enough, they would be considered a young hunter, accidents and casualties were expected so they allowed any juniors with heavy injuries to return.

The other five clans have done similar training, which prove it was common knowledge.

”The reason why I deemed this relevant, was that we have been getting numerous casualty reports, not just from the juniors who formed groups but from patrolling guards are included, and each one was caused by being chased by a large group in every encounter.”

”Fortunately no deaths were reported or found, but many are injured and will take time to recover when I had interviewed everyone involved, and compiled everything, they all said the same thing.”

”That they were all at the Naga's territory during each attack.”

A surprised look was on the Elder's face after hearing his explanation.

'Juniors are one thing, but to have the guards near the border as well. But that was not the problem...'

”Has there been any casualties from here?”

To confirm something, he asked the focal point of the report.

And the answer…

”None, all claimed that the usual lairs were abandoned, other locations were searched, and including those of larger pacts and the results were the same.”

Felix answered the question he had expected.

'So that was why all the attacks in the Naga's, but why? Was it because of the constant hunting or the lack of food?'

'Both are impossible… even if wolves were constantly hunted, they would learn and find a new location, not leave the territory completely.'

Wolves would never abandon their lair, except for larger groups that have too many members, the smaller groups would only leave if they can't hunt enough, but to have both groups disappear and change territories was definitely unusual.

'They would have no choice unless the food became scarce which was also impossible.'

Because the war was in their homeland, the Boars had used defensive warfare, during that time the normal way to produce food was put to a halt which was farming.

As all the citizens who were farmers would be killed they had them retread in to the inner clan, so their stocks of food were going to diminish in a rapid pace, so they had used hunting to replenish from time to time.

It started out great at first, they had a mountains nearby which nested a number of beast so there was no problem if they controlled their areas.

But hunting became more desperate, as they discovered there were traps laid randomly in the hunting ground.

Since the enemy had no information on the area, they sent scouts in small teams and were not willing to gamble on large forces, then focused all soldiers in a frontal assault.

After the war ended, the Boar Clan had captured a number of animals in groups of two, from herbivores and carnivore that were in small numbers, and after five years they were released to further grow in the mountains having a few hunters observing at a regular basis, so the shortage of prey was also not the reason.

He even forbade hunting, to ensure they would spread and grow in numbers.

For 10 years, they continued to bolster their defense regaining their strength, little by little, while avoiding hunting and only farmed, and it was not until just last year the ban was lifted.

The rule of thumb[1] in hunting, was that every time they would, they would wait after half a year before they would hunt again.

Then change locations to not scare away the game, if not, then the beast would either abandon the area or move to the next location would be the only reason .

'So it's not because of constant hunting but something else.'

”Does the Naga Clan have any involvement?”

Thinking for a moment, he realized the event would have be man-made, the prime suspect could only be the one who owns the scene of the crime.

He then remembered what happened in the past and made a bitter face.

The Panther clan may have started the invasion but after interrogating some of their soldiers, they found out their initial plan was to show off their might, and have foreign powers take interest in making ties to them, not destroy the clan.

They even captured some Boars clansmen in the battlefield, but never have they been treated poorly.

Because of the outcome of each encounter, the Panther found their natural talent was rivaled by pure effort and tenacity of the Boars.

The Panther Elder respected the Boars for their stubborn mindset and their foundation of strength, in fact, the war was turning from invasion to a large sparring session, and every Panthers clansmen as a whole agreed in forming ties with the Boar clan.

Many were injured but none were killed, they then made an agreement to release the clans men if they release theirs, which both agreed to in a mountain with visible view for both parties.

Then he remembered at the time he received a letter to always be wary of the Naga clan, since they always have some plan in mind.

Since the Naga clan had been recognized as a merchant clan, so the warning served no more than a simple joke at the time.

However unaware from both sides during the war, the Nagas' were watching and orchestrating from the shadows, when both side released their respective captives in an agreed spot, the Naga's had planted assassin to both parties routes.

They had worn opposing clan logo so both parties would think they were trying to kill each other in secret leaving some survivors, to show they were betraying them.

Eventually the invasion became a bloody war, and the Naga's were adding fuel to the raging flames, focusing on the Panthers and have them as a subordinate clan, hence the one sided alliance.

The timing to form an alliance was suspicious especially when the Naga's who had no relation started aiding them, since the 'betrayal', no one noticed it was planned.

When he investigated on the murders himself, he was shocked to find the Nagas were the ones who planted traps using mercenaries and wanted to pin the blame onto the Panther's and the Boars.

But the battle was already started so he cannot voice out his claim.

So the Naga's stayed quite and watched from afar, as both clans tried to destroy each other.

The elder believed the Naga's were involved in the war, but how far was only by speculations, and not enough physical proof to convince the clans, and no doubt the Panther's elder will not cooperate to investigate even when it concerns them.

”Unfortunately Elder, Mordan City gates were closed for ten days including the storm that happened not long ago, so one was allowed to leave except for some grave diggers that were carrying bodies, it appears as though some incidence had occurred, so our spies had to continue observing in silence.”

Ever since the alliance, they planted spies disguised as traders for ten years in undercover, to gain any news between the two clans.

The result, after three years they had a child named Veritas who was a genius.