Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

It was late in the night, but the bonfire gave light to the campsite.

The crackling sound of burning branches was accompanied by little sparks flying in the sky.

This camp site was not safe. The fence was hastily laid out and it was too short and powerless against beast attacks. At most, it brought some psychological comfort to the members of the exploration team.

The real defense was the large number of traps scattered around the campsite.

Once a beast attacked, these traps could constitute an obstacle and make a loud noise to warn people in the camp.

Of course, night guards were arranged around the campsite to provide another layer of protection.

Normally at this time, most of the exploration team members would have already gone to sleep, but tonight everyone was still wide awake.

Many people gathered around the campfire and talked to each other.

The news about the abilities of the flying squirrel leader and the food shortage faced by the exploration team was well known.

“What should we do?”

“Food is the most important thing! Without food, even if there are no beasts, we will all starve to death. There is no exception, everyone needs to eat and drink.”

“I think we should kill these flying squirrels. Even though the flying squirrel leaders are strong, most of the flying squirrels are just ordinary animals.”

“Hm, if you think so, just wait and see. If the flying squirrel leader bites your flesh, you will die as soon as it discharges. Even though there aren’t many flying squirrel leaders, we don’t have enough people to fight them.”

“Looking back at it now, it was really scary. During the daytime, the flying squirrel leader was only five steps away from me. Fortunately, it died by the hands of Aupin.”

“Can the flying squirrel leader really discharge electricity?” Some people expressed doubts.

But when they heard that this was Palebeard’s inference, no one doubted it anymore.

“It seems that everything is thanks to Aupin! If he hadn’t killed the flying squirrel leader with one blow, someone would have definitely died…”

“In my opinion, this kind of beast must not be touched. Perhaps we will be able to find a better source of food. So, let’s take a detour. Or maybe we can find the other group.”

“Sigh, your idea is too naive. Is there food in large forces? Don’t forget, our group of people was sent out by the large forces to explore the surroundings… and search for food!”

“If we go back to the beach where we started and meet the others, who knows how long it will take. It is possible that we will encounter a more powerful monster along this journey.”

“After all, how long can our food last?”

Palebeard was lying in the tent, listening to the sound from outside. He looked at the top of the tent, knowing clearly in his heart that the food left could only last for seven days at most!

But at this moment, Palebeard was more worried about the state of the team.

Everyone had their own ideas. The team’s morale had fallen apart as they all had their own opinions. The leader needed to make a final decision.

However, although Aupin was in this position, his reputation as a leader was not yet deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

The goat meat seemed to be something that could increase the prestige of Aupin as a leader, but as a result the whole team was poisoned. After going through bumps and obstacles, the team still did not gather enough food.

Therefore, Aupin couldn’t buttress his authority.

Then, this is it, Palebeard thought in his heart.

In all fairness, this was not a good opportunity.

However, reality is indifferent and ruthless, it always produces accidents and problems. People are often caught off guard by reality.

Whether it was Aupin, Violette, or Palebeard himself, or the entire exploration team, they were all forced into a corner by reality.

Only by surmounting this difficult reality can you truly take charge of this team. Then, Aupin, the young leader, what will you do?

Palebeard slowly fell asleep as he thought about this question.

What should I choose to do? Aupin was lost in thought.

As the leader, he could not escape, but take responsibility!

The team is undernourished. Dealing with the flying squirrels is an option to obtain food. But the risk is high, and the exploratory team is weak. Suffering an electric shock from the flying squirrel leader will inevitably result in heavy casualties.

But I need a big victory. Ideally a smooth and comfortable victory. If it is a tragic victory and results in casualties, it will inevitably disappoint the rest of the members and lose their respect for my leadership.

Also, the size of the exploration team is not big. If the casualties are too high, how can the remaining people help me compete for the position of the White Sand City Lord?

In addition to this option, Aupin knew that he had another option.

We can abandon the flying squirrel community, continue to explore, and hope to discover better food sources in the future.

This choice can temporarily stabilize the entire team, but the food reserve will only last for seven days. What will happen next is actually hard to know.

We may find a weaker herd, or may encounter a terrifying beast, killing the entire exploration team.

If food is strictly controlled and reduced as much as possible, we could maybe last for more than ten days.

But there is a lot of risk in doing so.

Once food starts to be scarce, people’s hearts will be flustered. They will even be aggressive to one another, hunting each other, and devouring each other in order to survive!

My prestige cannot suppress such people’s desires. If this happens, the whole team will not collapse, it will riot…

Violette could get hurt!

Suddenly, a thought popped out while Aupin was thinking.

This idea was so bold and terrifying that even Aupin himself was taken aback, If I was forced into a desperate situation, in order to survive, would I kill other people and feed on human flesh?

No, how could I! If I do this, what is the difference between myself and those savage beasts!? I am a Templar.

Aupin felt deeply ashamed.

The Templars represented promise and bravery. On the battlefield, the Templars always charged ahead. In life, the Templars upheld justice, maintained kindness, and protected the weak.

It turns out that it’s difficult to be a leader. I’m afraid I’m going crazy, otherwise, why would I have such terrible thoughts?

At this moment, Aupin truly felt that a leadership role was not easy to assume.

Leaders must take up their own responsibilities, not betray the trust of their subordinates, find the right path, and lead everyone out of a predicament.

Aupin had even more responsibilities.

He thought of Violette. In his opinion, his fiancee had always trusted him, tried her best to protect him, and never abandoned him.

He thought of his clan again and his crippled father. He wanted to become the White Sand City Lord, this was a crucial step in the revival of the Centum’pin clan.

As well as his pride as a nobleman, the glory of being a Templar…

Aupin’s eyebrows furrowed tighter, his chest became stuffy, and he felt a sense of suffocation.

His tent was the largest, but at this moment, the entire tent was like the giant claws of a monster, slowly shrinking and choking Aupin’s throat.

Aupin resisted the huge amount of pressure, while the voices outside the tent gradually decreased. Most of the exploration team members went to sleep in their tents, but Aupin felt more and more pressure on his back.

After a while, Aupin let out a soft sigh. He suddenly bent over and sat weakly on the blanket, leaning against the only wooden pillar in the tent.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Aupin panted heavily, his forehead was covered with sweat.

He felt intense fatigue. This fatigue was not physical, but mental.

What should I do? Aupin was confused and distressed.

He kneeled on the ground and began to pray.

“Emperor Holy Brilliance, your gaze is above the skies, no trouble or barrier can stop your progress. You are holding the reins of a huge empire and leading hundreds of millions of people to victory. You are so wise. You are so decisive, you can see through the path of fate.

“And now, your loyal and humble servant is praying to you. Please show me the way, please clear the fog of destiny for me. Please protect me, so that I can maintain the noble pride and the glory of the knight.”

However, God did not respond.

Aupin patiently waited.

He was expecting a response from God.

Time went by silently.

This was a long wait.

Aupin kneeled on the ground, lowered his head, he was facing towards the direction of the Holy Brilliance Empire.

He was stubbornly waiting.

Aupin showed unprecedented patience during this prayer.

However, in the end, when the cold breath of the night penetrated through the crevices of the tent, it also pierced into Aupin’s nose, penetrating into his heart and his skin.

Aupin’s heart seemed to be getting colder as his eagerly waiting heart fell to the bottom of his stomach.

Aupin realized the cruel reality: God did not respond to him and he was not going to wait for any instructions from Emperor Holy Brilliance.

The tent in the middle of the night was full of darkness, not a trace of light.

The young man half-kneeled on the ground, like a stone statue.

After a long time, the stone statue let out a sigh, standing up begrudgingly.

His legs and feet were numb, so he stomped around to relax his muscles.

His eyes were cold and his heart was heavy. He knew that he could only rely on himself.

Without the guidance of God, the road ahead was dark.

But he must go on!

Staying in place and waiting to die would only disappoint everyone.

This is how life is.

People are often forced to make decisions when their future is uncertain. Even though people know how reckless their decision is! However, people have to bear the consequences for their choices, whether it is bitter or sweet.

Aupin continued to think.

Strangely, this time he did not feel hopelessness like before.

It was like he broke through a limit, perhaps because God did not respond, to let him fully understand that he could rely on no one else.

When the early morning arrived, more and more birds were chirping in the forest. Aupin suddenly realized that the whole night had passed.

He opened the curtain of the tent and happened to see the rising sun.

The sun shone through the clouds and hit the half-dark forest. There was still fog in the forest early in the morning, while the air seemed wet and cold. Aupin breathed and felt refreshed.

The moment he opened the tent curtain, he became a wise leader who saw everything and always made the correct decision.

Even if he knew he was not, he had to act like one!

There was not a trace of hesitation on his face, as he had already made a decision!

The crowd was quickly summoned and listened to a series of orders from Aupin.

“Blueteres, in the next few days, you will continue to find out more information about the flying squirrels.

“Yellowteres, Whitesprout, and Palebeard, you guys are responsible for choosing wood materials. We need to make a batch of shortbows.

“Violette, I need you to prepare a potion, ideally one that is effective against the flying squirrel leader.”

That’s right, Aupin had decided to hunt the flying squirrel pack.