After Seth's decision, the whole group followed his recommendation to stay in Lastwood to learn more, collect coins, and improve their chances of getting their revenge.
People in the group had different opinions about the fact that the tribe elders had hidden the truth from their continent. But even if some were angry, they knew that Seth was right to want to take things slow at their start on Ihaes.
Even Moses' group would be doing missions for the Mystic Widowmakers guild in the days that would pass since their arrival in Lastwood.
The missions available were far below their abilities, but they 'humbly' accepted the situation they found themselves in. That was a kind of exchange for the chance to live in a society with people who knew much more about the continent than they did.
...
After two weeks in Lastwood, Seth's group had completed all the missions available to them in the Mystic Widowmakers mercenary guild.
They had collected a good amount of coins to pay for their basic expenses in cities like Lastwood.
They had no idea that the amount of resources they had collected was insignificant for people of their level. However, none of them were used to the idea of consuming special resources, paying for energy-rich food, or the delicate services of tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, and so on.
They were used to gathering and hunting their own food and had never considered the possibility of buying supplies or even spending resources on clothing.
They made their weapons with their own skills, something even the weakest of the Misty Woods Tribe could do.
In the short term, they only needed coins for shelter, basic clothes to hide their savage origins, and not much else.
Although the group was learning to live in society, old habits were slow to change. Thus, the group was pleased with the financial resources they had accumulated so far.
But the most important thing was what the group had learned during those days. By observing the mercenaries and ordinary people in Lastwood, they had seen a bit of the continent's reality.
The village of Ihk had taught their group something. But that village was not a good example of how mainland society lived. The village was close-knit and used barter, just like Seth's tribe.
Many of the tribe's customs did not align with the more popular culture of Ihaes. However, Lastwood was a good example for the group. It was a place where people sold their skills, where greed for resources led people to corrupt themselves in many ways.
During those days in Lastwood, the group learned the actual value of money. Money wasn't just something used to facilitate exchange. Money was power, lust, seduction, and everything in between.
People would sell their strength, their souls, their families, and anything else of value for money. There was almost a fanaticism about currency on this continent.
The most frightening thing the group had seen in this regard was a women's house in Lastwood, where services related to pleasure were openly traded...
The concept of honor and loyalty was very vague in this society. Some would easily accept things that many of the survivors of the Misty Woods Tribe would rather die than endure.
What's more, they had learned to hide their ignorance. In several situations during those days, they noticed that some people who didn't know how strong they were mistreated them when they showed that they lacked basic knowledge.
None of them acted against ordinary people who tried to make fun of them for their ignorance. Still, they didn't like to suffer from this kind of situation. They quickly realized that hiding certain things about themselves was important, whether it was ignorance or even knowledge about certain subjects.
All in all, this stay in Lastwood was a good experience for the group to learn how to live minimally according to local customs.
After only two weeks in the city, they could blend in with the locals and demonstrate basic attitudes and knowledge.
Many of the group had different experiences these days, but as they met daily to talk about their experiences, each person's mistakes and successes contributed to the whole group.
With their rapid progress in the common cause, some more inclined to side with the elder Moses were already thinking of leaving Lastwood!
...
Moses was standing next to a group of five people sitting around a fountain in the central area of Lastwood.
It was night, so the area was less crowded than usual, considering the greater danger that any city would have in places like this at night.
With Moses were those who were more inclined to leave the city as soon as possible, eager to get to the kingdom's capital where they could get more accurate information.
"We must go to the capital," Moses told the group. "There, we'll be able to talk to the king and get information that no one else in the whole state has.
It's also the best place to start consuming the special resources of this continent. It's not only the place with the most quests for skilled people; it's also the place where you can find the highest-level resources in this kingdom.
Then we can find out what those things are that the tribal elders said in the past were sinful and would lead to our downfall."
Those around Moses were full of doubt about what had been hidden from them and were eager for answers.
They hadn't considered using anything special in this place because even the most valuable item in the city wasn't up to their level. Therefore, anything they consumed would have no effect.
They already knew this, as it was one of the things they had learned after arriving in Lastwood. Unique resources worked depending on the characteristics of their users. An item might be trash to someone who is very strong, but it might be the most valuable thing in the life of someone who is ordinary and weak.
It wouldn't make sense for them to test anything here.
"But will we be able to convince Seth?" A woman asked. "He trusts the elders of the tribe completely. If he knows what we're up to, he may punish us for it."
"Seth is strong, and I respect him," Moses said. "But we have our freedom to choose what we do. Besides, he's only our leader as long as we decide he is."
"The other group members will never change Seth's position." An old man said.
Moses looked at him and replied. "It doesn't matter. If the rest of the group is unwilling to follow our thoughts, we can simply separate from them."
The people around Moses fell silent when they heard this. That was indeed a possibility for them. But everyone there, despite their differences with the other group members, was a little reluctant to go their separate ways.
Although they were all solid, it was undeniable that only the other survivors of the Misty Woods Tribe shared the same culture and background as them. Together, they were strong and unlike anything else on the continent.
"Is this a good idea?" One of them wondered.