Todd returned along the foot of the mountain, not heading directly back to his camp, so he couldn't see them, and they couldn't see him.
He was grateful at that moment for the bushes and grasses in the valley, where he could easily hide himself by crouching down.
Quiet as a mouse, Todd nestled in the dry grass, slowly making his way closer to the camp.
Just as he had taken a few steps, he suddenly saw three tall men emerging from his camp through the bushes, heading towards him.
Todd was taken aback.
Before he could react, the sturdy, calm-looking man in the middle said something towards his direction from afar.
Cautiously crouched in the bushes, Todd stared nervously at them, his animal ears twitching slightly as he strained to hear. After a while, he faintly made out the man saying, "We see you, we mean no harm, don't be afraid."
Skeptical that they might be tricking him to come out, Todd didn't respond.
But the men took a few steps closer, almost reaching him.
With no choice, Todd cautiously popped his head out from the bushes, speaking in his still unpolished Orcish one word at a time, "Who are you?"
A mere twenty-two years old, freshly graduated from college, Todd felt even younger after the Time Management Bureau reshaped his body. His voice remained the same, but now with a hint of youthfulness.
The man in the middle softened his voice and spoke in a long string of words.
After listening intently for a while, Todd didn't fully understand.
Furrowing his brow, he asked, "Could you speak slower and repeat that? I'm having trouble understanding you."
The man in the middle smiled and slowed down his speech, articulating, "We are Orcs living on the other side of the mountain. That's where our tribe is. How did a young Orc like you end up here?"
With some effort, Todd grasped that on the other side of the mountain lay an Orc tribe after crossing his camp.
Having not explored to the south these past few days, he hadn't realized it.
He wondered why the Time Management Bureau had thrown him into this desolate area without any care for his well-being.
Unbeknownst to him, they had placed him just outside the Orc tribe.
If he hadn't taken a wrong turn, explored the wrong spots, he would have met this group of Orcs on his first day.
In an instant, Todd realized many things.
He hesitated for a moment.
The men, patient and unmoved, stood waiting without pressing him further.
After a while, Todd cautiously asked, "Can I have some time to consider?"
The man in the middle queried, "How long do you need?"
"A month?"
"A month?" The man seemed puzzled. "How long is a month?"
Todd, realizing they were unfamiliar with the concept of a month, hastily explained, "It's when the sun comes out thirty times."
Pointing to the sun overhead, the men seemed to grasp the concept now.
The man nodded, "Alright. You can come to our tribe whenever you wish. It's safer there."
They had spotted Todd's cave.
Having never seen such a small cave before, and seeing this young Orc, they felt a bit compassionate, like they would for their cubs.
To their invitation, Todd felt slightly conflicted.
Most societies tend to be exclusionary, especially closely-knit ones.
He felt comfortable staying here. He was strong, his claws sharp, able to fend for himself.
Having a tribe nearby might mean they had already dealt with potential dangers in the area.
He hadn't encountered any large beasts nearby, not even snakes. With caution, he should be safe.
In time, he could gradually make things and even if he couldn't live as luxuriously as before, surviving like Robinson Crusoe should be no problem.
The resources here were far more abundant than on Robinson's island.
If he joined the tribe, Todd feared his intentions might arouse suspicion or even hostility, leading to a worse life than he had now.
He hesitated for some time.
The three men across from him remained patient, not rushing him, just standing there.
After a while, Todd asked cautiously, "Can I have some time to consider?"
The man in the middle inquired, "How long a time would you like?"
"A month?"
"A month?" the man puzzled, "How long is a month?"
Todd paused, then quickly realized their lack of understanding of a month, explaining, "It's when the sun rises thirty times."
The men understood this time, nodding. "You are welcome to live with us in the tribe. It's safer there."
Todd politely declined, "This place is good, I'd like to stay here. Thank you."
Respecting his decision, the men bid farewell and, in an instant, transformed into three fierce beasts—two tigers and a leopard.
Todd, startled, dropped a bird he was holding, one of them squawking loudly as it woke.
After quickly picking it up, Todd watched as the beasts leaped and vanished into the woods, leaving him still startled.
Todd's heart raced.
He now truly understood why this place was called the Orc Dimension.
These were real, formidable Orcs.
Todd's legs felt weak as he walked back to his camp, seating himself on a stone beside the ashes.
The three birds continued squawking, trying to break free, but he paid them no mind.
His worldview had been shaken, and he needed a moment to process it.
After a while of contemplation, Todd scanned his surroundings.
The presence of strong and benevolent neighbors nearby was indeed a good thing.
The first impression of the three Orcs had been quite positive.
Todd looked at the three squawking birds on the ground, retying them securely, then tying their beaks shut as well.
With these defenses in place, the birds would not escape.
In case other animals were lured by the birds later, he would be ready to catch them, saving the effort of hunting outside.
As he finished with the birds, he kindled a fire, creating warmth inside his sleeping cave and ensuring comfort against the evening chill.
Todd then roasted the bird eggs and the large rabbit meat he had left from yesterday, not having suitable containers, he drank the raw water from the stream.
During the day, when the sun shone bright, he could see if the water had any impurities.
The stream, though not large, was clear and cold, boasting fish but not seeming dirty.
Roasting the meat, Todd realized the limitations of the "Knowledge Search Time," a unique feature provided by the Time Management Bureau.
Opening the system, he could search for information akin to using platforms like Baidu or Google, for only five minutes per day.
Disappointed by his previous searches about clay and pottery, Todd had gleaned that clay was a common natural resource.
He had heard that riverbed silt and fine mountain soil could be used for pottery.
Unable to roam far, he planned to collect clay from nearby areas the next day.
After making detailed notes, Todd engraved essential keywords on a slate.
With only five precious minutes each day for the "Knowledge Search Time," Todd aimed to save it for valuable knowledge.
As the timer ran out, Todd reviewed the steps for pottery making he had searched, deciding to skip the steps involving decorations and mixing water.
After this quick study, the search engine vanished, leaving Todd slightly frustrated.
The limited nature of the tool left him wishing for more time.
Having searched for clay the past two days with no substantial results, Todd planned to gather clay from various spots the next day to test.
Memorizing the notes, Todd wrote the crucial steps on a stone slab.
Eager to use the Knowledge Search Time for other valuable knowledge, Todd hoped to optimize the tool's utility.
As he finished, he checked the fire in his cave, which had burned out.
After clearing the charcoal and securing the entrance with a stone slab, ensuring leftover warmth, Todd turned his attention to the roasted bird eggs and rabbit meat.
And thus, another day passed.
Standing up, Todd went to the edge of his cleared campsite, marking a line on a tree trunk.
Three days had passed since he was thrust into this world just before dawn, enduring three days and two nights. Another night was on the horizon.
With a solemn gesture, Todd scored a third mark.