Chapter 24: Preparations for War

On the other side of the oak tree.

“Hm? What’s going on with those people? Why are they all running out, exposed under the violet moon? Are they out of their minds?”

As the members of the tribe rushed toward the warehouse, Fanny was the first to notice.

And it wasn’t just Fanny; everyone else saw it too, one after another.

“They’re completely senseless. How can they run around under the radiation of the violet moon? Granted, your oak tree seems to have some effect in dissipating the pollution, but it’s not omnipotent.”

“Mr. Simon, you should go and stop them immediately. If you wait any longer, I’m afraid something terrible will happen!”

Someone immediately turned to Simon and suggested urgently.

At this moment, Simon was utterly bewildered.

His own tribesmen were well aware of the dangers of the violet moon. What could possibly prompt them to run out so suddenly?

Could something have happened on Grandfather’s side?

Simon instantly thought of his grandfather and guessed that something must have happened.

So he spoke to the others, “Everyone, something might have happened. I’ll go check with my grandfather at once. Please excuse me for a moment.”

With a heavy heart, Simon prepared to head to the other side of the oak’s roots.

But just then, people were already approaching from the distance.

As soon as they spotted Simon, they called out loudly and urgently:

“Chief, something’s wrong! Hurry, Lord Barton asks you to come at once!”

The messengers were out of breath, visibly anxious.

“Something’s wrong? What happened? Don’t panic, tell me first.”

Simon frowned, but asked calmly.

After all, the distance between him and his tribe was only about a hundred meters around the trunk. Even if something had happened, it shouldn’t be too grave, he thought.

Could someone have suffered severe pollution from the violet moon’s irradiation?

That didn’t seem likely.

Recalling the secrets about the violet moon he had just learned from the West York group, Simon grew even more puzzled.

“It’s like this.” The messenger took a deep breath, steadied himself, and continued, “Lord Barton has suddenly received a response from the Sacred Tree.”

“A revelation, apparently related to monsters, and the monsters are almost here!”

The man spoke with deep concern and worry, which naturally affected Simon as well.

“A revelation? Monsters?”

Simon didn’t believe his grandfather would speak nonsense.

After all, the Sacred Tree had already produced enough strange phenomena today; a sudden divine revelation wasn’t out of the question.

As for monsters—

Simon’s expression grew grave.

“So it’s true. Those tribesmen who ran out—they’re retrieving weapons from the warehouse, aren’t they?”

“I think so.”

Trouble was brewing.

Simon felt a growing sense of urgency. Suddenly, he turned toward the West York group, who were watching him and his tribesmen converse.

“Mr. Simon, has something happened?”

The West York group didn’t understand the indigenous language, but the urgency of the situation was clear.

Simon nodded.

“Yes, gentlemen, we might be in trouble.”

“Trouble?” Everyone looked puzzled.

The rainforest nearby was tranquil, nothing seemed amiss.

“Yes, perhaps it sounds unbelievable, but that’s the reality. My grandfather has just received a divine revelation from the Sacred Tree: monsters are approaching. And these monsters, I believe, may be the very creatures you spoke of—the violet moon’s polluted beings.”

“A revelation? Monsters?” The group exchanged uncertain glances.

But Fanny Campbell’s expression suddenly turned excited.

“A revelation? Mr. Simon, your grandfather truly received a message from the mysterious tree? Can this be real?”

“How could it be false?” Simon replied, a bit displeased. “My grandfather may seem aged, but his mind is far from muddled; he wouldn’t lie about something like this.”

“Well, regardless of whether you believe it, I must ask for your help now.”

“To prepare for the dangers ahead, I’d like to request the use of your three armed helicopters stationed at the camp. I believe we’ll need heavy firepower.”

Most of Simon’s armed tribesmen were three kilometers away at camp. Even if they called them by satellite phone, it wouldn’t be easy to bring them in.

Especially with the rainforest trails deep under the violet moon—the risks were too great.

But the armed helicopters were different.

They could scout from above and deliver heavy firepower from a distance.

“This…”

Some were skeptical.

But others were supportive.

“It’s not impossible. Although this revelation sounds fantastical, what we’ve seen today is already enough to defy belief.”

“So, I absolutely support Mr. Simon.”

Mallory was the first to voice support.

With Mallory’s endorsement, the other two with authority to deploy the helicopters also agreed.

“Better safe than sorry. I support deploying the helicopters.”

“Heh, since none of you object, neither will I,” Fanny Campbell replied, though his mind still lingered on the revelation.

“Good! With your support, I’m much relieved—thank you all.”

“Gentlemen, let’s hurry. Time waits for no one.”

After thanking them, Simon urged them on.

Fanny Campbell and the others smiled, then took out satellite phones from their assistants’ backpacks.

Once the calls were made, the West York group quickly decided for their own safety to join Simon’s tribesmen on the other side of the trunk.

After more than ten minutes—

Under the violet moon, three helicopters circled the oak tree.

Their arrival revealed to the West York group a spectacle previously unseen.

“Oh, unbelievable—is this some kind of force field from a science fiction film? It looks miraculous!”

“It truly is incredible. Look at those birds on the oak; they seem to be enjoying themselves.”

“By the gods, is it too late to convert to the Druid Order? That green phenomenon seems to be resisting the violet moon’s pollution—it’s simply astonishing.”

“… ”

Inside the three helicopters, over a dozen soldiers chatted in awe over the public channel about the oak’s wonders.

At the same time, they activated their mission recorders to film the tree.

Below, the Simon tribe had already armed themselves and stood vigil against the rainforest on all sides.

Time seemed to stretch, and tension mounted.

Soon, a dense rustling and disturbance echoed from the northern rainforest.