We made you the chief, and now you've become the world's chief?

Chapter 19 Despicable Foreigner
The moment the idea took shape, Xia Minghao immediately asked tentatively.

"Have you ever eaten this kind of blackfish? Reba? Have you?"

The leader, Liba, who had been staring at the sharp serrations on the blackfish with a hint of fear in his eyes, shook his head like a rattle drum after hearing Xia Minghao's question.

They still eat snakehead fish? They'd be content if they weren't eaten by snakehead fish.

It was their first time migrating to this forest, and when they saw the river, the Li tribe discovered blackfish in it.

Liba's uncle wanted to go fishing, but he was bitten so badly that he was disfigured and didn't survive more than a few days after climbing out of the water.

The entire clan witnessed this scene, leaving a deep psychological scar that lingers to this day.

Even now, I'm still afraid to go to the river to drink water.

I always drink my fill of water at once, and I try to avoid going if I can.

Seeing the bald man Liba's reaction, Xia Minghao's eyes lit up!
Since you've never tried it!
That would be easy!
Primitive people may not have been stupid, but they couldn't outsmart modern people.

If you tell them that eating this will make them very powerful, and they can easily throw spears forty or fifty paces away.

That would be equivalent to telling someone in modern times that something can enhance male virility.

Not only can the blackfish be used as a spear-throwing weapon that these primitive people cannot refuse, but it will also not pose a real threat to the tribe.

Xia Minghao barely managed to suppress his laughter, coughed twice, and said to the bald man, Liba.

"Eat this, and you'll have strength."

"Shiphat, go and throw the spear!"

Nothing beats the effect shown in the demonstration, even though the effect has absolutely nothing to do with blackfish.

Hiphat obediently stepped back a few paces and picked up the javelin thrower and the javelin.

Because it was nighttime and they were being shone with powerful flashlights, the men of the Li tribe couldn't see Hifa's movements clearly.

But with Xia Minghao's special lighting, the final landing point of the wooden spear could be clearly seen!

It was a full sixty paces away!
The men couldn't help but gasp in surprise at what they saw!
They then began to whisper among themselves.

"Blackfish, it makes women even more powerful than men!"

"Chief, can we go catch some blackfish?"

"Shut up, the blackfish will eat us..."

Seeing that Xifa's performance was still very stable, Xia Minghao turned the flashlight back and aimed it at Liba, the leader of the Li tribe.

"Do you want blackfish? To make you stronger, so you can throw your spears farther."

The leader, Liba, was dumbfounded!
So these women are stronger than him because they ate the blackfish?
If I also ate the black carp, wouldn't I be able to throw a spear a hundred paces away?
"Yes! I want the black carp!"

Liba nodded immediately, his eyes filled with longing.

That was a thirst for power, the most primal and unchanging thirst in this primitive era.

strength!

Now, Xia Minghao was certain that the bald man had taken the bait, and he now had a real "bargaining chip."

Although this bargaining chip was built on lies.

"Alright, you give me the people, and I'll give you the blackfish!"

Xia Minghao reiterated his demand to exchange people for the blackfish.

The men behind Liba, who had been chatting, fell silent again upon hearing the request and all looked at the back of Liba's head.

However, unlike before, the leader Liba did not directly refuse.

Instead, he fell into thought, clearly hesitant.

Xia Minghao didn't urge him, and waited silently.

He was confident that the bald man would give him a satisfactory answer.

Chief Liba was indeed thinking.

He already knew the "fact" that the blackfish could make him stronger.

The first thing they thought about was whether they could catch fish in the river using their own strength.

But the gruesome sight of his uncle before his death, his rotten face crawling with maggots and covered in blood and gore, made him abandon the idea.

If catching snakehead fish is going to kill people, then it's better to just trade people for the snakehead fish.

"Okay, I'll give you people, you give me blackfish."

Finally, Chief Liba spoke, and the men of the Li tribe began to discuss among themselves.

Xia Minghao looked at the blackfish, thought for a moment, and realized that there was no offer. In this situation, it was best to let the other party make the first offer so that he could gain the upper hand in the negotiation.

"How many of you are giving me?"

Liba had never experienced this kind of bargaining before, and upon hearing the question, he immediately began to think.

But they weren't estimating how many people a blackfish was worth; they were thinking about how many people they had to exchange for.

People who originally belonged to the Li tribe could not be replaced. Even if I were willing, my tribesmen would not be.

The only replacements could be found among the women who had been absorbed into the Li tribe.

Moreover, capable women are not suitable, nor are women with children.

Upon first thinking, Liba only found one person: the woman he had picked up, with a small frame and snow-white skin.

This can definitely be used for exchange.

Liba then recalled each woman again, and his brows furrowed.

This was arguably the most mentally taxing experience Liba had ever had, and he appeared to be experiencing some mental overload.

Faces appeared and disappeared in his mind. Just when Xia Minghao started to worry about whether his powerful flashlight would run out of power, Liba finally responded, extending his hand to slap Xia Minghao.

"And a woman who is like a finger on your hand, here you go, all your blackfish, and give them to me."

Five women?!
Upon hearing this, Xia Minghao's eyes flickered. Of course, he had no idea about Li Ba's peculiar thought process in making the offer.

He was quite satisfied with the price!
After all, when it came to replacing players, the bald man was incredibly resolute in his stance.

I originally thought that it would be good enough if I could fool one or two people.

I never expected they would be willing to exchange five people for it!

However, Xia Minghao skillfully concealed his excitement and continued speaking calmly.

"Five women? No way. Give me the men, and you can have the blackfish."

Although it exceeded the original expectations, the price was still raised, which is a basic tactic in the bargaining process.

This time, it wasn't just Liba who responded; all the men of the Li tribe shook their heads.

"Men can't, but women can."

Seeing that resolute expression again, and with all the men opposing him, Xia Minghao knew that the possibility of him pushing his luck any further was almost nil.

After thinking about it, he simply pretended to be at a disadvantage and agreed to the exchange.

“Go back, bring the women, and then take the blackfish.”

Upon hearing this, the men of the Li tribe finally smiled.

Looking at the blackfish, they couldn't help but fantasize about becoming stronger, able to easily throw wooden spears fifty or sixty paces away.

"Alright, we'll bring women, and you give us blackfish."

"Very good, now you can leave, but you must not come near my cave, or the wooden spear will kill you."

"Business is business," Xia Minghao said with a faint smile, then looked at the men of the Li tribe who were grinning foolishly. His tone was stern.

The initially happy group realized just how terrifying this tribe was after hearing Xia Minghao's warning.

Chief Liba nodded and led his men deeper into the woods, intending to find a tree to sleep in that night.

They only felt relieved after the powerful flashlight could no longer illuminate the men.

If we really let these people around the cave, who knows if they might have malicious intentions again? This kind of warning is still very necessary.

"Back to the cave."

Turning back, Xia Minghao spoke to the women.

The women stared blankly at Xia Minghao, knowing full well what would have happened if they were alone today.

Just like a few days ago, when the men of the tribe hadn't returned, Hima had thought...

It was all because of this man that they and their children were spared this catastrophic disaster.

"Man...why did you say that eating black carp can make you strong?"

"Oh, that was a lie."

Back in the cave, Shifa, who had been a key "actor" in this "false advertising" campaign, couldn't help but ask curiously.

Xia Minghao glanced at Xifa, smiled, and said.

"cheat?"

Hifa had never heard this pronunciation before and asked in confusion.

"Forget it, you just need to know that eating black carp won't do any good."

Deception was too difficult to explain, so Xia Minghao simply avoided the topic.

The women began to whisper among themselves, all wondering what the word "deception" meant. Hima seemed to be the first to understand what "deception" meant.

Back in the cave, instead of letting everyone prepare for sleep, they started working, moving the embers outside and relighting the campfire.

This incident served as a warning to Xia Minghao, reminding him that the dangers of the primitive era were not limited to wild animals.

Perhaps the greatest danger to humanity has been ever since we started walking upright and took up tools.

Starting today, we must begin arranging shifts for night duty.

A campfire rose outside the cave, illuminating a small clearing and forest, as well as earthen and charcoal kilns.

Looking out of the cave, at the darkness dispelled by the firelight, Xia Minghao pondered.

The lie will be exposed. Even the most foolish primitive man wouldn't believe something that isn't real.

Maybe they'll find the blackfish again once they realize it's useless.

There might be another conflict, or something else might happen.

But Xia Minghao wasn't worried at all.

It wasn't because of the spear thrower, nor was it a plan to continue deceiving people.

Rather, it's because tomorrow, next to the earthen kiln and the charcoal kiln, a new kiln will appear—a larger and more important kiln—that will produce something that will be a milestone in the course of civilization.

pottery!

Once the pottery is fired, it's more realistic than anything else!

It's definitely the hard currency in this primitive world!

Water collection, storage, cooking...

History has proven that once it appears, no one can live without it.

Yawning, Xia Minghao returned to his tent, intending to ponder the matter carefully before waiting for tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)