CHAPTER 172: TEACHING HOW TO MAKE FELT

"Old friend, it seems you have truly shed your burden."

Chief Karin’s voice was tinged with vagueness and nostalgia: "Your tribe has such an intelligent cub; you will surely live better in the future. It’s just that I don’t know if the path you are taking – accepting Dwarves and starting to farm – is the right one, or if us continuing the life we have lived for thousands of years is what’s correct."

"Time will give us the answer, Karin." Thomas sighed: "I also once didn’t know when I could let my tribesmen eat their fill and live a more comfortable life. When the Dwarves appeared, I was also very hesitant, unwilling to take the risk."

He looked at the warriors behind him; their eyes now shimmered with a hopeful color that had never been there before.

"It’s just that the things that cub has done have proven to me that all of this is right. No matter what happens in the future, at least for now, my tribesmen no longer have to starve in winter, and the cubs no longer have to shiver in the cold."

Hearing this, a faint smile also appeared on Chief Karin’s face: "That’s right, who knows what the future holds. At least for now, you look much younger than before."

When Snow Wolves grow old, their silver fur tends to turn pure white. Yet Thomas this year not only had a more relaxed and serene demeanor than in previous years, but even his fur color had become shinier.

"We must go, our tribesmen are still waiting for food. If those Elves and the bastards from the Golden Kingdom come looking for trouble with you later, remember to find me. We don’t have anything else, but we are not short of brave warriors!" Chief Karin said magnanimously, holding his head high.

The few Snow Wolves behind him also howled towards the sky in unison, expressing their agreement with their chief.

Thomas was about to nod his farewell, but fortunately, just as they were about to leave, he suddenly remembered the matter of making felt.

"Hey, wait, wait! I almost forgot the important thing that young Eric entrusted me with." Thomas slapped his own head hard.

Not old yet, but his memory was already failing. Having fewer worries lately, being too comfortable was indeed not a good thing.

He walked closer to Karin, signaling for him to lower his head. Chief Karin lowered his head, half-believing and half-doubting, not knowing what trick Thomas was planning to pull.

Thomas leaned into his ear, lowering his voice to whisper a few sentences.

The warriors of Karin’s tribe immediately saw their chief’s ears perk up straight, his eyes widening in astonishment.

The cold wind howled, and coupled with Thomas intentionally leaning close and speaking very softly, no one could hear what they were saying that made the chief so agitated.

"Really? Your little chief truly agreed?" Karin’s voice was so agitated it became hoarse, mixed with a hint of trembling.

Thomas signaled to his tribesmen. His warriors immediately understood, transformed into their Snow Wolf forms, and surrounded the two, using their large bodies to shield the area.

Seeing this, the warriors of Karin’s tribe, though full of questions and not understanding what they intended to do, also tacitly moved forward, joining them to encircle the two chiefs, forming a human wall three layers deep inside and out.

Thomas nodded at Karin, then took a small bamboo mat and a handful of fur from the cloth bag at his waist.

This bamboo mat had been hastily made by Joseph before leaving for the convenience of demonstrating.

He used the bamboo mat and the handful of fur to demonstrate making a small piece of felt for Karin. The warriors of Karin’s tribe, who were curiously peeking in, slowly dropped their jaws, too astonished to speak.

They gradually figured out what Thomas was doing, and everyone’s expression slowly became agitated.

Afraid Karin hadn’t learned it yet, Thomas demonstrated a few more times. Finally, when the fur he brought was used up, he casually plucked a handful from Karin’s body, making a small, silver-white piece of felt.

If it were before, Karin would have definitely taken a bite out of him. But now, he could only glare fiercely to vent his anger, then glue his eyes back to watching how the felt was made.

The method was unexpectedly simple. Thomas lowered his voice and said to them:

"This bamboo mat, you can temporarily use hemp cloth as a substitute. When we go back this time, we will ask the Dwarves to make a few more, and we will send them over to you when they are done."

He then demonstrated the method again under the excited gazes of everyone in Karin’s tribe:

"This felt, if made a bit thinner, can also be cut to make clothes, but you must use softer fur, like gray rabbit fur, for example, which is very suitable for making felt for cubs to wear."

"Other types of coarse animal fur can all be used to make felt." Thomas continued to add: "Make it a bit thicker and lay down a few layers; it’s both comfortable and much warmer than grass mats."

Karin hurriedly transformed into human form, not even having time to dress properly, just hastily wrapping a piece around his waist before trying it himself.

Making felt wasn’t difficult; Chief Karin succeeded on the first try, it was just that the layer of fur he spread was a bit uneven.

He would surely do better with just a few more practice runs.

Seeing the process was so simple, the other Snow Wolves also began to get restless, staring at the mini bamboo mat in Karin’s hand with longing eyes, desperate to try it once for themselves.

Karin ignored the gazes of his warriors; he eagerly stuffed the bamboo mat and the small felt pieces into his luggage with extreme care, then transformed back into his Snow Wolf form. This time, as he prepared to leave, only impatience remained in Chief Karin’s eyes, having completely forgotten the vagueness and nostalgia from before.

Their group quickly disappeared into the snowstorm. Thomas also led his warriors back to the Red Grass tribe.

Not far away, a figure flashed from the corner of a house. That person’s eyes were filled with deep calculations. It was Galvin of the Black Wolf tribe.

"Young Chief, I just discovered people from the Thomas tribe and the Karin tribe sneaking around, doing who-knows-what. That bunch of Snow Wolves, who only know how to use brute force, have actually learned to be secretive."

In the Black Wolf tribe’s room, Galvin stood behind Young Chief Nathan, his tone full of malice.

Nathan sat there with a cold expression, his slender fingers spinning a pearl that had a steady, unostentatious glow. His voice was as cold as ice, echoing in the room.

"Galvin, have you forgotten what I told you before we set out?"

Galvin’s expression changed; he hurriedly knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and said: "This subordinate was only worried they would cause disadvantages for us. The Snow Wolves have always hated us; I just wanted to find out their movements in advance."

"Acting on your own without my permission. Galvin, you truly do not regard me at all."

The increasingly cold voice reached Galvin’s ears, causing him to immediately break out in a cold sweat.

"I won’t dare again, Young Chief! I beg you to spare me!" His head was almost pressed to the ground, his voice trembling violently.

Nathan turned around, his gaze as cold as frost:

"I know you have never been satisfied with my methods. Don’t think I’m unaware; it was you who always incited my father, planting in his head the idea of having the Black Wolf tribe claim supremacy."

On Nathan’s handsome face, an unfitting cruelty appeared. Sharp claws grew from his fingertips.

"My father always trusted you, but you have the heart of a wolf, constantly inciting him. You caused the Black Wolf tribe to be expelled by the Golden Kingdom, becoming a laughingstock for the entire beastman world!

You caused the Black Wolf tribe to lose its most reliable ally! Now you still want the Black Wolf tribe to be surrounded by enemies? Do you think I will listen to you as easily as my father did!"

Nathan’s words made Galvin tremble all over.

He was about to open his mouth to beg when his keen beastman instincts helped him sense the killing intent coiling in the air.

He hurriedly raised his hand to block his vital points.