Deception

Alandil fell asleep unknowingly, and when he woke up, Peg seemed to have gone out, leaving food on the table.

Hogg was playing with some naughty kids outside, and when he saw him waking up, he made faces at him.

Alandil summoned Hogg. It would be difficult for adults to get started, but it would be much easier for children to lure him.

According to the current data, Jushan Village basically does not trade with the outside world, and has no way to grow crops. It relies mainly on hunting and gathering, so its supplies are certainly not very rich.

"Hogg, where has your brother gone?"

His brother had told him early in the morning to entertain guests well. He also used the little food left at home to entertain outsiders. Hogg reluctantly said: "The village chief has something to do, so I asked him to come over."

Alandil noticed that Hogg's eyes had been peeking at the food on the table. Children were easily diverted.

But this is also a way of exchanging information: "Hogg, I have a few questions. If you can answer them, the food on the table and yesterday's dried fruits will all be yours!"

"If you answer well, there will be other delicious food waiting for you!"

Hearing this, Hogg, who was lacking in interest, immediately became energetic.

"Tell me, what do you want to ask?"

Alandil didn't directly ask about Blackwater Lake. Peg might have told Hogg to distract him first.

"I see that you and other children stopped the black water from hurting people. It's amazing."

When dealing with a naughty kid, praise him first.

After receiving the compliment, Hogg raised his chin, crossed his hands on his chest to show defense, and gradually relaxed his hands.

"It's nothing special. There are always some people who don't know how powerful Black Water is. My brother said it's our responsibility to remind them!"

That being said, Alandil knew that Hogg was very proud of himself when he saw Hogg's posture like a peacock with his tail raised.

He held back his smile and pretended to ask for advice humbly:

"Those black waters, what's the pattern of ebb and flow?"

Hogg gnawed a handful of food on the table, showing off in a very pretentious manner.

"The black water usually rises between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and recedes around 1 a.m. - 3 a.m., and it comes and goes in a hurry every time."

“Except sometimes it’s pushed back in advance, it’s basically the same pattern.”

Alandil took out the remaining snacks he had with him, and after praising Hogg, he had almost fooled him, and asked him about the key point.

"What kind of place is that strange lake that produces black water?"

Hogg paused while eating, looked around, hesitated, and then whispered:

"It was a big, dark hole that ate people. At the end of the village was a large dry lake. There was a hole in the middle, and the black water overflowed from there!"

"There is a cliff on the other side of the lake. Every time the black water overflows, half of it flows into our village, and the other side seeps into the cliff."

"So scary!" Alandil pretended to be surprised: "Is it true that no one has entered the cave and come back alive?"

Hogg lowered his voice:

"I know a man who once came back alive from the Blackwater Lake Cave, but he went crazy and now lives outside the village, talking crazy all day long!"

Sure enough, there was inside information, but he still needed to know more detailed information.

"Can you draw me a map and tell me where he lives?"

Just as Hogg said something, he saw his brother coming back from the corner of his eye and immediately climbed out of the window and slipped away.

Alandil saw that Peg's face looked a little heavy, so he probably didn't hear it.

"Peg, what happened?"

Looking at the food on the table, Paige roughly knew that his brother Hogg was causing trouble, but now was not the time to pursue such trivial matters.

"Sangtooth Bird has sent word that the northern Yuan Lei and our southern warriors are having a large-scale battle in the Sak tribe, and the clan leader is recruiting warriors to volunteer to join the army."

Alandil was slightly alarmed. It seemed that the Federation had launched a second large-scale war with the south, which meant that his cousin and the doctor failed to prevent the situation from deteriorating.

Ideally, if he wanted to prevent the war from continuing, he believed that finding the ether crystal would avoid many unnecessary fights.

"Then what do you think? War is ruthless, life and death only happen in a moment."

Alandil discovered yesterday that there were not many warriors in Sequoia Village, and Paige was one of the few junior warriors.

In Alandil's view, Sequoia Village needed to use black water to establish a defense line because of its weak ability to protect itself.

"When there is trouble in the south, every man has the responsibility to protect his homeland, but this boy Hogg makes people worry."

Paige's parents died when they went hunting together, leaving only two brothers. If he never comes back, Hogg will really become an orphan.

As an older brother, Hogg was usually cynical and disobedient, which also made him very worried.

"Actually, missing you won't affect the situation of the battle."

Paige didn't hear Alandil's murmur clearly, "What did you just say?"

"It's nothing. I have disturbed you for so long. I will go back to the caravan after the black water recedes today."

Alandil didn't want to get too involved in this kind of family matter, so he changed the subject.

"You also have something to deal with. I'll just ask Hogg to take me out then!"

Paige didn't think much about it. As a caravan, there was nothing easy to trade in Sequoia Village, and they had no money to buy anything outside.

"Okay, I will tell Hogg about this."

During the remaining daylight hours, Alandil contacted 222 and had a pretty good idea of ​​the situation in Giant Sequoia Village.

In the middle of the night, Hogg took him away from Sequoia Village.

He made a small deal with Hogg. He took it to the place where the madman lived. In exchange, he would give Hogg some gifts from the caravan as a reward.

Hogg was very happy. After all, he had never seen the outside world much while growing up.

After leaving the giant sequoia forest, Alandil took Hogg and walked towards the place where the Athena motorboat originally docked.

When they arrived, 222 was waiting. Hogg looked at this beautiful big sister curiously. He was very curious about the appearance of the caravan along the way, but now there was only one person.

This was a little different from what he imagined, a mighty caravan with herds of wildebeests.

Alandil briefly introduced 222, and then took out some snacks, trinkets and other things from 222 to Hogg.

With these things in hand, Hogg naturally didn't think much about anything else and immediately took Alandil and 222 to the place where the old madman lived.

Hogg is very familiar with the surrounding area of ​​Giant Sequoia Village. Even without any lighting, he can find any place with the help of starlight.

Alandil followed Hogg, using the night vision function, and walked for more than half an hour.

At the base of a big tree near the ground, a floor-to-ceiling tree house appeared in front of them, with a faint light inside.

Alandil originally wanted Hogg to go back first, but the child was very curious and insisted on following.

After knocking politely, the light in the room suddenly went out.

Alandil did not give up and continued to knock: "Is there anyone there?"

Annoying is something he is good at. Due to the black water, the people in Jushan Village basically stay in the day and night. This man, who is called an old madman, is definitely awake.

After knocking for a while, there was no response, just when he wanted to change to annoying mode.

With a bang, a Yuan Lei with two big ears, a mustache, thick arms, and a somewhat ferocious expression opened the door.

He threatened with a big stick, his face turned red, and he roared: "Get out!"
Chapter completed!