Lord: I can see loyalty.

A Cooper village, nestled beneath the canopy of ancient trees.

Sunlight filters through the layers of enormous leaves, casting dappled, shimmering patches of light across the village's open space.

The relocation order has been issued, but its implementation is not going smoothly. Many people are reluctant, and they deliberately slow down their packing. The elderly sit silently in front of their houses, gazing at the treehouses where they have lived for many years. The children seem to sense the uneasy atmosphere as well, and they cry more than usual.

On the edge of the village, beneath a relatively young ironwood tree, the female warrior Valerie sat on a bare root, intently polishing the bone tip of a spear.

She had long, dark brown hair neatly tied up, revealing her sharply defined face and slender neck.

Her wheat-colored skin bore several light-colored old scars, a symbol of a warrior. Her eyebrows and eyes were sharp, her nose was high and straight, and her lips were habitually slightly pursed, exuding a calm and resilient temperament.

She wore fine leather armor, which subtly revealed her abdominal muscles, and a short animal skin skirt and long boots for easy movement, making her look capable and agile.

But at this moment, a faint worry shrouded her brows and eyes, her polishing movements occasionally paused, and her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the direction outside the village.

"Still worried about Albright?" A slightly younger female warrior dressed similarly approached, sat down beside her, and offered her a juicy red berry. "Don't worry, Valerie."

"He was personally selected and trained by the previous leader, and he is the strongest warrior captain of our generation. Let alone reflecting in the forest for a month, I don't think he would have any problem hunting a wild boar king on his own."

Valerie took the berries, managed a weak smile, but didn't eat them.

"Ella, I'm not worried about him being able to handle the forest," she whispered. "I'm worried about the forest now... those Harlows are getting more and more reckless, their territory is encroaching on our area. Albright and his group only have a dozen or so people, what if..."

The female warrior named Ella also stopped smiling and became serious. They had all witnessed the terrible scene after the Haro tribe attacked them.

Just then, a slightly greasy male voice broke in from outside the cabin:

"Valerie, the King summons you to the Great Tree House." A warrior from Ronan's Royal Guard, whose face was painted with rather intricate patterns, stood outside the house, his eyes sweeping over Valerie with a hint of scrutiny.

Valerie's body stiffened for a moment, her fingers tightening around the spear shaft.

Ella glanced at her worriedly, her lips moved, but in the end she didn't dare to say anything in front of the guards.

It was bound to happen... Valerie sneered inwardly.

Ronan's gaze towards her, even back when Albright was still around, was filled with undisguised greed and possessiveness. Now that Albright had been expelled, this restless beast could no longer contain itself.

"Understood," Valerie replied calmly, leaning the polished spear against the tree and standing up.

While adjusting her belt, she subtly and naturally adjusted a sharp little stone blade, made from a thin stone slab, to the most comfortable position.

Her eyes remained calm as usual, but a hint of murderous intent lingered in them.

The Giant Tree House, located atop the oldest and thickest tree in the center of the village, has been the residence and meeting place of the Cooper chiefs throughout history.

Valerie ascended the spiraling vine ladder to the treehouse platform. The spacious interior was covered with thick animal hides, decorated with animal bones and ancient wooden totems, and filled with incense and the scent of masculinity.

Ronan was reclining in a large chair covered with a complete bearskin, playing with a rhinoceros horn cup in his hand, while a young girl knelt beside him.

He was wearing only leather pants, his bare upper body was muscular and torn, and the scars and totems looked somewhat ferocious in the dim light.

When he saw Valerie enter, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his eyes revealing undisguised satisfaction and desire.

"You can go down now," he said to the girl beside him without turning his head.

He didn't look at Valerie until the girl hurriedly ran away from the giant treehouse.

"Valerie, you've arrived." Ronan's voice was lower than usual, with a deliberate magnetism. "The relocation is imminent, and there are many matters to attend to within the tribe. I'm quite troubled... As one of the most outstanding female warriors in our tribe, come and have a drink with me, and let's talk about your thoughts."

"My lord, it's almost time for the watchtower's shift, I..." Valerie stood still, her tone respectful yet distant.

"The watchtower? Someone else will take your place." Ronan waved his hand, gesturing for her to come closer. "Right now, your most important task is to stay with me."

He patted the bearskin beside him, his meaning couldn't be clearer.

Valerie lowered her eyes, concealing the disgust within, but did not move. "Your Majesty, Albright and the others are still in the forest. The Harlow threat is imminent. I don't think now is the time..."

"Albright?" Ronan interrupted her, his voice turning colder. "A sinner who disobeyed orders and incited his people to their deaths. Whether he lives or dies is no longer the concern of the Cooper Clan."

"But you, Valerie, need to see the bigger picture." He stood up, his tall frame exuding an aura of authority, and walked towards Valerie. "I know you're close to Albright, but he can't give you anything. Follow me, and you'll gain far more than you would as an ordinary soldier."

He tried to reach his finger towards Valerie's cheek, but she dodged it.

Valerie tensed, her right hand silently moving to the side, ready to teach him a lesson with her stone blade before his fingers could touch her... even if the consequences might be expulsion or death.

But just then, hurried footsteps and a young soldier's panicked report came from the treehouse doorway: "My lord! The eastern watchtower has detected unusual activity on the outskirts of the forest, it seems like..."

The young soldier's words came to an abrupt halt as he burst in, just in time to see Ronan's outstretched hand toward Valerie and Valerie's icy profile.

He stood frozen at the doorway, a look of astonishment and embarrassment flashing across his face before he lowered his head.

Ronan froze, his face instantly darkening with annoyance at being interrupted. "Get out! Can't you see I'm handling important matters? The slightest noise makes you all panic like this?"

The young soldier hurriedly retreated, pulling the rattan curtain behind him.

As he turned to leave, the respectful expression vanished from his face, replaced by anger and disdain. He muttered a curse under his breath, "Pah! What a piece of trash! If it were the old chief..."

He was one of Albright's men and was already dissatisfied with Ronan.

He walked angrily toward the eastern watchtower where he was on duty, a simple platform built on a tall tree.

After calming down a bit, he looked into the distance... to make sure that the shadow that had flashed by in the woods was not just his imagination.

After climbing the watchtower, as he habitually looked towards the edge of the forest, his pupils suddenly contracted. Behind a patch of slightly higher bushes outside the village, he could clearly see several figures moving rapidly!

Judging from the direction and speed, they were heading straight for the village!

Enemy attack? It's the Haro tribe?! The young soldier's hair stood on end, and he instinctively grabbed the animal horn siren beside him and put it to his mouth.

A large hand, covered in calluses and a few drops of blood, swiftly emerged from the shadows beneath the watchtower and clamped its grip on his mouth! Another arm seized his body like an iron clamp!

The young soldier was terrified and struggled desperately, but then he heard a deep, familiar voice urgently say in his ear: "Gal, it's me! Albright! Don't make a sound!"

?

The young soldier suddenly stopped struggling, widened his eyes, and struggled to turn his head. By the light filtering through the branches and leaves, he finally saw the face painted with battle paint, yet it was all too familiar.

It really is Lord Albright! He's back!

Albright released her grip, but her eyes remained sharp as she whispered quickly, "No time for details! What's the situation in the village? Where are Ronan and the elders?"

Garr's voice trembled with excitement, even stammering, "My lord! You're finally back! In the village... no one wants to move, less than half the people are cooperating now, Ronan was just in the giant treehouse..."

"He...he was about to force Valerie..." Garr was both anxious and furious as he recalled what had just happened.

A flash of rage appeared in Albright's eyes, which quickly transformed into a palpable killing intent!

The veins on his forehead bulged, and he didn't even bother to exchange messages with Vio, who had just silently climbed the watchtower with the help of ropes.

call!

Albright didn't use the ladder; instead, he grabbed the edge of the watchtower with one hand and swung his strong body down. Once on the ground, he charged like an enraged bear toward the tallest ancient tree in the center of the village.

The commotion startled the nearby birds and the Cooper people resting in the treetops.

Vio, atop the watchtower, watched Albright's retreating figure disappear into the distance, and frowned slightly.

"Lead the way." Vio glanced at the warrior beside him, gripping his sword hilt tightly. He had naturally heard the news as well.

Inside the giant tree house.

After being interrupted by Gard, Ronan's enthusiasm waned slightly, but he did not give up.

He turned around, his back to the door, picked up the rhinoceros horn cup, took a sip, and said in a hoarse voice to Valerie, who was still standing there, "Valerie, I believe you're a smart woman. To tell you the truth, Albright is not coming back. I..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the loud bang of the rattan curtain being kicked open behind him and a guard falling to the ground with a groan!

"Ronan!"

A roar exploded inside the treehouse as Albright's tall figure burst through the curtains, holding the heavy wooden spear pointed directly at Ronan's head.

Ronan turned around in shock, and the rhinoceros horn cup in his hand clattered onto the animal skin, splashing wine everywhere.

The languid look on his face was immediately replaced by disbelief and a moment of panic.

He saw the menacing Albright, and several Cooper warriors following closely behind.

Finally, Vio slowly steps into the treehouse, dressed in a way that clashes with the forest.

Ronan coughed lightly, seemingly without purpose. He glanced at Albright, then at Vio, his facial muscles twitching slightly, but he maintained his composure and spoke:

"Albright? You actually came back alive? And this outsider... what, are you planning a rebellion?"