Chapter 2305 - 100: Crow's Prophecy III_2

Fang Hong was silent for a moment: "It's not easy to lead so many people across the Egon Forest."

"We stay in this place for that reason. We need food and warm clothing to get through this long winter, or many people will die."

Shaya answered while looking forward. The campfire flickered, shadows moved, and many people had received news from Dai and rushed over. There were many different faces, but every face shared the same look of unease, expectation, and confusion:

"Miss Shaye, you're back."

"Miss Shaye, someone else has fallen ill."

"Miss Shaye, there's not much food left in the camp. Although we can still manage for now, you said the sick must be guaranteed their daily quota…"

The people discussed in hushed tones.

Old and young crowded at the camp entrance.

Shaya comforted everyone one by one and handed them her backpack. It was not much of the supplies she had gotten from town that day. The Crow's Claw Sanctuary had enforced a lockdown on Grey Owl Town, and the supplies from town were getting fewer and fewer.

She hadn't eaten a bite, having resolved that if worst came to worst, she'd commit suicide once; after all, she still had at least three resurrection chances.

The people were somewhat grateful: "Miss Shaye, but you all must also be careful."

"Yes, the town is too dangerous. If it really doesn't work, we can go hunting in the forest; there must be something to eat."

But the forest wasn't safe, particularly in this harsh weather. Animals had long since migrated; how much game could be found in the forest?

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Fang Hong suddenly asked, "Can I be of any help?"

He could have pretended it was none of his business, but the little girl's frostbitten red hands and thin clothing lingered in his mind.

He understood that's just how he was; if not, perhaps he wouldn't have come here.

He wouldn't rashly step into the muddy waters of Crow's Claw Sanctuary, but if it was just to help with what he could, then it was not out of the question.

Shaya looked at him, a bit surprised.

"I can only provide what little help I can," Fang Hong explained.

"Hearing that, I already feel relieved, Mr. Ade," Shaya sighed, "Some people in the town sympathize with us, but relying solely on their help even maintaining the daily life of these over a hundred people is difficult, let alone leaving here for Rodell."

Fang Hong suddenly asked: "Do you know them, Madam Shaya?" He looked at the ragged, haggard people in the camp, but they didn't seem particularly depressed; everyone was busy with tasks at hand, helping each other.

Shaya glanced over and shook her head: "...Honestly, I don't know most of them. As you see, even Dai just got here yesterday."

Fang Hong couldn't help but reassess her.

After saving her people, she could have left; these people had nothing to do with her, and she bore no responsibility for them. But she didn't have such intentions, perhaps it was the little girl earlier that she couldn't let go of, but in any case, she already intended to take responsibility for these people.

She herself might not realize this, but it was a noble responsibility.

People's hearts are not born hard; compassion softens them.

And Shaya and himself, in front of him, were just members of the common crowd, Fang Hong thought to himself.

"I'll help as much as I can," Fang Hong replied.

They really could be helpful—Seven Seas Travel Group had money, over a hundred people crossing Egon Forest would need supplies for about two to three months; being generous it wouldn't exceed four months. Calculating at one person consuming twenty Lycel a day, over a hundred people would only cost two to three hundred thousand Lycel a month, and with winter clothing, it's easy to cover under five hundred thousand Lycel.

The only problem was purchasing so many supplies; it would be almost impossible to do it quietly under the watchful eyes of some. Besides, Grey Owl Town couldn't suddenly provide the supplies needed for over a hundred people's expenses for months.

Unless they transported them from Gula Port or even farther, but fortunately, Seven Seas Travel Group had an airship, it just would be troublesome and might require staying here for a while.

After weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately decided to help.

Sometimes people can't live just for profit, there's the ideal in one's heart, and he believed others would agree, because, after all, they were a group brought together by shared ideals.

"Thank you very much." Shaya spoke in a calm tone, as if they were discussing a trivial matter.

"By the way," Fang Hong remembered why he came here, "Is Little Kong here too?"

"I'll take you to see him," Shaya exhaled a breath, which in the forest formed a thin mist, "You may be the person he wants to see the most right now; after all, you're the hero of Dolifen, the person he's always admired."

A hero, it sounded somewhat wonderful, Fang Hong thought.

But it wasn't necessarily a good word.

Because in peaceful times, people don't need heroes.

Shaya led them across the camp to a tent, and before entering, they could already hear a hoarse voice from within: "Sister Shaya, is that you?" The hollow sound startled Fang Hong, almost making him think he was hallucinating.