"Children of Echoes" tribe.
The guards responsible for standing watch were observing the surrounding environment to avoid missing any signs of Abyss monsters appearing.
Natlan would occasionally suffer attacks from Abyss monsters, so when carrying out their sentry duties, they didn't dare to relax for even a moment.
A slight relaxation could mean the lives of several compatriots falling to the claws of Abyss monsters.
As he finished looking at one spot and went to check another, the corner of his eye caught sight of a golden figure.
"Xilonen is back."
The guard informed the others of this, and soon after, the news spread throughout the entire tribe.
Xilonen was an important craftsman of the "Children of Echoes," and many people entrusted her with the task of making weapons.
If she didn't work, then many people's commissions wouldn't be completed.
In the past few days, Xilonen had been busy helping Lord Pyro Archon craft some kind of defense tower, and after finishing it, she said she was going to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame to report, but she hadn't come back for several days straight.
"She must be hiding somewhere sleeping in."
"This time, she has to finish my weapon first—I've already waited a week."
"Just a week? I've been waiting almost a month."
The commissioners of the Children of Echoes gathered together, all thinking of grabbing Xilonen and locking her in the workshop to work day and night, just like readers waiting for an author to update.
In the past, Xilonen definitely wouldn't have accumulated so many tasks, but unfortunately, lately she had to be busy with the tasks assigned by Rios, so she had no choice but to delay these commissions.
"Xilonen, hurry up, we can't wait any... Lord Pyro Archon, why are you here too?!"
The commissioners, upon seeing Xilonen, wanted to urge her to get to work quickly.
However, after seeing the red-haired youth beside Xilonen, they didn't dare say such things.
The one next to Xilonen... was Lord Pyro Archon!
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
Seeing the people hemming and hawing, Rios found it amusing and said: "You all seemed like you had something to say to Xilonen just now, but as soon as you saw I was here too, you all turned into mutes?"
"Could it be that you're not welcome to me?"
"H-How could that be? We warmly welcome Lord Pyro Archon!"
"Lord Pyro Archon, please enjoy the dance we offer to you."
The commissioners immediately started dancing on the spot.
The people of the "Children of Echoes" all had a talent for dancing; even without anyone choreographing, just on a whim, they danced in a quite proper and aesthetically pleasing manner.
"Thank you for your dance."
Rios clapped his hands: "But I still have some matters with Xilonen, so I won't continue watching."
"Understood, Lord Pyro Archon, please take your time."
The commissioners immediately stopped their movements and made way for Rios and the others.
But Rios still stood in place.
"Xilonen will be busy with the tasks I've assigned her next."
"As for your commissions, they can only be postponed for now—any objections?"
Rios looked at the commissioners of the "Children of Echoes."
"None."
"Of course not."
"Since it's a task assigned to Xilonen by Lord Pyro Archon, we definitely have to support it."
"As for our commissions, even if they're delayed, it's fine; if it really doesn't work, they can be handed to others."
Hearing everyone's words, Rios nodded: "That's good then. I thought you were all so eager to find Xilonen earlier because your commissions had been delayed too long and you were anxious about it."
"No way." The commissioner smiled and said, "We just saw that Xilonen hadn't come back for a long time and were worried about her safety."
"Now that we see she's returned safely, we're really happy."
Seeing that the commissioners truly had no objections, Rios then took Xilonen and left the scene.
After they had walked dozens of meters away, the commissioners finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Good thing we didn't anger Lord Pyro Archon."
"Otherwise, we'd definitely get beaten badly."
A male commissioner said with relief.
"I heard that Lord Pyro Archon shoots arrows through the hearts of those who oppose him—is that true or just a rumor?"
A female commissioner asked.
"When Lord Pyro Archon ascended to the throne, I was there at the scene. He did indeed shoot arrows made of Pyro Element at the resistors, but he didn't put them to death."
The male commissioner shook his head, saying dejectedly: "The Lord Pyro Archon of our generation is different from the previous Lord Pyro Archons."
The previous Pyro Archons of Natlan had fiery tempers, gentle personalities, and cold demeanors, but none of them had ever laid hands on their own people.
But Rios would really take action against those who opposed him.
Although he wouldn't kill them, getting a thorough beating was inevitable.
So, when they saw Rios appear, the commissioners immediately reined in their previously anxious hearts and did their best not to anger him.
"Then our commissions..."
"We can only postpone them or hand them to others."
On the other side.
[Emotion value from "Children of Echoes" commissioners +5]
Rios received the message from the system.
It seemed his sudden appearance had really startled those people.
"It looks like I should show my face more in front of the six major tribes from now on."
Rios also knew how much pressure workers felt during a leader's inspection.
As the Pyro Archon, when he went to check on the situation in the six major tribes, the pressure on the people wouldn't be any less than during a leader's inspection.
What's more, in the eyes of the Natlan people, he was a god who would beat people up whenever he encountered something unpleasant?
The pressure would definitely be even greater.
This emotion value would just keep rising steadily.
Although it wasn't great for the mental health of the Natlan people, for the sake of getting more emotion value, he could only make the Natlan people suffer a bit.
"Lord Pyro Archon, are you going with me to see Aunt Tlazolli now?"
As Xilonen walked, she asked Rios where he planned to go next.
If it was to see Xilonen's aunt, then they could use the potion on the aunt's daughter to restore all the memories she had lost due to the Abyss.
"Yes, there."
Rios nodded slightly.
He remembered that handling this matter wasn't difficult—just rescue the aunt's adopted daughter, and everything would come to light.
Over these years, the adopted daughter had actually tried to seek help from the outside world, but unfortunately, the aunt's supervision of the adopted daughter was so strict that there weren't even opportunities to seek help.
But now that the Pyro Archon himself had come, no matter how strict the aunt was, it wouldn't matter.
"Ever since something happened to her daughter Nechca, Aunt Tlazolli moved to a place somewhat far from the tribe to live."
"If we want to go there, we'll have to walk a bit further."
Xilonen was acting as the guide at this moment, leading Rios in the direction of her aunt.
On the way, they happened to pass by Xilonen's workshop, and next to it was a tall tower—the defense tower that Xilonen had spent several days making.
"Eh, why is the defense tower operating?"
Xilonen looked closely and saw the defense tower emitting a scarlet light, followed by it spewing several fierce fireballs at the target.
A Natlan warrior was standing around the defense tower, facing the incoming fireballs and dodging them with agile movements.
"Are they using the defense tower to practice their skills?" Xilonen raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "That guy's pretty good—since he dodged the first round of attacks."
"3" Rios suddenly said a number beside her.
"Hm?"
"2"
"1"
As Rios counted down to 1, the Natlan warrior who was practicing couldn't react in time and was hit by a fireball on his body, causing him to cry out in pain.
However, the companions standing not far away laughed even louder.
"Hit in less than 10 seconds!"
"Tlaco, you really suck!"