Chapter 397

Most of these half-orcs are the offspring of orcs and humans, and only the rare orcs with primitive racial characteristics can give birth to this race.

The reproductive isolation seems to be more psychedelic in this world. Obviously, humans and orcs can be said to be different races, but the half-orcs born are still fertile, and because of the strong genes, the children of half-orcs are still half-orcs.

Although the genes are strong, the living environment of half-orcs is extremely difficult.

As a race sandwiched between orcs and humans, half-orcs are not accepted by either side. Orcs think that half-orcs are too weak, while humans think that half-orcs are too barbaric.

Half-orcs are discriminated against by both sides and can only establish a community by themselves.

However, half-orcs do not have the strong fertility of orcs, nor are they as numerous as humans. Even if they stick together, half-orcs will still be bullied by orcs.

In the desert, there are not many communities of half-orcs.

If the group of orcs with beast features led by the tauren accounted for 10% of the orc population, then the half-orcs could only account for 1% or even less at most.

This is because the half-orcs have never participated in the war against humans, otherwise, the half-orcs might even be exterminated.

The tribe in front of him didn't look big. Orson took a rough look and found that the number of half-orcs was only about two or three hundred, but even so, it was still a relatively large group of half-orcs in the desert.

At least half-orcs are easier to talk to than orcs, Orson thought so, and felt that

he was quite lucky.

He jumped off the wooden wall and came to the entrance of the tribe again.

There were two half-orcs with canine features guarding the entrance of the tribe. When they saw a creature of the same size as themselves approaching, they thought that the other party was also a half-orc like themselves.

After all, orcs are either huge muscular men or thin laborers.

Of course, the other party was a stranger after all, so the two guards still raised their spirits as usual. One of them walked up and glanced at Orson.

"Hello, do you need help?" the orc asked.

"Yes." Orson nodded, "I'm lost nearby, I need a map here."

"This..." The guard was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Sorry, I have to go back and report first, please wait at the door for a while."

"Okay, thank you." Orson said this and thanked politely.

A few minutes later, the orc guard came out with a white-haired old man with fox ears.

"Excuse me, are you the leader here?" Orson looked at the other party and asked politely.

"Yes, my name is Arati, what is your name?"

"Ah, my name is... Edward." Orson hesitated for a while and made up a name on the spot.

At first he wanted to report his name, but considering his identity, if the orc in front of him heard his name, he might not be willing to cooperate with him, so he thought of a fake name.

"Mr. Edward, huh? I heard you got lost nearby and need a map? I happen to have one here, but..." Arati narrowed his eyes as he said this.

"In the desert, everyone always follows the principle of equal trade. I can give you the map, but we have just encountered some troubles here recently, so I would like to ask you for a favor."

Sure enough, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Orson nodded.

As for why the other party did not doubt his race, Orson could actually understand.

After all, he was wearing a cloak, only his face was exposed, and his racial characteristics such as hair and tail could not be seen at all.

But humans cannot enter a place like the desert, and he does not look like an orc, so it is normal for them to preconceivedly regard him as a lone half-orc.

Although the probability of a half-orc walking alone is very small, compared with the probability of humans being able to reach this place, the former is easier to believe.

"I promise to help you."

"Then I would like to thank you, Orson." Arati smiled when he heard Orson promised to help him, and then hurriedly welcomed Orson into the tribe.

Orson, wearing a cloak, followed Alati and walked in the tribe. He could see that almost everyone in this small tribe had come out, and they looked at him with a hint of curiosity.

In their opinion, there had been no newcomers in the tribe for a long time. Would the person in front of them live with them in the future, or would he just be a passerby?

Alati took Orson into a slightly larger house in the center of the tribe, which seemed to be the administrative center of the tribe.

"Mr. Edward, please sit down." Alati said so and made a "please" gesture.

"Thank you." Orson nodded and sat on the chair.

Compared with human cities, the furniture here is extremely simple, even compared with poor human villages.

It is hard to imagine that the leader of a tribe lives in a house that is not as good as human farmers.

But Orson can also understand that in a place like the desert, where supplies are scarce, survival is the first priority, and it doesn't matter whether you live comfortably or not.

"Mr. Edward, do you know what happened in the desert recently?"

"Oh? Sorry, I was away and just came back recently..."

"So, you have made money from humans?" Arati said, looking at Orson in surprise.

"Yes." Orson heard this and nodded. "You know, working among humans, as long as you don't care about their eyes, is better than living in the desert."

"Oh, that's true." Arati felt deeply and nodded in agreement with Orson's words. "Several young people in the tribe also expressed their desire to go there and have a try, but the war between orcs and humans has happened recently. If we half-orcs go out at this time, we will only be ostracized by humans as spies."

"But haven't the orcs been driven back?"

"It will also take time to dilute human hatred." Arati sighed. "Let's not talk about this anymore. Since you just came back recently, let me tell you. I don't know what happened recently. The group of orcs in the desert just grabbed a batch of trophies from humans. I guess they haven't. After using it, they will fight among themselves."

"When gods fight, mortals suffer. Our tribe received a threat from an orc tribe three days ago. They asked us to hand over all our rations to support their war, otherwise they threatened to slaughter our tribe."

"Of course we are not prepared to resist them, but we will not obediently hand over the remaining food. After all, we have to live."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"We are ready to move." Arati said. "In the past few days, we have sent people out to look for a place that can be used as a tribal settlement. We have found a place where we can dig a well. We are going to move out tomorrow, but we still have a few young men who have not returned..."

"So, you mean, let me find someone?"

"Yes." Arati nodded. "The desert is not safe, but you can move alone in the desert, so you must be very powerful."

"We are setting up a search and rescue team to prepare for the last search and rescue today. If we can't find them, we have to move out tomorrow." Arati said. "If you are willing to help us, even if we can't find them in the end, I will give you the map."

"Okay." After hearing this, Orson agreed to Alati's request.

"Then, tell me the direction they went before they disappeared."

"Okay." Arati nodded.

At this moment, Orson suddenly saw a pair of big ears sticking out from behind the chair where Arati was sitting.

Arati was about to talk to Orson when he noticed Orson's gaze and followed it.

Then, a little head poked out from behind the chair.

A little girl with long brown-gray hair poked her head out. The girl was about seventeen or eighteen years old, but she seemed to be a little thin due to malnutrition.

He is estimated to be only 1.5 meters tall.

But judging from her ears and the big fluffy tail behind her, she is probably a fox like Alati's race.

"Lena, why did you come out?"

"Hey, I heard that grandpa has a guest here." The girl named Lena smiled at Arati, and then looked at Orson, her big watery eyes full of curiosity.

"Is this the big brother from other places?"

Lena said this and came to Orson as if she was familiar with it.

"Hey, big brother, why can't I see your ears and tail?"

"Um..." Orson didn't know how to explain it when Lena was suddenly lifted up by Arati's neck.

"Lena, don't ask such rude questions." With that said, Arati lifted Lena a little further away from Orson. "Grandpa is discussing business with Mr. Edward, please don't interrupt."

"Okay." Lena said regretfully after hearing this, then looked at Orson, bowed and apologized. "Sorry, big brother, I just said something I shouldn't have said."

"It's okay." Orson shook his head.

Probably in Alati's eyes, he took the initiative to cut off things like his tail in order to live in human society.

Unlike the ears, which are connected to a large number of blood vessels and are also responsible for hearing, many orcs living in human society choose to cut off their tails in order to conceal their identities.

After all, compared to the ears, which can be covered with a hat, the tail is indeed more difficult to cover.

In the life of a half-orc, the tail has almost no role other than indicating the race of the half-orc.

Even though he said that, tail-cutting was still an unspeakable secret in the eyes of the orcs.

What Lena just asked, if Orson is really an orc, would be quite rude indeed.

Then, Lena stood next to Arati and told Orson the information about the missing persons.

Just when Orson nodded to express understanding, Lena standing aside suddenly spoke.

"Well, grandpa! I also want to go out with my big brother to participate in search and rescue!"

"Stop joking, Lena." Upon hearing this, Arati frowned and reprimanded: "Do you think you are very powerful? Can you protect yourself in the desert?"

"But... but..." Lena thought for a while, and then said: "I can provide directions to the eldest brother. The eldest brother is not from outside. If he is not familiar with the terrain here, I can give him directions. "

"Nonsense! You think you're the only one

Does a person understand the terrain? Mr. Edward is not the only one in the search and rescue team. You are too young to go. "

"Ugh..." When Lena heard this, her big ears drooped, her face full of displeasure.

"Grandpa is a bad guy!" She ran into the room and closed the door.

Looking at the other party's cute reaction, although Orson found it interesting, he also agreed with Arati.

The desert is indeed dangerous. If Lena can't protect herself, it's better not to go out and cause trouble for others.

"Sorry, I made you laugh." Arati said this and apologized to Orson.

"It's okay." Orson shook his head. "I can understand your thoughts as an elder. You are still a good grandfather."

"Alas." Arati sighed again. "Lena is not actually my granddaughter. When she was still young, she was entrusted to me by my acquaintance to take care of her. Now more than ten years have passed, and I basically treat her as my child."

"She has always been carefree and lively. Usually, everyone in the tribe is an acquaintance. She may be a little outspoken when she speaks. Please bear with her."

"It's okay." Orson waved his hand.

"By the way, when will the rescue team set out?"

"We will set out in about half an hour." Alati said, "I will call you when the time comes."

"Okay."

...

Half an hour later, at the entrance of the tribe.

"We will be back before dark this time." He said this and looked at the members of the rescue team.

"The tribe does not want to lose anyone. We will wait for you to come back here."

Although he was old, he still stood upright in the wind and sand of the desert.

The leader of the rescue team was a middle-aged man with cheetah features. He looked at Alati, nodded, and showed a firm look.

"Don't worry, Chief, we will definitely find the person this time."

Then, under the gaze of the old and young women and children of the tribe, everyone headed deep into the desert.

And at this moment, a small figure disappeared in the tribe.

The rescue team set out at noon and marched in the direction of the missing person for about an hour before the captain of the rescue team found something wrong.

It seemed that someone had quietly sneaked into the team.

Then, he ordered the team to stop and rest, and caught the person who sneaked in.

"Ah! Uncle Morent, don't catch me!" Orson looked at Lena who was carried out by the leader by the back of the neck, and for some reason, he wanted to laugh.

Especially when he saw Lena was still struggling.

"Lena, you are not on the list of the search and rescue team this time, why did you come out?"

"I... I'm just worried that you don't have enough manpower!"

"But you can't help much here..."