Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 448. Splitting into teams

"Have you ever witnessed a healer joining in on tasks like these, young master?"

Theo approached Lysara and initiated a talk, her face now bearing an obvious scowl.

"Healers never do anything except heal. That remains our top duty," Lysara responded once more.

A few others shot glances in their direction, yet they kept working quietly.

Theo observed her briefly and held off speaking until she completed her tasks. "I understand healers concentrate solely on healing. However, should opportunities to treat wounded teammates prove scarce, you might have to assist differently."

Lysara’s eyes flickered, and momentarily, Theo glimpsed her real fiery nature before letting out a sigh.

"Listen, Lysara. Leading such a large team with a healer is new for me. Yet if we return afterward discovering no healing was required and you simply sat idle while others from various roles exerted themselves fully... it gets recorded in the report. Grasp this in advance," Theo stated firmly.

Clara and Elis sensed the icy sharpness in Theo’s tone, rare for him. Clearly, Lysara had touched a raw nerve.

Lysara’s face soured further as she glared at him. Theo held her stare steadily for an instant before pivoting and departing.

He shifted aside and started felling a tree. Clara quickly came over to him.

"Are you okay, young master?" she inquired, checking on his concerns.

"Leaders must be tough on those not pulling equal weight, Clara. Regret doesn’t fill me for addressing her that way," he answered, axe swinging relentlessly at the tree.

Lysara observed from afar, her feelings inscrutable, though her dissatisfaction shone through plainly.

After finishing most camp preparations, Theo assembled the group at the site, clutching a map.

"Thanks to Sir Garrick, we possess a precise map spanning several kilometers," Theo announced, laying it flat on the earth and weighting the edges with stones against the wind.

Grabbing a stick, he advanced and indicated features while explaining.

"Heading north leads into another powerful beast’s domain. Sir Garrick says it’s reptilian too, yet far tinier than our python foe."

He detailed further, moving the stick along.

"Westward lies a pack beast group exceeding ten in number. Everyone must join the hunt... or retreat if necessary."

He indicated the intricately noted pack with his stick as he continued.

"Beasts of various kinds fill this gate, with Sir Garrick striving to chart the other paths."

Theo halted, lifting his eyes to the assembly.

"Still, I believe we ought to seek the single most crucial item."

"The exit gate," Merek interjected prior to Theo’s completion.

Theo affirmed with a nod.

"Locating it lets us gather required samples and head back."

His words prompted the emerging subgroups within the team to trade looks.

"Any method to locate the gate quicker, young master?" Kaelor questioned gravely.

A subtle grin crossed Theo’s lips. Here lay his moment to solidify leadership.

"I’ve entered a gate previously and possess a technique to detect the exit gate. Through it, I sense its position—eastward, though distance remains unknown." Theo declared nonchalantly.

The group gaped at him in stunned silence, Lucien displaying utmost astonishment.

"You’re sure? The gate’s position is already known to you?" Kaelor pressed, viewing Theo afresh.

"Then let’s head to the gate now... since you know where it lies," Merek urged with a sly smile, probing Theo’s assertion.

Garrick fixed his eyes on Theo, darting looks at the rest, as Lysara kept her stare locked on him.

"Thus, I offer you a choice," Theo declared. "We vote on it."

"Option one: Advance to the gate area, scout nearby, return each day. En route, handle and capture manageable beasts."

He stopped, then continued. "Option two: Disperse every which way, tackle close beasts initially."

Next, he outlined the vote: left hand for gate direction, right for beast clearance.

Whether eager or hesitant, all raised left hands, choosing the gate path.

Theo nodded.

Shutting his eyes again, he concentrated deeply. Quickly, an odd sensation emerged, reliable as ever.

A tremendous surge of spatial energy reached Theo's senses from one direction, making him turn his head toward it.

Once he reopened his eyes, they faced eastward.

"The python will draw in plenty of beasts," Theo declared. "We must stockpile enough food before figuring out our next move."

Garrick raised his hand, capturing Theo's focus.

"P-Python bones go into numerous medicines. We ought to bring them along when we depart, Young Master," he suggested.

"I side with him," Lucien chimed in. "The python's sheer size means we can't squander any useful parts."

"Fine. We'll deal with it after coming back from today's excursion," Theo answered, then stopped short as an idea flashed in his mind.

"Or... with Sir Garrick already sharing details on our camp's surroundings, why not divide into teams? One stays to manage camp duties, the other ventures out to explore. We're not solely here for hunting and leveling up—that's for later anyway."