Pekoms could not wait to say, "I'll go inform everyone! Ron is back!"
Before he finished speaking, the golden figure had already shot far away.
Ron was surrounded by the Mink Tribe as he walked towards the Mokomo Dukedom, with more Mink Tribe members joining the procession after hearing the news.
The familiar forest, the familiar smiles, it was as if time had never passed. He looked up at Zou's azure sky, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved upwards. The feeling of stability was truly wonderful.
....
That night, the Mokomo Dukedom was brightly lit, and the entire town was immersed in a festive atmosphere.
The welcome banquet, personally organized by Duke Inuarashi and Boss Nekomamushi, was held under the Whale Tree. The long tables were laden with Zou's unique delicacies:
Gekko Mushroom Stew, Lightning Mead, desserts made from Thundercloud Fruit... The aroma filled the entire square.
"To Ron's return, cheers!" Inuarashi raised his gem-encrusted wine glass, his silver-white fur shimmering in the firelight.
Nekomamushi was not to be outdone, directly picking up a barrel of wine: "Tonight, we won't stop until we're drunk!"
Ron was surrounded at the head table, packed with old friends from the Mink Tribe.
Pekoms' face was already flushed from drinking, but he kept pouring wine into Ron's glass: "You drank ten of our warriors under the table back then, today we must compete again!"
"Exactly!" Wanda's tail wagged excitedly, "This time I must see you drunk!"
Ron's lips curved slightly, and he picked up his wine glass, draining it in one gulp.
If it were before, such a continuous onslaught would have made him unable to cope.
But ever since he gained his demon physique, the effects of alcohol on him were completely controllable; his body could instantly decompose any foreign toxic substances.
Of course, alcohol was included.
After round after round of toasts, the Mink Tribe warriors were already swaying.
Pekoms lay on the table, mumbling incoherently: "Un... unfair... how do you get clearer the more you drink..." Wanda had even directly reverted to her beast form, curled up at Ron's feet, snoring.
Nekomamushi drunkenly patted Ron's shoulder: "You rascal... *hic*... your drinking capacity has increased..." With that, he slid under the table.
Inuarashi was still relatively sober. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Ron: "Something's not right... you weren't this good at drinking before."
Ron chuckled, and a wisp of black flame suddenly shot from his fingertip: "A small new ability." The flame instantly evaporated the wine in the glass. "But tonight..." He deliberately shook his head, feigning a slight tipsiness, "Let's just pretend I'm drunk."
Just then, Pekoms suddenly struggled to get up: "Wait! You just said... celestial pig?" His eyes were hazy with drink, yet his expression was serious, "So you are now... a pirate?"
The square suddenly fell silent, and all the Mink Tribe members who could still stay sober pricked up their ears.
Ron stated that he was not a pirate, nor was he a Marine, but had founded a company. If one had to say, he was now a businessman.
"A company? What is a company? Is it delicious?"
Ron looked at the confused expressions of the Mink Tribe members around him, and only then realized the problem.
He put down his wine glass and looked around at the curious, furry faces.
"A company is..." Ron carefully chose his words, tapping his finger lightly on the tabletop, "a way for a group of people to work together towards a common goal. Like your Mokomo Dukedom, but the purpose is to make money."
Pekoms tilted his head, his jaguar ears twitching: "Make money? Like humans, trading with Belli?"
"Something like that, but on a larger scale." Ron gestured, "I have a team that specializes in information dissemination."
Duke Inuarashi's wolf ears stood straight up: "Wait, what is this 'phone' you're talking about? Some new type of weapon?"
Ron suddenly realized, and could not help but rub his forehead.
He had completely forgotten that Zou, this isolated sky kingdom, still maintained the most primitive way of life. There were no News Birds here, no communication with the outside world, and thus, no phones!
"A phone is..." Ron took out his phone from his pocket, but then thought better of it and put it back. "Look, simply put, it's a tool that allows people far away to communicate instantly."
Boss Nekomamushi drunkenly leaned over, his alcoholic breath blowing on Ron's face: "Like our messenger birds?"
"Much faster than that." Ron smiled and pushed his large face away, "Messages can be sent to the other side of the ocean in a second."
The surrounding Mink Tribe members gasped in amazement, and several young warriors already began excitedly discussing this magical tool. Wanda's eyes sparkled: "Then we can talk to you anytime?"
"Yes."
Duke Inuarashi stroked his whiskers thoughtfully: "So your current 'company' makes money from these novelties?"
"Not entirely." Ron picked up his wine glass and took a sip, "It's mainly about managing information. Knowing faster than others, knowing more than others, that is wealth."
Pekoms suddenly slapped the table: "I get it! It's like when we find intruders on patrol, we have to report it immediately!"
"That's pretty much the idea." Ron could not help but laugh, "Except I collect intelligence from the entire ocean."
Ron looked at the curious eyes of the surrounding Mink Tribe members, and could not help but smile as he continued to explain: "In the outside world now, almost everyone has a phone. The first thing they do when they wake up in the morning is scroll through TikTok and read the news, play a few rounds of honor of kings during meals, and read a book on Tomato Free Novel before bed."
"What is TikTok?" "Is honor of kings a poison?" "Tomatoes can read books?" The Mink Tribe members asked questions all at once, their furry heads getting closer and closer, their eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Ron patiently took out his video Den Den Mushi, showing the modified interface: "Look, this musical note icon is TikTok." He lightly swiped his finger, and a food video immediately played, "You can watch people from all over the world share their lives."
"Wow!" Wanda exclaimed, her paw accidentally shattering the corner of the table, "How did that moving picture get in there?!"
Pekoms even directly lay on the table, his nose almost touching the Den Den Mushi: "This game called 'Kings,' can you fight in it?"
"Not only can you fight, but you can also team up." Ron clicked on the game interface, displaying the gorgeous skill effects, "Five against five, see who can destroy the other's home base first."
The Mink Tribe warriors immediately became excited, one by one rolling up their sleeves:
"This is much more exciting than our usual sparring!"
"I want to play this!"
"Right now!"
Duke Inuarashi was still relatively calm, but his constantly twitching wolf tail betrayed his mood: "Ron, where can I get this phone?"
....
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