Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 684 - 638: Winter Hunters

Worsed is a small town located around Chernobyl, with about five thousand residents.

In a certain sense, it could already be considered a small city.

Its main population consists of the indigenous inhabitants of the Northern Territory and early settlers of the region.

This town can be considered one of Perfikot's early contributions to the development of the Northern Territory.

After establishing relatively good relations with the local indigenous people, some attempted to come out of the forest and interact with the settlers of the Northern Territory at the time, and through mutual exchanges, this town gradually came into being.

Compared to the indigenous people who moved out and lived with the Northern Territory settlers only after the environment worsened and the doomsday crisis became known, the indigenous people here are relatively more 'civilized.'

They have relatively abandoned their traditional attire and some life habits, embracing more of the 'civilization' from the Empire.

For the indigenous people themselves, this naturally has its pros and cons. The good side is that it increases their chances of survival in the face of the doomsday crisis.

Although humans can survive in temperatures below minus tens of degrees, and the indigenous people of the Northern Territory have also endured blizzards that engulf the forest in winter, continuing to survive in the cold,

the unavoidable truth remains that every year, elderly and children perish from the cold.

Compared to the industrial age Empire, the ability of indigenous people in the tribal era to resist disasters is not non-existent, but it can only be said to be scarcely better.

In fact, for these local indigenous people, although embracing the Empire's new lifestyle initially drew some dissatisfaction and resistance from the elders, facing warmer and thicker clothes, more abundant food, and warmer, more comfortable houses, even the most traditional among them find it hard to insist on living in tents in the woods.

After all, indigenous people are very simple and honest. They do value tradition, but that is mainly because of the lack of effective experience summary and inheritance in tribal society, forcing them to rely on traditions to pass down time-tested experiences and survival skills.

However, when they gain better and stronger survival skills, old traditions quickly become obsolete.

In this regard, they are quite pragmatic; after all, those who aren't pragmatic don't survive.

But this pragmatism also brings a slight issue, which is that they no longer seem quite 'indigenous.'

At least in Perfikot's eyes, they appear no different from ordinary Victorians aside from some differences in appearance and skin tone.

"These indigenous people seem to be more resistant to the cold? Are they still out hunting in this weather?" Perfikot curiously asked the person beside her. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Today she was in a discreet inspection, examining the living conditions of townsfolk around Chernobyl to prepare for adjustments to the policies for the upcoming cold season.

"This is part of their traditional lifestyle; although they can't catch much prey in this weather, they still habitually go out hunting," replied the local official of Worsed, who was summoned by Perfikot to provide timely insights into the local situation.

Perfikot didn't comment further on this reply. The indigenous people's hunting habits were indeed no problem; as long as they didn't risk their lives, even going hunting in such weather was okay.

The Worsed official seemed to think he hadn't explained clearly enough and added, "Although they maintain their hunting habits, their hunting tools have significantly improved, using sleds, firearms, and other more modern hunting tools, and not just relying on their traditional bows and traps."

Hearing this, Perfikot nodded slightly but still didn't comment much.

For these hunters, catching prey is the most practical; as long as they can catch something, they'd even bow to a rifle, but if they can't catch anything, traditions mean nothing.

However, Perfikot was somewhat intrigued by these hunters. In such weather, she could hardly imagine how they hunt and what prey could still be active outdoors in such conditions.

Worsed, unlike Shay's settlement, doesn't have heating facilities covering the range of animal activity, with the town's heating mostly confined within its boundaries without extending outward.

So, to hunt animals, they really have to traverse the vast snowy plains, entering even colder forests to seek out prey that hasn't frozen to death.

With this curiosity, Perfikot found a group of indigenous hunters seemingly preparing to go out hunting. Among them were even two Victorians.

"Are you preparing to go hunting?" Perfikot conversed with the indigenous people in fluent native language.

Previously, to facilitate communication with the natives, she had spent some time learning their language. Although not proficient, normal communication wasn't an issue.

The hunters seemed surprised that Perfikot could speak the native language so fluently, given her obviously distinguished background.

However, they didn't show any aversion, naturally answering her questions, "Yes, we plan to catch more prey before winter arrives. These things are very valuable now, whether it's meat or fur, both can sell for a good price."

"Can you still hunt prey now? I thought in such terrible weather, animals would be extinct." Following up on the conversation, Perfikot asked, wanting to learn more about the situation.

Hearing Perfikot's question, an older hunter chuckled, "Indeed, prey is much less than before, but still catchable, the Ancestral Spirit is watching over us!"

With his words, other hunters also joined in praising the Ancestral Spirit.

Perfikot could tell he was an Ancestor Warrior.

"May the Ancestral Spirit bless you, but how do those animals survive in such harsh environments? While hibernation can sustain for a while, if it's too cold, they wouldn't wake up, would they?" Perfikot also praised the Ancestral Spirit and then posed a question that genuinely concerned her.

Regarding this question, the older hunter replied with a somewhat simple smile, "Animals always find ways to survive; they dig holes in the snow to resist the elements and also search for natural hot springs, which are simply sanctuaries for overwintering! There'll be many prey around those areas."

Perfikot sensed that he knew a location of a natural hot spring, giving him the confidence to hunt even in this season.

With this in mind, Perfikot didn't inquire further, instead wishing them, "May the Ancestral Spirit bless you with a fruitful hunt."