Isis scratched her head.
She could obviously tell that these little fellows were after the meat they were transporting.
This meat was already more than they could eat, and they had intended to "return it to nature" anyway, so giving it to the Gajalaka was no problem at all.
However, she still felt a bit unwilling; she had wanted to take this opportunity to make friends with the Gajalaka.
Having meat stolen by highway robbery was a completely different concept from giving it as a gift. How could she make the Gajalaka understand this?
She racked her brain, preparing for one last attempt.
Isis took a deep breath, extended her finger, and pointed in a circle at the surroundings.
The surrounding Gajalaka all focused their attention on her.
"Gagaya\!" she suddenly raised both arms and let out a loud cry.
The Gajalaka were a bit bewildered.
In the Gajalaka language system, "Gagaya" didn't have any actual meaning; it was generally used to express intense emotions.
It could be shouted when meeting a friend and feeling very happy, when feeling furious over a companion's injury or death, or when facing a powerful enemy in a fight to the death.
Isis's initial "Gagaya" hadn't really been a problem; it was somewhat like a loud greeting.
But in her current situation, being quiet one second and then suddenly shouting "Gagaya\!" the next was like walking down the street and suddenly screaming at the top of your lungs, "Hell yeah\!" or "Let's go\!" It was easy to be mistaken for someone with a screw loose.
They all felt like running away.
After shouting, she directly hauled a huge piece of raw meat off Sajji's cannon cart and thumped it down in front of the Gajalaka.
Then came the second piece, and the third.
Nymera and Olivia exchanged a look and began to help. Soon, all the meat from the cannon cart and Hibiki's back was unloaded and piled in front of the Gajalaka.
There was a faint stir among the Gajalaka; they weren't quite sure what to make of the situation.
They wanted to step forward but seemed a bit hesitant; it was clear that Isis's abrupt tree-felling earlier had made them feel wary and cautious toward the Hunters.
To prevent things from getting more complicated, Olivia spoke up: "Let's go. We're already a good distance from the camp, so there's no need to worry about any more Monsters being lured over there.
As for this meat, the Gajalaka will figure out a way to carry it off themselves."
"Alright." Though Isis was disappointed, she could only follow Olivia and leave.
The Gajalaka stood where they were without moving, only gradually reacting after the Hunters had walked far away.
They had originally been prepared to pay a price to snatch one or two pieces of meat, and now they had all of it? They still found it hard to believe.
The Gajalaka with the glass bottle embedded in its mask became the center of attention. In their eyes, the fact that Isis had proactively given it the glass bottle was clearly because they were acquaintances.
So, those powerful "Giant Lynians" had left the meat behind for its sake?
"Gagaya\!"
"Kabagaya\!" the Gajalaka cheered, crowding around the equally bewildered fellow and incessantly asking questions.
Finally snapping out of it, "Glass Bottle" lifted its chin, waved its little arms, and shouted, "Wugagabaya\!" Two Gajalaka immediately grabbed its legs and hoisted it up, while the others cheered and swarmed the piles of raw meat, carrying it all away with many hands.
Returning to the camp, Isis immediately ran to find Altaïr to tell him what had just happened.
Altaïr had constructed a temporary smoker by the campfire using branches and large leaves; he was currently hanging meat inside the smoking chamber, coughing as he worked.
"Cough, cough... you say you ran into Gajalaka? Cough."
"Uh-huh\!"
Altaïr gave the excited Isis a "wait a moment" gesture. He moved closer to the ground to add more aromatic plant stalks to the campfire, then finally sealed the opening of the smoker with large leaves.
Seeing smoke beginning to seep through the gaps between the leaves, Altaïr nodded with satisfaction and led Isis to the side.
As they walked, Isis kept looking back expectantly at the billowing smoker. Altaïr eventually had to call her name to get her attention. "So, what exactly happened?"
Isis reluctantly pulled her gaze away and gave a brief description of their recent encounter.
"The Gajalaka again?"
"Yeah, they are the local natives after all," Isis replied with a nod. "That wing you got last time was also from the Gajalaka. I thought if I tried to communicate with them more, we might get some intel, but it didn't seem to work out."
"The logic is sound," Altaïr mused. "Based on last time, they might even bring a return gift later."
"Really\!"
"I don't know for sure; I've only encountered them that once," Altaïr said, spreading his hands. "Why don't we ask the Professor? He's incredibly knowledgeable; he'll definitely know more about the Gajalaka than we do."
"Good point\!"
It was getting late, but neither of them felt sleepy after such an interesting turn of events. They rushed excitedly toward the Professor's tent.
The Professor glanced at the two as they ducked inside and spoke first: "Here to talk about the Gajalaka? Olivia just gave me a detailed report. A fine response. When dealing with intelligent creatures like the Gajalaka, attempting communication is a much smarter approach than reckless slaughter."
"Hehe." Isis felt a bit smug at the Professor's praise.
The tent was low-ceilinged, so she couldn't stand straight; she simply squatted down and hugged her knees. "Professor, do you think they'll come looking for us here later?"
"It is possible," the Professor said with his usual precision. "Like humans, the Gajalaka possess high intelligence and complex emotions. Personalities vary among individuals, so their behavior cannot be accurately predicted based on one or two incidents alone. However, from what Olivia said, was the one Altaïr encountered before part of that group? If so, there is at least a high probability that specific Gajalaka will seek us out."
At this, the Professor took off his glasses and wiped them with a soft cloth. "If it does come, it would be for the best. Finding out where it originally obtained that wing would undoubtedly speed up our investigation significantly."
"Professor, if we need to ask for such complex information, how should we communicate with the Gajalaka?" Altaïr, also unable to stand up straight, knelt beside Isis. "Body language? Or drawing pictures?" "Nymera's idea was actually quite good. There must be scholars in the investigation team who are skilled at drawing, right?"
The Professor gave him a strange look. "No need to go to such trouble. I speak the Gajalaka language."
"...How do you know the Gajalaka language?"
"Sister Francesca knows it too," Isis whispered from the side. "Aunt Gael knows it as well."
Altaïr suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment, as if he were the one lacking common knowledge. He had assumed the Gajalaka language was some obscure, niche tongue; who would have thought so many people spoke it?
"I have mastered the languages of all sentient beings that have contact with humanity," the Professor said in a calm tone, not sounding like he was boasting at all, but rather as if he were saying, "I know how to walk."
"Can I learn it?" Altaïr asked suddenly.
Isis immediately shot him a shocked look that seemed to say: Do you even know what you're saying? Are you even still a Hunter?
A faint smile appeared on the Professor's wrinkled old face. "Why would you want to learn that?"
"Gajalaka are quite common in the wild, aren't they? If I can master their language, communicating with them when we meet could not only avoid conflict and facilitate trade, but might even provide opportunities to gain critical clues, just like last time.
After returning to the city last time, I tried to look for relevant books, but neither the bookstores nor the library in Metapetatto had any. I thought perhaps the Gajalaka language was either unsystematic or just too obscure..."
"A very good idea." The smile on the Professor's face became more pronounced. "Whether it is the Gajalaka of the Old World, wild Felyne and Melynx, the Uruki, the Wudwud tribe, or even the red Gajalaka and Grimalkyne of the New World.
The languages of the Lynian tribes actually share a common source. As long as you master one, even if you cannot speak fluently with others, you can still communicate the general gist through a combination of gestures and guesswork.
Therefore, learning the Gajalaka language is actually quite cost-effective. If you are truly interested, I will give you two books after we return from this mission, and you can try to teach yourself."
"Thank you very much." Altaïr pressed his hands against his thighs and bowed his head in thanks.
"Isis can learn too; it really isn't that difficult." The Professor looked at Isis beside Altaïr.
Isis shook her head frantically. "What would I do with that? I can't learn it. Sister Francesca tried to teach me before, and all I ever learned was 'Ga-ga-ya'."
"Tsk." The Professor clicked his tongue, a rare sound from him, and looked at Altaïr.
"Maintain your good habits. Don't let yourself be infected by the other Hunters."
(Translated by yourtl.app)