Chapter 430: The "Taming" of the Gray Dwarf
Ashes was feeling a bit tense now because he sensed that his thoughts had been seen through by the barbarian soldier in front of him.
This barbarian soldier was taller and more dangerous than any barbarian he had ever encountered before.
The deep sense of crisis within him told him that if he harbored any improper thoughts, the other party could easily kill him.
What made Ashes even more apprehensive was that these barbarian soldiers, comparable to trolls and gnolls, not only had formidable strength but also well-crafted weapons and equipment.
Ashes had clAshesed with gnolls controlled by Drow before.
Aside from the majority who were useless cannon fodder, those highly valued high-ranking gnolls, equipped with excellent gear provided by the Drow, had caused him considerable trouble.
What did this mean?
This spellcaster lord was not only powerful and wealthy but also extraordinarily resourceful.
Whatever methods were used to subdue these powerful barbarian soldiers, it was unlikely to be good news for the Gray Dwarf.
Fortunately, he could speak Common. Seeing the questioning looks from his fellow clansmen, he gave them a reassuring look before following in Matthew's footsteps.
Seeing how "obedient" these Gray Dwarf were, Beelzebub, recalling the task entrusted to him by the lord, approached the obvious leader, Ashes, and asked:
"What kind of food do you prefer? The Lord is in a good mood today and might fulfill your requests."
In a good mood?
Why in a good mood?
Was it because of the addition of us as experimental materials?
Ashes couldn't help but overthink. Looking at the somewhat overly friendly Beelzebub, he gritted his teeth and asked:
"What does the Lord do when he is in a good mood?"
Without a change in expression, Beelzebub, whose acting had clearly improved, lightly patted his shoulder, thankful for his long arms; otherwise, he would have had to bend down.
Everything was conveyed without words!
Feeling the immense strength transmitted through Beelzebub's palm, Ashes compared himself briefly and extinguished many foolish ideas.
Not someone to mess with!
Ashes then thought:
"Letting us choose our favorite food? What does this imply?"
"A last good meal before execution?"
"That shouldn't be it. If they wanted experimental subjects, there was no need to buy the old, weak, and women among us…"
Ashes knew this because, as a city lord, he had engaged in similar deeds before.
Now putting himself in the same position, it naturally made him nervous.
However, when Ashes and the others followed Matthew into the streets, they immediately attracted the attention of many adventurers.
Most adventurers knew that Bay Territory did not particularly care about race or origin, focusing instead on rules and culture.
Those who came to Bay Territory had to learn to use Eastern speech and script.
The reason was simple: Eastern characters were the most concise and efficient, able to express the most meaning with the fewest strokes.
Of course, most adventurers saw this as one of the strange rules imposed by the lord to assert his authority over the territory.
Regarding the Gray Dwarf before them, the adventurers were more curious than anything else.
The wicked and mad gnolls had been subdued completely in Bay Territory.
The foolish, man-eating trolls had become prisoners of Bay Territory, with only a few striving to learn and work.
The countless chaotic murlocs had become the administrators of Bay Territory's waters.
Despite their vast numbers and occasional chaos, they were particularly obedient to orders.
Some had even seen Bay Territory tame ogres and turn them into highly competent workers.
Such methods and transformative outcomes truly left adventurers astonished.
This was one reason why everyone was so "obedient."
They did not want to become part of the "transformation."
This was also why Matthew hadn't broadly welcomed adventurers.
They traveled extensively and saw much, making them harder to "persuade."
"Are those dwarves? Why are there so many at once?"
"Those definitely aren't dwarves. We've all seen dwarves before, haven't we? Besides, the Netheril Empire doesn't allow dwarf slaves…"
"That's true. Our relationship with the dwarves is quite good…"
"Aren't they collaborating with Archmage Chronoman recently? I heard it's been quite restless…"
"These are Gray Dwarf. Don't mistake them. They live in the deeper Underdark and are much harder to deal with than dwarves."
"Their strength is quite formidable, and some can even master psionic spells. Their melee capabilities are also excellent…"
"Gray Dwarf? If nothing unexpected happens, the number of Gray Dwarf in Bay Territory will only increase."
"…"
Along the way, Ashes listened to their discussions carefully. He heard no ominous words like "experiments," "death," or "bad luck."
This allowed Ashes's initially high-strung nerves to relax a bit.
After all, as long as they were alive, there was hope.
Gray Dwarf cherished life even more than dwarves.
This resilience was passed down after paying a steep price to overthrow the Illithid Empire's rule.
Now, Ashes was racking his brain, thinking about how to persuade this lord not to throw them into the laboratory.
"Perhaps we should show more of our strength and value…"
"No, that alone isn't enough. These barbarian soldiers are so strong, proving that he doesn't lack soldiers or cannon fodder…"
"Revealing some of our technical skills might work. That should have some impact."
"Our Gray Dwarf forging techniques are still top-notch…"
But for those children and elderly who didn't possess these skills, it wasn't good news.
Feeling a headache coming on, Ashes even forgot to respond to Beelzebub.
The latter didn't mind and led them to a spacious dining hall, speaking to the waiting steward, Ralph:
"It seems they're not entirely at ease. Let's decide for them!"
The well-prepared steward, Ralph, instructed the kitchen staff to start cooking.
Meanwhile, Beelzebub picked up a barrel of ale and signaled Old John, known for his drinking skills, to take the lead.
With practiced ease, Old John brought the ale over. Meeting the complex gazes of the Gray Dwarf, he smiled slightly and said loudly in Dwarvish:
"You don't need to worry. Now that you're in Bay Territory, your safety is guaranteed."
"Don't drink too much today. Each of you will get a small bowl."
"Then, we'll prepare roasted meat and sausages, foods beloved by Gray Dwarf, along with some fresh mushroom soup…"
Smelling the fresh and enticing aroma of ale, Ashes couldn't help but swallow hard.
He found it hard to resist the temptation before him, and so did the Gray Dwarf behind him, who began to stir.
Then, all their movements stopped abruptly, and they stared blankly as Yaya descended from the sky, as if they had been struck by a "Hold Person" spell.
How do you make slightly evil, greedy, and short-tempered Gray Dwarf behave obediently?
A combination of carrots and sticks!