Chapter 431: The Benefits and Drawbacks of Being "Obedient"
Yaya, in front of all the Gray Dwarf, nonchalantly swallowed an entire roasted sheep in one bite.
She chewed lightly twice, letting the sound of bones cracking echo in every Gray Dwarf's ears.
Neither the food nor the aroma of the wine could distract the Gray Dwarf now.
Facing Yaya, who did not exude draconic might or aura, they could not conceal their fear.
The reason was that their former castle had been destroyed by a powerful black dragon.
Yaya, right before them, effortlessly extinguished all their courage.
Having made her appearance, Yaya couldn't be bothered with these dwarves. She happily gnawed on another roasted sheep and flew off gracefully.
Time to find some trolls for an afternoon snack!
The once lavish meal was only half-eaten by the Gray Dwarf.
They were haunted by the image of Yaya swallowing a sheep larger than them in a single gulp.
Ashes was the only Gray Dwarf who received two bowls of ale, but the usually sweet and fragrant brew brought him no joy this time.
He suspiciously observed Old John, who remained expressionless. After putting down his knife and fork, Ashes braced himself and asked:
"Where are we going next?"
Old John glanced at them indifferently, his face breaking into a deliberately cheerful expression as he said mysteriously:
"You'll find out soon enough."
After all the Gray Dwarf had eaten, filling their previously half-full stomachs to the brim,
Old John, unlike how he treated other refugees and slaves, didn't assign the Gray Dwarf bathing and clothing right away. Instead, he took them on a tour around Bay City.
Rows upon rows of orderly soldiers.
Towering guardian golems scattered everywhere.
Numerous elite adventurers.
Soldiers in the barracks letting out uniform shouts that struck fear into the hearts of those who heard them.
What left the deepest impression on Ashes was the warehouses piled high with immense resources.
Recalling his former city, he felt a sudden and unexplainable shame and embarrassment.
Bay Territory was truly wealthy!
So incredibly rich!
Bay Territory's strength was immense!
These points became a consensus among all the Gray Dwarf.
Old John brought them to the resettlement area next to the barracks and pointed at rows of houses made from reinforced concrete, saying:
"Each family gets a unit. Inside, you'll find clean clothes and the food ration for the week."
"You can freshen up and settle the tired children first. We have one more place to visit afterward."
Seeing the other Gray Dwarf being overly cautious, Ashes, suppressing his own excitement, explained Bay Territory's treatment to them.
Soon, disbelief and anticipation appeared on every Gray Dwarf's face.
After arranging housing for the Gray Dwarf, Ashes eagerly entered his assigned house.
To Ashes, the house was already his since it had been given to him.
He took a satisfying bath, changed into clean clothes, and skimmed through Bay Territory's work manual.
Ashes was already contemplating how to move into his old palace.
As for the other Gray Dwarf, they were cheering as if celebrating their rebirth.
Only Ashes could hear clearly—they thought the living conditions here were good, but they deserved even better!
Moreover, there was no alcohol here?
How could that be acceptable?
Initially, Ashes felt uneasy, thinking it was inappropriate for everyone to be so restless before settling in properly.
But when he considered Bay Territory's work systems, he believed their skills and abilities warranted better living conditions.
After all, it wasn't their wealth being spent.
Old John waited outside for nearly two hours before Ashes emerged.
The contemplation seemed to have changed Ashes's demeanor, replacing his previous anxiety with newfound wisdom.
As for the other Gray Dwarf, they still showed no signs of coming out.
Facing the soldiers standing quietly behind Old John and his ever-present smile, Ashes, recalling the earlier situation, hesitated before saying:
"They're just exhausted from the journey. They'll be out soon."
However, Ashes's words didn't materialize into reality.
Only a few dozen Gray Dwarf emerged, while the rest stayed put.
Even those who came out were still nibbling on their allocated black bread.
Despite being full, they seemed unwilling to stop stuffing their bellies.
Old John didn't rush them. Ashes, swallowing nervously, noticed a subtle shift in the soldiers' gazes.
Cursing "fools" under his breath, Ashes had a sudden idea and pulled out Bay Territory's work manual.
Another hour passed.
Fewer than 300 Gray Dwarf emerged from their rooms. Dressed in new clothes, they huddled together, chatting idly.
After answering all of Old John's questions, Ashes, sensing the tense atmosphere, quickly scolded the Gray Dwarf and ran back inside.
Opening the door, he saw the Gray Dwarf who had promised to come out earlier fast asleep in their beds.
"Get up!!"
Jolted awake, Ashes turned "furious," yelling loudly to rouse the fools.
Even with his direct involvement, it still took half an hour to get over 600 adult Gray Dwarf out.
Ashes anxiously glanced at Old John, who, to his surprise, showed no signs of anger. Instead, he smiled and waved:
"Is everyone here? If so, we can head out."
Watching the soldiers of Bay Territory march with coordinated steps and formations,
Ashes cast a disapproving glare at his lazy and disorganized compatriots.
A few days without discipline had turned them into fools.
Then Ashes relaxed again.
He reflected on the work manual, considering the factories one by one, his eyes flickering with thoughts.
To his surprise, Old John didn't lead him to a factory but headed directly to the side of the barracks.
As they passed the barracks, Ashes grew increasingly curious.
"Where are we going?"
The Gray Dwarf behind him pointed and whispered about the barracks, some impatiently eyeing the tavern nearby.
If not for Ashes's timely intervention with fists, several Gray Dwarf would have run off.
As for their next destination, who cared?
Five minutes later.
In a brightly lit basement.
Including Ashes, all the Gray Dwarf stared blankly in horror at the scene before them.
The basement was filled with countless steel cages housing trolls.
Most trolls were muttering to themselves over parchment, while some struggled to speak.
The trolls' accents were strange, but Ashes could make out that they were learning Common.
If that were all, it wouldn't have been frightening. At most, the trolls would seem peculiar.
What was truly terrifying was this:
With a "Ding!" sound,
Over a hundred trolls calmly drew knives and, in front of all the Gray Dwarf, slAshesed their wrists.
Blood gushed out, dripping into barrels outside the cages. The pungent scent of blood filled the air.
The trolls paid no attention to their wounds.
They even worried about their cuts healing too quickly. Under the trembling gazes of the Gray Dwarf, they sliced their wrists again!
Still smiling, Old John patted Ashes's trembling shoulder and said meaningfully:
"They are 'volunteers.' Will you also volunteer to work for Bay Territory?"