Chapter 546.5: "Supporting" the Dwarves
Matthew smiled, placing the fire dragon egg down into a pale blue liquid.
Beside him, Yaya added a handful of fire elemental gems, causing Manhammer's eyebrow to twitch.
How extravagant!
Though the underground world was rich in magical materials and rare metals, it still had significant "growth potential" in gemstones and other resources.
"That's right. This is a spoil of war from the underground world. We're seeing if it can be hatched."
As Matthew spoke, he smiled and accepted the wooden box handed to him by Steward Ralph.
Upon opening it, Matthew's eyes widened in delight.
"A high-grade Ioun Stone? What a wonderful surprise. I really like this gift."
Inside the box was a pearl-sized white orb, emitting a faint, lustrous glow.
The subtle magical runes perfectly blended into the surface of the pearl, as if it had always been that way.
A serene, holy aura emanated from the Ioun Stone, giving Matthew a soothing and comfortable sensation.
It felt somewhat like the goddess's gentle whispers.
The Ioun Stone, also known as Congenio-Ioun's Stone,
was a unique magical item invented by the arcanist Congenio Ioun.
It could grant the user special abilities.
These included, but were not limited to:
Enhanced physical attributes.
Eliminating the need for breathing.
Automatically restoring health.
Providing a magical shield.
Granting specific feats.
Enhancing particular abilities, such as gaining fluency in a language or improving skill checks.
Some high-level and rare Ioun Stones
could delay aging, resist evil, grant poison immunity, adapt to environments, and increase spellcasting levels.
Moreover, these effects could be stacked and enhanced by acquiring additional stones of the same type.
This allowed users to gain highly specialized powers.
Ioun Stones were highly sought after by many spellcasters.
However, creating them was notoriously difficult, with a much lower success rate than typical magical items, requiring many specific magical materials and tools.
As a result, a considerable number of spellcasters still didn't own an Ioun Stone.
Perhaps, the Bay Territory's next production enhancement effort could focus on these stones.
Even ordinary adventurers would likely find them very appealing.
Yes, not just spellcasters loved them.
Any profession with a mana pool could equip and benefit from them.
To players,
they were a status symbol representing wealth and power.
Of course, the real world wasn't a game, and Matthew had no clue how to begin producing them.
But Matthew had already decided: Ioun Stones would be a key focus for the Bay Territory's future development.
The reason was simple.
Their effects were exceptional.
"Orb of Righteousness, a high-level Ioun Stone. When worn: Mental Resistance +5, Evil Resistance +5, adds 5 points of holy damage (1/5)."
The Orb of Righteousness was quite famous.
It had been nicknamed "The Bane of Evil" by players.
With its outstanding protection against necromancy and evil spells,
and the ability to stack up to 25 points of extra damage,
it was highly coveted.
Most importantly, the Orb of Righteousness was one of the few high-grade Ioun Stones that players could produce.
Its main material was a special product from the East Coast—Golden Pearls!
This meant the Bay Territory could produce them too!
With the help of Fate's power and the expertise of Mage Duncan in magical item crafting, Matthew was confident they could manufacture the Orb of Righteousness.
Moreover, the Orb of Righteousness would become the Bay Territory's next flagship product!
What Manhammer had brought was not only a magical item worth 100,000 gold coins, but also a potential goldmine.
Hearing the excitement in Matthew's voice, Manhammer, who still didn't fully understand the situation, let out a sigh of relief and said expectantly:
"We're hoping to get support in terms of combat units."
As they walked, Manhammer had thought a lot more about it.
He wasn't sure how highly the Bay Territory valued adventurers, so his words were somewhat vague.
If adventurers weren't an option, Manhammer could consider buying some combat golems and constructs.
Based on the adventurers' discussions,
the Bay Territory's combat golems were not only highly capable but also had excellent production capacity.
Although Manhammer seemed big and rough, he was actually very meticulous!
Having kept a close eye on the Dwarven Kingdom's situation, Matthew naturally understood how dire things were for them now.
215. However, instead of addressing that issue, Matthew nodded without hesitation and said:
"No problem. What type of combat support do our dwarven brothers need, and roughly how much?"
Matthew's casual tone made Manhammer both happy and nervous.
He was delighted that Matthew was willing to offer support.
But he was also worried that his next request might put Matthew in a difficult position.
Nonetheless, Manhammer couldn't help but state his purpose:
"We need about 10,000 elite combat forces... If 10,000 is too many, then 5,000 will suffice..."
Noticing Manhammer's anxiety, Matthew—knowing his plan was about to succeed—responded generously:
"Then let's settle on 10,000. We'll send that many first, and if they can hold the line, we can send reinforcements."
Hearing Matthew's immediate response, Manhammer, who had encountered so many difficulties and frustrations in the past, felt his nose tingle and tears well up as he said:
"You're a true brother. We'll never forget the Bay Territory's friendship..."
Matthew, already prepared, signaled discreetly to Steward Ralph.
Got it!
It's all yours!
Ralph, understanding the cue, nodded and quickly said to Manhammer:
"No problem. Let's head to the barracks and you can choose who you want to take with you. Once you've chosen them, they'll follow orders."
They must follow the Bay Territory's orders!
Overjoyed, Manhammer repeatedly thanked Matthew, took a quick look around the druid greenhouse, and earnestly patted his chest to assure Steward Ralph:
"With more combat power, we'll need additional combat supplies as the enemy's reinforcements reach the battlefield."
"The monthly total order value can be raised to 30 million gold coins!"
Without showing any emotion, Steward Ralph smiled and nodded, casting a brief glance at the lord still studying the dragon egg.
While mentally calculating the next steps, he accompanied Manhammer to the barracks, continuing to discuss the Dwarven Kingdom's current situation.
"Kill...!"
The deafening roar pierced the sky.
The fierce cries made Manhammer look over involuntarily.
Over a dozen imposing ogres were brandishing iron Manhammers and wooden clubs, launching attacks against the shield-bearing soldiers of the Bay Territory.
Each ogre was hulking, broad-shouldered, and barrel-chested, appearing immensely powerful.
Clad in thick armor, their intimidating presence was enough to unsettle anyone.
Combined with their massive size, their charges created an overwhelming momentum that seemed unstoppable to Manhammer.
Crash!
The enormous ogres were stopped, though the shield-bearers were forced to take a few steps back.
Still, they managed to halt the ogres' frontal charge.
To Manhammer's amazement, not only did they block the ogres, but they also began planning a counterattack.
Coordinating with the rear soldiers' spear thrusts and the crossbow bolts fired from afar, they caused significant trouble for the ogre warriors.
The ogre warriors were wounded, and the blood they shed was real.
Enraged, their attacks became even more ferocious.
Yet the shield-bearers withstood the assaults. Their coordinated formations left Manhammer deeply impressed.
After seven or eight ogres were wounded and fell, and six or seven Bay Territory soldiers were injured, the almost-realistic training session concluded.
Seeing the ogres quietly squatting in place, allowing the camp's medical staff to treat their wounds, Manhammer was left dumbfounded.
When did ogres become so obedient?
Then, Manhammer witnessed a surprising scene.
After their wounds were treated and their weapons and equipment set aside, the ogres cheerfully queued up at the nearby cafeteria.
The three-meter-tall giants hungrily devoured rice balls, munched on pork legs, and even drank fish soup, all in a rather orderly manner.
Manhammer watched in astonishment as the dozen ogres consumed food equivalent to nearly 50 dwarven portions, then lay down comfortably, basked in the sun, and dozed off.
Incredible—they actually let the ogres eat their fill!
Knowing how scarce food resources were in the kingdom, Manhammer was both amazed by the Bay Territory's generosity and sobered by certain unrealistic ideas.
If they were brought to the battlefield, they'd bankrupt their allies on food before the fight even started!
No wonder they fought so fiercely earlier—well-fed ogres were truly unstoppable!
Unintentionally, Manhammer glanced at the injured soldiers, only to be shocked by what he saw.
The soldiers, who had been severely wounded earlier, were now supporting each other out of the medical area, discussing the gains and losses of the battle.
Healing spells?
It couldn't have been advanced healing potions, could it?
The Bay Territory's soldiers were training with their lives on the line!
Manhammer began to understand why the Bay Territory's soldiers improved so quickly and were so powerful.
Deep down, Manhammer made up his mind: the Bay Territory's soldiers might seem unassuming, but their combat determination and experience were on par with any elite troops.
Standing beside Manhammer, Angela had already received a heads-up from Matthew.
She gestured politely to Manhammer and led him to another training area, confidently saying:
"Considering the battle scenarios for supporting our dwarven brothers, we'll conduct specialized training in defense and siege tactics."
In a nearby training field, two or three hundred defensive soldiers faced an assault from over a thousand warriors.
Judging by their intense reactions and the fierce shouts and clashes, Manhammer could tell that most were not holding back.
This level of full-scale training impressed Manhammer greatly, even as it made his scalp tingle.
He couldn't help but ask Angela:
"With training this intense, wouldn't it result in excessive losses?"
Manhammer dared not directly mention training deaths—it would be far too brutal.
But Angela, remaining calm, nodded and led Manhammer to another training ground, explaining in a matter-of-fact tone:
"The more sweat spilled in training, the less blood shed in war. And the more blood spilled in training, the fewer lives lost on the battlefield."
"From the moment they become official soldiers of the Bay Territory, they've already put their lives on the line."
"We take care of all their worries, provide the best medical care and support, and do everything possible to protect their lives."
"In turn, they give their all to defend our territory and safeguard the lives and property of all our people."
In truth, Angela hadn't told Manhammer that although the Bay Territory's training was rigorous, all the weapons used were modified to minimize fatal injuries.
For unavoidable injuries or disabilities, the soldiers had nothing to fear.
Every day, two slots were available for transformative surgeries, allowing them to achieve new heights in strength and status.
As a result, every soldier gave it their all.
To Manhammer, this approach was profoundly shocking. He couldn't help but ask:
"So, does the Bay Territory truly intend to send troops to assist our dwarven kingdom in battle?"
"Will these soldiers be willing to go?"
Angela nodded firmly, reiterating the strong alliance between the Bay Territory and the dwarven kingdom:
"Our territory and the dwarven kingdom are steadfast allies—brothers. When our brothers are in trouble, we must provide support!"
"What's more, helping the dwarven kingdom also helps ourselves. Resisting the underground world's evil forces is our duty and responsibility."
The words were eloquent, but backed by real actions, they moved Manhammer deeply.
He nodded enthusiastically, following Angela as she toured the barracks, witnessing the Bay Territory's soldiers training around the clock. Manhammer couldn't help but exclaim:
"With the help of our brothers from the Bay Territory, we're sure to win this battle and repel the evil invaders!"
After leaving the barracks, Manhammer sought out Steward Ralph.
He offered a monthly reward of 2 million gold coins for the Bay Territory's 10,000 elite soldiers and pledged to cover their battle losses and compensation.
Once the dwarves made a decision, their actions were bold and decisive.
Three days later.
The First Joint Division, which Matthew held in high regard, teleported to the dwarven kingdom via a large teleportation array to join the fight against the invading gray dwarves and drow elves.
Upon hearing this news, the grand arcanist Cronorman promptly returned to the Bay Territory.
After seeing the Bay Territory's newly constructed underground castle and mithral veins, he quickly reached an agreement with Matthew.
Together, they would establish a new adamantine smelting plant in the Bay Territory's underground realm.
Once completed, this factory would produce about 30 kilograms of adamantine per month.
Cronorman would receive 10 kilograms, while the remaining 20 kilograms would belong to the Bay Territory.
The project would require 20 million gold coins for construction and a monthly upkeep of 2 million gold coins.
This would again deplete the Bay Territory's recently replenished coffers.
However, with 20 kilograms of adamantine each month, they could not only meet the demands for constructing a wizard's tower and crafting magical armor, but also save some in reserve.
Adamantine was one resource where having more was never a bad thing!
Of course, this was just a plan. It would take at least three months to bring it to fruition.
In the meantime, the grand arcanist Cronorman would remain stationed in the Bay Territory.
Not only would he provide advice and guidance on the wizard's tower construction, but he would also gladly assist with various research projects.
With his help, the Bay Territory's research and production would accelerate once again.
Meanwhile, Matthew and Yaya could temporarily leave the Bay Territory to carry out their long-planned mission for the dwarven kingdom.
As the Bay Territory advanced rapidly, the Rage of the Mad Dragon loomed ever closer!