Mohr's expression grew somber. "It was a massacre, blood filled the air, and death ran rampant.
After most of the tribe had been slaughtered, I located an intact teleportation array within the ruins, intending to send the survivors away.
The energy that had burst from the altar allowed me to temporarily control the Magic Scroll.
I knew there was no way I could safeguard this divine artifact under the black dragon's watchful eye. To buy precious time to activate the magic array, I exhausted the power of the altar and the artifact itself to tear off two fragments. Then, using the last of my strength, I braved the dragon's breath and hurled the artifact far into the distance.
The black dragon didn't destroy the magic array, it followed the artifact. That's how we barely escaped from that ancient, unfathomably powerful dragon…"
Though Mohr's words were vague, Li De could still faintly picture the panic the goblins felt when faced with an unbeatable enemy.
Yor, the young goblin of the Graymount Tribe, had already told him about the black dragon, but he hadn't expected there to be such secrets behind it, especially that mysterious altar which had held the divine artifact, and was terrifying enough to activate its power.
It seemed that ancient ruin had a remarkable origin.
"Besides the divine artifact, did you find anything else in that ancient ruin? What happened to the mysterious altar afterward? Was it destroyed by the black dragon?"
Hearing Li De's question, Mohr shook his head.
"That ancient ruin was so old that its era is no longer traceable. Most of its contents had already turned to dust. Only the altar and the artifact remained.
When I activated the teleportation array, I threw the Magic Scroll in the opposite direction. The black dragon didn't care about us, it just breathed a plume of dragonfire at the magic array and went after the scroll.
I don't know whether the mysterious altar was destroyed by the black dragon, but the activation of the teleportation array triggered a destruction magic array in the ruin. That place has already collapsed."
Li De nodded with a hint of regret. That mysterious altar was clearly a treasure, but it had already been buried.
If the opportunity arose in the future, perhaps he could go back and dig it up.
After mentally noting this, Li De didn't dwell on it. The most important thing, the divine artifact, had already been taken by the black dragon. If he wanted it, he'd have to slay a dragon.
But that mysterious black dragon was likely a Transcendent being, and Dawn City didn't yet have the strength to take it on.
He could only bide his time, develop and expand until he possessed Transcendent power of his own. Only then could he confront that black dragon.
"Very good, Mohr. This divine artifact fragment is of great help to me. What reward would you like?"
This old goblin was wise enough not to actually ask Li De for any reward.
"Majestic, this is a gift from the Graymount Tribe to you, not an attempt to seek a reward."
"Mm. You may go. Help me manage the goblins properly, and get the Alchemical Factory into production as soon as possible.
Believe me, Mohr, you won't regret today's decision."
Li De gave Mohr a deep look and said no more. Though the goblins were weak in terms of raw power, there had to be a reason they had survived as a race.
In his plans, the goblins held strategic significance.
In the future, the armory of Dawn City would speak for itself, its importance needed no further explanation.
As long as these goblins behaved and obeyed, he would grant them unimaginable benefits.
Li De never held back when it came to rewarding his own people.
Mohr left City Hall filled with hope for the future.
After spending the past few days here, the old goblin had already started to like this city.
Life in Dawn City was far better than back in the Graymount Tribe.
Here, he had his favorite honey bread, savory roasted meat, freshly brewed fruit wine, and an endless supply of food, and even miraculous alchemical artifacts, like running water.
Mohr swore to the Goddess of Life that it was the greatest alchemical creation he had ever seen. Sweet, clear spring water endlessly flowed from a little pipe, so long as it wasn't shut off, the water never stopped. It was truly astonishing.
And when he heard that this alchemical marvel had been personally designed and built by Lord Kachar himself, his admiration knew no bounds.
Truly worthy of the title 'Majestic.' It was simply unbelievable.
Moreover, there was something else that made Mohr feel especially comfortable, most of the residents here were very friendly toward goblins.
That might seem insignificant, but to Mohr it was astonishing.
Though goblins prided themselves as a highly intelligent race, Mohr was well aware that due to their frail bodies, very few humans would ever view them as equals.
After all, who would have any goodwill toward ugly, frail creatures who could be kicked over with one foot?
Even when Mohr had visited their trading partner, Risel City, the majority of the looks he received were either strange or mocking.
But here in this city, he hadn't felt any discrimination or contempt in the eyes of passersby, especially among the long-time residents. They were even enthusiastic toward goblins.
From what Mohr gathered from conversations with residents, it seemed that Lord Kachar had posted a public notice on the bulletin board in Dawn Square.
The notice specifically identified the goblins' background, and instructed all residents to treat the goblins who could manufacture powerful alchemical bombs with respect, because they had contributed to Dawn City.
'Made contributions to Dawn City!', this single phrase earned the goblins the respect of the residents, which filled Mohr with deep gratitude and pride.
Goblins were a neutral race, neither quite good nor truly evil. So in just a few short days, under the promotion of the Propaganda Department, the goblins began taking their first steps toward integrating into Dawn City.
A culturally open and inclusive city held overwhelming appeal to these foreign races, almost no one could resist it.
Under Li De's deliberate guidance, Dawn City was also developing in the direction he envisioned.