Chapter 209: Dwarves' Early City Construction, Abducting Lu En Craftsmen

Under the deep night.

Above the Angelisia Mountains, the cold wind was biting.

Tang Zheng was wrapped in a black robe, suspended in mid-air, looking at a fortress located below through a single-frame magic item with "Night Vision" ability.

That was the territory of the dwarf race!

Whoosh whoosh.

The cold wind blew his black robe, making it rustle, but at such a high altitude and in the middle of the night, this movement would not be discovered by the fortress below.

The purpose of his trip was for those Lu En craftsmen among the dwarves.

Wanting to borrow these craftsmen from the dwarf race naturally required making contact with the dwarf race; the best method was Ainz's approach.

Using the threat of the Quagoa to make demands to the dwarves, and after repelling the Quagoa, taking away the Lu En craftsmen in this way, and by the way, establishing a diplomatic-like relationship with the dwarf race.

But such an approach was clearly not suitable for Tang Zheng.

The traces were too heavy!

Too much information was exposed!

In the future, when the "Great Tomb" descended, if there were no accidents, Ainz would still have an interest in Lu En technology and visit the dwarf race.

Then, he, this mysterious person who appeared among the dwarf race and also had a demand for Lu En craftsmen, would appear in Ainz's field of vision; this was not what Tang Zheng wanted to see.

Besides Lu En craftsmen, there was nothing in the dwarf race that Tang Zheng was interested in, so after considering it, he planned to use the simplest method.

Abduction!

Tang Zheng descended slowly from high altitude, and the things below gradually became clear under the field of view of the "Night Vision" magic item.

Great Rift.

It was a very terrifying geographical location in the Angelisia Mountains; the length alone was over 60 kilometers, and the width reached about 120 meters.

The depth was even more impossible to explore.

For the dwarf race's Eastern City "Fei Ao · Zhu La," it belonged to a natural fortress; no land creature could cross the Great Rift.

However.

For Tang Zheng, who possessed the "Flight" ability, the difficulty of wanting to cross the Great Rift clearly didn't exist.

After Tang Zheng descended to a position about 200 meters from the ground, he could already clearly see a fortress that was somewhat conspicuous at the edge of the Great Rift.

"At this time, have the dwarves already moved to the Eastern City?" Tang Zheng scanned below, secretly thinking in his heart.

Current time point.

Tang Zheng also couldn't accurately determine whether the dwarf race was living in the Southern City or the Eastern City after the plot started.

So, he first came to the Eastern City side, which was the closest location, to check. And since a fortress had already been built below, it meant that the dwarf race was already living here.

"According to the timeline, the dwarf race shouldn't have moved to the Eastern City so early." Tang Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.

When he solved the Lizardman race, the future leader of the Dragon Tooth tribe, Renbei · Gugu, was not in the Dragon Tooth tribe.

Tang Zheng speculated at the time that this lizardman should still be practicing in the Southern City among the dwarf race.

Now, it had only been more than a month since solving the Lizardman race; did the dwarf race move to the Eastern City so quickly?

Doubts arose in his heart.

Tang Zheng observed the dwarf fortress built at the edge of the Great Rift rapidly.

Calling it a "fortress," it was actually a station built by the dwarves; the existence of the Great Rift was enough to block any enemies on land.

The fundamental purpose of this station was to protect the suspension bridge that the dwarves had worked hard to build on the Great Rift; as long as the suspension bridge was guarded, all magical beast invasions on land could be blocked.

"There are four dwarves on night watch; the area of the station is not large, and there are at most 20 people."

After observing, Tang Zheng analyzed silently, and then following the movement of thoughts in his heart.

Tang Zheng's figure descended rapidly from high altitude.

Swoosh!

A rapid breaking-air sound came from above.

The four dwarves who were yawning and standing on both sides of the suspension bridge subconsciously raised their heads and looked toward the sky.

In their field of vision, they only saw a tall black figure landing between them; without waiting for them to make any reaction, a cold, bright light flashed.

Psh! Psh! Psh! Psh!

The four dwarves' heads soared into the sky and fell into the deep abyss Great Rift not far away.

Tang Zheng held a magic greatsword in his hand and looked expressionlessly at the somewhat low, only about two-meter-high, square-like station building in front.

Since the four dwarves didn't make any sound until they died, they naturally didn't disturb the rest of the dwarves sleeping inside.

His gaze stayed for a moment on the protrusion directly above the station, similar to a cannon barrel, facing the suspension bridge.

There was a faint magic power fluctuation on it.

It should be the "Lightning Strike" magic item that the dwarves had specially prepared to deal with the Quagoa.

The Quagoa possessed excellent resistance to metal weapons, but lightning-attribute attacks were a racial weakness; if they encountered the Quagoa's attack.

In the situation where the entire Great Rift only had this one route of the suspension bridge, what the Quagoa faced when wanting to break in from the suspension bridge was the "Lightning Strike" with penetration effect.

Bang.

Tang Zheng raised his foot, kicked the four dwarves' corpses into the abyss together, and chanted in a low voice: "Camouflage."

A ripple like flowing water flashed across the surface of Tang Zheng's body, and in the middle of the night environment, his figure gradually merged into the dark night.

"Stealth!"

Following the activation of the thief skill, Tang Zheng crossed the station silently and walked toward the mountain wall behind.

There was a stone door three meters high and two meters wide there.

Tang Zheng walked into the stone door easily because there were no dwarves stationed here.

"Besides the station outside, the defense here is really lax."

Tang Zheng hid in the shadows, following the faint, hazy light-emitting crystal ore on the top of the stone cave, and continued to walk toward the depths.

This was a spiral pit tunnel extending toward the underground, and it was also an important route connecting the outside station and the underground Eastern City.

Tang Zheng recalled the information in his mind while continuing to move toward the depths; soon, a giant stone door that was half-open appeared in front of his eyes.

Even in the dim underground, this stone door still reflected a bright silver luster under the irradiation of the crystal ore on the top.

According to the information in his memory, this was a giant door completely built with mithril and orichalcum; placed among humans, it could no longer be measured by money.

Only dwarves who were good at mining and refining metals could be so extravagant as to use these two precious metals to build a giant door.

"Only one person guarding this?"

Tang Zheng looked at the dwarf soldier guarding the side of the half-open stone door, holding a long spear, and still emitting a smell of alcohol from his body, and couldn't help but be even more surprised.

This stone door could be said to be the last line of defense of the Eastern City; logically speaking, there should be a large number of dwarf soldiers stationed here.

But the situation in front of him was filled with a sense of relaxation.

Silently, Tang Zheng approached this drunken dwarf soldier, crossed the stone door to observe the rear, and there were a few dwarf soldiers guarding both sides, looking like they were also drunk.

He raised his head and looked into the distance, and he could already see the Eastern City.

"This is?"

Tang Zheng's gaze froze.

Rows of box-like buildings with no characteristics came into view; some were two-story buildings, and some were one-story.

Most of these buildings looked as if they had only just been completed, and in the distance, one could even see some dwarves waving their tools as they built.

Seeing this scene, Tang Zheng had already realized something; he exited the stone door, looked at the dwarf soldier leaning in the corner, snoring loudly because of drunkenness, and raised his palm.

Slap!

A crisp sound.

The dwarf soldier's cheek swelled up instantly; he woke up suddenly in pain and looked at Tang Zheng, who was wrapped in a black robe and standing in front of him, with a confused gaze.

"Charm All Races."

The dwarf soldier's body stiffened, and then relaxed; he climbed up from the ground unsteadily.

"What's the situation here?" Tang Zheng asked.

"We are building a brand new city 'Fei Ao · Zhu La'." The dwarf soldier spoke with somewhat unclear pronunciation.

"Then what about your original Southern City?"

"I heard from the Commander-in-Chief that traces of a large number of Quagoa were discovered near our Southern City 'Fei Ao · Lai Zuo'."

"The Lords of the Regency Council, just in case, sent all the craftsmen to build a brand new city here in advance."

Please... you.... collect 6... 9... book....!

Tang Zheng asked a few more questions again, and a look of realization appeared in his eyes.

He had some doubts before; clearly, according to the timeline, the dwarf race should still be in the Southern City currently.

And the situation in front of him explained that as early as several years ago, the dwarf race had already started building a new city in advance.

No wonder the defense here was so lax.

Thinking about it carefully, it was normal.

How could the migration of an entire race be completed in a short time? It must have been prepared in advance and the foundation had already been laid.

Then.

Most dwarves were still in the Southern City currently.

Should I make a trip there?

Wait!

"Just now you said all the craftsmen were sent here to build, so the Lu En craftsmen are also here?" Tang Zheng remembered what the dwarf soldier had just said, and his eyes lit up.

"They should be here too." The dwarf soldier spoke somewhat uncertainly.

Following the development of "Magic" technology, even among the dwarf race, the outdated craft of Lu En technology was no longer valued.

After asking the questions.

Tang Zheng raised his palm, knocked the dwarf soldier unconscious, and then let him lean in the corner again, disguised as a drunken sleeping look.

His figure flashed.

Tang Zheng disappeared and entered the Eastern City.

Using the rough and simple method of "Charm All Races," he found the lone dwarf craftsmen and asked directly, and soon locked onto the positions of all the Lu En craftsmen.

Next, it was much simpler!

Taking advantage of the gap when these dwarf craftsmen were sleeping, Tang Zheng knocked the found Lu En craftsmen unconscious and returned to the lava zone using teleportation magic.

After dozens of times back and forth.

Without disturbing any dwarves, all the Lu En craftsmen had already been taken away by Tang Zheng.

The next day.

Outside the lava zone.

More than 20 Lu En craftsmen were lying on the ground snoring loudly; some turned over and pressed on other dwarves.

These dwarves were all about 140cm tall, with short hands and feet, a beer-barrel-like physique, and gray-brown beards on their faces.

"Snore!"

"Creak!"

"Snore!"

Various snoring sounds, and even teeth-grinding sounds, came from this group of dwarves from time to time.

Tang Zheng sat cross-legged not far away, one hand supporting his chin; it seemed that because these dwarves slept too soundly, he couldn't help but yawn.

The Evil Spirit Dog lay on Tang Zheng's right side, its sharp beast pupils scanning this group of dwarves from time to time, with curiosity in its eyes.

And on Tang Zheng's left side stood respectfully the Gray Dwarf Forging Minister controlled by "Charm All Races."

Three gazes stared at this group of dwarves at the same time.

Tang Zheng was in no hurry to wake these dwarves up; the ability of "Charm All Races" could only control one creature and couldn't control more than 20 dwarf craftsmen in one breath.

Wanting to let these abducted dwarves work for his somewhat crazy ideas next, he couldn't use hard methods for everything.

"Whoo~"

Gong De emitted a strong snoring sound from his throat, blowing his upper and lower lips until they trembled.

After finishing a snore.

Gong De closed his eyes, chewed his mouth, and raised his hand to wipe the sweat on his forehead half-awake and half-asleep.

So hot.

This thought flashed through Gong De's mind.

Dwarves who liked to live underground didn't like cold environments, but the temperature on the Angelisia Mountains was inherently cold.

Even if they were underground, the temperature had never been high.

But now it was too hot.

Was the environment of the Eastern City this hot, or did he drink too many bowls of wine last night and hadn't sobered up yet?

Gong De thought this while opening his eyes sleepily.

The red light reflected between the mountain walls was the first to come into view; this was the light and heat transmitted from the magma sea.

Gong De noticed such a scene and was stunned for a moment, and immediately after, he woke up suddenly, climbing up from the ground rapidly while shouting in panic: "Fire! Fire!"

The terrified roar echoed between the mountain walls.

The other dwarves who were still sleeping all jumped up from the ground, looking around in panic.

However, there were no flames around!

No!

This was not the Eastern City "Fei Ao · Zhu La" where they were located at all.

"What kind of ghost place is this? Weren't we building houses?" A dwarf asked blankly.

Slap!

Just at this moment, a crisp sound of two hands clapping came from the front of the group of dwarves, attracting all the dwarves' gazes over.

A human wrapped in a black robe, sitting cross-legged on the ground, came into the field of vision of all the dwarves present.

And a magical beast similar to a magical wolf and... a dwarf?

The gray skin color of the Forging Minister, different from their skin color, made all the dwarves' gazes unable to help but stop.

"Welcome everyone to the lava zone."

"I'm very sorry, without everyone's consent, I invited everyone here."

Tang Zheng exerted slight force on his legs, stood up easily from the cross-legged posture, and spoke apologetically to the dwarves in front of him.

Once these words were spoken!

All the dwarves who had been noisy quieted down instantly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 210 =====