Chapter 17: Persuading the Stubborn Dwarves (Part 3)

The animal trainer named Kangberge held a long, vertical metal cage made of soft iron wire, with no fewer than ten communication bats crowding the top of the small cage.

Each of these little things was less than a finger long and very light, weighing about the same as an egg, so for the strong-armed Dwarves, a single hook of a finger was enough to carry this small cage in their hand.

These little things stared at Jier from inside the cage with pitch-black eyes, occasionally using their mouths to nudge their own bodies or those of their companions. Unlike other animals, after being glared at by Jier, other animals basically quieted down, but these little things—perhaps because they communicated using sound frequencies inaudible to Humans, and thus assumed Jier could not hear them—continued to chatter away with "woo-woo" and "ooh-ooh" sounds even while being specifically held by the Dwarf.

But after Jier underwent Knight Training, his hearing range had slightly exceeded that of a normal Human, so although he could not accurately hear their cries, he could barely perceive that they were still communicating away as they pleased.

"They're so noisy." Jier extended a finger through the gaps in the cage and poked them; at this, they were startled and quieted down.

"Noisy? What? Them?" The Dwarf 'Choushou' Kangberi looked at the cage in his hand in surprise: "They're very well-behaved, why didn't I hear any sound?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized and looked at Jier in surprise: "So your Human hearing is different from us Dwarves! No wonder, they usually hang out with us Dwarves; we Dwarves can accurately hear some low-pitched sounds, but we can't hear relatively sharp sounds."

Jier saw that the other party had some misunderstandings, but he did not explain that he was different from the average Human due to the strengthening of some of his bodily organs.

"So, do they hibernate in winter?" Jier asked another curious question.

The Dwarf, whose focus had returned, explained with a smile: "That depends. If it's in the wild, because the caves or tree hollows they usually inhabit have lower temperatures, they will find a sheltered place to huddle together and hibernate."

"But if they are the fruit bats we raise that spend the winter in places with suitable underground temperatures, they won't hibernate. In fact, I've found that these bats that don't hibernate actually have longer lifespans."

"After all, the natural environment is always very difficult to endure, right?" Jier added.

"Yes, yes. Nature is always harsh," the Dwarf Kangberi said as such.

Subsequently, after Jier heard the other party share some interesting trivia about other animals, he asked: "Then, is this matter that has left you unable to decide and hesitant for many days actually about these guys?"

Jier pointed to these dozens of cages of various sizes, which contained over a hundred communication bats raised to maintain the population, three or five beautiful little birds in independent birdcages, Tanguang Laoshu kept separately in small black boxes, and the largest ones, the blind Mangyan Wumao Youshu kept in sturdy cages.

These things took up quite a bit of space, a full seven or eight cubic meters; if they were to be transported, it would probably require a dedicated carriage. A smaller carriage wouldn't even be able to fit them.

Hearing Jier's question, 'Choushou' Kangberi rubbed his hands in embarrassment and said with a tone of apology: "I know, this request of mine is truly too outrageous; every time 'Iron Fist' hears it, he just shakes his head, not saying it's possible or impossible, and just turns and leaves..."

Jier hummed: "That is a rather tactful refusal."

'Choushou' Kangberi was even more embarrassed: "But they are all useful animal partners! Not to mention how hard I've worked to tame and train them, each of them is an animal assistant that can provide important help to mining work. Without them, it's not easy to open mine tunnels, dig for Mineral Ore, and so on. These have all been verified by facts; mines with animal assistants have a thirty percent difference in final output compared to mines without them!"

"And that's not even counting the frequency of mining accidents! Mines with animal assistants can reduce the number of Miner losses by half, and our mine has been able to maintain a record of one hundred years without a death; my work and their selfless dedication have provided important support!"

Speaking of this, the bald animal trainer proudly puffed out his chest, although the other party's height only reached Jier's waist, his intense self-confidence was not fake.

"Yes, yes, yes, you are right." Jier sighed helplessly and waved his hand, his mind thinking about other things.

For example, the solution for this Dwarf was actually very simple, so why was the old Dwarf unable to convince the other party? Instead, he had to be the outsider to come and give a hint?

Jier suddenly realized that it was precisely because he was a Human, an outsider, a Human who had defeated these Dwarves with personal force. So, the old Dwarf could not and found it difficult to say some hurtful things, but he, an obvious outsider, could easily say them without giving offense.

Even if it did give offense, it didn't matter; he had already defeated these Dwarf Miners in terms of force. As long as there was no direct physical conflict, these Dwarves would not have too many objections to Jier.

What, were they going to try something just because Jier said a few harsh words? If they weren't afraid of being defeated in public again, then go ahead and try?

It was estimated that many Dwarves would endure some of Jier's offensive actions.

Immediately, Jier had full confidence in persuading these Dwarves. Moreover, he felt that in this process, he could secretly scheme for some benefits for himself, and the old Dwarf would probably tacitly agree, right?

Just like how he took those Wooden Carvings earlier.

Anyway, they were useless items that couldn't be taken away and would have to be left in this mine to mold and rot; it was probably fine to take them after obtaining the other party's consent.

Thinking of this, Jier's heart began to burn with excitement.

After trading with Yamila, the foreign Magic Apprentice, Jier realized that his wealth was not that great (if one excluded those tens of tons of Elf Silver Plates). Some high-end Magic Tools cost hundreds or thousands of Gold Coins at every turn, and he couldn't afford a single one.

Of course, he didn't have the qualifications to purchase them either.

"Ahem, some things, 'Iron Fist' might find it hard to speak up because he is very familiar with you all, but since I was invited here to be responsible for this, I have to say it," Jier added: "Even if some words are unpleasant, they are the truth."

'Choushou' Kangberge was stunned; he wasn't stupid, or rather, he was very smart: "You mean..."

Jier's expression became serious: "You kept saying just now how capable these mining animal assistants are and how good the results of using them are. Then do you understand what you are all about to do now?"

"Uh, is it time for a midnight snack?" Kangberge tried to play dumb, but the guilty sweat appearing on his bald head was completely exposed under Jier's eyes.

"You understand, right? You are all about to leave this mine where you have lived and worked for a long time. Leaving, not to go to another place to reopen a mine, but to find a way to return home."

Jier made the point clear.

"If this were still your Dwarf Kingdom, and you had discovered a new vein of ore to mine, then I think it would be very appropriate for old 'Iron Fist' to arrange a carriage for you to transport more than half of the animals away, and you wouldn't be so troubled and hesitant."

Jier spread his hands: "But it's not. Returning home, do you understand the meaning of this term?"

'Choushou' Kangberge took out a piece of Fine Linen to wipe the sweat from his head and face: "I understand. As aliens without status on Human land, trying to cross the vast territory to find a way back to our homeland is a very difficult thing."

Jier sighed. Talking to smart people is sometimes very easy—the other party knows what you are going to explain before you even open your mouth—but sometimes it is very difficult because the other party knows what you are going to say but chooses to play dumb.

At this time, by bluntly piercing through the other party's pretense of stupidity, the other party would have no room to retreat or maneuver.

"The animals, although they are very useful, you have done a good job, you are this." Jier gave a thumbs up, praising the other party.

"But you have to give them up."

'Choushou' Kangberge looked regretful, his entire old face wrinkled together: "I can forget about the Bodou Youshu that everyone uses for fun, but I really can't bear to kill the other animals I've raised for a long time with my own hands."

"Ah?" Jier looked strange.

"Who told you to kill them? Can't you just let them go? Release them back into nature! Regain their freedom; let the animals go back to where they came from," Jier said immediately.

"Uh, release them? But they are already considered property of the mine. I have done the annual registration work, and the quantity and status have been recorded and submitted. I don't have the authority to handle this amount of working animals on my own. I have to record every natural death and every animal that dies during mining excavation," 'Choushou' rambled on about these things that sounded like a headache.

Jier helplessly pointed his finger at the old Dwarf sitting on the side of the hall: "So, what kind of help do you need from your leader? A signed document? Or an authorization, do you need a token or a verbal order?"

Regretfully stroking the animal cages, 'Choushou' Kangberi extended a finger: "Although I can't bear to part with them, there's no other way. Jier, I need an officially stamped authorization document, the kind that is signed and stamped. That way, if my superior guild or my master asks about the situation here after I return home, I can take out this document to show them."

Jier said speechlessly: "Yes, yes, yes, it's not that you didn't raise them well, your work is excellent, it's just that the situation here forces you to give up these animals you've worked so hard with for so long. A document, right? I'll go ask old 'Iron Fist' for you."

"Wait for me a moment."

After speaking, Jier walked quickly toward the old Dwarf. By this time, almost all the Dwarves had gathered in this hall. The main activity hall of the mine was covered with every Dwarf's personal belongings, and the Dwarves who came over, seeing that the old Dwarf ignored them, consciously threw themselves into the fruitless preparation of luggage once again.

"En, an authorization document. A formal document with a signature and a stamp."

The old Dwarf looked at Jier in surprise, then glanced at 'Choushou' who was rubbing his hands and looking over from the corner of the hall, and shook his head helplessly: "That slippery guy who is even slipperier than a slime. Forget it, just give it to him."

Subsequently, he summoned his work assistant, and with the assistance of 'Xiaoxuezi', wrote a release document for the working animals in the Zhenbao Mine on a piece of thick paper cut to the appropriate size, using ink made from mineral powder.

It stated that because of the long-term distance from the rule of the Dwarf Aimuli Kingdom, the work at the Zhenbao Mine was difficult to continue. Based on the individual and collective rights of the Miners working in the mine, he—Sike-Aobosi-Shitai, a member of the Shitai Family and manager of the Zhenbao Mine—decided to suspend the work of the Zhenbao Mine. Regarding the working animals that assisted in the mining of minerals within the mine, after collective study, it was decided to abandon these animals that could not be taken away and release them into a safe and suitable natural environment.

Finally, at the bottom of the document, the old Dwarf signed his name and had 'Xiaoxuezi' send a bit of blue mineral mud that had been heated and softened to the blank space at the bottom of the document, and then, while the beautiful mineral mud had not yet cooled and hardened, he pressed the ring on the middle finger of his right hand onto the mineral mud.

A seal bearing the emblem of the Shitai Family was pressed down.

"Take it, Jier. Tell Choushou to find someone to get a waterproof wooden tube to store the document; if the document is damaged or lost, I won't sign a new one for him."

The old Dwarf handed a document written in Dwarf script to Jier, who took a glance at it and felt numbed by the Dwarf script, which felt as hard as Mineral Ore; just looking at the Dwarf document, Jier had the feeling of looking at a mineral deposit covered in hard minerals.

The Dwarf script was not elegant, but it carried a sense of being solid and direct, and Jier even felt that because this paper was filled with Dwarf script, its sturdiness seemed to have increased.

This was, of course, impossible.

Impossible?

Jier did not know; there were many types of Dwarf script, and one of them possessed magical power; the Shangwei Aiwenzi of the script before him carried a sturdiness effect.

On many high-quality Dwarf armaments, this kind of magical script, which was invisible to the naked eye, was densely engraved on the surface of the armaments. This could greatly enhance the sturdiness of the armaments, causing two pieces of equipment that looked the same to have vastly different performance.

Of course, this manufacturing method was very time-consuming, laborious, expensive, and opportunities for production were few.

After all, having a Dwarf master blacksmith spend one or two years of their time specifically using manual methods to engrave Shangwei Aiwenzi on the surface of some equipment—which could only be seen after optical magnification—was too rare.

It was far inferior to other more convenient means.

Dwarf armaments made with this craft were, even in Dwarf society, a rare type of high-end equipment.

Generally, only the most powerful legendary equipment used by Dwarf heroes would, after final production was completed, have master blacksmiths additionally spend one or two years using this method to strengthen these weapons and equipment to be even stronger.

Armaments treated in this way would almost never wear out due to common combat and could withstand some of the most extreme battlefield situations, often surviving to the end in high-end battles rather than suffering major damage after clashing with other weapons.

"Look, the document you wanted." Jier shook the signed and sealed document in his hand and handed it to Choushou Kangberge.

"Thank you; with this, I can rest assured and release my animals. Jier, are you interested in joining me to release them?" This Dwarf was very grateful for Jier's help and extended an invitation.

"Me? Forget it; look around you, there are still thirty-some people who need me to solve their tangled problems one by one. You should handle it yourself as soon as possible. Oh, right, old 'Iron Fist' asked me to tell you: find someone to get a waterproof wooden tube to protect and store this document well, because he said he won't process another identical document for you."

"Hehe, nothing escapes that old guy's eyes. I understand, thank you, Jier. By the way, these moles in the cages, they aren't working animals; they are a type of fighting animal I specifically caught and raised for gambling and amusement. I plan to have these fierce little things have one last free-for-all deathmatch tomorrow, right in a place that I and some others have specifically prepared. If you are still in the mine tomorrow, do you want to come and see?"

Choushou rubbed his hands as he invited him, and this invitation was much more interesting: "And you can place bets to see which of these numbered little guys will ultimately win. Because it's the last event, the betting odds this time are very high. Do you want to participate?"

Jier waved his hand; he had no interest in this kind of mole fighting bet, and only these Dwarf Miners who hid in one place and didn't fight much liked to use these moles for amusement.

After leaving the safe Babotali Valley, these Dwarfs would certainly see the various situations of the outside world bit by bit, and by then, there would be plenty of dangerous enemies to satisfy them.

If they still had the mood for it by then.

?? Welcome everyone to subscribe and follow this book, add this book to your favorites, and give this book recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and tips to support it. Thank you, everyone.