Chapter 135: The Scorpion Society's Scheme! Discussion at the Meeting!

Bagelumu's body shook slightly.

Looking at Falco's steady eyes, the panic in his heart subsided quite a bit without him realizing it.

That's right.

He was no longer that isolated Stone Hammer Patriarch.

He was an ally of Vanguard Valley.

A partner of that young and powerful Lord.

The city gate of Ironforge was less like a gate and more like a huge rock, tens of meters thick, cut directly from the mountain.

The surface of the rock was carved with simple and complex dwarf runes, as well as patterns of various forging tools.

As Bagelumu approached, two dwarf guards standing at the gate—less than Falco's chest in height but as sturdy as stone piers—heavily struck the ground with the battle axes in their hands.

"Clang!"

A dull metallic clashing sound echoed between the mountain walls.

The huge rock gate began to slowly retract inward, emitting a teeth-grinding "creak" sound.

A complex smell mixed with strong liquor, roasted meat, and scorching metal rushed out from behind the gate.

Behind the gate was an incredibly vast underground world.

Countless torches and the flowing light of lava illuminated the entire mountain belly as bright as day.

Stone buildings of varying heights were layered on top of each other, extending to the end of sight.

Countless cableways and suspension bridges connected different platforms, with dwarves coming and going on them, the noise endless.

This was the heart of the Dwarf Mountains, Ironforge.

The Anvil Hall was located in the deepest part of Ironforge.

It was a huge cave capable of accommodating thousands of people.

Embedded in the dome of the cave were countless glowing crystals, like stars in the night sky.

In the center of the hall stood a huge round table made from a single piece of black iron rock.

At this moment, the round table was already filled with dwarf patriarchs and elders from various tribes.

They were all sturdy, with beards braided into various styles, wearing heavy armor, and hanging battle axes or war hammers at their waists.

The atmosphere in the entire hall felt somewhat oppressive.

When Bagelumu walked into the hall with Falco and Mick, all eyes instantly focused on them.

Most of the gazes carried scrutiny and ill intent.

Especially a dwarf sitting directly opposite the round table.

He had a fiery red beard like burning flames, and aggressive light danced in his eyes.

He was the Patriarch of the Fire Beard Tribe, Huo Rong.

He was also the initiator of this "Dwarf Tradition Protection Alliance."

"Bagelumu."

Huo Rong's voice was like two pieces of metal rubbing together, full of provocation.

"You still dare to come here."

"And you brought two sharp-eared humans."

The "sharp-eared" in his mouth was a derogatory term for humans.

A low, malicious laughter rang out in the hall.

Bagelumu's face instantly turned the color of a pig's liver.

He slammed the table, making a loud "bang."

"Huo Rong! Watch your mouth!"

"These two are special envoys from Vanguard Valley and are my honored guests!"

"Oh? Honored guests?"

Huo Rong sneered, standing up and looking down at Bagelumu.

"A traitor who betrayed dwarf tradition and handed over the ancestors' forging technology to humans, and you have the nerve to say the words 'honored guest'?"

His voice rose sharply.

"Patriarchs, elders!"

"You have all seen it!"

"Bagelumu of the Stone Hammer Tribe has been thoroughly corrupted by humans!"

"He would rather trust an outsider than share the common wealth of our Dwarf Mountains with us fellow kin!"

"I've checked on the so-called human Lord he colluded with!"

A flash of triumphant light crossed Huo Rong's eyes.

"That guy named Roko Raymond is a heretic who openly sets himself against the Temple of Light!"

"He killed a Bishop and captured the Temple Knight Order!"

"Bagelumu allying with such a person is pushing our entire Dwarf Mountains to the opposite side of the Temple of Light!"

"He is making all of us dwarves pay the price for his selfishness and stupidity!"

Huo Rong's words were highly inflammatory.

The atmosphere in the hall became even more tense.

The patriarchs of the tribes who had originally been neutral also showed worry and anger on their faces.

Setting themselves against the Temple of Light.

This crime was too great.

Although dwarves did not believe in the God of Light, they did not want to provoke that behemoth for no reason.

"You—you're talking nonsense!"

Bagelumu was shaking with anger; he pointed at Huo Rong but didn't know how to refute him for a moment.

Because part of what Huo Rong said was true.

He had indeed underestimated the impact of setting himself against the Temple of Light.

"I'm talking nonsense?"

The sneer on Huo Rong's face grew even stronger.

"Bagelumu, do you dare to swear in front of all your dwarf brothers that your human ally did not kill the Temple's Bishop?"

Bagelumu's lips moved, but in the end, he couldn't say a word.

Seeing this scene, the triumph on Huo Rong's face was undisguised.

He looked around, enjoying the feeling of controlling the entire scene.

"Did everyone see it?"

"He doesn't dare!"

"He has a guilty conscience!"

"A traitor like him is not fit to sit at this round table anymore!"

"I propose to strip the Stone Hammer Tribe of its seat in the Tribal Council! Drive them out of Ironforge forever!"

"That's right! Drive them out!"

"Traitor! Get out!"

Several patriarchs behind Huo Rong immediately stood up and echoed loudly.

The atmosphere in the hall was on the verge of breaking out into a fight.

Several Fire Beard warriors had already gripped the battle axes behind them, staring at Bagelumu with ill intent.

As long as Huo Rong gave the order, they would rush up without hesitation.

Bagelumu's face was deathly pale.

He hadn't expected Huo Rong to be so aggressive, wanting to put him to death right from the start.

He looked for help at the surrounding patriarchs who had previously had a good relationship with him.

But those people avoided his gaze at this moment.

No one was willing to stand up at this time to offend Huo Rong, to offend the powerful "Dwarf Tradition Protection Alliance" behind him, for his sake.

Or even to bear the risk of setting themselves against the Temple of Light.

He was isolated.

Just at this desperate moment.

A calm voice rang out in the hall.

"Patriarch Huo Rong, are you finished?"

The one who spoke was Falco.

He had been standing behind Bagelumu from beginning to end, his face devoid of any expression.

As if all this tension had nothing to do with him.

Huo Rong's gaze shot toward Falco like a sharp sword.

"A lowly human, is there any place for you to speak here?"

Falco ignored his mockery.

He slowly took out a thick sheepskin scroll sealed with Vanguard Valley's wax from his bosom.

He placed the scroll gently on the round table.

"This is the 'equal and mutually beneficial' trade alliance signed between the Lord of Vanguard Valley, Master Roko Raymond, and the Patriarch of the Stone Hammer Tribe, Mr. Bagelumu."

Falco's voice spread clearly throughout the hall.

"The alliance details the rights and obligations of both parties."

"Vanguard Valley exchanges its exclusive 'Vanguard Spirits' for the priority supply of Obsidian Gold ore and equipment from the Stone Hammer Tribe."

"There is no such thing as anyone 'handing over' technology to anyone."

"This is a fair, open, and transparent commercial cooperation."

"Copies of the alliance can be circulated for every patriarch and elder present to read."

Falco's gaze met Huo Rong's calmly.

"As for the conflict between our Lord and the Temple of Light that Patriarch Huo Rong just mentioned,"

"I would like to ask, Patriarch Huo Rong, where did you get your information?"

Huo Rong's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You don't need to know that."

"You only need to answer: yes or no."

"Yes."

Falco's answer was crisp, neat, and without hesitation.

A gasp of cold air rang out in the hall.

Even Bagelumu looked at Falco in shock.

He hadn't expected Falco to admit it so frankly.

A triumphant smile appeared on Huo Rong's face.

"Did you hear that? He admitted it!"

"Bagelumu, what else do you have to say for yourself!"

However, Falco's next words froze the smile on his face.

"However."

Falco's voice turned cold sharply.

"A unit of the Temple of Light called the 'Purification Army' invaded our Lord's pioneer territory without declaring war, intending to slaughter unarmed people."

"Our Lord rose up to counterattack, defended his home and country, and annihilated the invading enemy."

"May I ask, is there anything wrong with that?"

Falco's gaze swept over every dwarf patriarch present.

"In dwarf tradition, when an enemy reaches your doorstep, raises a butcher's knife, and is about to cut down your wife and children, is your choice to kneel and beg for mercy?"

His questioning echoed all around.

Dwarves were a proud race.

They might be greedy, they might be xenophobic.

But they were never cowardly.

Defending their homeland and fighting to the death was a creed carved into their bones.

The hall fell into an eerie silence.

Those dwarves who had just been clamoring were now silent.

Because they realized they could not refute Falco's words.

If it were them, they would have made the same choice.

Huo Rong's face turned incredibly ugly.

He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary human envoy to be so eloquent.

In just a few words, he had reversed the situation.

"Sophistry!"

Huo Rong roared, attempting to regain the initiative.

"Even if it is as you say, that is a dispute within your humans!"

"Bagelumu, bringing your disputes into our Dwarf Mountains is a betrayal of us all!"

"That's right!"

"We dwarves do not participate in your human wars!"

Several patriarchs echoed again.

A subtle arc curled the corners of Falco's mouth.

He seemed to have been waiting for this sentence.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Patriarch Huo Rong, are you sure this is just a dispute within your humans?"

Falco's gaze became sharp.

"As far as I know, the strength of the Fire Beard Tribe's warriors has improved quite a bit recently."

"They seem to have obtained a kind of magical red potion that allows their strength to skyrocket in a short period of time."

This sentence instantly stirred up a thousand waves.

Huo Rong's pupils contracted sharply.

The faces of the several Fire Beard elders behind him also changed in unison.

Other dwarf patriarchs in the hall also showed surprise and doubt.

They had indeed heard that the Fire Beard warriors had become unusually fierce recently.

In several disputes over mines, they had shown combat power far exceeding the past.

So it turned out they were relying on some kind of potion.

"That red potion tastes pretty good, right?"

Falco's voice carried a hint of playfulness.

"After drinking it, you feel full of power, feeling like you can do anything."

"But—"

His tone turned sharply.

"Have you ever thought about what price you have to pay for this power that comes out of thin air?"

Falco took out another small crystal bottle from his bosom.

Inside the bottle were some dark red, viscous liquids like blood.

"This is the conclusion reached by our territory's alchemy master after analyzing that red potion."

"This potion can indeed stimulate the power deep in the dwarf bloodline, making you stronger and more violent."

"However, its side effects are equally huge."

Falco held up the crystal bottle.

"Long-term use of this potion will gradually erode your nerves."

"You will become increasingly irritable and bloodthirsty, eventually losing your sanity completely and turning into a beast that only knows how to kill."

"Moreover, it will overdraw your vitality."

"For every bottle you drink, your lifespan will be shortened by at least a year."

"Patriarch Huo Rong, quite a few of your warriors should already be showing signs of being unable to sleep at night, losing emotional control, and even attacking their companions, right?"

Huo Rong's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Because everything Falco said was correct!

Recently, some strange situations had indeed appeared in the tribe.

Those warriors who had taken the potion had become increasingly difficult to discipline, and several times they had drawn blades against each other over trivial matters.

He had thought it was just a normal aftereffect of increased strength.

He hadn't expected—hadn't expected the consequences to be so serious!

"You—you're slandering me!"

Huo Rong's voice already carried a trace of trembling.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Falco laughed.

"Then, why don't you invite that 'friend' who provided you with this potion to come out and confront us face-to-face, Patriarch Huo Rong?"

"That friend should have also come to Ironforge, right?"

"Let me guess, does he like to carry some black scorpion-shaped marks on his body?"

Huo Rong's body stiffened violently.

Beads of cold sweat seeped out on his forehead.

Scorpion Society!

This human actually knew about the Scorpion Society!

How did he know! ===== CHAPTER 136 =====