Chapter 508: Reflection and Discussion

Your will shall be carried out, my Majesty, but this requires a sufficient supply of raw materials; we previously exhausted the inventory of the Everpeak.

"Take my warrant to the Miner Guild; they will provide everything you need. If it is still not enough, I will think of another way."

Sinuoli waved his hand. Previously, without the nod from Master Mali, he had been hesitant about "privately connecting to the power grid." Having experienced the feeling of having the boundless energy of this world at his fingertips through the Geomantic Web—that sense of having the great power of heaven and earth under his control—once was enough.

"The Geomantic Web is, after all, an external object. If I am to advance further, I cannot do without both honing my martial arts and increasing my Divine Art. My martial arts have not fallen behind these years as I have not been tied down by administrative affairs, but my Divine Art has become somewhat impure."

Sinuoli obtained a long-lost tranquility. He stroked his beard while thinking and looking inward. There were truly few in the Mortal World who could be his opponents, but this also caused his name to be thoroughly hung before the tables of the Four Gods.

"Success comes from Wealth, and failure comes from Wealth; the hidden dangers are not small. If I am used by someone with ulterior motives, or even a god, the trouble will be great."

Although his plan for himself was to be a "God of Wealth" who defends contracts with force and maintains credibility, the Authority of Wealth is always coveted by those with evil intentions who wish to exploit it. The Twelve Apostles had neither the time nor the motivation to discern—after all, the KPI he gave them for the first stage was to spread the faith as quickly as possible.

"I must convene an Apostle Assembly, or perhaps an expanded meeting would be better, to unify our thinking once again."

At present, he could certainly suppress the conflicting Divine Art, but he had to plan for potential growth. Thinking it over, Sinuoli took out a dedicated telegraph machine and sent his summons to the Apostles guarding the Old World side.

"Coming from as far away as Kislev will take at least a month, no matter how fast they are. Perhaps I have time to have a good chat with Drazhoath."

Real, hard-fought combat is the best way to earn heartfelt recognition. The elite Chaos Dwarf veterans of the former Azhuoge Legion had already integrated with their kin from the Southlands, drinking fine wine, chatting, and bragging with their arms around each other, with almost no barriers.

In the previous thousands of years, the Dwarf leadership had not disseminated their limited knowledge of the Dark Lands, which made it easy for ordinary people to equate these "fallen" fellows with horns on their heads and red eyes with the "lost" four cities of Norsca in nature.

"Great Demigod, Restorer of the Qunshan, Drazhoath presents himself! The sneak attacks of the evil gods are like child's play before you. May your glory forever shine upon the Dwarf Realms."

The former Demon Smith rushed in obsequiously. As former servants of Hashut, they knew clearly that the omnipotent Bull Evil God had to tuck his tail and act like a little bull calf in front of Khorne.

And the two Demigods who had existed in the Dark Lands relied on the so-called "Hashut's Blood" to grasp their Authority; such power, coming from such a source, was naturally theirs to take or give—how could they talk of resistance?

"There is no need to be so polite. You and your subordinates were personally purified by the Ancestor Goddess, and you are Her priest. Strictly speaking, we are of the same generation."

Sinuoli pushed a cup of Seal Diamond toward him; the Chaos Dwarfs' own product was as strong as industrial alcohol, and the intense smell of cinders was not something everyone could appreciate.

"I was busy digesting the fruits of victory and preparing for the great battle at Itza, so I didn't have a chance to talk to you in detail. Gotrek helped you clean up the Black Fortress and stood in for the city defense after you joined the expedition, but he must return to my side eventually. Your city shall remain under your command."

He first gave Drazhoath a reassurance; he had no interest in interfering in the affairs of the Dark Lands at this juncture. The produce there was meager, the environment harsh, and its geographical location was tucked away in a corner, lacking influence on the world's major trends.

"I will spread the faith of the Ancestor Gods and your great achievements among the residents. Perhaps you would not mind Greenskin slaves..."

Drazhoath stroked his beard. He was a smart fellow; after observing for a few days in the Southlands, he realized that Sinuoli's faith pool was not limited to the Dwarf race.

"Let's not talk about that for now. I am referring to the military aspect. The news of your return cannot be kept under wraps for too long. What reaction will the Tower of Zharr have? Based on your understanding of Gortz."

"He is a fellow who is fierce in appearance but weak in spirit, and likes to play with conspiracies and tricks behind the scenes. He will not act rashly before figuring out the situation—the situation here and at Eight Peaks—not to mention that Ironhand is holding him back in the north."

Just as Ironhand mentioned when they met in the ice fields east of Slayer Keep, Gortz the Cruel, after attaining a certain status, used Zhatan the Black as his spokesperson. Even the Legion Lord of the Azhuoge Legion, despite having a high seat in the Tower of Zharr, had only met the newly promoted head of the Secret Society a few times.

"Don't think it's that simple. The Bull God may interfere in the Mortal World. Although He does not value you much, necessary war preparations must be made. Without Daemon constructs and Bull-men, your strength will face a window of vulnerability."

The Dwarf Demigod warned him. Aihotanum maintained contact with Ironhand, who was entrenched in Wuzikulake. Having held supreme power for many years, he knew more than the younger generation, and how much he was willing to say depended on how much Gortz could pressure him.

"I will try to contact the Tower of Beast-Runners. The Demon Smith there is an old veteran of Ironhand's generation. The Ancestor Goddess has bestowed upon me the Divine Art to dissolve petrification; using it well will be a major bargaining chip in diplomacy."

"Perhaps that is still not enough. I suggest you go to Pigbarter to seek cooperation. You know that place, the so-called transit station of the Sea Road of Tusks, which gathers the specialties of the northern Ogre Kingdoms and your people, as well as the southern Ind and the Dragon Isles."

Sinuoli pointed to the southeastern edge of the Dark Lands. That was the mouth of the Ruined River—a filthy water system flowing through Zharr-Naggrund, filled with tar, industrial wastewater, and waste materials.

"It is a place where dragons and snakes are mixed together: several tribes of Ogres, the Undead in the Haunted Forest, and explorers from the Far East."

Drazhoath muttered. The rich profits of Pigbarter attracted every generation of the Lord of the Black Fortress, but under the desperate defense of various mercenaries who valued money over their lives, it had become an autonomous port like Marienburg.

"The True Dragon of Zhendan has a share of the profits and a troop there. With them acting as intermediaries, you will certainly be able to obtain something."

Sinuoli decided not to provide more support; this was also a major test for the young Chaos Dwarf. His command was in urgent need of talent who could both fight and understand internal affairs to take charge of a side, and Drazhoath happened to have the potential for this.

"Understood. I will report to you in time as there is progress."

Watching him rise and leave, Sinuoli quietly pondered the curriculum design for the two major academies. His knowledge of these aspects from his previous life could not be called systematic, and it needed to be constructed together with local intellectuals.

"The growth of the birth rate also requires sufficient supporting facilities so that newborns can receive high-quality cultivation. Resources in this area should be able to be coordinated through the cultural and educational sectors."

Many of these stopgap measures were to buy time to possess sufficient strength, and he had to maximize the efficiency of the transformation.