Chapter 531: Heading North for the Alliance

The railway connecting Eternal Peak and Slayer Keep has reached the stage of detailed feasibility study and will soon begin construction; by then, Red Eye Mountain, as an extended station, will also be able to catch the express train of development.

"You have basically implemented the suggestions in my letters, which is excellent! Keep at it until the population is built up; Drilling Fort will one day restore its former glory."

Othel's reverence for Sinuoli did not diminish in the slightest due to his reliance on Slayer Keep. When Belegar took up the mantle, he was still immature; he had long held the title of Prince, but he was already past middle age and possessed the corresponding decision-making capability.

"Good brother, it has been too long since we parted at Gaoyuanbao; I have so much to tell you!"

On the drawbridge in front of the city gate, Agelimu gave Sinuoli a big hug; as the only two living Dwarf Demigods in this world, they shared many resonances and topics not to be spoken of to outsiders.

"Bah! It's all in this wine!"

Using Valaya's Divine Cup, the two drained a cup right at the city gate. With great power comes great responsibility; in a secret letter, Agelimu mentioned the White Dwarf's visit, as well as his own journey deep into the Chaos Wastes to have a brief exchange with Grimnir at the portal.

"Let me introduce these cousins, Duoli and Noli, who manage Qianzhushiting and Desolate Keep respectively. They admire your achievements and have come specifically to witness your demeanor."

"Great Restorer, all of us in Qianzhushiting wish for your glory to last forever and to protect the Qunshan eternally!"

"You defeated the three-headed hound lurking beneath the Skull Throne, and even He could do nothing to you when He struck personally! Two Norscan Clans entrusted me to have your portrait painted to take back so they can worship you!"

"Thank you for your hard work; the Ancestor Gods will not forget your steadfastness, and all efforts will receive their due reward!"

Sinuoli's expression turned stern as he supported one man with each hand. The fall of Red Eye Mountain had made the connection between the two cities and the Old World intermittent; he dared not even imagine how difficult it must have been under the harsh natural conditions and the crushing pressure of Chaos forces.

"I offer you the highest respects of the Norscan Dwarfs, O Demigod who defeated the Sichenmojun! The High King, the young master and his wife, and the hundred thousand soldiers and civilians of the four cities respectfully invite you to visit and spread your and Their grace!"

"This is the champion of Dulongcheng, Beier-Suolin, who, under the orders of the Norsca Council, established a camp in the Goromaidni Mountains to connect the North World Edge Mountains with our kin in the north."

After exploring to the north, Agelimu specifically detoured to the Giant Country Mountains to meet with Keluomu, the father of the Norscan Dwarf High King Suojiade, and borrowed a troop from him to consolidate the defensive strength of the two cities.

After successive great battles, the strength of Karak-Kadrin was unprecedentedly weak, and as more and more Grudges were settled, the Slayer Regiment, famous throughout the Qunshan, had not had any decent new members for a long time.

"Senior Brother Aoji and my brother-in-law have both mentioned your fame for bravery; having a great general like you is a blessing for the Qunshan!"

Sinuoli nodded in acknowledgment; Beier-Suolin was a rare half-Dwarf, half-barbarian, looking like a "Dwarf Giant" just like King Kazador, and the bloodline from his mother's side provided him with convenience in dealing with the various Norscan tribes.

"Back to business, we need to renegotiate the Changya Zhilu. I really didn't contribute much, and this is different from the premise we set at the time."

After the grand welcoming banquet, the two Demigods sat in the throne room beneath the magnificent Tufushenkan. The opening of the new trade route would inevitably harm Sinuoli's interests—ocean trade was a major economic pillar of the Southlands.

"In my opinion, there is no need. Dragging three fortresses along, you are in urgent need of resources. Moreover, the northern expedition will require the efforts of Slayer Keep; recovering as quickly as possible and developing is the right path."

The date for the alliance set by Zhaoming was urgent, and they set off that very day, soon arriving at the shores of Giant Skull Lake on the Bone Plateau. The so-called Bone Plateau is said to be where the Ogres left behind towering bones after eating the legendary Sky Titans clean during their migration to the west.

Ahetanmu's Wind Chaser Mercenary Group had already been upgraded to a tribe; relying on both carrots and sticks, it had rapidly integrated the western part of the Mourning Mountains and grown into a formidable Overtyrant.

Its camp had almost no hanging rotten meat, tilted soup pots, or filth and slop flowing everywhere; instead, it looked like a Dwarf settlement in the human world, just a few sizes larger.

"Ahetanmu, you have made great contributions over these years; would you be willing to become my Apostle, spread my faith, and share in my glory?"

"This is my honor! I swear in the name of the Ancestor Gods, I will serve until my death, and I will never regret it!"

As a clever Ogre, it knew it had no choice. Since there was no choice, why not lie back and accept the change? Before the "Great Maw" descended from the sky, the Ogres were also once noble creations of the Old Ones.

"Little ones, let's hit the road!"

In addition to Woolly Rhinoceroses, Mournfangs, and Stonehorns, Ahetanmu finally had huge monsters like Thundertusks under its command. To tame these hot-tempered, thick-skinned guys, relying solely on skilled hunters was not enough.

With two Demigods of the Dwarfs standing for him, Ahetanmu naturally brought out all his elites. It was common knowledge that Greasus Goldtooth intended to crown himself the new Overtyrant, and it did not want to, nor could it, submit.

"My God, please look over there! Do you see the evil forges and factories? That is Wuzikulake, Ironhand's lair. I heard that a mysterious ancient inner city is hidden inside, which is the ancient dwelling of the eastern Dwarfs."

"It must be ruins left by some expedition team, but your information is valuable; that old fellow has every reason to have found something."

Stroking his beard, Sinuoli could guess Ahetanmu's little thoughts; wasn't his meeting with Ironhand brokered by this Ogre? The two sides were now so close that the water used in Wuzikulake came from Giant Skull Lake!

"Hmm~"

Agelimu made a throat-slitting gesture; the Ancestor Goddess had accepted the subordinates of Drazhoath, but Ironhand, the strongest Demon Smith in the Dark Lands, was not yet among them; the threat of a spellcaster in the first tier below the Demigods was too great.

"The Black Hammer of Hashut is still in his hands. Times have changed; let's see if he can be sensible."

Sinuoli had always believed that Ironhand's existence could well contain the "Secret Society"; without taking back the Black Hammer, Gortz would never be legitimate. The former Councilors also told him that beneath the Tower of Zharr were K'daai—terrifying creations made of a mixture of Daemons and steel.

"Two Great Dwarfs, Dwarf-Lord, and Boss, we are almost there!"

The massive procession soon arrived near Black Tooth Town; the journey had been as peaceful as a picnic. The risks of the Changya Zhilu mainly came from various forces eyeing the wealth of merchant caravans, but facing such an army armed to the teeth, they had to be extremely careful to keep themselves hidden.

The Slayer King had deterred the scoundrels of the northern frontier for a hundred years, and Sinuoli was even known as a ruthless man who would pluck a few feathers for a pen if he saw the Lord of Change flying by, and would rush over to scramble the brains of a Bloodthirster if he heard it barking.

(End of chapter)