Chapter 99: The Proposal to Send Troops

Sinuoli nodded with a calm expression; in truth, he knew quite a lot about Night Goblins. Which Dwarf player hadn't fought dozens of rounds against these dark-skinned fellows in the East and West Badlands, or at Karak Eight Peaks?

"Has this news been reported to Lord Borok?" Sinuoli asked. Before Fatisi Qishi could answer, two of Lord Borok's Hammer Guard ran over.

"Apologies for disturbing you so late, respected Chosen of the Goddess!" they said, only speaking slowly after catching their breath. "Our Lord and Lady invite you to the citadel hall to discuss matters."

"Please lead the way!" Sinuoli nodded, and several Eternal Hammer Guard followed upon hearing this. They headed all the way to the upper levels of Karak-Norn.

Sinuoli noticed that the atmosphere in the fortress had changed from the cheerfulness when the caravan first arrived; it was now somewhat heavy. It seemed the news of Night Goblins appearing in the Earth Vein Network had already spread.

Entering the throne room of Huangwu Bao, Sinuoli found that many middle and high-ranking Dwarfs were already there discussing matters. The main seats were still the same two chairs as at the welcome banquet, occupied by Lord Borok and Queen Selma respectively. It seemed the special privileges Borok had promised during the marriage proposal went far beyond special diplomatic status.

In the traditions of Dwarf society, women generally appear as mediators of the council and do not easily choose a side during proceedings. According to tradition, this is to commemorate Valaya, the mother goddess of the Dwarfs, who had always played such a role since the beginning of the world.

The wife of a Clan Chief or the queen of a fortress would gain the qualification to attend meetings presided over by her husband; of course, the queen serving as the King's chief advisor was also part of tradition.

Unlike them, the current Queen Selma had gained the right to preside over the diplomatic and internal affairs of Huangwu Bao just like Lord Borok.

Although it currently appeared that Lord Borok might still hold the dominant position, it was shocking enough in a Dwarf society that respected tradition regardless.

"Everyone, everyone, quiet down! We will never reach a result if we keep squawking like insects!" Lord Borok spoke up to suppress the noisy crowd.

"Now, a large number of Goblins have appeared in the Earth Vein Network. These filthy things have cut off our communication with Karak-Azgalaz; there hasn't been a messenger or merchant from there in ten days! Our kin over there must have encountered trouble." Queen Selma's voice rang out.

Sinuoli looked up at this female Dwarf. At the previous banquet, due to Balin's reminder and the embarrassing remarks of the Master Earthshaker, he had almost kept his eyes on the food in front of him and had not interacted with Selma.

Queen Selma's appearance was quite heroic. Unlike the round and soft facial lines of normal Dwarf women, her face was somewhat angular, revealing a kind of aggressiveness not found in other women.

In terms of height, she was also slightly taller than her peers, standing almost level with her husband.

"We must take some action! Fearless Fort received a direct impact during Gulu's Waaagh, and the damaged fortifications should not have been fully repaired yet. If she unfortunately falls, then our connection to Weifengbao will also be cut off!"

Queen Selma's voice echoed in the hall. Her voice was as heroic as her appearance; Sinuoli suddenly recalled an adjective from his past life—the sound of gold and stone.

"But it's not like our Karak-Norn hasn't been invaded by that gluttonous scoundrel!"

"Even the sharp-ears in the woods suffered, that guy chopped down quite a few trees to build his pump wagons!"

"Grimnir above! Have you heard the news from Haojiaobao? That bellicose fellow Alike-Lufusen is going to settle his grudge with the Wood Elves again!"

"He can run off after he's done fighting, but come midsummer next year, that deer-brained thing will be back here to cause trouble!"

The clansmen present exercised the characteristics of Dwarfs again, with grumbling voices rising all around. Sinuoli's system could only see the level of Grudge of his own faction, but he didn't need to guess to know that the satisfaction of the clansmen of Huangwu Bao was very average.

"We need to send out a force, and furthermore, we must notify our Human friends. At the foot of the Bei Huise Shanjie lie the Empire's Reikland and the Bretonnia's Pala Weng; with ancient alliances in place, they surely won't just stand by!"

Lord Borok, as a Dwarf who aspired to reform, was different from the proud and stubborn traditional clansmen; he often didn't mind seeking help from allies.

"This might be somewhat difficult, my liege!" the Internal Affairs Officer beside him suddenly poured a bucket of cold water.

"Reikland is busy with reconstruction, and that William III is likely willing but unable. As for Bretonnia, just a short while ago, the Knight King Chalun declared that he had received an oracle from the Lady of the Lake—to wipe out all Greenskins in the entire world. He has therefore launched a large-scale chivalric war, intending to kill his way all the way to the Badlands!"

Listening to the Internal Affairs Officer's words, all sorts of voices rang out in the hall again. Some clansmen were praising the Knight King's feat, while others criticized it as an act of overestimating his own capabilities.

"This has taken away the main force of the Knight Kingdom. At the same time, the knights of Pala Weng—their adventurous spirit can be called the strongest in all of Bretonnia, though this is also related to the relatively barren land there.

But regardless, for now, they can at most provide a few Pegasus Knights to scout for information." After the Internal Affairs Officer finished speaking, he stood to the side with his hands down, returning the decision-making power to the Lord and Lady.

"What are we to do? Our losses before were not small!"

"Ancestor Gods above! Why can't those green mushrooms be killed off?"

"The clansmen of Fearless Fort should be able to hold on, right? This wave of Greenskins shouldn't be that many, right?"

Hearing the Internal Affairs Officer's analysis, the clansmen in the hall clamored again. Having just experienced a great war not long ago, and with another great war predictable for next year, even a resilient race like the Dwarfs would develop war-weariness.

Lord Borok on the dais felt somewhat awkward. Compared to the clansmen who focused more on immediate interests, those in high positions saw further. They understood the weakness of Fearless Fort, but also knew her importance.

However, the royal family of Karak-Norn could not easily suppress the noise here.

Borok's father, Sajia Er-Lanjin Zhe, had once announced in the fortress that he would levy a beer tax, but this move caused all the Dwarfs of the fortress to gather in the throne room to conduct a firm silent protest against this decree, and in the end, this Lord had to make concessions.

Seeing Lord Borok's pleading eyes, Sinuoli straightened the collar of his formal attire and coughed slightly once or twice; he realized it was time for him to speak.

Thanks to Haonihaozaojian for the tip, Dantan i, and the irritable D Mango for the monthly ticket.

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