Li Wei had used a few crude business tactics he'd picked up on Blue Star to stir up the refugees of Zelandia, but he had still underestimated just how much the Duergar's rule had shaped the place over the years.
The refugees were clearly drooling over his promise of free dried salted fish. But they were also afraid that this Gnoll, who had just arrived and already dared to openly challenge the Duergar—the true rulers of the place—would be clubbed over the head the very next second, then leave them to suffer the Duergar's revenge afterward.
So even though they were tempted, they still held back, waiting for some foolish soul to step forward first so they could see how the Duergar reacted.
Li Wei wasn't particularly surprised by the situation. Instead, he was rather impressed by Old Dwarf's skill at keeping his people in line. He turned his gaze back to the old Dwarf and waited for his response.
Having spent decades establishing themselves here, the Duergar had dealt for years with the Drow, who loved their schemes and stratagems. The Duergar, once as dull as blocks of wood, had gradually learned some of the Drow's ruthless cunning and tricks for manipulating their enemies. As a result, they found Li Wei's blunt, straightforward style deeply unsettling. His forceful arrival had caught them off guard.
Behind Old Tiger, several fully armed Dwarf Enforcers eyed the restless refugees and exchanged glances. They gripped the warhammers slung behind their backs, as though they were ready to fight this mutated Gnoll to the death if Tiger gave the word.
Tiger had naturally noticed the movement behind him. He raised a hand, signaling his subordinates not to get too worked up.
He shook his head. Clearly, he was exasperated and frustrated at suddenly running into such a hard-headed fool—especially one who was obviously a Wolf Destruction.
He calmly looked at Li Wei. "Young Gnoll, I appreciate your courage, but I have to tell you the truth. This place, Zelandia, was once occupied by Goblins. My brothers and I, a group of Dwarves who had nothing to lose, drove them out with blood and fire, fists and warhammers!
"Then we spent three years establishing this peaceful city in the chaotic, disaster-ridden Underdark, in what had once been unclaimed territory.
"After that, we spent forty whole years negotiating and maintaining a balance with the treacherous, cunning Drow of Gershon City. That's how we created the order we have today—and ensured that all these different races could live together in peace!"
At this, the old Dwarf surveyed the people around him, looking at every refugee who hurriedly lowered their head when their eyes met. Then he took a deep breath, his rough, booming voice carrying across most of Zelandia's Marketplace.
"And now someone wants to come along and destroy that order! People of Zelandia, can you accept that?"
"No!" The refugees, who had already understood the situation thanks to the old Dwarf's words, quickly took sides and raised their hands, shouting.
"Do you want to go back to a life where you never knew if you'd survive the day—wandering in confusion, hiding wherever you could, and still going hungry?"
"No!!!"
"To protect this life, are you willing to stand with me and defend this order? Are you willing to fight for Zelandia?"
"Fight! Fight! Fist for fist! Blood for blood!"
Li Wei watched as the old Dwarf brought the people of all Zelandia together against him with just a few short speeches.
No wonder this old coot spent decades dealing with the Drow. He's got some tricks up his sleeve.
Li Wei looked at the old Dwarf with a hint of admiration and respect, yet remained as steady as a mountain, in no hurry to act.
Seeing that Li Wei hadn't retreated or even reacted in the face of an entire city turning against him, the old Dwarf's eyes flickered. It seemed he couldn't figure out what Li Wei was holding back. He spread his arms and said:
"Young outsider, do you see? Zelandia does not welcome reckless people like you. Doing whatever you please will only bring disaster to Zelandia's fragile balance. Put yourself in my shoes: if you were in my position, would you agree to such an outrageous demand?"
At last, the old Dwarf finished his long speech. Li Wei scratched the back of his head, which was itching beneath the scab, and innocently asked, like an ordinary Gnoll, "I only want to hire people here to mine some ore. I have no intention of disrupting the order you've established. Is that really too much to ask?"
Before Old Tiger could reply, a Dwarf beside him slapped the iron ore in front of him in frustration and sprang to his feet. "Young man! This is the city we built and the mines we developed! It took us forty-three years to clear the hidden dangers from every level of those mines! What makes you think you can take a share without contributing anything?"
Thank you! That was exactly what I was waiting for!
Li Wei clapped his hands and laughed. "That's easy! We can simply open another mine in a different direction. We'll handle all the dangers in the new mine ourselves, so you won't have to worry about a thing. Once it's open, Zelandia's ore production will at least double! That would greatly reduce the taxes Zelandia has to pay to Gershon City. Why not consider such a pleasant arrangement?"
It was the same Dwarf who had spoken first. Li Wei's words seemed to strike a nerve. His eyes reddened. "What a joke! You think a big mouth is enough? Do you know how many brothers have to die to open a new mine? Or are you counting on this rabble of refugees? Look at them! Which one of them would dare go with you to develop a new mine, huh?"
At the Dwarf's words, all the refugees who had thought the idea might work lowered their heads again. No one wanted to be the first to step forward. They had heard that the Duergar had lost at least a thousand of their own over the past few decades while developing ever-deeper mines.
The dangers of the Underdark increased exponentially the deeper you went!
Li Wei's smile grew brighter. "Of course development comes with bloodshed and sacrifice. I understand that perfectly. And our Red Fang Tribe has never feared sacrifice! I have an endless number of brothers, Hogg! Awoo~"
Even Remlu, sitting on his shoulder in her fishman form, joined in with a wild howl. "Awoo, gurgle!"
"Something's wrong! Could it be...?" The moment Old Tiger heard Red Fang Tribe, his pupils contracted sharply as he realized there was a terrible possibility.
Li Wei's howl rang out toward the sky like a signal. After a brief, yet seemingly endless, silence, the Dark River behind Zelandia's Marketplace suddenly churned.
A burly Gnoll in ragged clothes burst from the water. He shook the river water from his fur, then let out a long howl of his own.
His appearance seemed to be only the beginning. With waves splashing one after another, more Gnolls emerged from the water and followed behind him, marching forward with soaring spirits. Females and young made up nearly half their number, while the males guarded their flanks. At a glance, there were fully three hundred of them.
The leading Gnoll and his followers pressed forward slowly like a drawn sword. As they approached, the refugees of Zelandia scattered, instinctively making way for a path wide enough for several Gnolls to walk abreast.
The Gnoll Leader stopped in front of Li Wei and dropped to one knee with his followers. He thrust the long blade at his waist into the ground, bared his teeth, and snarled, "Huozi Red Fang brings three hundred Tribe Members to settle here! We pay our respects to the Chieftain!"
If the Black Dragon Kangerweian had been there, he would have been weeping with despair. The Gnoll at the head of the group was none other than his former servant—the Gnoll who, under the orders of the Gnoll Warlord, had charged at Li Wei first as a decoy, only to survive by sheer luck!
Huozi suddenly raised his head.
His eyes, which had looked dull and lifeless on the battlefield, now glowed like oval iron billets fresh from the forge.
Like flames,
they blazed!
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