Pulling Out Fangs

Jintha'Alor was stabilized at a rapid pace, and under the influence of new ideologies, it began to transition. Zul'ra had Cook select suitable candidates from the followers he brought, first to take stock of the situation regarding the Vilebranch Trolls and Smolderthorn, and then to seize the opportunity to help them develop production.

The Vilebranch Trolls and Smolderthorn were no better off than the Amani; they were similarly backward, semi-foraging societies. However, the difference was that the Hinterlands possessed far richer resources than the deep mountains of Zul'Aman, and the coastline was not obstructed by mountain ranges. There was plenty of food here, and although Aerie Peak was nearby, the unique terrain made it impossible for Jintha'Alor to be blockaded.

Having never been subjected to a comprehensive blockade or strike by the Alliance, the Vilebranch Trolls seemed to have a larger population than the Amani, totaling between thirty and forty thousand—more than ten times the number of Smolderthorn. Yet, that Evil Priestess Hex had not utilized these forces well; she was merely superstitious about the power of the Soulflayer, and that power had failed to help her properly.

In short, Jintha'Alor was a massive foundation, and it was now under his own command. Zul'ra felt a surge of excitement whenever he thought of this. He had Cook begin arranging affairs immediately, and then he started to attend to pulling his own fangs.

Because Zul'ra had been locked in close-quarters combat with Vilebranch Guards reinforced by magic, the fangs in his mouth had been knocked loose in the chaos. Afterward, due to his concerns regarding the campaign to conquer Jintha'Alor, he had not sought timely treatment, and now his gums were constantly oozing blood and throbbing with pain.

To prevent his teeth from deteriorating further, Zul'ra chose to extract them. He first prepared some medicine as a backup, and then, without needing any tools, he reached out and gripped the long fangs in his mouth, using his maximum strength and fastest speed to pull them out by the roots in one go.

The two ivory-like fangs, their roots already loosened by the impact, were pulled out almost instantly. Zul'ra tossed the blood-stained fangs aside and immediately spat the thick, viscous blood filling his mouth into a nearby brazier.

After spitting out several mouthfuls of blood, the flow in his mouth decreased. Once the wounds left by the extraction were plugged by clotted blood, Zul'ra rinsed his mouth with a medicinal solution to accelerate the healing of the gum wounds. He then cleared the pooled blood from his mouth and drank some more medicinal water to rinse, preventing harmful bacteria from remaining in his oral cavity. The first step of the extraction surgery was complete.

The surgery was crude, but it was successful. Of course, this success was built upon many prerequisites: for instance, Zul'ra's tooth roots were already loose, so no chunks of gum were torn away during the extraction. Furthermore, he understood pharmacology and had prepared antiseptic and healing agents, and naturally, this was also underpinned by his own body's healing capabilities.

"Refreshing." Zul'ra clicked his teeth together twice, feeling his powerful, undamaged upper and lower jaws and sharp teeth. He felt incredibly comfortable. He had been annoyed by that pair of long fangs for a long time; they were always stuck in his mouth, not only grinding against his molars on both sides but also making it difficult to speak. Sometimes, saliva would leak from the roots, causing his lips to become inflamed.

With the foreign objects removed from his mouth, Zul'ra felt immensely relieved. However, following this relief, he discovered a new problem: the canine teeth on his lower jaw seemed a bit long. Originally, the two fangs had occupied space between his upper and lower jaws, so he hadn't noticed, but now that the long fangs were gone, his jaws closed, and the tips of the two upward-pointing lower canines pressed against his upper lip.

"It seems I'm destined to be incompatible with a normal appearance." Zul'ra released his upper lip, letting the canines peek out from the corners of his mouth. He gave a wry smile, but he hadn't expected anything else. Troll dental structure also differed between genders; females did not have long fangs, but the two canine teeth on their lower jaws would protrude past their lips. He just hoped his appearance wouldn't invite mockery from other trolls.

No one dared to mock him, but his suddenly changed appearance drew inquiries from Lostro, Cook, and many others. Zul'ra had to tirelessly explain to them the reason why his fangs had been knocked loose and subsequently had to be pulled.

After explaining it dozens of times, Zul'ra became proficient at it and began to throw himself into his work. He first carefully observed the situation in Jintha'Alor. Unlike in Zul'Aman, where he had to do the labor and personally engage with workers and farmers, this time he was touring around, giving speeches, describing the path forward to the troll civilians, and encouraging them in their work.

Many Vilebranch Trolls showed great enthusiasm for the new ideology. They included civilians as well as Witch Doctors and priests, especially the Witch Doctors who had led the uprising. Unlike those in Zul'Aman who turned a deaf ear to the world outside, these were people who were close to the masses and practical.

The Witch Doctors of Jintha'Alor were not exclusive priests of any one Loa. Originally suppressed by the Evil Priestess Hex, they had lived in fear day after day. Therefore, after the threat of the Vilebranch Guards was removed, they immediately led the civilians to launch an uprising, welcomed Zul'ra's righteous army into the city, and helped purge the followers of Hakkar.

Also, because they had been affected by fear and did not belong to any exclusive Loa, the several Witch Doctors of Jintha'Alor were relatively more receptive to new ideas. Zul'ra was also happy to engage with these peers. Although workers and farmers were the foundation of society, if these Witch Doctors could join him, then troll society would be able to accelerate its progress.

After a detailed exchange with the Witch Doctors of Jintha'Alor, Zul'ra recounted the entire history of the trolls to them and spoke heavily of the unity of the ancient trolls. He then exhorted them, hoping they would dedicate themselves to building the glory of the trolls.

"We are just Witch Doctors; we don't know how to forge iron or farm the land." Some Witch Doctors looked troubled. Although they were people who were close to the masses and practical, willing to engage with the lowest-level trolls and aware of the suffering of the people, they were not the type of people willing to perform manual labor.

"No, no, no. You are Witch Doctors. How could I ask you to be workers or farmers? But I hope you can bring knowledge to our people and heal their impoverished souls." Zul'ra looked at the Witch Doctors who were resistant to labor and did not seem surprised. Laziness was a common trait among many intelligent beings, but considering that intellectuals were scarce, he would tolerate it for now; everyone had their own way of contributing.

"What knowledge should we teach?" a Witch Doctor asked cautiously.

"Literacy. Teach them the most easily understood Common language and writing. That is all I require for now." Zul'ra smiled and nodded as he stated his requirements. His demands were not high: let the trolls first learn to read, accept new ideas, and then pursue other things.

Zul'ra's request made the Witch Doctors' expressions relax slightly. Simple literacy did not involve too much magic, which was something they could accept. Although they were close to the people and could accept new ideas, it did not mean they were willing to give up their interests.

Witch Doctors managed many responsibilities in society, such as medicine and priesthood. If this knowledge were to spread, the civilians would no longer seek them out to cure illnesses or solve problems. Without civilians seeking them out, it would not only mean they would lose money, but their influence would also shrink, and their overall interests would be greatly diminished.