Geothermal Heat

Ergou accompanied Jose as he inspected the remaining Living Areas Number Four through Eight. Aside from Living Area Number Five, which had a spring, all the other living areas had been abandoned and were not worth mentioning.

"Is there anywhere else we haven't visited?"

"All that's left are some abandoned tunnels. Our ancestors dug them after the veins ran dry, hoping to find new ones. Oh, right!" Ergou remembered another place. "There's also the mine where we dig low-grade iron ore. Would Master like to take a look?"

"Let's go. As the master of this place, I need to know every corner of my territory."

The mine entrance was located in Living Area Number Eight. The passage had been dug according to kobold proportions, so Jose had no choice but to shrink himself.

After passing through the long, dark tunnel, master and servant arrived at the hollowed-out mining area. Dark-red specks dotted the rock walls—the iron ore veins the Bloodtooth Kobold Tribe depended on for survival.

The mine floor was covered in jagged slag, with iron picks, shovels, and other tools scattered about.

Jose stepped into the mining area.

"Hmm?!"

He noticed something unusual about the ground and quickly bent down, brushing away the slag. He pressed his dragon claw against the earth and felt its abnormal warmth.

There was geothermal heat here!

Anyone who had studied geography knew that their world floated above a layer of magma, much like a ship floated on water. But the magma underground was not as level as the surface of the sea.

Within the earth's crust, some materials had high melting points while others had low ones. Over long years, low-melting-point materials were eroded by heat, forming underground cavities. Under pressure, magma rose and formed underground lava lakes.

The heat of hot springs and geothermal areas came from such lava lakes near the surface. In other words, there was magma beneath the mine.

Jose was delighted. Red dragons were fire-element dragons, and living for long periods in places rich in Fire Elementals, such as geothermal zones, was greatly beneficial to a red dragon's growth.

A perfect home!

"Respected Master, our ancestors discovered the Lava Lake below and had no choice but to stop digging downward. Now, we can only dig sideways for this low-grade iron ore. It's all worthless," Ergou said gloomily as he looked at the barren vein.

"Do not lose heart, my servant. I have already found a new vein."

It had to be said that a dragon's talent for finding treasure was truly outrageous. During the earlier inspection, Jose had sensed the pulse of an ore vein within the earth. Its unique fragrance had drawn the dragon's heart.

"East of Living Area Number Six, dig down at a thirty-degree angle. Follow that direction, and you'll find what you want."

Ergou remembered that dragons were treasure-seeking experts as well, and genuine joy appeared on his face.

"Praise be to you! Great Master! You are the salvation of the Bloodtooth Tribe!"

"No need for thanks. The minerals, the wealth, the Bloodtooth Tribe, including you—all of it belongs to me."

After wandering around a little longer, he felt that he had learned enough about the mine.

"Let's head back. The ones outside should have returned."

Master and servant turned around and headed toward Living Area Number One. From afar, they heard noisy conversation and happened to encounter the returning tribesmen.

Jose stood at the edge of Living Area Number One, looking down at his people.

The kobolds who had remained outside the camp poured in through the tunnel entrance. They came with their families, smiles on their faces as they chatted while walking. Barking filled the air in a chaotic din.

Kobolds were an intelligent race. They could use Common Tongue and a small amount of Draconic Language. Language was one of the main reasons they were recognized as an intelligent race.

However, kobold civilization was far too primitive. Their ornaments were made from animal bones and teeth, and most of them were naked. Less than thirty percent wore hide aprons or crude loincloths.

It was worth mentioning that kobolds did not wear clothing for modesty. They wore it to display status. In their eyes, clothing was a more valuable ornament than bone accessories.

Seeing the red dragon, Sorda and four kobold soldiers approached with cooked food and offered it up with both hands. "Master, please taste the food prepared by the kobolds."

Jose accepted a chunk of meat skewered on a wooden stick and sniffed it. It was the Petrification Lizard they had killed earlier, and judging by its shape, it was the choicest thigh meat. He took a bite. Compared to raw meat cooked with Dragon Breath, this primitive roast was incredibly delicious.

"Not bad. You put thought into it."

Having received his master's approval, Sorda's face lit up. He bowed. "Please enjoy it slowly. More food is still being prepared."

Jose turned his head toward the distant bonfire. A circle of kobolds surrounded it, turning roasting meat. Besides that, a stewpot was set over the fire, white steam rising from within.

Curious, he walked over and lifted the lid of the stewpot. A burst of fishy-smelling steam rose out, and then he saw the food inside—a hodgepodge of barley, Petrification Lizard organs, unfamiliar plant tubers, and vegetable leaves.

He heard the kobolds around him swallowing. Clearly, this food had been prepared for them.

Jose put the lid back on without changing expression. "Sorda, tell me about the tribe's food situation."

"Most of the meat we had stored was ruined by the Petrification Lizards. But rest assured, Master, I have already sent people out hunting. Even if the warriors have to risk their lives, they will ensure an adequate supply of meat."

Clearly, Sorda had misunderstood.

But it was no wonder he had. No evil dragon had ever cared whether its servants had enough to eat. Evil dragons were brutal conquerors who cared only about their own enjoyment. When hungry, they could even use their own followers to fill their bellies.

But an outsider from another world could not be so cold-blooded. He could not watch his underlings go hungry while he enjoyed himself in comfort, much less treat them as food.

Of course I need meat, but my underlings should at least have soup to drink. That was what he thought.

He changed to a more direct question. "How much food does the tribe have left? How long can it last you and the others?"

Sorda froze for a moment, then realized that his master was concerned about the tribe's food reserves. He was deeply moved. "Rest assured, Master. Petrification Lizards only eat meat, so all the grain we stored before remains intact. It is enough to sustain the tribe for two months."

"What about after two months?"

"After two months..." Sorda's voice grew quieter and quieter.

That was right. After two months, the Bloodtooth Kobold Tribe would have no source of food. They had fallen out with their trading partner—the Graytail Centaur Tribe—so naturally, they could no longer trade minerals for food as they had before. Food gained through hunting and gathering was nowhere near enough to feed so many mouths.

Worst of all, two months from now... winter would arrive!

Whenever heavy snow sealed the mountains in previous winters, many tribesmen starved or froze to death. This year, they had fallen out with the centaurs and lost their primary food source. It was easy to imagine how miserable the Bloodtooth Mines would be this winter.

Could they only go to war with the gnolls again? On one hand, it would reduce the number of mouths in their own tribe. On the other, they could use the enemy corpses—even their own fallen—as rations.

At that thought, Sorda shuddered.

Jose ate the roasted meat in his hand bite by bite, then tossed aside the stick.

"From now on, the low-grade ore vein will be renamed Living Area Number Nine. It is my residence, and ordinary kobolds are forbidden from entering. You two may come find me if you have business. Also, my brother—the White Dragon—should be brought to Living Area Number Five once he arrives. He will like the spring there."

With that, he turned and walked toward the Petrification Lizard nest. He took the lizard eggs from inside, then entered the tunnel and disappeared from the kobolds' sight.

Back in the nest with geothermal heat, he set down the lizard eggs and examined his new home. Barring any accidents, he would be living here for a long time.

"First, to avoid having to use the Body Shrinking Spell every time I come home, I need to widen the tunnel. Then I'll enlarge the nest. Finally, I need to prepare some emergency passages—at least two, preferably three."

He immediately got to work renovating his new home.

Dragon Claws were highly efficient for digging, but the project was simply too large. Jose worked for a full three days before he was finally satisfied with the renovations.

By then, the low-grade ore mining area had changed completely. It had become a massive underground space a hundred meters in diameter. The ceiling had been reshaped into a rounded vault, and the ground had been leveled as well.

Three emergency passages had been built. Two were on either side of the cavern, slanting upward until they reached the roots of underground trees. The third was dug straight downward, leading directly to the Underground Lava Lake. If absolutely necessary, he could lift the stone slab and jump straight into the magma lake to take refuge.

"With no worries left, I can sleep peacefully now."

He patted his dust-covered dragon claw and lay down contentedly in the center of the cavern.

Thanks to the geothermal heat, the ground was pleasantly warm.

Thanks to Light Dragon Lord for the 1,000 coins, xiaotang246 for the 100 coins, Teacher Yang Is Here for the 100 coins, and This Is Really Doggone Crazy for the 10,000-coin reward.