Hiring

Jose and Ergou discussed for a long time how to brainwash new recruits and boost loyalty through the art of rhetoric, employing slogans, rituals, and a sense of honor. After further discussion and refinement of details, they finally arrived at a final plan.

"Master, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Wait."

Jose gazed at his first familiar.

The first time represented an unprecedented experience, the starting point from unfamiliarity to familiarity, the beginning of the transition from ignorance to maturity. It was precisely because of the uniqueness and importance of the first time that it held immense commemorative value.

Jose also paid special attention to his first familiar.

However, for a long time, he had noticed that his familiar seemed like a saint, having no desires beyond completing the tasks he assigned, which was contrary to the natural inclination of living beings to seek profit.

In fact, he could have chosen to probe the familiar's inner world through the contract.

But Jose didn't want to do that, not due to moral constraints, but because he had his own concerns—magic and contracts were too convenient, and he worried about becoming dependent on magic, losing his ability to perceive the world through his own eyes.

"Ergou, what is your wish?"

Ergou was taken aback by his master's question. After a moment of stunned silence, he replied, "To serve the master."

Jose couldn't deny this. Ergou was very diligent in his work, always exceeding expectations with the tasks he assigned.

"Besides that?"

Ergou lowered his head and pondered for a long time before saying softly, "To become stronger."

So that's how it was.

Jose suddenly realized that his familiar's thoughts were surprisingly aligned with his own; personal strength was the foundation of everything.

In fact, in Jose's heart, wealth, familiars, and even a place to live could be abandoned when necessary. As long as his strength remained, he could acquire all those things again elsewhere.

"Master, I am lost and don't know how to proceed with my future path."

Jose nodded. He could understand Ergou's feelings because he had experienced similar troubles himself.

Like dragons, Dragon Vein Warlocks' magic grew with age, and they naturally awakened new spells, becoming more powerful. However, the gifts of their ancestors had their limits.

Many far-sighted warlocks with resources would cultivate another profession as a path after their bloodline reached its end. Among these, becoming a Mage was the most popular and promising path.

Jose also intended to follow this path.

However, spellcasters were not like warriors who could thrive just by having enough to eat; wealth, talent, teachers, and time investment were all indispensable.

"Don't be anxious, my servant. I promise you, in a few years, all that you worry about now will cease to exist." After speaking, he waved his paw, signaling for the familiar to leave.

Having received the promise, Ergou's brow unfurled. He bowed respectfully and retreated.

The next day.

Following the Red Dragon's orders, the Five Great Kobold Tribes sent a total of two hundred and twenty-two young warriors. The warriors also brought with them the ore ingots accumulated by the various tribes over a long period: three iron ore deposits and one copper ore deposit.

As for gold mines, their output was very small. The gold Hasa Bloodclaw offered was all they had.

Sorda specifically cleared out the abandoned Living Area Number Four and took the new warriors to train in the mines. Meanwhile, Ergou directed his tribesmen to move the metal ingots into the warehouse.

Jose, seeing the metal piled up to the ceiling through Ergou's eyes, felt both joy and worry.

Copper and iron ingots were valuable because of their widespread uses, such as minting currency and forging weapons and armor. If they remained in the warehouse, these metal ingots would be worthless.

And the kobolds' casting techniques... were truly dismal, limited to creating molds, pouring molten iron, and then shaping and polishing.

This wouldn't do. He planned to launch an attack on the Moss Hide Gnolls when winter was ending, before the snow melted and while the gnolls were weakened by hunger and lack of food.

The gnolls had just endured winter and were at their weakest, while the kobolds had ample food and had undergone several months of combat training. Jose couldn't imagine losing, so he intended to use this battle as a test for his familiar.

"To convert these iron ingots into tangible combat power, I need a group of excellent blacksmiths," Jose mused, stroking his chin, and decided to ask the Boarman merchant if there was a way.

He connected with the Boarman merchant through the familiar contract and discovered that the merchant had already left the Harpy tribe and was on his way back to his own tribe.

"Huh? Are you feeling better? You left so soon?"

The Red Dragon's voice directly echoed in his mind. The Boarman merchant, Hulk, was startled at first, then reacted, "Master? Oh, yes. I don't want to see those harpies for another moment. Damn it! It was a nightmare!"

Jose sensed the fear transmitted through their mental connection. It seemed the Boarman had developed a psychological scar from the harpies.

What a sad story~.

He didn't know how to comfort his mentally scarred familiar, so he changed the subject. "Hulk, do you know where I can hire excellent blacksmiths?"

Hulk replied without hesitation, "In Sun Sail Port, as long as the price is right, you can even hire Dwarf Master blacksmiths."

"Dwarf Master, hmm... I must say, that's very tempting."

Jose thought for a moment but dismissed the alluring idea. On one hand, dwarves were too expensive and held a high status, making them difficult to kidnap.

On the other hand, he wasn't forging any divine weapons, and a slightly better human blacksmith would suffice.

"I don't need a Dwarf Master. I just want to forge some weapons and armor for my kobold familiars. Blacksmiths above average skill would be enough. Do you have any good recommendations?"

"Hmm, let me think," the Boarman merchant paused. "Got it. There's a Black Hoof Minotaur Tribe on the edge of the Triangle Plains. In the Black Hoof Minotaur Tribe, there's a craftsman named Black Bull who apprenticed under a Dwarf Master in Sun Sail Port. After returning to his tribe, he taught his tribesmen blacksmithing to make a living on the plains. Their reputation is quite good."

Jose recalled information about minotaurs. Minotaurs were an ancient nomadic people who still preserved ancient totem worship customs. For a long time, the overall impression of minotaurs to outsiders was immense strength and honest simplicity.

Of course, racial impressions represented a general image, but individuals... there were all sorts of oddities.

There was once a minotaur adventurer who, under the guise of selling grain to his tribe, requested a large advance payment from his employer. Relying on his good performance and the minotaurs' reputation for honesty and simplicity, some people actually believed him. The minotaur then used the excuse of delivering money to disappear without a trace.

While these bad Minotaurs are only a minority, the Minotaur race as a whole is still quite good.

"Alright, that's all for the Minotaurs. I'll leave the hiring to you."

"Huh?! Wait! Master! According to the customs of the great Red Dragon, shouldn't you go to their doorstep and just drag them over?!"

Jose: ...

In reality, the Boarman familiar meant: According to the dragon race's habit of loving money as much as their own lives and being stingy, shouldn't you kick down their door, kidnap them, imprison them, and extort them in every way possible!

"My servant, you've only recently joined and don't understand me well yet. I am very different from ordinary Red Dragons. I don't mind spending a little money to achieve my goals, but if someone dares to play games with me..."

The Red Dragon's tone gradually deepened, and the Boarman merchant shivered.

"You will get what you want, I assure you."