Hiring

Jose and Ergou discussed for a long time, deliberating over how to use the art of language to indoctrinate the new recruits and improve their loyalty. Slogans, ritual, and honor were all brought into play. After further discussion and refinement, they finally came up with a final plan.

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

"Wait."

Jose watched his first familiar.

A first time represented an unprecedented experience, the starting point of going from unfamiliarity to familiarity, the beginning of maturing from ignorance. It was precisely because of a first time's uniqueness and importance that it held such commemorative value.

Jose placed particular importance on his first familiar as well.

Yet over time, he had discovered that this familiar of his seemed like a saint. Aside from completing the tasks Jose assigned him, he desired nothing else. That did not fit the profit-seeking nature of living creatures.

In truth, he could have used the contract to probe his familiar's inner world.

But Jose did not want to do that. It was not due to moral restraint; he had his own concerns—magic and contracts were simply too convenient. He feared becoming dependent on magic and losing the ability to perceive the world through his own eyes.

"Ergou, what is your wish?"

Ergou had not expected his master to ask such a question. He froze for a moment before answering, "To serve Master."

Jose neither approved nor disapproved. Ergou worked very seriously, and every task Jose assigned him was always completed beyond expectations.

"And besides that?"

Ergou lowered his head and pondered for a long while before saying quietly, "To grow stronger."

So that was it.

Jose suddenly understood. His familiar's thoughts were surprisingly aligned with his own. Personal strength was the foundation of everything.

In Jose's heart, wealth, familiars, and even a place to live could all be abandoned if necessary. So long as he still possessed strength, he could obtain all those things again somewhere else.

"Master, I'm lost. I don't know which path to take in the future."

Jose nodded. He could understand Ergou's thoughts because he had once faced similar troubles.

Like dragons, Dragon Vein Warlocks gained magic power as they aged, naturally awakening new spells and growing stronger. Yet the gifts of their ancestors had limits.

Many far-sighted and well-resourced warlocks cultivated another profession as a path for after their bloodline reached its end. Among them, becoming a mage was the most popular and promising choice.

Jose intended to take that path as well.

But spellcasters were not warriors who merely needed enough food to find opportunities. Wealth, talent, teachers, and time investment were all indispensable.

"Do not be impatient, my servant. I promise you that within a few years, everything worrying you now will cease to exist." After speaking, he waved a claw, signaling that his familiar could leave.

Having received his promise, Ergou's furrowed brow relaxed. He bowed respectfully and withdrew.

The next day.

Following the Red Dragon's orders, the Five Great Kobold Tribes sent over a total of two hundred and twenty-two young warriors. The warriors also brought the metal ingots their tribes had accumulated over the years, along with three iron mines and one copper mine.

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

Sorda specifically cleared out the abandoned Living Area Number Four and led the newly arrived warriors in training within the mine tunnels, while Ergou directed his clansmen to carry the metal ingots into the warehouse.

Through Ergou's eyes, Jose saw mountains of metal stacked all the way to the cavern ceiling. He was delighted, but also troubled.

Copper and iron ingots were both valuable. They were valuable because they had broad uses: they could be minted into coins and forged into weapons and armor. If they simply lay in the warehouse, those ingots would be worthless.

And the Kobolds' forging techniques... were truly painful to behold. Over and over, they merely made molds, poured in molten iron, then shaped and polished it.

That would not do. When winter was nearing its end, before the snow had melted and while the Moss Hide Gnolls were short of food, starving, and too weak to fight, he intended to launch an attack against them.

The Gnolls would have just endured winter and would be at their weakest, while the Kobolds had ample food and had undergone several months of combat training. Jose could not think of a reason they would lose, so he intended to use this battle as a test for his familiars.

"To turn these iron ingots into real combat strength, I need a group of excellent blacksmiths." Jose rubbed his chin and decided to ask the Boarman merchant whether he had any ideas.

He connected to the Boarman merchant through the Familiar Contract and discovered that Hulk had already left the Harpy tribe and was on his way back to his own tribe.

"Hm? Have you recovered already? You left so soon?"

The Red Dragon's voice sounded directly in his heart. The Boarman merchant—Hulk—was stunned for a moment before reacting. "Master? Oh, it's like this: I didn't want to see those Harpies for another second. Damn it! It was a nightmare!"

Jose sensed the fear transmitted through their mental link. It seemed the Boarman had been traumatized by the Harpies.

What a sad story...

He did not know how to comfort this emotionally wounded familiar, so he could only change the subject. "Hulk, do you know where I can hire excellent blacksmiths?"

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

"Dwarf Masters... hmm... I have to admit, that's tempting."

After thinking it over, Jose still dismissed the tempting notion. On one hand, Dwarves were too expensive and held high status, making them difficult to kidnap.

On the other hand, it was not as though he needed to forge some divine weapon. A somewhat capable human blacksmith would be enough to meet his needs.

"I don't need a Dwarf Master. I only want to make some weapons and armor for my Kobold familiars. A blacksmith above average will be enough. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Hmm, let me think," the Boarman merchant paused. "I've got it. At the edge of the Triangular Plains, there is a Black Hoof Minotaur Tribe. There's a master craftsman named Black Bull in the Black Hoof Minotaur Tribe. He once apprenticed under a Dwarf Master in Sun Sail Port. After returning to his tribe, he taught his people how to forge, and they made a living from it on the grasslands. They have a fairly good reputation."

Jose recalled what he knew about Minotaurs. They were an ancient nomadic people who still preserved their old customs of totem worship. For a long time, the overall impression outsiders had of Minotaurs was that they possessed immense strength and were honest and simple.

Of course, racial impressions only represented the overall image. As for individuals... there were all kinds of oddballs.

There had once been a Minotaur adventurer who, under the pretense of buying grain for his tribe, asked his employer for a large advance. Thanks to his earlier good performance and the Minotaurs' reputation for honesty, someone actually fell for it. Then that cow left under the excuse of delivering the money and never returned.

Such vile Minotaurs were a minority, after all. As a race, Minotaurs were generally decent.

"Good. These Minotaurs will do. I'll leave the hiring to you."

"Huh?! Wait! Master! By the habits of a great Red Dragon, shouldn't you go to their doorstep and simply seize them?!"

Jose:...

What the Boarman familiar actually meant was: according to the Dragon race's habit of loving money like life and never parting with a single coin, should he not march to their doorstep, kidnap them outright, imprison them, and exploit them in every possible way?!

"My servant, you have only recently joined me, so you do not know me very well yet. I am very different from ordinary Red Dragons. I do not mind spending a small amount of money to achieve my goals, but if anyone dares play tricks on me..."

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

"You will get what you want. I promise."