Blackwater Merchant Guild General Manager

Overnight, the goblin tribes around the kobolds were visited by two dragons.

The next day, goblins began entering the kobold territory one after another. Just as the True Dragon had said, they were welcomed and treated hospitably by the kobolds, and were told how to get to the Bloodtooth Mines.

And so, driven by fear and temptation, a large number of goblins and a few gnolls gathered at the Bloodtooth Mines, where they were housed in abandoned living areas by Ergou.

After witnessing the power and prosperity of the Bloodtooth Kobolds, the outsiders became even more eager to attach themselves to the True Dragon and live good lives like the kobolds. They selected representatives to meet the True Dragon.

In response, Jose gave an encouraging speech, brushing them off.

Watching the representatives of the outsiders leave in a drunken daze, Ergou's lips curved into a mocking smile.

"Master, I've roughly counted that you and Lord Kashi have conned over eighteen hundred cannon fodder."

"What do you mean 'conned'!" Jose shot a glance at his familiar, "I call it strategic... persuasion!"

"It's just that if these guys can survive this battle, I don't mind giving them a chance to join."

"But Master, what if the centaurs don't show up?"

"If they don't show up, they don't show up. It's not like I can't afford to feed them."

Ergou recalled the mountains of food piled up in the warehouse, and it was indeed true. He chuckled self-mockingly.

He had been too afraid of starving in the past.

Pausing, Jose continued, "If the centaurs really don't come, we'll train this cannon fodder and attack the Moss Hide Gnolls two months after winter sets in."

Suddenly, another familiar sent a communication request – it was Luna Bloodfeather.

"Any new news?"

"Master, Mudakhan Graytail has notified me to go to the Graytail Centaur Tribe, saying there's something to discuss. I'm on my way now."

"Very good, act normally, don't expose yourself."

"Understood!"

Jose connected to his Harpy familiar's vision and saw her flying over the Great Prairie with two close confidantes.

Flying was on a completely different level than walking. Half an hour later, she spotted the Graytail Centaur Tribe on the Great Prairie from afar.

The Graytail Centaur Tribe was situated on a small mound on the prairie. Dense tents were pitched on and around the mound, surrounded by a circle of abatis, with guards patrolling around it.

"Huh?!"

Luna Bloodfeather noticed an unusual black dot within the Graytail Centaur Tribe. As she flew closer, she saw it was a carriage.

Why would there be a carriage?

Centaurs didn't need carriages. Could it be the Blackwater Merchant Guild?!

"Master! Something's not right!"

Indeed, something was not right. Winter was approaching, and soon, the cold air from the Great Glacier in the north would move south, covering most of the Northern Lands in snow and ice.

At this time, even the Boarmen (with their thick fat) and Minotaurs (with their thick fur), who were least afraid of the cold, would try to avoid going out. Yet, merchants from the Blackwater Merchant Guild had come here...

Jose felt a sense of foreboding. He observed the carriage through his familiar's eyes.

It was a luxurious, two-horse carriage. Decorative bead curtains hung around the carriage body, made of purple-black silk embroidered with a white-edged black wave.

"It's definitely the Blackwater Merchant Guild! And the carriage owner holds a significant position within the guild!"

Around the carriage were horses with saddles. Jose counted seventeen horses with saddles, meaning this Blackwater Merchant Guild executive had brought at least seventeen followers.

He looked towards the entrance of the central tent, where two humans stood guard.

Luxurious! They're using Initial Stage Warriors as guards!

"Master! I sense a powerful energy source inside the tent! At least an Advanced Stage magic-user!"

"Be careful."

Advanced Stage magic-users were sensitive to unusual energy and might detect their telepathic communication. Jose severed the mental link.

On the other side, Luna Bloodfeather hovered hesitantly above the main centaur tent, afraid to land.

A burly centaur walked out of the tent. He wore a gray cloth band around his head, signifying his status. He was none other than the Graytail Centaur Chieftain – Mudakhan Graytail.

Mudakhan Graytail looked up at the Harpy in the sky and laughed heartily, "Hahaha! Chieftain Bloodfeather! Come down!"

"Chieftain Graytail, there are outsiders present. My small frame can't compare to yours, so please be careful."

"Don't worry! They're all our people! We've been cooperating for almost three years! Don't you trust me yet!"

Luna Bloodfeather feigned hesitation for a moment before descending, landing in front of Mudakhan Graytail.

"Come in!"

Mudakhan Graytail warmly invited the Harpy into the tent. His warmth seemed genuine.

Since cooperating with the Harpy, finding prey on the prairie had become much easier, greatly increasing the Graytail Centaur Tribe's harvest. They no longer had to painstakingly track prey like before, saving time and effort.

"Chieftain Bloodfeather! A big shot is here today! Let's pull off something big together!"

"Oh? Then I'm quite curious. Who do you call a big shot, Chieftain?" Luna Bloodfeather asked, looking at her partner beside her.

"It's the Blackwater Merchant Guild's General Manager stationed at Sun Sail Port – Young Master Buck."

"General Manager?!" Luna Bloodfeather exclaimed, covering her mouth.

While the general manager of a large merchant guild might not command five thousand men, money made the world go 'round, and the energy they could mobilize was no less than that of a chieftain from a major tribe on the prairie.

Furthermore, the guild's access to information and the resources they held in their hands gave the general manager a status half a step higher than that of an ordinary chieftain on the Great Prairie.

"Why would such an important figure come to the Triangle Plains?"

Mudakhan Graytail opened his mouth, then stopped, hesitating, "You'll know soon enough."

Lifting the tent flap, Luna Bloodfeather entered the large tent. Seeing the scene inside, four people were seated on wool blankets on either side of the tent, with prairie specialties like mare's milk wine, yogurt, and roasted mutton laid out before them.

Of the four, she only recognized one: the one-eyed younger brother of the Graytail Chieftain – Hamur Graytail.

The other three:

A bald middle-aged man, he sat cross-legged on the ground, a scroll pouch at his waist and a staff beside him, exuding the aura of a powerful individual.

The aura she had sensed earlier belonged to him. Luna Bloodfeather glanced at the other two.

A noble youth with a ramrod-straight back, his skin was a sickly pale, like many nobles. Dressed in black, he wore a single red rose pinned to his chest, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Lastly, there was a black-robed man, completely enveloped in a hooded black robe, revealing only half of a wrinkled chin and a pair of gaunt hands like eagle claws.

The black-robed man and the bald mage sat on either side of the noble youth, clearly indicating the youth was the main figure.

Luna Bloodfeather made a judgment: a noble young master with no small background.

As the Harpy entered, the four stopped talking, their gazes focusing on the Harpy at the entrance.

Thanks for the 5000 coin tip from Messiah, 200 coins from Cresy, 100 coins from If Only Like The Beginning, 800 coins from Netherworld Shore Catfish, 100 coins from Ark Crocodile, and 100 coins from Book Friend 20181221193926294.