In an unknown tavern in Bloohoof City, the stench of alcohol and sweat filled the air.
Dozens of underground creatures drank and chatted. They did not care about the terrible air around them.
As far as the eye could see, there were half-snake men, prison barbarians, halflings, lizardmen, taurens… One could see all kinds of strange races here.
A tauren with a face full of scars and a pair of blood-tinted eyes picked up the bowl on the table and gulped down the sour-strong wine in one go.
‘Burp!’
Its face was flushed red. It suddenly stood up and shouted at its two companions under the influence of alcohol.
“Did you guys hear? The gray-colored dwarves’ reward for the surface lord increased to 15 million food units from 10 million units!”
Its eyes turned even redder.
“Fifteen million units! If we can get this, our tribe won’t have to worry for three years, no, five years!”
As the tauren said that, it slammed the table.
It quickly caused the lively tavern to quieten down. Everyone’s eyes turned to the tauren that appeared particularly tall after it stood up.
The tauren noticed this and shouted.
“What are you looking at? Aren’t you interested? That’s 15 million units of food!
“What a great fortune this is!”
A dwarf pursed its lips in disdain when it heard this. It suddenly stood up on the bench and wiped the food residue from the corner of its mouth with its sleeve.
It shouted.
“You buffaloes must have drunk too much and slept in the sewer for a few days, right?
“The information is bullshit.”
The crowd burst into laughter when they saw the dwarf’s funny appearance.
It quickly annoyed the bull-headed man.
“Damned Shorty! What did you just say?”
As it spoke, it picked up the long-handled axe inclined on the wooden table.
The dwarf glanced at it and said in disdain.
“The reward for the surface Lord in Fortress City has been raised to 18 million food units!
“Your 15 million is already out of date!”
These words immediately caused a commotion in the tavern.
“That’s right! I just got the news that the gray-colored dwarves have raised the reward for that human.
“Above the gods, 18 million units of food. If it were to me, I couldn’t finish them in my lifetime…
“The gray dwarves are so rich. They can take out tens of millions of units of food just like that.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, the price the gray dwarves offered is genuinely impressive, but what’s even more surprising is the human lord from the surface… With such a high bounty on his head, no one could do anything to him! What kind of strength is this?”
The tauren’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“It took two days for the gray-colored dwarves to raise the price, and now it’s increased again? What did that surface human do?”
The dwarf picked up the wine cup on the table and drank it. It looked at the crowd around proudly.
“That human overlord plundered the Iron Fort two hundred kilometers away from Fortress City this morning!
“Oh, god of gnomes! The human took several resources from the Iron Fort.”
After the dwarf finished speaking, it stared at the interested audience and increased its voice.
“And when the gray-colored dwarves sent their troops to besiege the human lord on the surface, the human lord slaughtered them, and there were several casualties.
“The surface lord is fighting the level 13 Iron Fort Lord alone!”
“In a one-on-one battle, the human lord slaughtered the Iron Fort lord!
The dwarf added.
“That’s right. The enemy didn’t use that powerful mechanical puppet!”
These words immediately caused a burst of exclamations.
“What?! It didn’t use any mechanical puppet?!”
“Isn’t the surface lord only level 9? The Iron Fort Lord had already reached level 13 and was extremely powerful. How could the surface city troops defeat them?”
“Where did you get this information? It must be inaccurate!”
“This is a bit fake! The Iron Fort Lord must have besieged and slaughtered the human opponents!”
It continued to bewilder the crowd…
The dwarf was even more excited when it heard the heated discussion.
Shorty enjoyed being the center of attention.
It shouted.
“This is a message from a friend of mine in Fortress City!
“My friend witnessed the battle with its own eyes. The Iron Fort Lord suffered a tragic death.
“If it weren’t for this, how could the reward for the gray-colored dwarves increase from 15 million to 18 million?!
“Don’t doubt it! If the human leader is not strong, how can he become an ally of Bloodhoof City?”
The surrounding crowd immediately thought of the various legends the human overlord left behind during this period and quickly shared their knowledge.
“Indeed, if it were someone else, this might be nonsense. But that human overlord is not an ordinary person…”
“In the past three days, the human lord has attacked seven cities of the gray-colored dwarves! Seven cities in three days… It’s ultimately unbelievable!”
“As expected of someone from the surface. The human lord annihilated a level 13 hero with his level 9 power. It’s explicitly unbelievable!”
The more they talked, the more lively the atmosphere in the tavern became.
Someone brought up another matter not long after.
“Do you think the news this lord of the surface recruited our heroes and brought them to the surface could be true?”
The people around immediately responded.
“Of course, it’s true! Otherwise, why would they ask Bloodhoof City to help spread the news?”
“And the notice is posted outside Lord’s mansion of the city. Anyone who wants to join the city human lord can get a free house to live in…”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk!” If it weren’t for the human overlord who only wants heroes, I’d want to go and see. That’s the earth’s surface. A rich and fertile land where sprinkling just a few seeds can grow food!”
“And that overlord is so powerful. Isn’t it ten thousand times better than living a hard life underground if such an existence rules us?”
“But why hasn’t he come to Bloodhoof City after so many days? It’s already the 8th! That lord has already left for a week.”
“Are you stupid? What had the human overlord been doing these days? Attack the city of the gray-colored dwarves! He doesn’t have time to come to Bloodhoof City. If you want to go, just wait. A big shot that even the gray-colored dwarves can’t do anything about, he won’t retract his words.”
In the underground world, the strong were respected.
As for the lord from the surface, everything he had done during this period was too legendary…
He came from the surface,
They were Bloodhoof City’s allies.
He had offended the other overlord of the underground world. The gray-colored dwarves offered a reward of nearly 20 million units of food for the human overlord’s head.
The human overlord was also a tycoon. He had bought several weapons in Bloodhoof City and scattered millions of units of food.
Furthermore, the human overlord had a transcendent-level mechanical puppet that was extremely powerful.
All sorts of legends made the halo behind the human overlord extremely dazzling.
The attention it attracted was phenomenal.
Many underground creatures had heard the news over the past two days. And we’re very interested in Richard’s recruitment order.
A lord with no ability and status would only be laughed at even if he issued a recruitment order.
However, if a powerful, wealthy, and legendary figure issued a recruitment order, it gave them a chance.
With a different status, even if they did the same thing, the results would be completely different.
Bloodhoof City, city Lord’s mansion main hall.
More than 20 Bloodhoof City’s higher-ups who sweated profusely, looked excitedly at the messenger.
A white-haired barbarian hero stood up. Its eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s.
“Are you sure the information is accurate?”
“Vice-President Richard verily attacked the Iron Fort?
“And not only did he take all the resources inside, but he also slaughtered Iron Fort Lord in a one-on-one battle without a mechanical puppet?”
The messenger panted a few times and said in a loud voice.
“There’s no mistake. Many parties have verified this disappearance. Our people even saw the Iron Fort Lord’s corpse…”
As he said that, he looked at the main seat, where excitement shrouded Sel Bloodhoof’s eyes.
“Lord Sel, the gray-colored dwarves have raised their bounty on Vice-President Richard to 18 million units of food,”
“They’ve even spread the word that they’re offering an equal price for the treasure that can kill President Richard.”
Even treasures with special effects can be exchanged for rewards in Fortress City.
The white-haired barbarian hero finally smiled when he heard this.
He turned around and looked at the main seat.
“As expected of Vice-President Richard, Lord Sel! This attack has shaken the foundation of the gray-colored dwarves.”
Sel knitted his eyebrows.
“Vice-President Richard, you’ve done well this time, but you’ve only taken the resources. You didn’t take over the city. It’s not enough to shake the dwarves’ foundation, correct?”
The white-haired barbarian hero shook his head.
“My Lord, the gray-colored dwarves can maintain their position as underground overlords. In addition to their strength, there is another reason… Everyone’s respect for the gray-colored dwarves.
“This is the soft power that the gray-colored dwarves have accumulated over hundreds of years.
“Now, Vice-President Richard has broken that respect and stepped on the gray-colored dwarves with a domineering attitude.
“As long as Vice-President Richard’s fine, they’ll lose all their dignity.
“That’s why they offered such a high reward!
“This isn’t just to kill the threat of Vice-President Richard, it’s also to protect the foundation of the gray-colored dwarves!”
As he said that, his face revealed some excitement.
“Vice-President Richard has created a remarkable opportunity for us. Now, it’s time for us to strike!”
When Sel heard this, he appeared thoughtful.
The messenger continued.
“When a giant is injured, the wild beasts around him will not think about helping him. Instead, they will think about how to get a piece of his flesh after he dies.
“As long as we can let the others see it, that giant is indeed going to fall… A pack of wild wolves won’t mind sharing a prey.”
Sel was enlightened when he heard this.
He then thought of the figure who rode the undead dragon and came to Bloodhoof City alone.
For some reason, he felt lucky.
It was unquestionably Bloodhoof City’s good fortune to ally with them.
Bloodhoof City would have become history if they had chosen the gray-colored dwarves.
He suppressed the emotions in his heart and said seriously.
“Then, let’s take action immediately. We can’t waste this opportunity.
“Let’s spread the news that the gray-colored dwarves are tough on the outside but weak on the inside. At the same time, enrage conflicts between the surrounding forces and the gray-colored dwarves.
“Then, send people to attack the dwarves’ various mineral veins. At the same time, spread the wealth contained in them.”
The white-haired barbarian hero nodded.
“That’s right. One or two times might not be enough to shake the gray-colored dwarves, but if we do it too many times, it will wipe their prestige. That will be when Bloodhoof City becomes the only overlord of the underground world.
Sel also smiled.
Bloodhoof City had waited for this day for far too long.
Then, he seemed to have thought of something and continued.
“Apart from that, we need to increase our efforts in purchasing weapons and equipment from other organizations.”
Sel had earned a considerable sum from his last trade in Bloodhoof City.
He had tasted the sweetness of it.
He treated the acquisition as the most important thing.
Another prison barbarian hero stood up and said hesitantly.
“Lord Sel, should our weapons department also produce…”
Sel shook his head.
“We can increase production, but we keep the higher-grade equipment first. We need more weapons for the upcoming war.
“To earn food isn’t our goal. Our goal is to unify the underworld!”
“Yes, my Lord.”
It wasn’t just Bloodhoof City that discussed this matter.
Almost all the underground factions discussed Richard.
The human lord from the surface had conquered seven gray-colored dwarf cities in three days.
After they plundered tons of wealth, he still retreated calmly.
The furious Fortress City had offered an astronomical price of 18 million units of food as a reward for the head of the human lord. As well as various treasures one could use to deal with the enemy.
This news swept through the underground world like a whirlwind.
The human lord amazed everyone from the surface.
It was something that had never happened in the underground world.
The human from the surface was too powerful!
He swayed countless people.
It was the instinct of all life to worship the strong, and the law of the jungle in the underground world deepened this worship.
But just as everyone waited for the surface lord’s next move…
It seemed to have evaporated from the world and disappeared without a trace.
However, it did not disappoint the expectations. Instead, curiosity and anticipation filled their thoughts.
They were curious about the human lord’s shocking move the next time he appeared.
A few gray-colored dwarves’ cities were left…
When the Fortress City sensed the disappearance of their arch-enemy, an indescribable atmosphere filled their perimeters.
This time, the Twilight City troops were already so crazy they attacked other gray-colored dwarf cities without fear.
Could the human lord’s next target be… Fortress City!
The gray-colored dwarves thought of the terrible consequences and suddenly fell into a prodigious panic.
Previously, they had absolute confidence that the human from the surface would not return.
However, the troops led by the human lord plundered their cities one by one, and they could not do anything to his powerful troops. Their confidence had quietly collapsed.
The gray-colored dwarves had never thought that even when Bloodhoof City was at its strongest, it did not make them feel uneasy.
But now, a human from the surface, who had just broken through to level 10, threatened them.
Richard’s feat of taking down seven cities in three days boosted his reputation in the underground world to an unstoppable level.
The number of people that headed toward Bloodhoof City had increased.
Some were there to seek refuge. While others were there to see if they could get the 18 million units of food reward…
In the underground tunnel.
Richard stood in front of the two-way portal. He looked at the troops that had returned to Twilight City.
His mood was better than ever.
The expedition to the underground world.
His gains were far beyond his expectations.
When he returned this time, Twilight City would unquestionably experience another wave of exaggerated development.
As Richard thought of this, he subconsciously opened his attribute panel.
He skipped over the ordinary resources and looked at the rare ones with a satisfied expression.
[Gemstone: 25329 units, Mercury: 54320 units, Sulfur: 12412 units, Crystal: 32306 units ]
This time, he had become rich…