Jose and Ergou discussed for a long time; they talked about how to brainwash new recruits with the art of language and increase their loyalty. They thought of slogans, rituals, honor, and so on. After perfecting some details, they finally came up with the completed plan.
“Master, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave first.”
“Wait.”
Jose looked at his first follower closely.
The first time represented a singular experience. It was a starting point from unfamiliarity to familiarity, moving from ignorance to maturity. It was precisely because of the uniqueness and importance of the first time that it was extremely memorable.
Jose thought very highly of his first follower.
However, for a long time, he realized that this subordinate of his had barely any ambition. Other than completing the mission that was given to him, he had no other desires. This did not conform to his biological nature.
Actually, Jose could have chosen to explore his follower’s mind through the contract.
He did not want to do that, but it was not out of moral restraint. Rather, he had his own concerns — things like magic and contracts were just too convenient. He was worried that he might become dependent on magic and lose the ability to perceive the world through his eyes.
“What do you desire, Ergou?”
Ergou did not expect his master to ask such a question. He was stunned for a moment before replying, “I want to serve my master.”
Jose did not deny this. Ergou was very serious about his work. The tasks that he completed always exceeded expectations.
“What else?”
Ergou lowered his head in thought for a long time. He then said softly, “To become stronger.”
So that was it.
Jose suddenly realized that his follower had the same thoughts as him. One’s own strength was the foundation of everything.
Actually, in Jose’s mind, wealth, family, and even his home could be abandoned when necessary. As long as his strength was still around, he could still obtain these things from another place.
“Master, I’m very confused. I don’t know how to proceed with life in the future.”
Jose nodded as he could understand Ergou’s thoughts; he had faced similar troubles as well.
Like the dragons, the Dragon Warlock’s magic power grew with age, and they would naturally awaken new magic and become stronger. However, the bloodline gifts from their ancestors had their limits.
Many Warlocks with foresight and resources would delve into another class as the cultivation of their bloodline reached its end. Among them, the mage class was the most popular and promising path.
Jose intended to take that route too.
However, spellcasters were not warriors who could awaken by being full. Wealth, talent, a proper teacher, and time investment were indispensable.
“Don’t be anxious, my servant. I promise you that in a few years, all your worries will cease to exist.” With that said, he waved his claws to indicate that his servant could leave.
After receiving the promise, Ergou’s brows relaxed. He bowed respectfully and left.
The next day.
The five kobold tribes sent a total of 222 young warriors according to the orders of the Red Dragon. The warriors also brought with them the ore ingots that the tribes had accumulated over a long period of time from their three iron ore mines and one copper mine.
As for the gold mine, its production was very small. The gold offered by Hasa was already all that they had.
Soda had specifically made room in the abandoned fourth living area and led the new warriors through the mine for training there, while Ergou directed his tribesmen to move the metal ingots into the warehouses.
Through Ergou’s eyes, Jose saw a towering metal mountain that reached the top of the cave. He was happy but also troubled.
Copper ingots and iron ingots were very valuable because they had a wide range of uses. They could be used to forge coins and weapons and armor. Kept in a warehouse, these metal ingots were basically worthless.
The craftsmanship of the kobolds… was terrible. They could only create molds, pour molten iron into them, and polish the results.
That would not do. He planned to attack when the winter was about to end, when the snow had yet to melt, while the moss skin gnolls were hungry and weak.
After the gnolls had just survived the winter, they would be at their weakest. The kobolds had plenty of food, and after months of combat training, Jose could not think of a reason why they would lose, so he planned to use this battle as a trial and a test for his followers.
“To convert these iron ingots into actual combat power, I need a batch of excellent blacksmiths.” Jose pinched his chin and thought for a while before deciding to ask the boarman merchant if he had any ideas.
He connected to the boarman merchant through the contract and discovered that he had already left the harpy tribe and was on his way back.
“Eh? Have you recovered? You left so soon?”
With the voice of the Red Dragon coming from the depths of his mind, Hulk, the boarman merchant, was stunned at first before reacting. “Master? Oh, it’s like this. I don’t want to see those harpies for even an additional moment. Damn it! They are simply a nightmare!”
Jose could sense his fear from the mental connection. From the looks of it, the boarman had been traumatized by the harpies.
What a sad story!
He did not know how to comfort this mentally traumatized follower, so he could only change the topic. “Hulk, do you know where to hire excellent blacksmiths?”
Hulk said without hesitation, “In Sun Sail Harbor, as long as the price is suitable, even Dwarven Master Blacksmiths can be commissioned.”
“Dwarven Blacksmiths… I have to say, it’s very tempting.”
Jose considered this for a moment but then dismissed the idea. For one thing, the price of hiring dwarves was too high, and their status was too troublesome. It would also not be easy to kidnap them.
On the other hand, it was not as if he wanted to forge any divine weapons. A slightly better human blacksmith could satisfy his needs.
“I don’t need a dwarf. I just want to make some weapons and armor for the kobolds. A blacksmith who’s above average is enough. Do you have any recommendations?”
“Let me think about it.” The boarman merchant paused before continuing, “I’ve got it. There’s a tribe of black-hoofed tauren at the edge of the Triangle Plains. There’s a blacksmith called Hebul there. He had once worked as an apprentice for a Dwarven Master Blacksmith at Sun Sail Harbor. When he returned to the tribe, he taught them how to forge iron so that they could make a living on the plains. They have a good reputation.”
Jose recalled the information about the tauren. The tauren were an ancient nomadic tribe that still retained their ancient totem-worship customs. All along, the taurens had given the outside world the impression that they were extremely strong and honest.
Of course, racial impressions represented the overall image. As for individuals… there could be all sorts of oddballs.
There was once a tauren adventurer who had used the excuse of buying grains for his tribe to ask his employer for a large salary in advance. With his good performance in the early stages and the tauren race’s honest and good reputation, there were really people who believed him. In the end, the tauren adventurer went missing after obtaining the sum of money.
But in any case, there were only a few of them that were this vile. Taurens were a decent race.
“Alright, I want these taurens. I’ll leave the hiring to you.”
“Eh?! Wait! Master! According to the habits of the great Red Dragon, shouldn’t you go to them and directly capture them?!”
Jose: “…”
In fact, what the boarman follower meant was that according to the dragon race’s habit of not spending a single cent of their wealth, shouldn’t he go knock on their doors, kidnap them, imprison them, and squeeze them dry?
“My servant, you have just joined and do not know me very well. I am very different from ordinary Red Dragons. I do not mind spending a little money to achieve my goal, but if anyone dares to play tricks on me…”
The Red Dragon’s tone gradually became low, and the boarman merchant shivered.
“You will get what you want, I assure you, Master.”