"Do the dwarves of Giant Sand City seriously intend to communicate with us in this manner?"

  The succubus's face was etched with scorn.

  "Can't you muster some courage and refrain from cowering behind the city wall like those spineless goblins?"

  The dwarf leader's complexion fluctuated between a flush of anger and a pallor of frustration.

  Gritting his teeth, he leaped down from the city wall with a resolute thud.

  The other dwarves instantly tensed, assuming defensive stances.

  Approaching to within a little over ten meters of the succubus, the dwarf leader wore a solemn expression.

  "Succubus, what precisely are you driving at?"

  Karin folded her arms across her chest, her tone nonchalant.

  "You dwarves engaged the ogres of the Dragon's Lair Tribe, leading to a predicament, yet you expect our tribe to bear the brunt of the goblins' retaliation without just cause. Dwarves, you owe the Dragon's Lair Tribe a satisfactory explanation."

  The dwarf leader clenched his teeth. "But you all emerged unscathed, did you not?"

  "That's solely because of our might!"

  Karin scoffed disdainfully.

  "Those were elite goblins capable of effortlessly decimating your Giant Sand City. Had it been another tribe, they might well have been consigned to the annals of history."

  "If you fail to offer a reasonable recompense, we'll make our way to the headquarters of the Hot Sand Consortium. "

  "Don't overlook the fact that the goblins of the Hot Sand Consortium still possess two cities. "

  "Once we lay out the entire situation, do you suppose the goblins will opt to wage war against us or accept our terms and then settle the score with you, the instigators?"

  "You!!!" The dwarf leader seethed with rage. "Is this the wish of Chief Gorgin? Can you, a mere succubus, truly represent Chief Gorgin?"

  "The chief has entrusted me with the authority to make decisions regarding this matter, and these powerful ogres will abide by my commands!"

  The succubus stood her ground, advancing a step closer with each word. "Dwarves, make your decision now!"

  The dwarf leader gritted his teeth, his gaze flickering towards the ogres, who were brimming with eagerness to engage.

  The three-barreled machine gun exuded an imposing aura of intimidation. In terms of destructive power, it was in a league of its own compared to their tank shells.

  Moreover, its precision and rate of fire far surpassed what their steam tanks' projectiles could achieve.

  In the event of a conflict, this weapon could easily outmaneuver and overpower their steam tanks.

  He had never anticipated that the ogres would actually dismantle the machine gun and wield it by hand...

  "Suppose we forge another set of heavy armor identical to Chief Gorgin's. Would that suffice?"

  The dwarf leader steeled himself and put forth his proposal.

  "At least you're demonstrating some semblance of sincerity. However, one set is insufficient. We require three sets!"

  "This is simply out of the question..."

  "Hold your horses, dwarves."

  The succubus gestured gracefully towards the substantial pile of iron columns atop the Kodo beast.

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  "One set serves as the amends you owe our tribe, while the other two sets are part of our trade agreement. "

  "Take a good look at our iron materials and assess for yourself whether they're worth two sets of armor."

  The dwarf leader's features softened slightly.

  Forging armor to fit the towering ogres demanded an enormous quantity of iron.

  Offering even one set as compensation already felt like a painful sacrifice. Fortunately, this succubus wasn't being entirely unreasonable.

  He strode up to the Kodo beast, straining to stand on tiptoe in an attempt to get a better view of the iron materials.

  However, the disparity in height proved insurmountable, despite his efforts. It was a somewhat comical sight, yet it allowed him to discern the quality of the iron clearly.

  His expression was a curious blend of astonishment and bewilderment.

  He felt as though he had experienced more shock in this brief moment than in the entire preceding month.

  "The quality is truly exceptional. How on earth did you manage to produce such high-grade iron?"

  The dwarf leader was utterly incredulous.

  "When you visited our tribe previously, we saw no signs of any smelting furnaces. Moreover, iron materials of this caliber are beyond the capabilities of even our Giant Sand City to forge!"

  Dwarves, known for their straightforward nature, were incapable of pretense. They spoke the truth as they saw it.

  The corners of the succubus's lips curled up in a subtle smile.

  "You needn't concern yourself with the details. We have our great Chief Gorgin to thank for this. So, do you think this trade is a fair deal for you?"

  The dwarf leader's eyes were fixed on the stack of iron materials as he rapidly calculated in his mind.

  He estimated that, combined with the iron currently in the city and these superior-grade materials, there would still be at least a third of the iron remaining after forging the armor.

  Ordinarily, such a profit margin might be considered meager, but the exceptional quality of these iron columns made it a worthwhile proposition.

  "Agreed!" With that decisive thought, the dwarf leader reached a conclusion without hesitation.

  "Excellent. Now that we've concluded our business, let's turn our attention to a more personal matter."

  With the deal successfully brokered, the succubus felt a sense of relief wash over her.

  "Personal matter???"

  The dwarf leader's brows furrowed in confusion.

  "What, do you intend to simply sit back and await the arrival of the Hot Sand Consortium's headquarters to annihilate you?"

  Karin crouched down, her gaze level with the dwarf, who reached only up to her waist.

  "The goblins have suffered a significant defeat this time. They're certain to seek retribution. It's entirely possible that they'll even attempt to hire us. "

  "In that scenario, with the combined forces of the Hot Sand Consortium and our ogres, how long do you think your Giant Sand City can withstand the onslaught?"

  The succubus lightly prodded the dwarf's chest, her voice laced with a seductive undertone.

  "Although the goblins are despicable, what concern is it of ours? If they can offer a suitable incentive, we're open to accepting employment from anyone."

  " Given our two mutually beneficial trades in the past, I'm being candid with you. Now, the decision lies in the hands of your Giant Sand City."

  The dwarf leader's heart, which had just begun to relax, tightened once more.

  Judging by Chief Gorgin's temperament, the succubus's words carried a distinct possibility of becoming a reality!

  "Dwarves do not cower in the face of adversity!"

  The dwarf leader's expression was one of grave determination.

  "However, we relied on your ogres' assistance even to attack a minor city of the Hot Sand Consortium. Confronting their headquarters is a formidable challenge beyond our capabilities..."

  A sense of bitterness welled up within the dwarf leader.

  Giant Sand City was a relatively small settlement, boasting a population of less than ten thousand and only five hundred full-time warriors.

  If it hadn't been for the imperative to retrieve their tribespeople and the pilfered materials, they would never have dared to provoke the Hot Sand Consortium.

  Yet, having taken action, they now found themselves in this precarious situation.

  The goblins of the Hot Sand Consortium, smarting from their defeat, were bound to seek revenge, solidifying the enmity between them.

  "Chief Gorgin is deeply incensed by the goblins' actions. Should you dwarves of Giant Sand City decide to take action, we're prepared to lend our support."

  The succubus's words ignited a glimmer of hope in the dwarf leader's heart.

  "Are you genuinely willing to intervene?"

  "Ah, but although I've only had the opportunity to meet Chief Gorgin once, I'm aware that he's not one to act without expecting a return. "

  "What motivation would you have to assist us otherwise?"

  "Indeed... we do have certain conditions."

  The succubus shook her head vigorously.

  "No one in their right mind would undertake such a task without expecting something in return."

  "What are your terms?"

  The dwarf leader braced himself for what he anticipated to be exorbitant demands.

  "It pertains not to you dwarves. Once we've vanquished the Hot Sand Consortium, we'll have the first pick of the slaves, and those goblin craftsmen will become our property. "

  "Additionally, you'll be responsible for providing supplies for the ogres."

  The succubus laid bare her true objectives.

  "Is that all?" The dwarf leader could scarcely believe his ears.

  "Indeed, but this arrangement will only come into effect once the three sets of armor are successfully forged. After all, I must ensure the safety of the ogres and prevent any casualties."

  The succubus elaborated, "The timeline is in your hands, dwarves.

  The sooner you complete the forging, the sooner the Hot Sand Consortium will meet its downfall.

  Should you delay and find yourselves under attack, we'll not be held accountable."

  The dwarf leader nodded solemnly, his expression one of gravity.