The dwarves were in full retreat, while Gorgin, accompanied by the gnolls, made his way through the now - devastated city of the Hot Sand Consortium.

  The cities in this region were worlds apart from those on Blue Star.

  The goblins' edifices were shockingly low; their three - story buildings didn't even reach Gorgin's height.

  The ogres had amassed a fair number of corpses, planning to consume them during the journey, but Gorgin unceremoniously discarded them all.

  This place had once been home to numerous goblins, and they'd stockpiled a significant amount of dried meat. Additionally, there was a small oasis, enabling them to replenish their water supplies.

  With readily - available food, there was no need to resort to eating corpses.

  The dwarves had pillaged the area thoroughly, leaving the goblins with nothing.

  They'd also made off with all the goblins' machinery.

  Although the technological systems differed, with some modification back in their own territory, these machines could bring about substantial enhancements.

  Gorgin remained unfazed.

  The dwarves had hired him to help breach this place, and they'd already paid the reward upfront.

  Naturally, everything following the conquest rightfully belonged to the dwarves.

  Gorgin adhered to the principle that each line of work had its own set of rules.

  The dwarves were extremely xenophobic.

  They abandoned all the slaves except their own kind.

  Apart from the four slaves hand - picked by Gorgin, the rest were left to their own devices.

  Over a hundred slaves wailed and pleaded, hoping the dwarves would take them along.

  Ending up in the hands of the dwarves was far preferable to being captured by the goblins.

  At least the dwarves were an orderly race and didn't engage in such heinous forms of torture.

  However, the dwarves paid them no heed.

  They rescued their captive tribesmen and then departed.

  The deal was concluded, and since their paths no longer converged, they naturally parted ways.

  Moreover, despite the ogres' reputation for trustworthiness, the dwarves, having reaped a rich haul, were still somewhat wary that the ogres might double - cross them.

  The ogres' combat prowess was formidable.

  That goblin mining excavator, which could match a siege tank in strength, had been instantaneously defeated by the ogre chief.

  If the ogres harbored malicious intent, the dwarves would surely be in dire straits.

  The dwarves drove the commandeered goblin transport vehicles back, loaded to the brim with spoils.

  Gorgin watched them in astonishment.

  "Is their house on fire? Why are they in such a rush..."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Shaking his head, he turned his attention away from the dwarves.

  After all, the transaction was complete.

  With the dwarves of Giant Sand City spreading the word, the reputation of his service area should start to spread.

  Starting anything was always difficult, and Gorgin was no longer impatient.

  At the very least, he now had a mount, a suit of fine - iron armor, and an additional weapon - related passive ability called "Krummashaaar!!!".

  In the short time since he'd taken over the ogre tribe, which had remained stagnant during his father's long reign, this progress was already highly encouraging.

  Gorgin was quite content with the situation.

  In this vast expanse of desert and gobi, how many ambitious souls had met their doom? Irrespective of race, contentment was key.

  An ogre, recognized as the one who had slain the most enemies (this kill - count competition excluded Nu, who, armed with a weapon capable of inflicting fire damage and being the second - most powerful fighter among the ogres after Gorgin, was in a league of his own), sidled up with an obsequious smile.

  "Are you... Gang?"

  "Gang!!" The ogre named Gang thumped his chest vigorously, affirming his identity.

  "Did you kill the most?" Gorgin was somewhat skeptical. But then he reminded himself that ogres were not known for their guile, and if the claim were false, the other tribesmen wouldn't stand for it.

  Sensing Gorgin's doubt, Gang pointed urgently at the disgruntled - looking tribesmen behind him.

  "Alright, then. Here... This is my weapon. Its attacks can deal fire damage, just like Nu's. Give it a try."

  Gang wiped his dirty hands on his body, his eyes ablaze with excitement, yet his face attempting to maintain a semblance of solemnity.

  He accepted the large bone hammer proffered by Gorgin and unleashed a powerful swing at a nearby goblin hut.

  Boom~~ The goblin hut crumbled, and a burst of flames immediately engulfed it.

  "Krummashaaar!!! Krummashaaar!!!"

  Gang hoisted the big bone hammer high, flaunting it triumphantly to the other ogres.

  Nu snorted disdainfully and stroked his own big bone hammer.

  After all, his was the first weapon bestowed by the chief; this one was merely second - rate...

  "Scram! Get out of here!" Gorgin impatiently kicked Gang in the rear. Gang scurried off, bowing and scraping, to show off his new - found treasure.

  Truth be told, Gorgin felt a twinge of envy.

  As a sentient being with rational thought, he simply couldn't wholeheartedly believe that a weapon that resembled an ordinary big bone club could unleash flames...

  No matter how hard he tried to convince himself, he couldn't overcome this mental block.

  This unique property required absolute, unwavering belief without the slightest hint of doubt.

  Neither Gorgin nor his mother, horne, could achieve this.

  "Huh?" In a corner of the goblin city square, a blue box caught Gorgin's eye.

  "Go and check what's in that box." Gorgin directed the gnoll trailing him.

  The gnoll obediently made its way to the indicated spot and rummaged around but found no sign of the box Gorgin had mentioned.

  "Eh?" Gorgin's eyes widened in surprise as he witnessed the gnoll's body pass right through the blue box.

  "Great chief, we have no idea what box you're referring to..."

  The gnoll, its tail between its legs, knelt before Gorgin, its voice quivering slightly.

  "Never mind. You lot go wait outside the city."

  Gorgin waved his hand, dismissing them. The gnolls complied and left without hesitation.

  "Wow~~" Gorgin gasped in admiration. "Could this be... the legendary treasure chest?"

  "No wonder those dwarves overlooked such an obvious chest. It seems... this is a privilege exclusive to us from Blue Star!!!"

  Earlier, he'd been referring to the locals as "natives," but now, upon spotting the chest, he was quick to claim his Blue Star identity.

  Gorgin's double - standards were on full display.

  Gorgin rubbed his hands in anticipation, approached the chest, and crouched down.

  He gingerly pinched the lid of the chest with two fingers and lifted it.

  A brilliant blue light spilled out, and in an instant, a giant scorpion emerged from behind the box and launched an attack directly at Gorgin.

  Compared to humans, this scorpion, the size of a millstone, was indeed colossal.

  But for the ogre chief, against whom even the bullets from a fire gun were like mere toothpicks.

  "What are you up to?" Gorgin stared at the scorpion with a dark - blue body, its tail wedged in the gap of his armor, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

  "Don't tell me you're the only thing in my treasure chest? If so, I'm going to be really ticked off!"

  Gorgin paid no further attention to the scorpion and quickly fixed his gaze on the chest.

  Thankfully, there was a blueprint inside.

  He delicately picked up the blueprint, and the corresponding information instantly materialized in Gorgin's mind.

  [Metal Smelting Furnace (Construction Blueprint)]

  [Quality: Blue]

  [Introduction: A fire - powered smelting furnace. Once activated, it will create an immovable metal smelting furnace. By inputting materials, it can extract the specified metals.]

  [Extractable metals: Iron, Copper, Aluminum]

  "Wow???"

  Gorgin was elated.

  This meant that his ogre tribe now had the means to extract metals from the sand!

  With this windfall, even the little scorpion, still stubbornly attacking him, seemed more endearing.