Encountering a blue - quality treasure chest on his first try and obtaining a highly practical item from it, Gorgin was in an extremely buoyant mood.

  Regarding potential perils... The blue scorpion, as large as a millstone, was unmistakably of the poison - type.

  Both its massive pincers and the stinger at the tip of its tail were lethally dangerous to humans.

  Additionally, the scorpion's tough exoskeleton was likely impervious even to an ordinary small - caliber pistol.

  As the guardian of a blue - tier treasure chest, an average person might manage to open it but stand little chance of walking away with the loot.

  Moreover, this treasure chest was situated in the square of the goblin city.

  Even if someone possessed the means to subdue the venomous scorpion, they might lack the ability to penetrate the goblin city's defenses.

  This incident deeply intrigued Gorgin.

  Why was there a treasure chest in the goblin city when he had yet to spot one in his own tribe? In terms of might, although his Dragon's Lair Tribe boasted only twenty ogres, their combat prowess was formidable.

  Surely, they couldn't be completely devoid of treasure chests?

  Gorgin resolved to conduct a comprehensive search upon his return.

  With treasure chests, every one discovered was a boon.

  Besides, his tribe was like a forbidden zone to the humans from Blue Star.

  The treasure chests here should at least be of blue quality, right? Just the thought of it made Gorgin's curiosity spike.

  On his way back, he chanced upon the imprisoned slaves.

  They were from common races.

  In this desert, the most prevalent races were humans, orcs, trolls, and goblins.

  These four races had remarkable reproductive capabilities and the largest populations.

  Other races such as elves, dwarves, and gnomes had far fewer cities or tribes and significantly smaller populations compared to the big four.

  However, in this dog - eat - dog world, one's race mattered little; one's own tribe or city was of utmost importance.

  Everyone else could be considered an enemy, even those of the same race.

  Among the nearly one - hundred slaves, the majority were humans and orcs, with a smattering of trolls.

  As for goblins... Although the Hot Sand Consortium was also a goblin - run city, they had no use for goblin slaves.

  Goblin slaves had no market outside.

  It wasn't that goblins held their own kind in contempt; rather, goblin slaves were so undesirable that even dogs wouldn't bother with them.

  These slaves were mired in despair.

  The goblins had been routed by the dwarves, and the dwarves had departed.

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  Now, only the ogres remained.

  This was even worse than when the goblins were around...

  Nevertheless, their pitiable expressions tugged at Gorgin's heartstrings.

  Oh well~ Who said he was such a soft - hearted soul?

  "Nu."

  "Yeah~" Nu came bounding over, clutching his big bone hammer with a wide grin.

  "Pick ten slaves who are relatively combat - capable.

  Prioritize orcs or trolls, and no humans."

  Pointing at the slaves, Gorgin turned to leave.

  "What about the rest...?" Nu stammered.

  "You mean what to do with the remaining ones, right?"

  Gorgin extended his hand and made a slashing motion under his neck.

  "Use your strength. Give them a good beating, and then you know the drill."

  "Make it quick. We're getting set to head home."

  "Ooh!!!" Nu scratched his head. It was so convoluted.

  He felt like his brain was about to overload...

  He mimicked Gorgin's gesture under his neck.

  What did it mean? Nu shrugged.

  He couldn't fathom it...

  Selecting those who could fight?

  Nu's selection criteria were simple. The bigger the size and the more muscular, the more combat - worthy.

  Eight orcs and two trolls were the slaves Nu had chosen.

  The ten selected slaves felt as if they had been spared from the jaws of death.

  All the slaves had heard what the ogre chief said, so they knew full well what awaited those not chosen.

  The remaining slaves wailed and thrashed about, desperately trying to prove their worth, but Nu paid them no heed.

  In the tribe, he only heeded the chief and his mother.

  As for others...

  Not even the Almighty could sway him. In Nu's worldview, Gorgin > horne > the Almighty.

  In full view of the ten fortunate slaves, Nu entered the slave cell with a cruel smirk.

  Heart - rending screams filled the air, and the ten slaves quaked in fear.

  They were only marginally stronger among these slaves, but to the ogres, they were still as feeble as chicks.

  Not to mention the other ogres drawn by the screams.

  The ten newly - freed slaves didn't dare to resist in the slightest.

  Those ogres were just waiting for them to put up a fight so they could dispose of them without regard for the chief's orders.

  Starting a fire and having a barbecue, these ogres could always sate their hunger.

  The ogres of the Dragon's Lair Tribe finally embarked on their return journey.

  This time, there were ten additional slaves, three female elves, and a woman from Blue Star.

  The team of gnolls was tasked with guarding them.

  Ordinarily, either an orc or a troll could effortlessly overpower these four gnolls, but they didn't dare to make a move.

  Not only was there an ogre chief clad in full - plate heavy armor, but also a two - headed ogre mage. Only a fool would entertain any other foolish notions.

  horne, Gorgin's mother, was quite critical of bringing back ten slaves.

  The left head said, "What did you bring back all this useless lot for?"

  The right head added, "Yes, son. We're not exactly rolling in resources."

  Gorgin smiled and reassured, "Don't worry. I have a plan for the next phase.

  I need to make use of a few slaves. Mainly, the number of our tribesmen is too meager."

  "And their intelligence... They're simply not fit to be entrusted with crucial tasks."

  horne was taken aback.

  The left head asked, "What's your plan?"

  The right head inquired, "What are you going to do?"

  Gorgin replied, "I intend to engage in some trade with those dwarves.

  I'm going to construct a smelting furnace and exchange the iron I smelt for their goods."

  "At that time, we'll need these slaves who can communicate and fight to handle the trading."

  horne's left head exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind?"

  horne's right head said, "The goblins' smelting furnace has been carted off. Do you plan to chase after them now and snatch it back?"

  horne seemed eager for a bit of mayhem. She relished the idea of a double - cross.

  In her view, those puny dwarves could be routed with a single charge.

  "No, no, no, Mom. I have my own strategy. It's just a smelting furnace. I have something far better in mind."

  "And Mom, we're businessmen now. We must uphold our integrity. When more people come to us for business, we won't have to resort to those hit - and - run, hand - to - mouth robberies anymore."

  "So, stop thinking about double - crossing others all the time. We need to be civilized~~" Gorgin said earnestly.

  horne, with her two heads and four eyes, stared at Gorgin, who was seated on the back of the kodo beast and had nearly stripped a female elf bare.

  Just considering their heights, the size difference wasn't as staggering as one might assume.

  One was over five meters tall, and the other was two meters, similar to the gap between an adult and a child.

  However, the vast difference in body proportions made the slender elf resemble an oversized doll.

  Hmm... So much for civilization.

  horne was at a loss for words.

  Her son was great in many respects, full of ideas and with formidable strength.

  The only quirk was his inexplicable fondness for these weaklings.

  She truly couldn't fathom why an ogre would be drawn to these delicate races...