Recently, there simply hadn't been any time to gather seasonings, so there was no hope of improving tonight's meal.
However, the spoils looted from the goblins were rather plentiful.
In particular, the food supplies were quite abundant.
There was more than enough dried meat and water to go around for the evening's meal.
Nevertheless, only a select few would partake in this spread.
The ogres, as the preeminent group within the tribe, were naturally the main beneficiaries.
The rewarded managers, namely Karin, Karlov, and the Dog Captain, were also invited to join in.
Next in line were the long - serving attendants of the Pleasure House and the gnolls.
They would eat last but would still have their fill. Finally, there were the newly arrived slaves and attendants.
They received only meager food scraps and a small quantity of water.
Nonetheless, for the slaves who had endured the harsh treatment of the goblins, this was more than satisfactory.
Especially the newly added woman from Blue Star, who was still trying to come to terms with her new circumstances.
Gorgin couldn't be bothered to intervene.
He was solely concerned that his Pleasure House had expanded once again today, which meant more options for future clientele.
As for the origin of these attendants, Gorgin paid it no mind.
After savoring a satisfying meal, Gorgin retrieved the two large bone hammers from his dwelling and tossed them to the waiting ogres.
Without needing any instruction, the ogres scooped up their weapons as if they were cradling precious treasures.
Without Gorgin's prompting, they were able to activate the fire - based attacks on their own.
Gang had spent the entire day flaunting his weapon, and these two ogres had been impatiently waiting for their turn.
Once everyone had dispersed, Gorgin embarked on a thorough search of the tribe, hoping to uncover a treasure chest.
He immediately excluded his own house, as the recent demolition and reconstruction had been under his watchful eye, leaving no room for a treasure chest to appear unnoticed.
Gorgin then began rummaging through the huts of all the tribe members.
At long last, his perseverance paid off.
In the corner of his mother's hut, he stumbled upon a magnificent purple treasure chest.
While this discovery filled Gorgin with elation, it also kindled a sense of resentment.
Why, of all places, had the chest appeared in his mother's hut? Was this a slight to his status as the tribe's chief?
Gorgin had already pieced together the truth.
In addition to randomly spawning in the wild, treasure chests had a fixed appearance within native tribes like his own.
Moreover, their quality was consistently high.
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Whether it was his Dragon's Lair Tribe or the city of the Hot Sand Consortium, they merely served as guardians of these treasure chests.
Oh no! Gorgin was jolted by a realization.
Did this mean he had been reduced to an NPC?
Fortunately, he had installed the player system, enabling him to open the chest himself.
This was a purple treasure chest, one rung higher on the quality ladder than the blue one from the Hot Sand Consortium.
This was a stroke of incredible luck for the Dragon's Lair Tribe!
Under his mother's quizzical gaze, Gorgin pried open the purple treasure chest.
A thunderous roar erupted, and his mother's four eyes blazed with a menacing red glow.
In an instant, she unleashed a Fireblast spell, hurtling it directly at Gorgin.
"Damn it! Mom!!!" Gorgin was taken aback.
Despite his position as the tribe's chief, he knew full well that he was no match for his mother.
The redness in the eyes of horne's left head gradually subsided.
"Gor... Gorgin..."
The intensity of the red in the eyes of horne's right head also diminished significantly.
"Why do you seem so infuriating tonight?"
The right head then fixed a scathing glare at the left head.
"You nearly blasted our son with that damned Fireblast spell! You imbecile!"
The left head, its eyes no longer focused on the red - eyed fury, shot back. "You're talking nonsense! If you hadn't started with such a calm demeanor, would I have been able to cast the Fireblast spell so quickly?"
The right head let out a weary sigh.
"Sharing a body with this idiot every day is truly exasperating~"
The left head seethed with anger.
"The idiot is next to you! You're sitting next to a colossal idiot!"
The right head conceded with a helpless nod.
"Fine, fine, you win, you win."
"Gorgin, are you alright?"
The right head of horne inquired with genuine concern.
"I'm okay, but what on earth just happened?"
"I have no idea. What did you do? Why did my eyes turn red in an instant, and I felt an overwhelming urge to kill you?"
The left head of horne shook its head in confusion.
Gorgin stared at the purple treasure chest at his feet, lost in thought.
It seemed clear...
His mother was the formidable guardian boss of this purple treasure chest.
How fascinating...
If not for Gorgin, it was almost unfathomable how those Blue Star humans could ever hope to claim this purple treasure chest.
Disregarding the ogres outside, just consider his mother, horne.
The reputation of a two - headed ogre mage was well - earned.
She was a powerhouse, a turret - style mage whose close - combat prowess rivaled that of the chief himself.
Satisfied that Gorgin was unharmed, the two heads of horne continued their bickering as they exited the hut.
It was evident that her son had encountered something extraordinary, and it was best to afford him some space.
Although horne remained silent on the matter, she understood this implicitly.
Gorgin watched his mother's retreating figure with a warm smile.
Who dared to claim that just because the system had "abandoned" him, he had no hidden advantages?
His mother, with her rationality, unwavering love and protection for her son, and non - interference in his decisions, combined with her formidable combat abilities, was the ultimate advantage.
Frankly, even if all the ogres outside were wiped out, as long as his mother remained, the Dragon's Lair Tribe would continue to rule with impunity!
Putting these musings aside for the moment, Gorgin refocused his attention on the contents of the treasure chest.
This was a purple treasure chest, after all.
The previous blue chest had bestowed upon the tribe the ability to smelt, so this higher - quality chest held even greater promise.
[Branding of the Loyal Rock]
[Quality: Purple]
[Description: You and the tribe members who are unwaveringly loyal to you will receive the Branding of the Rock and bear a rock - themed pattern (selectable location).]
[Branding of the Rock: Passive effect. Grants a layer of magic - infused rock skin, providing substantial resistance to both physical and magical damage.]
[Please select the location for the pattern]
Gorgin deliberated briefly before responding, "The outer left arm."
[Generated.]
The reward vanished from sight. Gorgin lifted his left arm to examine it.
A rock - like pattern, similar to a tattoo, now adorned his skin.
He could distinctly feel a surge of energy coursing through his body, an indication of the rock skin's activation.
Just as Gorgin was about to depart, he noticed that there was still an item in the chest.
"Damn it?"
One chest, two treasures?
He reached in and retrieved a blueprint.
[Armor - Piercing Enchantment Workbench]
[Quality: Purple]
[Introduction: Creates a workbench capable of applying a consumable armor - piercing effect to weapons.]
Now, Gorgin's elation knew no bounds.
The ogres' attacks, already potent as blunt - force strikes, would become even more devastating with the addition of an armor - piercing effect.
Even the poisoned crossbow bolts of the gnolls, when enhanced with the armor - piercing property, would pose a significant threat to most unarmored or lightly armored foes.
This was an absolute windfall!
While it might not immediately enhance his personal comfort, increased strength was the cornerstone of a prosperous existence.
Wasn't it?
