Ten days in this vast and boundless desert - gobi world were but a fleeting moment.

  For the native inhabitants, barring any unforeseen events, most boasted long lifespans, and those ten days held little significance.

  Yet, for the Blue Star people who had to open chests to procure supplies and treasures here, each day was an agonizing ordeal.

  These chests, visible only to the Blue Star folks, seemed almost out of place in this world.

  One could find just about anything within them.

  Consider that man who had been completely digested by Nu and expelled as waste.

  Astonishingly, he'd unearthed a beginner - level fire magic skill from a chest, and it had no usage prerequisites.

  Given more time, it was anyone's guess what extraordinary items these humans might extract from the chests.

  The world channel remained abuzz.

  Having weathered the initial hardships and culled the weak and unlucky, those who persevered had proven their mettle and managed to survive.

  They'd also acquired some means of self - protection and even initiated exchanges of supplies on the trading channel.

  Gorgin, who frequently eavesdropped on their conversations, noted that the most valuable item these people had revealed was a blue chest.

  From it, someone had retrieved a shotgun capable of being charged to fire five bullets daily.

  Moreover, the frequency of people obtaining seasonings from the chests had dwindled. This left Gorgin feeling rather disgruntled.

  It seemed patently unfair to the indigenous population.

  Why were only humans privy to these chests? Thankfully, he himself could also see them.

  Over those ten days, the two Blue Star women gradually acclimated to life here.

  Just as the long - time attendants had assured them, without the chief's decree, no ogre would lay a hand on them.

  The only unsettling aspect was that the ogres still eyed them as if they were a sumptuous meal.

  They shared their experiences on the world channel, only to be met with envy from many.

  "Ogres? Are they the ones from Western fantasy novels, the ones with one or two heads and a bloated midsection?"

  "Sisters, you've really struck gold! You don't have to toil away every day, enjoy three square meals, and can drink water to your heart's content. While others are still scouring for chests and survival resources daily, you've essentially 'beaten the game'..."

  "I'm just saying, could you plead with that chief to relax the gender criteria? I'm quite skilled with my mouth. I could even fish a coin out of a hunk of rotten meat!"

  "I'm flabbergasted. I got a bottle of mineral water from a chest and haven't finished it in three days, and you two are already taking baths..."

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  "Share your location! Even though I wasn't the campus belle in school, I was the class belle! I'm young and fresh! I could also serve the chief like a domineering CEO!"

  Confronted with these messages and private chats, the two women were left bewildered as to whether their situation here was a blessing or a curse.

  He Qingqing, nearly 1.7 meters tall, appeared like a diminutive doll beside Gorgin, an adult. All they could do was sigh...

  However, once Gorgin's initial infatuation waned, he still found succubi and elves more alluring.

  One exuded an otherworldly charm, and the other an air of elegance; they were truly distinct.

  Ten days later, the dwarves from Giant Sand City arrived punctually.

  A colossal airship hovered in the sky, with three mammoth bombs suspended beneath the gondola and three cannons flanking each side.

  On the ground, a steam tank was trailed by a hundred heavily - armed dwarf warriors, brandishing battle axes or war hammers and shouldering rugged shotguns.

  "Wow, an army and an air force. Is this the might of Giant Sand City?" Gorgin was somewhat surprised, though not overly so.

  The fact that the dwarves of Giant Sand City were willing to shell out such a high price to hire the ogres was testament to the ogres' formidable capabilities.

  Those bombs and cannons, unless they scored a direct hit on an ogre, would at most inflict a minor wound.

  And once an ogre closed in on the steam tank, while lifting it was out of the question, three ogres working in tandem could easily overturn it.

  After all, they'd inscribed the Featherlight Spell on it.

  The dwarves collaborated to unload the armor from the steam tank. The dwarf leader fixed his gaze on Gorgin from a distance and declared, "The armor is forged. The dwarves have honored their promise. What of the ogres'?"

  Gorgin promptly urged his mother to try on the armor.

  To his astonishment, both of his mother's heads declined.

  The left head stated, "I'm a mage. I've no need for it."

  The right head added, "You're the chief. It's safer for you to wear."

  Gorgin attempted to persuade her further, but his mother grew exasperated.

  The left head snapped, "Cease your prattling! Put it on when I tell you to."

  The right head threatened, "Don't force me to slap you in front of these outsiders."

  Gorgin shrugged in resignation.

  What else could he do? He hoisted the armor and began donning it.

  When the ponderous armor enshrouded Gorgin, leaving only his head exposed, a menacing aura rippled through the onlookers.

  Ogres were already fearsome in appearance, and with this armor, he resembled a veritable instrument of death.

  Horne, with her two heads and four eyes, wore an expression of satisfaction, both for Gorgin and the armor.

  As a mother, when presented with something fine, her first thought was invariably for her offspring.

  The dwarves from Giant Sand City were taken aback.

  They'd never fathomed that the ogre chief's load - bearing capacity would be so astounding.

  The thickness of this heavy armor was on par with that of their steam tank, yet the ogre chief before them donned it with such ease.

  With the already - powerful ogre now outfitted in this heavy armor, what on this continent could possibly pose a threat to this behemoth?

  Gorgin was equally pleased.

  Although the armor was a tad heavy, it was manageable. After all, that fellow Kash had contributed a kodo beast.

  "Chief of the Dragon's Lair Tribe, can you now fulfill your pledge?"

  The dwarf leader inquired gravely.

  If the ogres reneged on their promise, they'd be in dire straits.

  "Absolutely! My friend, I'll gather some provisions, and we'll be off in no time!"

  Gorgin guffawed heartily, evidently delighted with this jet - black heavy armor.

  The dwarves heaved a sigh of relief.

  If they engaged in combat due to the other side's lack of integrity, even if they didn't suffer a defeat, it would be a pyrrhic victory.

  Gorgin directed his underlings to fetch some food.

  Each ogre slung several water bags, stitched from animal skins, over their shoulders. Nu also led the kodo beast forward.

  Gorgin designated five ogres to remain behind and guard the premises and set off with a gnoll patrol.

  He also issued an order to Karlov, instructing him to hasten the progress and informing him that these five ogres would temporarily assist him.

  Karlov was thus granted temporary command over these five ogres in the construction of the chief's dwelling.

  However, Gorgin's stipulation was that he expected to move in upon his return; otherwise, Karlov would be "rewarded" with additional tasks.

  Karlov was loath to take on this assignment, but he had no choice in the matter.

  The dwarves from Giant Sand City led fifteen ogres and set out towards the domain of the Hot Sand Consortium.