After not checking the trading channel for over a day, Gorgin discovered a substantial number of messages from individuals eager to trade with him.

  Whether it was due to a high density of treasure chests scattered outside or the large influx of people, countless folks had managed to obtain items from these chests.

  However, Gorgin remained uncertain if he could see these treasure chests, which, as far as he knew, were visible only to people from the Blue Planet.

  Logically speaking, despite being a hybrid, his soul hailed from the Blue Planet.

  Otherwise, he wouldn't possess this interface that emerged only after everyone from the Blue Planet had been teleported to this world.

  But then, why hadn't he encountered a single treasure chest yet?

  Most of those messaging Gorgin to trade were merely taking a shot in the dark, hoping to swap their useless items for some essential supplies.

  This included that fool who'd unearthed an inflatable doll.

  People who'd obtained genuinely useful items had no incentive to trade with Gorgin.

  Nevertheless, there were fortunate few who'd managed to acquire seasonings.

  For example, someone had found a large pack of dried chili peppers, weighing approximately ten pounds.

  They demanded ten bowls of water and a day's worth of rations in exchange.

  Gorgin immediately countered with an offer of five bowls of water and a one - pound piece of dried meat.

  “Take it or leave it,” he declared.

  “If you don't want the deal, keep your peppers and use them however you like.”

  The other party agreed without hesitation.

  In a world - wide winter scenario, these chili peppers might prove valuable.

  But alas, this was a world - wide desert.

  Additionally, there was an individual who'd procured a large barrel of commercial light soy sauce and sought an equal weight of water in return.

  Gorgin retorted, “One - third of the water. Otherwise, keep it and see if it quenches your thirst.”

  The other person protested, “You're being really harsh. It's not even your water. Why be so stingy?”

  Gorgin shot back, “Mind your own business.”

  Eventually, Gorgin secured the barrel of soy sauce.

  For an ordinary person, the barrel was about the size of a regular oil barrel, holding ten liters.

  But in Gorgin's eyes, it was rather small, roughly equivalent to an ordinary person holding a large bottle of mineral water.

  Pouring these ten liters of soy sauce into the big jar outside would hardly make a noticeable difference.

  The last item of value to Gorgin was starch.

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  A lucky individual had found five pounds of cornstarch, which Gorgin acquired in exchange for two pounds of dried meat.

  The rest of the items were a hodgepodge of things Gorgin had no interest in, so he simply ignored them.

  Meanwhile, outside, Karlov was working tirelessly to build a house in a bid to secure his survival.

  He was determined to make this the best structure he'd ever constructed.

  Not only was it the finest shelter of his many years in the wilderness, but he also incorporated the ogres' style, using the simplest methods to create a highly practical dwelling.

  Thanks to the abundance of desert thorns littering the ground, Karlov's progress was quite promising.

  The sharp waist axe of the jackal outside also significantly expedited the process.

  In the evening, when Gorgin emerged, Karlov was putting the finishing touches on his small shelter.

  Gorgin plopped down at the entrance of his own shack, leaning against the doorframe, and watched as Karlov scurried around, his backside wiggling as he worked.

  Six attendants from the House of Amorous Feelings, three on each side, were massaging Gorgin's massive thighs, which were thicker than their entire bodies.

  Gorgin had previously specified that, except when it came to his private parts, the more forceful the massage, the better.

  After observing for a while, Gorgin was convinced that Karlov wasn't bluffing.

  Every movement Karlov made in constructing the shelter was methodical.

  Although his hands were moving quickly, there was no sign of panic, and the project was steadily advancing.

  By the time the sun had fully set, Karlov was completing the roof.

  When the ogres sat down to eat, he was already crafting simple furniture for his new abode.

  Gorgin decided not to cook that day.

  He planned to stockpile ingredients and later prepare a proper meal, one with a name he remembered from his previous life.

  Tonight, the ogres' meal was broth simmered in the large jar.

  Despite the lack of seasonings, the ogres weren't fussy.

  They ate with gusto, making a racket like thunder, rough and boisterous.

  The commotion was enough to make Karlov, who hadn't eaten for two days, salivate.

  He swallowed hard, his throat dry.

  Trembling, Karlov called out from a few meters away from the ogres, “Chie... Honorable and powerful chieftain, I've finished building my shelter, I mean, my house. What do you think?”

  His words caused all the ogres to turn and stare at him.

  Karlov was so terrified that his knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

  If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't had a drop of water in two days and was thus unable to urinate, he likely would have soiled himself out of fear.

  Gorgin, carrying his food, ambled over, shoving aside the oblivious ogres, and approached Karlov.

  Standing before the five - meter - tall ogre chieftain, whose thick arms were wider than his entire body, Karlov involuntarily squeezed out a few drops of urine as a sign of respect.

  Fortunately for Karlov, Gorgin was unaware of this display.

  Otherwise, if he knew how “respectful” Karlov was being, Nu might have been treated to an extra meal that night.

  “Not bad!”

  Gorgin's brief comment made Karlov exhale a long - held breath.

  His heart, which had been pounding in his throat, finally settled down a bit.

  Gorgin gestured to a waitress from the House of Amorous Feelings with a flick of his fingers.

  “Go and fetch him some eating utensils that you can spare. He can keep his life for now.”

  The succubus quickly got up and hastened towards the House of Amorous Feelings.

  She remembered that there were some extra bowls there.

  Although they were small, they would serve the purpose.

  The jackal tied up at the door cast an envious glance.

  It hadn't eaten a thing since being tethered there.

  The other ogres watched the scene with their simple - yet - somewhat - wise eyes.

  They didn't understand what was happening, but it didn't seem to matter to them.

  The succubus soon returned.

  Instead of handing the bowl directly to Karlov, she held it above her head, bowing respectfully as she stood in front of Gorgin.

  If it weren't for the significant height difference between them, she might have even knelt.

  Gorgin, without a second thought, picked up the bowl with two fingers and casually tossed it in front of Karlov.

  The already - small bowl chipped on the edge when it struck a small stone on the ground.

  “This is your bowl. Take good care of it. It's your ticket to staying alive here,” Gorgin announced.

  Turning to the ogres, he pointed at the chipped bowl and said, “All of you, listen up. As long as he has this bowl, he's off - limits. Don't even think about eating him. Got it?”

  The ogres stared at the bowl with their characteristic, somewhat - confused - looking yet “wise” eyes.

  They might not be able to distinguish people easily, but they could surely remember a bowl.

  “You,” Gorgin said, pointing at the succubus, “put a mark on his bowl later. We'll use that mark to verify its authenticity.”

  “Yes, Honorable Chieftain,” the succubus replied obediently.