The jackal could scarcely believe that a couple of vigilant barks would earn it the label of having performed well in the eyes of this mighty ogre chieftain.

  Not only that, but it was also rewarded with an extra meal.

  While the ogres busied themselves gathering supplies, the jackal received its first meal of the day.

  It was a colossal bone, much larger than its own body, with visible shreds of meat still clinging to it.

  Accompanying the bone was a bowl of murky oasis water.

  The sight of this simple yet precious offering brought tears of happiness to the jackal's eyes.

  This scene was clearly witnessed by the waitresses of the House of Amorous Feelings and Karlov, who were peeking through a crack in the door.

  The waitresses of the House of Amorous Feelings were not overly surprised; they had long since come to terms with the realities of their situation.

  Their primary task was to serve the guests of the establishment well, and currently, the chieftain was their only patron.

  In this harsh world, the chastity of the weak held as much value as the sand in the Endless Desert.

  The ability to have enough to eat, access to water, and a safe existence far outweighed any concerns about their physical integrity.

  Karlov finally grasped the truth.

  The succubus had been right about the ogres' reliability.

  They had tasked the jackal with being a watchdog, and in return for merely sounding the alarm, it had not only won the chieftain's approval but also received a meaty bone and water as a reward.

  It seemed that, in this place, as long as one fulfilled their assigned duties, they could expect a measure of security and sustenance.

  The two - headed ogre mage, Horne, led a group of nine ogres with Nu at the forefront.

  All were equipped with supplies and ready for action.

  Gorgin fixed his gaze on Kash.

  "My tribesmen are on standby, and my mother will be leading the charge herself. So, Kash, my friend, where's that kodo beast?"

  Kash reached into his pocket, pulled out a small horn, and placed it to his lips, blowing it leisurely.

  A deep rumbling sound echoed through the air, and soon, the massive figure of the kodo beast came hurtling towards them at full speed, its size becoming more imposing by the second.

  Gorgin stared at the kodo beast, almost drooling at the sight of its massive frame.

  The kodo beast resembled the rhinoceros from Gorgin's previous life on Earth.

  With two thick, sharp horns—one at the front and one at the rear—and its colossal size and weight, it was an unstoppable force when charging.

  Its limbs were extremely thick, with the front ones longer than the back, and its shoulder height was on a par with that of an average ogre.

  When not enraged, it had a rather gentle temperament.

  Whether in battle or for transportation, the kodo beast was the mainstay of the orc tribe.

  Given its robust physique, it could easily carry an ogre and run without a hitch, which was precisely why Gorgin had long coveted it.

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  Gorgin had already decided that until a more suitable mount presented itself, this kodo beast would be the exclusive ride for him and his mother, and he planned to let it roam freely in the oasis at the back.

  Although Gorgin was tempted to take it for a test ride immediately, considering his mother was about to head into battle, he decided to let her have the honor.

  With a pained expression in his eyes, Kash watched as Gorgin handed the reins of the kodo beast to his mother, Horne.

  "Mom, be careful."

  Horne's left head looked at him in confusion.

  "Are you feeling unwell? You seem off."

  Her right head chimed in, "He probably means we should go easy on those weaklings out there, so they don't get too badly hurt."

  After twenty years, Gorgin was thoroughly accustomed to his mother's idiosyncratic way of speaking and her rather unique interpretations.

  "Alright, just make sure that little dog doesn't die. Its nose is sharp and can lead you back to our tribe."

  Horne mounted the back of the kodo beast, and the creature effortlessly supported her entire weight.

  Horne's left head roared, "Lads, show those fools outside the might of the ogres!!!" Her right head added, "What I really mean is... waaaaagh!!!"

  The nine ogres led by Nu brandished their huge bone hammers and joined in the chorus, "waaaaagh!!!" Their enthusiasm and eagerness for battle were palpable.

  Despite being a merchant, Kash was still an orc at heart.

  Caught up in the charged atmosphere, he instinctively hoisted his battle axe and let out a fierce roar.

  Horne, with her massive bone - hammer - cum - staff in one hand and the kodo - beast reins in the other, issued her commands.

  Her left head barked, "Lead the way!"

  while her right head bellowed, "Smash them!"

  Kash wasted no time.

  He gave Gorgin a reassuring look and then turned on his heel, dashing towards the location of the centaur bandits.

  The kodo beast, with Horne on its back, followed closely, trailed by Nu and the rest of the ogre tribesmen, and finally, the jackal, with a crossbow on its back and the precious meaty bone in its mouth.

  Once they were out of sight, Gorgin spun around and kicked an ogre who had been gawking at the departing group.

  "What the hell are you staring at?

  If you can't sleep, go find a shack and make some babies!"

  The ogre, looking thoroughly befuddled, scratched his head, then promptly turned around and punched a female ogre, knocking her off her feet.

  He then scooped her up and carried her back to a shack, obediently following Gorgin's rather crude instruction.

  Gorgin, unfazed by such antics, made his way to the House of Amorous Feelings.

  Being roused from sleep in the middle of the night had put him in a foul mood.

  The six waitresses of the establishment were thus pressed into overtime service to attend to Gorgin and his... needs.

  Gorgin wasn't the least bit worried about the safety of his tribesmen.

  It wasn't empty bravado; ogres were similar to the bears of his previous life on the Blue Planet.

  They could rapidly gain weight by eating, and in their case, size truly did equate to strength.

  With a stomach capable of digesting almost anything (except sand), ogres could convert all the random items they stuffed into their bellies into muscle and fat, fueling their formidable power.

  Gorgin, lulled by the massage, soon drifted off into a deep slumber.

  Amid his drowsiness, he faintly heard the six waitresses whispering.

  "Jealous, aren't you? He's got brains, that one..."

  Gorgin shifted in his sleep, scratched his butt, and then settled back down.

  The six waitresses exchanged knowing glances and stifled their laughter.

  It was true; apart from the ogre mages and the chieftain, who was an anomaly, the rest of the ogres were, for all intents and purposes, simple - minded.

  Otherwise, the previous chieftain wouldn't have gotten drunk and foolishly led a group of his strongest men to take on a sleeping black dragon.

  The outcome had been predictable: a swift and brutal end.

  The six waitresses weren't sure if there were gods in this world.

  If there were, they sincerely prayed that the chieftain and his mother would enjoy long, healthy lives free from harm.

  They hoped that their own lives could remain as they were—with minimal work, save for attending to the chieftain every now and then, and a steady supply of food and water, all without the threat of violence.

  They knew all too well the hardships of their previous lives in their respective tribes, where they were burdened with back - breaking labor and at the mercy of the stronger males. In comparison, their current situation was nothing short of a blessing.

  With these prayers for the ogre tribe in their hearts, the six waitresses, too, succumbed to sleep.

  Just as the first light of dawn began to break, Kash, seething with anger, led the ogres on a furious two - hundred - li dash.

  They reached their previous campsite just before daybreak and launched a surprise attack on the thirty centaur bandits.

  Horne raised her hand and unleashed a powerful range Bloodlust spell, engulfing the ogres in its empowering aura.

  Even Kash felt the surge of strength coursing through him.

  This unexpected display of magic left Kash in awe.

  No wonder the ogre tribe, despite having lost a significant portion of its fighting force, could still rule the roost within a hundred - mile radius.

  Ogres were already a force to be reckoned with, but Gorgin's mother was on a whole other level of terrifying.