Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 481 The Excited Dwarfs and Their Generous Gift
After sorting through the intelligence, Su Li called out to the chief steward, Hilde, who had been waiting outside.

This dashing and capable female knight had her beautiful hair neatly coiled up behind her head, making her look exceptionally refreshing and tall. Her swan-like neck was fair and spirited under her hair, making her look very capable.

Su Li smiled upon seeing her: "There are a few things that need immediate attention. These include the stone mound in the Eastern Black Forest, the ratman's lair deep within the iron ore vein, the greenskin in the Twilight Cave on the border, the leyline nodes deep in the forest, the mud mining in Hot Spring Town, and the taming of jungle boars. Let me tell you about them..."

"You are responsible for coordinating with high-ranking personal attendants, the provincial council, the forest patrol, the garrison, and relevant artisan guilds to develop a sound plan for implementation. The territory is now full of talented people, and I believe they can solve the problem perfectly."

"Yes, my lord." Hilde quickly wrote it down without the slightest hesitation.

"Third, regarding that group of Imperial deserters and the brass skull they possess, send someone to bring them back. Temporarily house them in the military camp's quarantine area outside the city, provide them with basic supplies, and keep them under strict guard, but do not accept their 'gifts' for now. That thing... requires more careful evaluation."

“I will obey your command.” Hilde noted down the last instruction and nodded slightly. “I will do it immediately.”

Su Li nodded and said with a smile, "With your assistance, I'm always very at ease. Is there anything else today? If not, I'd like you to personally lead the team with me to the Blazing Sun Temple to offer sacrifices and pray together."

“Well, there is something…” Hilde hesitated for a moment before slowly replying, “It requires your personal attention, Lord. A lot of dwarf gentlemen have come to the manor. They… they seem very agitated and insist on seeing you to express their gratitude in person.”

Hilde looked at Su Li, awaiting instructions.

Upon hearing this, Su Li smiled knowingly and waved his hand, "Thank you? I think the thanks are just a pretense. They must have heard the news and are rushing to ask me what they plan to do with their ancestor's remains."

He hesitated for a moment. These dwarven artisans and warriors were indispensable members of the Blackwood Territory, and their emotions and attitudes had to be taken seriously. Moreover, communicating with the dwarven leaders within the territory beforehand would greatly benefit subsequent formal negotiations with the Grey Mountain Kingdom.

“Let them in, and take them to the main hall,” Su Li instructed. “You go and attend to these matters first; we’ll meet up later. You know, dealing with dwarves requires a bit of… patience and a good volume.”

“Yes, my lord.” A barely perceptible smile flashed in Hilde’s eyes, clearly showing her deep understanding of the dwarves’ style.

A moment later, Su Li changed into a more formal casual outfit and appeared in the spacious but somewhat crowded main hall of the Bauhinia Manor.

Just as he expected, the living room was already packed with people—or rather, packed with dwarves. The rich aroma of alcohol, tobacco, leather, and metallic oil almost solidified into a tangible scent.

Dorok Redbeard, the chieftain of the Redbeard Clan, sported his signature fiery red beard and barrel belly; Gerson Grayrock, the chieftain of the Grayrock Clan, had a granite-like face; Master Blacksmith Boros Dragonhammer's arms were as thick as a normal man's thighs; Master Engineer Kurgan's glasses were stained with a little oil; and even Sogard Stonehammer, the son of the dragon slayer known for his silence and seriousness, stood in the corner with his arms crossed.

The living room was nearly filled with forty or fifty dwarf elders and important figures. Their rough conversations, arguments, sniffling, and the clinking of pipes blended together, creating a buzzing sound that almost lifted the beautifully decorated ceiling.

As soon as Su Li appeared, all the voices instantly rose in volume and then quickly focused on him.

"Lord Lord!"

"Lord Su Li!"

"Big guy!"

A cacophony of titles and names rang out. Chief Dorok, the red-bearded patriarch, had the loudest voice, almost roaring out louder than the others; his excitement made his redbeard tremble.
"My lord! We've all heard! We've heard it all!" He waved his short, thick, powerful arms as if to embrace Su Li. "You did a wonderful job in that damned, cursed Valley of Memories! Absolutely wonderful!"

Chief Gerson of the Grayrock Clan spoke in a deep yet powerful voice. He stepped forward and pounded his chainmail-clad chest with a dull thud: "Thank you, Grani! Thank you, Valaya (the Dwarf Mother Goddess)! You defeated those long-eared scum who deserve to be thrown into the furnace and burned for ten thousand years! And those undead filthy things! It is an honor for our Grayrock Clan to fight alongside you."

The voice of the master blacksmith, Beros, boomed like the forging of iron: "You have freed the remains of our ancestors! The souls of the three heroes can finally be released from ten thousand years of torment and defilement, and find peace! This kindness… this kindness…" He seemed unable to find the right words, and finally slapped the back of the master engineer, Kurgan, who stumbled, nearly losing his glasses, and roared, "This kindness is heavier than a mountain!"

“That’s right! Heavier than vibranium!” Engineering master Kurgan adjusted his glasses and quickly added, his voice sharp and piercing, typical of an engineer. “Those damned long ears, they can’t even rest in peace! How dare they desecrate the rest of our ancestors’ rest! My lord, you’ve truly avenged us, and all the dwarves!”

Even Sogard Stonehammer in the corner nodded heavily, his voice hoarse and brief: "Dwarven butchers, remember this kindness."

The living room erupted in chaos once more, the dwarves chattering away, expressing their gratitude and anger, praising Su Li's bravery, and cursing the high elves and the undead. Their way of expressing thanks was characteristically dwarven—direct, fervent, and incredibly loud, accompanied by numerous gestures and spittle.

Su Li stood among them, feeling the almost tangible storm of enthusiasm and noise, with a gentle and understanding smile on her face.

He knew this was just the opening act; the real action was about to begin. He raised his hand and pressed it down slightly, his demeanor gentle yet possessing an undeniable power that gradually quieted the noisy living room. All the dwarves stared intently at him, their eyes filled with a mixture of immense gratitude, anxious anticipation, and a hint of trepidation at being rejected.

"Friends, comrades," Su Li's voice clearly reached every dwarf's ears, tinged with a sincere smile, "I have truly felt your gratitude, it has shaken the floor to its core." He made a small joke, which drew a burst of rough but good-natured laughter and more clinking of pipes.

“But,” he changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the clan leaders and masters, “I think you’ve gathered here not just to express your gratitude with your loud voices and enthusiastic words, have you?”

The dwarves exchanged glances, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward. Though straightforward, they knew their limits. Su Li, the Bauhinia, this human lord, was unlike any human they had ever met. He was not only incredibly powerful, but also possessed an extraordinary understanding and respect for the dwarves. Most importantly, he carried an immense debt of gratitude that all the dwarves could hardly repay!
Previously, he had retrieved and returned to the lost ancestral relic of the High King of the Dwarves—the golden comb of Kadrin Redbeard. It was not merely an antique, but a symbol of the legitimacy of the High King's authority, its significance comparable to the imperial seal of mankind! This alone was enough to have his name engraved on the list of the highest honors of the Dwarven allies.

And now, he had actually defeated the high elf undead guarding the perilous Valley of Memories, freeing the defiled and imprisoned remains of three legendary dwarven ancestors for millennia! This achievement and debt of gratitude were so heavy that even the most stubborn dwarven elders could not bring themselves to make any demands that might be seen as "demanding" or "coercing." They absolutely could not, and would never, be disrespectful to Su Li.

After a brief silence, the Chosen Dragonslayer, Sogard Stonehammer, took a deep breath, the sound like the straining of a bellows. He stepped forward and unfastened an ancient box from his waist, a box that looked unusually heavy and was inlaid with black dragon hide and mithril. His movements were incredibly solemn, as if he were holding the urn of an ancestor's ashes.

“Lord Su Li,” Sogard’s voice was still hoarse, but exceptionally clear, filled with an indescribable weight, “your kindness cannot be expressed in words. To force you to make any decision would be a disgrace to our own honor.”

He placed the black dragon-skin box on the table in front of Su Li with both hands, and then suddenly opened it.

In an instant, a dazzling golden light illuminated almost the entire living room! It wasn't ordinary golden luster, but a brilliance imbued with ancient magical oaths and a profound sense of history. Inside the box, countless exquisitely crafted gold coins, engraved with intricate runes and portraits of dwarven heroes throughout history—Dwarven Oath Gold!

“Here,” Sogard’s voice was heavy as a mountain, “is three thousand Oath Gold. It is all the heart and soul that all the dwarves who have settled in Blackwood—the Redbeard Clan, the Greyrock Clan, artisans and engineers from all over, and even me, a penniless butcher—can gather together.”

He glanced around, and all the dwarves nodded solemnly. "This has nothing to do with the Grey Mountain Kingdom, and nothing to do with any political demands!"

Chieftain Dorok the Redbeard added loudly, his large beard trembling with emotion, “This is merely a small token of our gratitude, from the dwarves of your territory, for your personal kindness! Please accept it!”

Looking at the chest full of dazzling oath gold, even with his lordly knowledge, Su Li's pupils couldn't help but contract slightly, and his heart was stirred.

Three thousand dwarven pledge gold! Before the Valley of Memories, even he had never possessed such a sum of dwarven pledge gold!
He knew all too well what this meant. These gold coins were no ordinary currency; they were the most sacred and enduring "hard currency" in dwarven society. Each coin embodied an ancient oath and promise made at the time of its minting, representing the highest expression of the dwarves' credit and debts. Their value far exceeded that of an equivalent weight of fine gold or gemstones.

Adding to the more than 8,500 Oath Gold he found deep in the Valley of Memories, beside the ancient dwarven remains and in the treasure chests, his total number of Dwarven Oath Gold has now reached an astonishing figure—more than 11,500!

This is a number that would move even the High King of the Dwarves! A number that could theoretically "buy" almost everything in the Dwarven kingdom!

According to the oldest laws and traditions of the dwarves, in theory, one can exchange a sufficient oath fee for anything a dwarf possesses—from legendary runic weapons and lost blacksmithing techniques to the mining rights to an entire vein of minerals, or even… absolute ownership of a dwarven fortress and all its ancillary facilities and inhabitants!

Yes, Su Li quickly calculated in his mind. According to the ancient "Kharak-Dwarven Codex," the theoretical "ransom" price for a large fortress like Redbeard Clan's capital city, Redbeard Fortress, along with all its mines, workshops, armories, and all the dwarven warriors and artisans residing there, would be between 10000 and 15000 Oath Gold!

The 11,500 oath gold coins in his hand were almost enough, or even possible, to complete this seemingly inconceivable transaction—to buy a magnificent mountain fortress with thousands of years of history, inhabited by battle dwarves!
This "gift of gratitude" carries a weight far exceeding any words. The dwarves are expressing an almost absolute gratitude and trust in their most sacred and traditional way. They are practically entrusting a part of the "roots" of their culture to Su Li. Su Li took a deep breath, lifting his gaze from the glittering gold coins and scanning each dwarf's solemn and sincere face. He didn't immediately touch the box, but instead spoke in the same solemn tone:

"Friends, this 'gift' is too heavy. So heavy that it puts me, Su Li, the Bauhinia, and even the entire Black Forest Territory under immense pressure, but also makes me incredibly honored."

He paused for a moment and saw a hint of nervousness flash in the dwarves' eyes, as if they were afraid he would refuse.

“I understand your sentiments and the significance of the oath money,” he said slowly, his voice firm. “I accept this sentiment. But I assure you that my handling of the remains of the three dwarf heroes will not disappoint you, nor will it betray your feelings today or the ancient traditions of the dwarf race.”

He didn't specify what he would do, but this promise, and his act of accepting the pledge money, instantly made all the dwarves breathe a sigh of relief. The tense atmosphere vanished, replaced by even more enthusiastic and deafening cheers and praises.

"Haha! I knew it! Lord Su Li is a true friend!"

"For friendship and justice!"

"For the failure of those damn long-eared ones! Wazzok!" (Dwarven swearing)

Su Li smiled as he watched the dwarves, who had once again erupted into revelry, a complete plan already in his mind. He calmly raised his hand, gesturing for the cheering dwarves to quiet down. Once the clamor subsided slightly, his expression turned solemn, and his voice, clear and steady, reached the ears of every dwarf:

"Friends, I have accepted your trust and friendship. Now, it is time for me to state my position and take concrete actions."

His gaze swept over all the dwarf leaders present, finally settling on Chief Dorok the Redbeard and Butcher Sogard.

"I have made a decision regarding the remains of the three dwarf heroes." Su Li's voice was solemn and unquestionable. "The Black Forest Commander will ensure that the heroes' souls return to their homeland with the highest and most solemn ceremony, and rest in the place of glory they deserve."

“I immediately order the formation of a top-level delegation. It will be personally led by my halfling foreign minister, Hatzklin, who is well-versed in the etiquette of all races, especially adept at dealing with dwarves, and is qualified to represent the highest respect of the Blacksin territory.”

Upon hearing this, the dwarves nodded in agreement. Hatzklin had a good reputation among the dwarves, who knew him as a shrewd but trustworthy fellow.

"At the same time," Su Li continued, turning his gaze to the dwarves present, "I sincerely invite you all—representatives of the Redbeard Clan and the Grayrock Clan, Master Beros, Master Kurgan, and His Excellency Sogard—to join the delegation as honorary advisors of the Black Forest Territory and travel to the Gray Mountain Kingdom."

"Great!"

"As it should be!"

"We will certainly tell King Cadlin about your kindness and sincerity in detail!"

The dwarves immediately erupted in a roar of approval, their chests pounding. The testimony of these firsthand witnesses, especially of a butcher like Sogard, carried far greater persuasive power than any human envoy.

Su Li nodded and continued with an even more moving arrangement for the dwarves: "Before the delegation departs, I will ask Grand Knight Demst of the Mor sect in the Black Forest territory to personally hold a Mor deathbed vigil for the remains of the three heroes."

The dwarves' expressions turned solemn when they heard the name Mor, the god who watched over death and dreams. Although their beliefs differed, the Morite faith's authority over rest and combating the dead was universally acknowledged in the Old World.

"The ritual will ensure that the three ancestors rest in peace under the protection of the god of death, and their remains will be blessed and purified by divine power, so that no necromancy can defile them in the slightest. This is the most solid promise I can make to them, and to all my dwarf friends."

“Ugh…” Some of the more sentimental dwarves couldn’t help but sob, wiping their eyes hard.

This arrangement was exactly what they wanted to hear. For thousands of years, their nightmare had been that their ancestors could not rest in peace. Now, Su Li had not only retrieved the remains, but also considered everything so thoroughly, even ensuring their peace in the afterlife. This thoughtfulness and respect moved them deeply.

"Lord Su Li! You...you are truly too..." Master blacksmith Bailuos's voice trembled slightly. "No doubt about it! From now on, the affairs of Black Forest Territory are the affairs of my Redbeard Clan!" Chief Dorok patted his chest and guaranteed.

Sogard Stonehammer stepped forward again, and this time, he solemnly performed the highest dwarven salute to Su Li: "The friendship of the Blackwood Territory is as steadfast as the mountains. I, Sogard, and all the dwarves here, swear in the name of our ancestors that we will do everything in our power to ensure that the Grey Mountain Kingdom's response to you is worthy of your kindness and generosity!"

"Yes! A generous gift is a must!"

"We want to write a joint letter to King Cadlin!"

"Thanks isn't enough! We need to offer something tangible!"

The dwarves were filled with enthusiasm and began vying to offer the rewards they could obtain:
"We must persuade His Majesty the King to grant us access to the Dragonrock Forge!" Master blacksmith Beros exclaimed excitedly. "It's one of the finest magical furnaces in Gray Mountain, the only one capable of reliably processing those extremely hot rare metals! Your Excellency's elite 'Sun Vengeance Half-Griffin Knights' will be equipped with the peerless Blazing Plate Armor. If they are further tempered and enhanced by the Dragonrock Forge, their magical resistance and durability will undoubtedly rise to another level, perhaps even reaching the threshold of the Chosen Ones!"
"And artisans!" roared Chief Dorok the Redbeard. "I will personally go to the Hammerstral Peak Artisans' Guild to lobby for at least another dozen... no, two dozen of the best master blacksmiths! They will help you forge military equipment and train apprentices! I guarantee that the swords and armor produced in Blackforest Territory will be of the same quality as those from Nurn and Mordheim!"

“Runes! Runes are very important too!” another dwarven elder added. “We need to request a group of rune masters to come and enhance your city's defenses and important facilities!”

The dwarves, chattering amongst themselves, had already begun enthusiastically planning how to secure the greatest benefit for Su Li, as if it were a foregone conclusion. The hall was once again filled with noise, but this time, it was a noise brimming with hope and enthusiasm.

Su Li looked at the scene before him with satisfaction. It seemed that the return on this investment would far exceed expectations. He smiled and waited for everyone to calm down before speaking, "Alright! In that case, let's not delay. Minister Hatzkelin should be ready. Everyone, go and meet with him now to discuss the delegation's itinerary and gift list in detail. I will order the Knights of Mor to prepare the ceremony immediately."

"For the friendship between the Black Forest Territory and the Gray Mountain Kingdom!"

"For the peace of our ancestors!"

"For Lord Su Li!"

The dwarves erupted in thunderous cheers, then surged out of the reception hall in a powerful yet orderly fashion to find Hatzklin. Su Li believed that with such a group of enthusiastic and influential dwarves pushing for this, the alliance with the Gray Mountain Kingdom would be even stronger, and everything he had done for the hero's remains would surely bring him a reward far exceeding the three thousand oath gold.

He even imagined how he should use the 11500 dwarven covenants.

Buying out the Redbeard or Grayrock clans? That would be the most wasteful way to use him, given his current prestige within both clans; it's practically the same as a buyout. If he needs help, those two clans wouldn't hesitate at all if he just asked.

Should we keep buying the dwarf helicopter? That would be a bit too expensive!

Perhaps we could buy a production line.

Regardless, after dealing with the dwarves' affairs, Su Li felt much more relaxed. He looked out the window at the sky; the sun was shining brightly.

“Hilde,” he called.

The female steward appeared immediately, as if she had been waiting outside the door all along: "My Lord."

"Prepare the carriages and ceremonial procession," Su Li straightened his robes, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Blazing Sun Temple outside the palace. "We're going to the temple. It's time to show the goddess our spoils and receive our...gifts."

(End of this chapter)