Steel torrents pioneering a different world.

Chapter 287 Humans provide food, lodging, and even medical treatment; should I just join them? (Please subscribe)

If the girl is innocent and naive, then let her experience the splendor of life.

If a girl has experienced countless glitz and glamour, then take her on a carousel ride again.

The way of diplomacy may not be as simple as a girl experiencing life, but it is generally about singing "I have been conquered by you and embarked on an unfamiliar road" amidst gunfire.

In conclusion, many things lead to the same goal through different paths.

The dwarf representatives who arrived by carriage stopped talking after they saw that they had entered human territory.

But what they saw and heard caused them to experience a very intense emotional storm.

People like Norson and Portlin have lived to be nearly two hundred years old.

But they had never experienced such a violent impact.

Upon seeing human objects, their minds went blank, buzzing.

Humans did not deliberately display anything, and even hid many key weapons and equipment again.

This aligns perfectly with the pioneering team's consistent approach: keeping their trump cards hidden so they can deliver a fatal blow at the crucial moment. This also demonstrates their responsibility towards the lives of every soldier.

However, the quantity of equipment in the era of information-integrated warfare far surpasses that of dwarven army formations. Close-range artillery bombardment and the thickness of energy shields make a world of difference before close-range attacks.

Everything before their eyes was beyond the dwarves' comprehension.

If we're talking about those who felt the contrast, Norsen was definitely among the most intense.

He was injured. After being rescued, he was told that his compatriots were in danger of being sacrificed before he even reached the resettlement camp.

He rested for a short hour, then ate some self-heating food that the humans had given him. He then led several elders of the tribe to persuade the dwarf tribes that were still hostile.

He agreed without hesitation.

This is the first time Northron has truly seen what the camp housing his tens of thousands of compatriots looks like.

In his imagination, it should have been a scene of chaos.

The low tents were crammed together, the ground was covered in mud and filth, and the air was filled with a lingering stench.

That was a disaster caused by unhygienic big guys urinating everywhere.

To manage these things, you need a whip and all sorts of other things.

All the tribespeople who were resettled probably only received a little thin porridge and rotten vegetable leaves. Their eyes were numb, and they barely clung to life in despair.

However, when the cat-themed car slowly came to a stop at the resettlement camp, what he saw made Norsen's breath catch in his throat.

This is hardly a disaster relief camp!

This is even cleaner than the most elite dwarven military base.

What came into view was a well-planned temporary residential area, with rows of uniform prefabricated houses replacing the dilapidated tents he had imagined.

The ground was covered with thick gravel, dry and clean, without any mud.

After overcoming their initial fear, the rescued dwarf children were cleaned up and were now chasing and playing in small groups in the open space, their cheerful laughter ringing out.

The elderly dwarfs, having washed and refreshed themselves, were now sitting in front of their houses basking in the sun, their faces showing a hint of contentment.

The clothes they wore were no longer the coarse linen produced by the dwarves themselves, nor the cotton cloth they had acquired at a high price from the southern continent, but a kind of clothing that Northrend had never seen before.

The fabric had a soft sheen and looked fluffy and thick.

[Why do those things look so similar to the silk worn by noble gentlemen?]

Norsen instinctively reached out and touched the new clothes on the dwarf closest to him.

The touch from his fingertips was warm and soft, which gave him a jolt.

"What kind of material is this?" he asked in a dry voice.

The dwarf, caught off guard, paused for a moment, then grinned, revealing a missing front tooth: "I don't know, humans gave it to me. They said it's a down jacket made of some kind of synthetic fiber! Anyway, it's warmer than the best fur I've ever worn!"

The elderly dwarves following behind Norsen showed expressions of envy.

They were just plotting how to steal some technology from humans to replicate, but what they saw made them feel like clowns jumping around.

The clothing provided to the thousands of refugees was of a quality far exceeding the value of the clothing that these dwarf old men could enjoy; it was absolutely beyond measure.

For a moment, many dwarves felt conflicted.

Perhaps I shouldn't keep my hands dirty in the future!

Just then, an intensely rich aroma of meat mixed with wheat forcefully entered the nostrils of every dwarf.

Gurgle—

Norsen's stomach growled involuntarily, and the elders behind him couldn't help but swallow hard.

This taste—it absolutely tastes like meat!

Hmm, it looks like there's freshly baked bread too!

It definitely doesn't smell like thin porridge or rotten vegetable leaves!

An old dwarf stared intently at the busy humans several hundred meters away, his eyes glazed over.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"I see quite a few people queuing up? Is this food for us refugees?"

His voice trembled slightly, whether from anger or craving, it was hard to tell.

Another dwarf craftsman, who had been annoyed by the humans' squandering of their weapons, now smelled the fragrance and saw his people living in comfort, his old face turned a deep purplish-red.

Shame, shock, and a hint of jealousy he didn't even want to admit to himself churned within him.

Humanity's strength lies not only in the steel behemoths that can easily flatten mountains, but also in the terrifying power to care for thousands of refugees with more dignity than nobles!

This is a crushing victory in terms of logistics!

Norsen took a deep breath, the familiar, domineering aroma of meat mixed with the unique scent of spices rushing straight to the top of his head.

He's tasted that before!

When he went to stop Portlin and his group, he ate a meal, and the taste of that meal left a deep impression on him.

Large chunks of unidentified meat were stewed until tender, and the rich broth soaked into every grain of rice.

There's also a meal that humans call instant noodles, paired with what humans call Shuanghui starch sausage. One bite, and your soul trembles.

Although Norsen is old, he is also a big-bellied man who is developing into a horizontal iron barrel.

Don't let his height of only 1.2 meters fool you; he can eat as much as a 1.8-meter-tall human.

The delicious food he ate just a few hours ago still lingered in his memory.

He had assumed that it was something humans had specially prepared to bribe him, a "highly respected person."

After all, the oracle of Gazul was just that—oracle. But long-standing teachings had taught him that one must always be wary of strangers!

But now it seems—

Are they treating people like they're being given the highest level of benefits, like they're being fed by the masses?

Do not!

If humans treat them like this every meal, they might as well change their ways and live among humans.

"Perhaps the legendary fallen dwarves were corrupted in this way by powerful humans?"

His Adam's apple bobbed, and a thought popped into his head uncontrollably: Ancestors above, I am guilty, deeply guilty! I shouldn't have given birth to these things.

In his struggle, the complex emotions in his heart underwent a dramatic change in the face of this fragrance.

Compared to Norson, who had once tasted human delicacies, Portlin was filled with worry at this moment.

Warfare is not only a contest of soldiers' willpower, physical strength, and combat skills, but also a test of the adequacy of weaponry and logistical support.

Despite their bravery and skill in battle, the dwarves' prowess is built upon a brutal military supply system.

The other world has magic, but the dwarves at the bottom live a life similar to that of the poor in a feudal dynasty.

What kind of life did ordinary people have in feudal dynasties?

A small plot of land could feed the entire population of the kingdom, but many poor people often went hungry, and the selling of children was a common occurrence.

And most tragically, the dwarf kingdom established a perfect system of governance, coupled with superhuman strength, knowledge monopoly, and an extremely cruel promotion mechanism, leaving dwarves with few ways to climb to the top.

You asked where those supplies went?

Naturally, it's the kingdom's nobles and high-ranking warriors.

The royal family of the kingdom is of noble status and deserves the best treatment. Every elite warrior in the guard has extraordinary combat power and is also a top noble.

And what about the lower-class dwarfs?

The tax rate was as high as 80/20, with nobles taking 80% and commoners keeping 20%.

The remaining food was barely enough to fill our stomachs.

In the event of war, or the convergence of large celestial bodies, mass death and extinction are the norm.

In the dwarven kingdom, for the poor to rise above their station, either you must be of noble blood, born to be a prince, or you must possess a unique skill that will catch the eye of a noble lord.

Or, they could risk their lives for glory on the brutal battlefield, where they were often tortured.

Otherwise, you'll live a life of hardship, yet still have to thank the Dwarf Kingdom for protecting the kingdom's peace and question whether the taxes you pay are enough!

Botlin was greatly shocked, and the eyes of the other elderly dwarves who had come with him almost popped out of their sockets.

They had imagined many scenarios, but none of them included this one.

Those were indeed survivors of the Northrend tribe. The fear and confusion on their faces had not completely faded, but when they saw them arrive, many of them actually managed to force a smile.

A dwarf child was holding a metal lunchbox, clumsily shoveling something into his mouth with a spoon, his mouth covered in oil. When he saw them, he grinned foolishly.

"These humans—they're surprisingly kind to our old, weak, women, and children!"

Pottering made the same remark for the third time, but this time there was an indescribable meaning in his voice.

He instinctively turned around and looked further into the camp.

There, a colossal steel structure was rolling a massive steel wheel weighing tens of tons, repeatedly crushing and compacting the stones on the ground, producing a deafening roar that made the earth tremble.

A thought became clearer than ever before.

These humans are not just passersby who will fight and leave!

They're trying to put down roots here!

Potter's heart sank.

The Mithril Clan's high-ranking members, arrogant and corrupt, are insane—and perhaps even the entire High Mountain Kingdom's future path remains uncertain.

He looked worried. A young human officer walked over with a smile, carrying a tray with several metal lunchboxes that looked exactly like the ones the dwarf children were carrying.

"Gentlemen, you must be hungry after traveling such a long way?"

A human cook's voice rang out, cheerful and enthusiastic. Dressed in white, he approached Norsen and the others: "We have some new food here. We'll be sending it to you all, as well as those in the back who haven't eaten yet! We'll be troubling you all then."

Many of the dwarves couldn't help but swallow hard.

Finally, it was Portlin who spoke first: "That being said, let's go and look around first. We need to confirm more information."

"Alright! Please come with us! But let's eat first. We haven't eaten yet." After saying this, the butcher smiled and asked the cook to serve him rice.

The food containers were disposable, and the food was what dwarves ate.

However, compared to the other dwarfs who were old and weak, the cook clearly gave the butcher and his men an extra meat dish.

The other dwarves saw the humans getting their food and then turned their attention to Botlin and Northum.

"Let's eat rice first! We'll talk about everything else after we finish eating rice!"

"Great! I'd also like to try what human food tastes like."

Before long, the big guys started lining up like humans!

While the dwarves were lining up, the butcher seemed to remember something, walked over, and spoke through the translator.

"Fellow dwarves! We do not recommend that you have prolonged contact with these kin, as they were previously near the altar and may have had their minds and brains affected by high-dimensional energy. Although we have performed purification, their safety has not yet been fully confirmed. Please do not repeat the close contact we had last time."

"Alright, you can consult with these people anytime! If you want to see Rice, whom we captured, and some of the dwarf prisoners, just find us and we'll take you there."

After they finished speaking, the butcher and the others went to get some tea and other refreshments, and left with smiles.

Meanwhile, Potter and the others, who were queuing for food, exchanged glances.

"Humans actually give us so much freedom?"

"That's probably a sign of confidence!" Potter said with a complex expression.

Norsen had already finished queuing for food: "Humans still have some integrity; let's fill our stomachs first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he started eating!

Instead of using chopsticks, he used a fork to put a bite of stew into his mouth.

This stewed meat—rich in aroma and fat, stewed until tender and falling off the bone—was a delicacy he had never tasted in his life.

This tastes even better than before!

He wouldn't have done this if he had known that the previous meals were pre-cooked and ready-made, while the current meals are made from fresh ingredients.

The pioneering team's pursuit of delicious food is limitless.

The ingredients in this other world are excellent and have many benefits for the human body, but the effect of eating too much will not be significant.

Before the reclamation team, they organized a cooking competition for the soldiers to discover new cuisines and improve their lives.

Some time ago, the soldiers discovered that combining spices from another world with ingredients from the modern world resulted in an even better taste than before.

Some cross-disciplinary dishes were thus created.

The food these dwarves eat is made from spices from another world combined with ingredients from the modern world.

The taste is even better if the food is made with a mixture of spices and ingredients raised in another world.

However, all those ingredients are on the other side of the time portal. Professor Li and his team are now using the ingredients as the foundation for breeding, so they will not let the pioneering team eat them to their heart's content.

As for why the dwarves are like this, we have to talk about the impoverished life of the dwarves at the bottom of society.

Dwarves love meat and wine, but the kingdom's meager produce is all used to supply the huge dwarf army. Many dwarves struggle to even make ends meet, let alone have plenty of meat.

Legend has it that before the Silver Age, dwarf warriors averaged over 1.4 meters tall, with the strongest reaching 2 meters.

Unfortunately, due to years of malnutrition and the loss of the dwarves' bio-magic techniques, the dwarves' size continued to shrink.

Nowadays, only the king and the captain of the guard can barely exceed 1.5 meters, and they are considered to be strong.

By the way, there are also some special varieties of dwarves.

Those were deformed siblings who could grow up to three meters tall.

However, the dwarves considered it "cursed gigantism".

Dwarves afflicted with Cursed Giantness suffer from a range of problems, including unstable temper, irritability, low intelligence, and a penchant for attacking their fellow human beings, even resorting to cannibalism.

Before the Silver Age, these gigantic brethren were outstanding warriors of the dwarf race.

Unfortunately, much of the technology was lost after the Silver Age, and the former warriors were completely transformed into special deformed children.

Gradually, the curse of gigantism became a disgrace to the entire race.

Once gigantism is discovered, the only outcome is physical extermination.

Closer to home!

Looking at the food in his hand, a strange thought flashed through Portlin's mind.

If the children of the tribe could eat such food every day by following humans, perhaps they could also restore the glory of their ancestors in the future?

He looked at his old buddies around him, none of whom cared about their manners anymore.

Some buried their faces in the metal lunchboxes, making snoring sounds.

Some carefully scraped every last drop of meat juice from their lunchboxes with white bread, then carefully stuffed it into their mouths, closed their eyes, and wore an almost sacred expression.

This meal was delicious and satisfying.

"Damn it, how could I have thought of such heretical things? How am I any different from those legendary fallen dwarves?"

"Should we not eat?"

"Human food is too delicious; it easily corrupts my will!"

"Oh my god, it smells so good!"

Potterling buried himself in his rice, no longer thinking about it.

Only when their bellies were round and they were so full they were burping did the dwarfs finally put down their lunchboxes.

They then found the survivors of the Northrend tribe.

As they were questioned, the dwarves were all struck by lightning.

An elderly dwarf, upon hearing some children recount how Gaizul had touched his head and declared him the hope of the dwarves, asked in a trembling voice, "Has Gaizul truly—manifested himself?"

"Yes! It's true!" A surviving dwarf woman exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes. "We were surrounded by those corrupt creatures, about to be lined up for beheading as a sacrifice, and we were about to die! Suddenly, our ancestors appeared."

"Yes, it is the image we saw in the temple, the great dead, the most powerful ancestor, the incredibly strong and brave Gazul! He saved us."

"Then what"

"—And then—the human warriors stormed in!"

They asked several more of the freed miners, and the answers they received were almost identical.

Gezur truly appeared to them and told them to cooperate with humans.

At this point, all doubts vanished.

Even our ancestors have appeared in person. Does our race really have to rely on humans?

Potterlin felt a mix of emotions, and an indescribable sense of bewilderment surged within him.

Botlin took a deep breath, spoke a few words to Northon, and then went to find the resting Butcher: "Human warrior, esteemed friend, I would like to see Elder Rais of Pangolier Fortress."

He had to ask Rice himself why the guards of Pomgrelle Fortress, who considered protecting it their life's glory, had fallen so low so quickly.

If Rice is truly beyond redemption, then this old man should simply clean house and find the right path for the clan.

Upon hearing this, the butcher did not immediately agree: "The other party is seriously injured and is currently receiving treatment. I need to consult with my superiors."

"Thank you for your kindness." Pottery bowed slightly, giving a dwarven salute.

The butcher contacted his superiors via communicator, and a few breaths later, Bi Shengli's voice came from the other end.

"Let them see. But Rice's limbs have been severed. Although he was kept alive by the dwarves' own healing potion, his physical condition is very poor, and he can only be seen from a distance."

This order serves two purposes: first, to prevent potential energy pollution; and second, to prevent the dwarf elders from acting impulsively and killing Rice.

Rice must die, but not now.

He will die on the judgment stand in the spotlight, his crimes used to prove the righteousness of humanity's military intervention, and to completely condemn the corrupt faction of the Mithril Clan.

The butcher relayed the order to Portlin and the others.

"All four limbs—have been severed?" an old man exclaimed in shock. "How could you treat the elderly like this!"

Pottering's dough twitched, and he simply waved wearily. "He can no longer be respected by us after he started sacrificing his own people!"

The other dwarves immediately fell silent.

"Now that he's corrupted, we want to deal with him ourselves!"

"I'm sorry, he can't die yet! He needs to be put to trial."

"In that case, let's go see him first!" Pottery chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Yes, please follow us."

A few kilometers away, inside a makeshift frontline command post.

Bi Shengli was watching the live feed transmitted from the high-definition camera with great interest.

In the scene, the elderly dwarfs are being led to the medical tent where Rice is being held.

Through a transparent isolation barrier, they could clearly see the figure lying on the hospital bed, bound by special iron chains, with the severed limbs wrapped in thick bandages.

That was none other than Elder Rais, the once high-spirited supreme commander of Pangulet Fortress and a prominent figure of the Mithril Clan.

Bi Shengli tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, a playful smile playing on his lips.

Pottering looked at Rice, whose eyes were blinking and who was wearing a gag to prevent suicide. Having clearly seen them, he asked directly, "Rice, we once revered you like a god! Why treat your fellow countrymen like this?"

Rice rolled his eyes, chuckled, and then ignored the humans.

Botlin pounded on the glass dome: "Rice, you son of a bitch, you have desecrated the honor of the Mithril Clan! The noble guardians of Pangula Fortress have become your pawns for your own selfish desires! Rice, tell me, why did you do that?!"

Rice turned his head to look at the aged Potterlin, Northumbers, and some other old dwarfs.

He suddenly laughed, a loud laugh.

"I have never betrayed my people. Our paths diverged, so we cannot work together! It is a pity I failed! I will never see the moment when the glory of the dwarves is restored!"

Hearing Rice say that, Portlin pounded on the glass dome again.

Until the butcher signaled him to stop banging.

"In reality, Rice is also a fool. He thinks that by breaking through the spacetime rift, he can restore the glory of the dwarves, but this guy has no idea that he has long been corrupted."

"Just a pathetic wretch!"

Rice struggled violently. He had no limbs and was still in shackles, but his strength was immense: "You scum, you deserve to be sacrificed, to become slaves, and you lowly meat-eaters like us! You're the fool, daring to insult my noble self, you damned scum! I'll cut off your head to offer as a sacrifice to our great ancestors!!!!"

The butcher scoffed, shook his head at Rice, and waved his little finger at him: "Your ancestors have shown themselves, saying you've done wrong! Foolish and unrestrained, trash!"

This is similar to how Garen, with his Stormbreaker, silenced and crit Ryze.

Seemingly feeling humiliated, he shouted, "Damn scum! How could you know the glory of my people? How could you know my great dream! You don't know, none of you know! You lowly slaves, you trash who only deserve to kneel and speak to me—"

Rice roared and struggled, spewing endless words from his mouth.

"You fool who's been deceived! You ridiculous piece of trash, a ridiculous clown!" The butcher retaliated without hesitation.

When the medic saw that Rice was in a bad mood, he immediately gave him a vial of sedative.

A moment later, Rice rolled his eyes, losing his ability to swear.

Looking at Rice, who was being held captive, Portlin and the others had complicated expressions.

The Butcher looked at the dwarves: "I know you all want to restore the glory of our ancestors, but on the other side of the spacetime rift where Rhys and his men are stationed, there are very manipulative fellows. Those fellows are the key to the corruption."

"Actually, Rice and his group are also pitiful people!"

"Yes, we've been hearing your message 'Rebuilding the Glory of the Dwarves.' Can you tell us about your history? We're very curious!" the butcher asked innocently.

Upon hearing the butcher's question, the elderly dwarf present looked listless and conflicted.

"The corruption of Pangolier Fortress is probably closely related to the 'Revival of the Dwarven Glory' project," Potter said with a sorrowful expression.

[Reviving the Glory of the Dwarves] has always been the lofty dream of all the dwarves of the High Mountain Kingdom.

As dwarves who once ruled the continent of Sacred Star, they have always remembered their glorious history.

Countless ages ago, the dwarves were incredibly powerful.

Unfortunately, the celestial convergence was way too overpowered! The other races that descended were all incredibly strong.

The territory of the dwarves, who have repeatedly faced the threat of extermination, is gradually shrinking.

Later, the dwarves enjoyed a long period of peace, thanks to the human emperor of the Eastern Continent, a hero also known as a valiant warrior among the dwarves.

He ensured peaceful coexistence among multiple races and guaranteed that the Holy Star would be free from large-scale wars for a long time.

Later, the dwarves also established a powerful kingdom on the continent of the Forsaken Gods.

Unfortunately, the dwarves were tormented too much by the curse of "Rebuilding Dwarven Glory".

The forbidden land, sealed off by multiple races countless years ago, has now become a graveyard for the dwarves.

With their strength waning and their borders exposed, the dwarves were forced to divert large numbers of troops to wage war in various places.

Pangula Fortress, too, has seen its defenses weaken day by day as time has passed.

At its peak, Pangula Fortress had tens of thousands of permanent residents, but gradually only less than five thousand soldiers remained!

For a long time, Pangulak Fortress even became a place of exile for the dwarves.

For centuries, murderers, thieves, and all sorts of dwarf scum have been thrown into that place.

The glory of the past has long been tarnished by those scum!

Botlin closed his eyes, recalling his youth when he and his brother dreamed of joining the Holy Guard of Pomgrönle Fortress, a lifelong goal.

Unfortunately, her elder brother died on the front lines against the southern humans, and she herself was forced to retire due to severe injuries, becoming the guardian of the village.

This position lasted for decades.

"Perhaps decades ago, after that rebellion, our compatriots at Pangulet Fortress were corrupted!" Pottery murmured.

"Yes, that was a big deal back then! Botlin Ironhand of the Copperhammer clan was perhaps a dwarven warrior who truly upheld the traditions of Panguler Keep and possessed a noble spirit."

A flicker of grief and respect crossed Norsen’s eyes.

Many years ago, the Bronzehammer clan dwarf, Pottery Ironhand, who was sent from the kingdom, became the elder of Panguler Fortress.

Perhaps he couldn't stand the decay of the fortress and wanted to reclaim the glory of his ancestors, so he led a group of dwarves who still believed in the old oaths to launch a purge.

Unfortunately, their fighting strength was insufficient, and they were suppressed by force by the Mithril Clan's high command, who also falsely accused them of rebellion!

After the bloody rebellion ended, all the non-Mithril clan dwarves who participated were publicly beheaded.

From that day on, Pangulet Fortress became the territory of the Mithril Clan, an impenetrable stronghold.

Perhaps it was that cleansing that allowed the dwarves of Pangula Fortress to quietly complete their depravity and corruption!

Portlin recounted everything that was possible to the Butcher and his men. Meanwhile, the people behind the Butcher silently recorded everything.

Obsession is indeed a weapon that corrupts the heart.

"Since then, many bizarre and strange things have happened to the Mithril Clan, but they can all be explained." Northyan was also in low spirits. "Years ago, some horrifying rumors started circulating about the fortress, saying that the people inside were performing human sacrifices, and that guards had mysteriously disappeared."

Strangely, it wasn't long before those who spread the messages would come forward and swear that they had been talking nonsense and that they had been smearing the glory of the fortress while drunk.

Upon hearing this, the old dwarf's face showed a complex expression.

It turns out that long ago, it wasn't a slander, it was the truth!

Those who changed their stories were either silenced or controlled using even more terrifying methods!

Potter clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking from the force.

If it weren't for the human's prompting, the dwarves' blood sacrifice might have continued for a long time, until the spacetime rift they guarded was opened by their own people, and the invasion that would destabilize the Forsaken Continent would happen again.

Long ago, when magical energy was active and flourishing in another world, they had human heroes sent down by gods to help them, as well as dragons, incredibly powerful forbidden magicians, alchemists, and the assistance of various races.

What now?

I've heard that the Holy Star is already in disarray, with various races constantly fighting amongst themselves. Unifying them would be incredibly difficult!