Steel torrents pioneering a different world.

Chapter 298 War Profits! Eating human food, hanging noble lords by ropes! (Bonus Chapter)

Glory Hammer, true to his name, is as strong as a moving block of iron.

He stood before a group of dwarves who had just eaten and drunk their fill and appeared fearful, his eyes filled with a chilling coldness that seemed to freeze to the bone.

But he had a smile plastered on his face, a smile that made his rugged features appear somewhat distorted.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" He raised his voice to quell the noise of the crowd, "Have you all received human food?"

"Does eating someone else's food make you all smile with sweet words?"

No one said a word.

The dwarves exchanged glances, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Glory Hammer's gaze swept across the faces, finally settling on a thin dwarf, because that guy had just burped.

"You, tell us."

The dwarf who was called out was startled, but his eyes darted around. Instead, he puffed out his chest and looked quite self-righteous: "We accept! We have no choice. We are starving. I have always been loyal to my people and to our ancestors! But we are just too hungry! After we have eaten and drunk our fill, you esteemed gentlemen can continue to command us to fight against humans."

This remark elicited a suppressed chuckle.

Glory·Iron Hammer's smile froze for a moment.

He gave the slick fellow a deep look, then clapped his hands: "Well said! That makes sense!"

I know everyone has been living in fear these past few days because of the corruption scandal. Your food supplies have been forcibly confiscated, emotions are running high, and everyone is starving. There were rumors circulating that all the food at our military base was burned—that's utter nonsense!

His voice suddenly rose: "Some people just want to stir up trouble! They deliberately create tension, wanting to see our people make a fool of themselves!"

The dwarves looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.

Glory Hammer waved his hand behind him.

Two burly thugs stepped forward and casually tossed several sacks on the ground. With a gurgle, several mangled, terrified dwarf heads rolled out.

Their unseeing eyes stared at the crowd.

A gust of wind swept by, and the strong smell of blood mixed with fear instantly gripped everyone's throats.

"See that?" Glory Hammer pointed at the head on the ground, his voice stern. "These are the guys who spread rumors and incited panic! Now, they're paying the price for their tongues!"

"I'm telling you, what this guy is saying is false! The base has only lost some food, but we still have plenty. The esteemed officials care about everyone. They also climbed their way up from the bottom; would they let everyone go hungry?"

The older dwarves were fine, but some of the younger dwarves had expressions of displeasure on their faces.

They had witnessed the dwarven nobles enjoying a life of luxury many times.

Although many noble lords also rewarded their servants, they were ultimately a minority.

In contrast, humans are provided with food, and the meals are plentiful, making them far more generous than the noble lords.

Before, they simply had no choice; now that they have a choice, everyone naturally wants something better.

However, the bloody heads intimidated many dwarves, who could only think about it in their hearts and dared not say anything more.

Glory Iron Hammer knew that some things shouldn't be delved into, so he didn't dwell on the issue and continued, "Gentlemen, the lords have already given the order to open the granaries and distribute grain; no one will go hungry!"

He opened his thick arms in a hugging gesture: "Not only that! We'll immediately organize a fishing fleet to go out to sea! Fish! Plenty of fish! We guarantee everyone will have their fill!"

A small commotion arose in the crowd, but no one dared to speak loudly. Everyone whispered among themselves, but their eyes were fixed on the few heads on the ground.

Glory Iron Hammer was quite pleased with the effect. He changed the subject, his voice turning cold: "The army coming to our aid is on its way. By then—if the masters find out who's still eating the handouts from those unknown humans—"

"But our ancestors said that humans are our friends!" a white-bearded old dwarf cried out, leaning on his cane. "That's what our ancestors said!"

slap~

A crisp slap.

Glory Hammer slapped the old dwarf to the ground, and broke his cane with a single kick.

He spat down at him condescendingly.

"You senile old fool! That was the decision of our noble lords who protect us! Do you know how many times humans have deceived us? Tranquil Harbor is our home! Those humans give us a few bites of food just to sow discord among us and make us their dogs?"

"Fool, don't let small favors make you forget your roots!"

He swooped over the terrified crowd, growling menacingly, "You think you've been bought off with such paltry favors? Do you know that once a man follows a human, he'll be a eunuch for life for some time to come?"

The woman must bear their children generation after generation! Do you understand?!

"I understand—I get it—" someone in the crowd responded tremblingly.

"Speak louder!"

"Understood!" The replies were louder, but still uneven, filled with deep fear.

Glory Hammer grinned cruelly: "I've been quite free lately. If anyone sees anyone secretly associating with humans or lining up to collect their things, report them to me. There will be a reward! A hefty reward! And you'll even be added to the reserve enforcement team."

"Remember this: to have any further dealings with humans is to betray our great dwarf race! To be a sinner against all!"

He glanced around one last time, looking at the bowed heads and evasive eyes, and sneered inwardly.

He knew the nature of his tribesmen very well.

That little bit of intimidation wasn't enough.

These guys will do anything for a bite to eat. I need to have my men keep a close eye on them later, grab a few who don't obey, and hang them in front of everyone.

Dwarfs remember food, and they also remember being beaten!

If your fist is strong enough, even your farts are considered truth.

Glory Hammer and his men strode away, leaving behind a desolate scene and several heads that were gradually growing cold.

After a long while, the crowd began to whisper among themselves.

In the shadow of a pile of rubble not far away, a mechanical spider the size of a palm adjusted its composite lens, clearly transmitting everything that had just happened back to the human front-line command post.

In front of the screen, Bi Shengli watched the replay, freezing the image on the old dwarf who had been knocked down, until he was helped up by the other dwarves.

The camera then cuts back to the face of the skinny dwarf.

He paused for a moment, then issued a brief instruction over the communication channel: "The upper and middle classes of the dwarves are exerting strong pressure on the lower classes. Proceed with the follow-up plan."

"receive!"

Time-space portal area!

Su Mingjin took a sip of tea: "Commander Man, do you think those dwarven nobles will let them fill their stomachs?"

"I don't know. All I know is that the food burned in the dwarven refuge was enough to feed these hundreds of thousands of dwarves for half a year. Their homes have run out of food. Perhaps only the middle-ranking dwarven nobles have any food left."

The dwarves are structured like a pyramid, but they have a strict path to advancement.

The king and various top-ranking nobles control the dwarven capital and the core of the clans.

Each clan also has four classes: upper, middle, lower, and slaves.

In the battle of Tranquil Harbor, the absolute rulers and maintainers of military power here were corrupted by evil from higher dimensions and became fallen.

Most of them have already been wiped out by humans.

The current controllers of Tranquil Harbor are the nobles from other clans who narrowly escaped death, as well as some nobles from the Mithril Clan and the backbone of various professions.

Although they lost most of their power, the dwarven nobles were originally dwarves who had been strengthened by taking various potions.

If they manage to integrate the lower-class dwarves, then the other side will retake Tranquil Harbor.

Humans didn't want to occupy Tranquil Harbor before, but this time, after discovering a possible standardized automated maintenance template and that thirteen-meter-tall Titan whose energy system had been shut down by Lin Li, they need to buy time while leaving a good impression.

Ideally, the image of humanity as benevolent, powerful, and invincible should be spread.

By the second day, the human offensive against the corrupted dwarves was nearing its end.

The fighting has now ceased in most parts of the base, and the troops are repeatedly sending out robots and various equipment to conduct detailed explorations.

The dwarven military base differs from Pangolier Fortress. Its main advantage is its sturdiness and durability, allowing it to withstand prolonged use.

Compared to these, the underground shelters built inside the mountains are extremely spacious and large.

However, the corrupted dwarves actually carried out a killing sacrifice, turning what was originally the dwarves' final refuge into a slaughterhouse.

The dwarves, who had been wreaking havoc, eventually lost their composure due to the human attack, and the place where they could hold out the longest was the first to be captured.

Compared to the dwarves who might still exist in some special corners or remote areas near Pangula Fortress, the fall of Tranquil Harbor military base was too rapid.

However, war is essentially a redistribution of interests and a re-division of existing power structures!

As the war neared its end, some sordid things were happening.

Compared to the hustle and bustle of the open-air plaza in Tranquil Harbor, the mid-level residential area deep in the mountains presents a completely different scene.

Tens of thousands of dwarven elites gathered here for refuge.

Although the smoke of war has dissipated, an invisible boundary clearly lies between humans and the middle-class dwarves.

Even after the corrupters were dealt with, the dwarves did not return to their original homes.

The thoughts gathered here are guided by some, but also stem from distrust of humanity.

Unfortunately, Lin Li's transformation into a dwarf was primarily for saving people, and in the process, he mainly killed those corrupted beings.

Although he was seen by many people, he maintained his mystique and a certain air of superiority to ensure that he did not reveal his identity.

Therefore, he did not leave behind many orders.

At this moment, the human warriors stood to one side, while the dwarven core and a large number of newly gathered dwarven warriors vaguely guarded against a human attack.

However, both sides maintained basic decorum, and neither side showed hostility towards the other.

In less than two days, after the initial gratitude and ecstasy, the rescued dwarf nobles began to have their minds active again.

The guilds of artisans, merchants, landowners, bankers, and self-important alchemists—these respectable people who formed the foundation of the Mithril clan's power—were gathered in a spacious stone hall.

There was no mud or fishy smell here; instead, smooth stone paths and softly glowing lamps, sourced from another continent, embedded in the rock walls, illuminated the hall.

Previously, Glory Iron Hammer had maintained an arrogant attitude in front of Rotten Fish and the others, exuding an aura of dominance. Now, he was respectfully reporting the situation there to his master.

"Very good, Rusty, you've done a great job! Keep a close watch on them lately, and kill them as soon as you spot them. We must never let our people eat human food, or we'll be torn apart by those cunning humans! Go now!"

Although Glory Hammer calls himself the noble Lord Hammer to outsiders, his real name in front of important figures is Flame Rust.

A guy who longed to acquire the most noble Hammer surname and have his subordinates call him by that name.

He nodded respectfully and then left.

Then, another dwarf appeared to carry out the orders.

"Report: The humans are not allowing us free movement, citing the ongoing threat of corruption. However, they have agreed to accompany us to assess the food supplies!"

"It seems they haven't considered a complete breakdown in relations yet!"

"That's normal. Tranquil Harbor is right next to the Devil's Sea, and the shipping lanes to the safe zone are controlled by the Kingdom of Hardship Harbor's army. They simply can't get out!"

"Um, you seem to have forgotten that those humans possess a magic that allows them to break free from the divine restrictions of the Forsaken Continent and teleport through space!"

The conference hall fell silent.

After a few rapid breaths and some worried mutterings, one of the people in charge said, "Do you think humans might take over this place?"

"I have no idea!"

"I can't guess either, but we have to prepare for the worst."

A merchant guild leader, wearing a silk vest and sporting a bulging belly, pounded the table, spitting as he spoke: "I feel very uneasy because those humans didn't offer any conditions. The direwolves that bite never howl; humans are extremely dangerous beasts!"

"Yes, human motives are never pure! They feed those peasants without charging a penny! Have you ever seen business like this? There must be a conspiracy behind this!"

A dwarf from the Craftsmen's Guild, his hands impeccably clean, slowly wiped his monocle: "Gentlemen, our military base has been captured. The divine machinery that guards us may have been seized, and our sacred relics are there! We must stop them! We must urge them to leave."

"We didn't take it by force!"

"Once the army arrives, everything can be resolved."

"Gentlemen, have you forgotten that Pangula Fortress and Tranquil Harbor next to our alliance were both captured in less than three days?"

The hall fell silent once again.

"This is our home. We must remain vigilant and always be wary of those humans," a dwarf who looked like a landowner said grimly. "That bastard Mazast is probably finished. The order of Tranquil Harbor cannot be disrupted! We are the masters here! We must not allow outsiders, especially a group of humans, to interfere in our home!"

They quickly reached an agreement: gratitude is appreciated, but it is imperative! Immediately! To block all non-essential contact with humans.

They wanted to make those humans understand, and also let those peasants below see clearly, who truly held power here.

All communication and cooperation must be facilitated by them.

These are all examples of the wisdom of dwarves in dealing with people and situations.

Time flies, and mealtime arrives promptly.

The human cooks lined up in the temporary camp, their field stoves burning brightly, steam rising from huge iron pots, the aroma of food domineeringly dispelling the inherent staleness and dampness of the underground cave.

The aroma of stir-fried meat made my stomach rumble.

Besides this, the large pot also contained a thick soup of vegetables and meat, fish soup, and a small mountain of freshly baked white bread with the aroma of wheat.

White bread is something humans can prepare for dwarves.

Dwarfs quite like bread in their diet.

The meal was very plentiful, even more so than the previous two days.

However, the aroma wafted far and wide, but not a single dwarf appeared.

The once bustling open space is now deserted, save for the thin, impoverished dwarves peeking out from behind rock crevices and corners, their eyes filled with a mixture of longing, fear, and struggle.

The human soldiers were not surprised by this; they had been informed of it beforehand.

They lined up to get their food, found a place to sit, and enjoyed their meal.

A young soldier, munching on freshly baked, fluffy bread, mumbled to the person next to him, "Hey, do you think those dwarven nobles have stones in their heads? Their own people are starving, and they give the dwarves some thin porridge, claiming it's to fill their stomachs! But they won't let them eat our good food!"

"Who cares about them?" The old soldier took a sip of hot soup, the warmth spreading through his stomach. "They're just a bunch of oppressors who have already benefited from the status quo. They probably even think they're doing the right thing!"

"Hehe, I guess they're afraid that their peasant underlings will eat our food and then side with us."

"Are we just going to waste this meal? Isn't that shameful?"

The veteran chuckled, said nothing more, and simply nodded with his chin toward the mess hall.

After serving meals to all the soldiers, the cooks did not immediately pack up their equipment.

Wearing heavy exoskeletons, they deftly covered dozens of large pots still steaming with stew and soup, and along with dozens of baskets of bread, quietly moved them to several relatively secluded corners near the dwarf settlement.

After doing all this, they clapped their hands, turned around and left, without even glancing at the dwarves hiding in the shadows.

The whole process was smooth and seamless, as if it were just dealing with some excess kitchen waste.

Soon, the fragrance began to spread.

When people are well-fed and watered, their efficiency is astonishingly high.

The main force immediately set off to continue the cleanup of the military base in Tranquil Harbor. Although the corrupting forces had been largely purified by the mysterious figure, the remaining pollution was like a persistent leech and had to be completely eradicated.

Squads of soldiers in protective suits entered the depths of the base, their flamethrowers spewing long tongues of fire that burned the twisted flesh and blood into charcoal.

At the same time, another more important task is also underway.

"Watch out! Be careful, everyone! This is a treasure!"

Wearing goggles, Deng Dakang was practically lying face down in front of a frozen creature, his face filled with fanaticism and obsession.

"What kind of animal is this?" a researcher asked.

"A marine creature, I don't know where the dwarves found it," Deng Dakang swallowed hard. "This thing is extremely precious, even more precious than a cadaver. We must be very careful."

"These things are easy to move, but the repair kit for that divine machine is difficult to transport!"

If humans understood mechanical devices, it would be fine, but the key issue is that the dwarves' mechanical repair platforms are not easy to disassemble.

Moreover, it is extremely sophisticated, and some people speculate that it is at the same level of technical difficulty as a lithography machine.

Upon hearing this, Deng Dakang shrugged: "If all else fails, we'll just have to trouble that mysterious friend again."

"Professor Deng, a large shipment has come out of the warehouse here! Could you come and take a look?"

after a while----

On the other side of the military base.

A biting chill emanated from the enormous icehouse, causing the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees.

Zhao leaned against the cold rock wall, exhaled a white smoke ring, and looked at the soldiers a few hundred meters away, who were driving small engineering exoskeletons, huffing and puffing as they carried heavy metal boxes from the depths of the ice storage.

He gestured in that direction with his chin and asked Xiao Zhou, who was rubbing his hands together, "What treasures are in this vault?"

Xiao Zhou had been here for several hours, his cheeks were red from the cold, but he smiled happily when he heard this.

"Captain, this is amazing!" he whispered, barely able to contain his excitement. "Professor Deng questioned the elderly dwarves who were willing to help, and they said it contains top-quality goods, many of which are raw materials for making potions for dwarf warriors!"

"Oh? Then our trip wasn't in vain." Zhao Chong raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"It was definitely worth the trip!" Little Zhou slapped his thigh. "There was so much stuff inside! Crates of brand-new firearms, gleaming runic armor, and piles of smelted standard metal ingots! Oh, and by the way, they seized a full two tons of refined gold alone!"

Xiao Zhou gestured: "Two tons, Captain! That can make so many good things! By the way, Captain! The dwarves have five hundred finished warrior potions that they're planning to sell. After they've left them for the scientists to study the materials, do you think our team could get some?"

Zhao's face also showed anticipation: "Just wait and see. If we're going to try, the team won't forget about us."

Dwarves' potions are one of their main sources of income, allowing them to acquire large sums of money.

I've heard that the dwarves' warrior potions come in several grades, and this batch contains a full five hundred vials. If two hundred can be left for humans to use, the human side will likely have many more powerful warriors.

Previously, they used folk methods involving energy patterns to enhance their bodies, which had significant side effects.

In six months, they underwent dozens of intensive training sessions, which only improved their skills by a little over 20% compared to before they started training.

If these things could make them 50% stronger, their combat power would surge again.

As Zhao's face lit up with anticipation, Xiao Zhou continued his incessant chatter: "It's a pity that our stockpile of magic stones is almost depleted; we probably used them all up during the city defense."

Zhao Chong took a drag of his cigarette: "Is that all?"

"Captain, money! Lots of money!" Xiao Zhou's voice was even lower. "The dwarves' vault has so many good things. My comrades say the dwarves have a lot of gold coins, probably two hundred thousand! There are even more silver coins mixed with mithril, maybe over a million! Copper coins? Nobody even counts them, they're just sold by the ton!"

Xiao Zhou clicked his tongue and exclaimed, "Tsk tsk—I reckon this is probably all the Mithril Clan's trade revenue from the last few years."

"You've had quite a haul this time!" Zhao handed him a cigarette.

Xiao Zhou chuckled as he took the package, lit it, and then asked in a mysterious, low voice, "Captain, do you think—with so much good stuff—could it—cough cough, mysteriously disappear without a trace?"

After all, the battle was so intense that the corruptors themselves had problems.

It's normal for things to mysteriously disappear, isn't it?

Zhao glanced at him, flicked his cigarette ash in annoyance, but his gaze lingered on the wealth that had been moved out: "How would I know? These things are none of our business."

He knew exactly what was going on.

Even without these mysteriously disappeared items, the supplies that humans seized from Pangula Fortress alone would have been enough to feed the pioneering team to the point of gluttony.

Those dwarven-style armor and weapons, after being melted down and reforged, became a large quantity of valuable metal resources.

Not to mention other treasures.

At this moment, human scientists are conducting a thorough survey and exploration of the entire Pangula Fortress, almost digging three feet into the ground.

The fortress's special energy particle shield system, the rune defenses covering the walls, and the warning matrix—these things are more tempting to scientists than mountains of gold and silver.

They are working tirelessly on various tests and research, not seeking complete mastery, but only to replicate the entire technology before leaving.

The dwarves' technology is indeed unique.

Humanity is now following the map, conducting archaeological excavations inside and out of a conquered treasure trove.

By the way, after Lin Li told humanity about the divine machine that was overturned and buried in the mountain by the tactical nuclear explosion, the heavy engineering team has already started excavation work.

Those things might be scrapped, but in the eyes of the pioneering team, nothing is completely useless.

Because humans discovered that those dwarven titans possessed vast quantities of adamantite.

If hundreds of tons of junk are not completely burned, what if we could recover several tons of refined gold?

It's worth noting that 30 kilograms of refined gold can upgrade the engine of a sixth-generation stealth fighter.

If a few tons of refined gold materials are recovered, at least dozens of new pieces of equipment with an average performance increase of 25% will appear.

In the No. 1 armory of Pangula Fortress, there are still many high-value targets that Lin Li initially looked down upon.

Just because he doesn't think much of it doesn't mean the pioneering team doesn't.

The pioneering team remained busy, and the harvest was always sweet. Hunger, however, was painful!

When no dwarves came to eat at the various food and relief distribution points for humans, the relief food delivered by the dwarves that night arrived.

"Why is it porridge again?"

"The spoon can't even stand up straight; aren't these noble gentlemen being far too demanding?"

"I smelled a wonderful aroma of food when I arrived. Are you suggesting we continue to eat porridge while the noble lord enjoys such a sumptuous meal?"

"Our ancestors, you won't even give us a sip of broth!"

The poor dwarves, amidst their complaints, were silenced by a fierce glare from the dwarf.

They received only enough food to keep them alive, and were then driven away.

As darkness fell, the dwarves' stomachs began to rumble.

"Victor, I'm starving! I need to go get some human food!"

"Huh? Aren't you afraid of getting caught? Men will kill people!"

"I'm so hungry. Let's be careful, we definitely won't be discovered. Besides, those humans threw away a lot of food, we'll just pick up some."

Humans cooked three meals in total. Since no one ate in the morning and at noon, they used plastic bags or similar containers as makeshift containers to pour the food onto, and then left with their cooking utensils.

It was eaten by quite a few birds during the day.

The poor dwarfs were drooling with envy.

It's a little better at night; after humans leave the food, the birds no longer come near.

They were so hungry, they just picked up some garbage to eat?

Could noble lords really take their lives?

Night, like thick ink, gradually permeated the tranquil harbor.

The stars are dim today, and the sky is very dark.

However, this scenery does not hinder the dwarves from walking.

The food that humans dumped onto the plastic sheet during the day had long since gone cold, and many birds and other animals had wasted it.

However, the aroma of meat wafted into the noses of every hungry dwarf.

In the darkness, there was finally movement.

A thin, dwarf figure scurried out along the rock wall like a mouse.

Behind him were several equally emaciated companions.

They stared intently at the food that had been deliberately prepared by humans in that corner, their Adam's apples bobbing up and down, the sound of them swallowing saliva particularly clear in the silence.

One of the dwarves hesitated: "Let's just smell it and leave! Lord Ironhammer said we're not allowed to eat human food—"

"Do you want to starve to death?" the leading dwarf's voice was hoarse, his eyes gleaming green. "The noble lords are drinking and eating in the stone hall, what do they care about our lives? Glory Ironhammer is nothing but a piece of rust who wants to bear the Ironhammer's name! What is he anyway!"

These words were like a key, unlocking the last shackles on everyone.

Hunger drives people crazy; the instinct for survival overrides everything.

They swarmed forward, trembling as they grabbed the cold chunks of meat from containers, or frantically stuffed bread into their mouths.

Dwarfs love to eat meat, and they eat with gusto, their mouths dripping with oil. Some even choke and roll their eyes because they eat so fast.

In a dark corner, a silent feast is unfolding.

High above, out of their sight, a human soldier was holding up binoculars, taking in everything.

He lowered his binoculars and whispered into the communicator, "Report: Many dwarves are secretly eating, more than we thought!"

"Received it. I wonder how many people have filled their stomachs!"

"I hope those managers will turn a blind eye!"

The bolder dwarves devoured the food, while others watched from a distance, eagerly anticipating what was happening.

"Rotten Fish, aren't you going?"

"What are you going to do? Are you looking for death?" Rotten Fish pointed into the distance. "This is why I made you wait so long to get here."

Several dwarf companions looked into the distance and discovered that they were none other than Glory Ironhammer's henchmen.

"Those people?"

"I reckon those who dare to eat human food are going to be in trouble!"

"what?"

Rotten Fish sighed, then his stomach growled, "I reckon they'll make their move after that group leaves!"

The dwarf companions suddenly felt a chill run down their spines!

They waited cautiously, and soon enough, they saw the dwarves, their bellies bulging and looking satisfied, being captured.

Then these people were punched and kicked, and then the dwarfs started calling for help.

"Are they really going to kill someone?"

"Sigh!" Rotten Fish sighed, "If they ask later, don't say we went out!"

After the impoverished dwarves were gathered together, Glory Hammer stood on high and pronounced these seven or eight skinny dwarves as traitors, daring to disobey the orders of their noble lord.

Then, they were hanged on the spot!

"No, no!"

"I just want to eat!"

"The noble lord is feeding us—waaaaaah—"

"Spare me! My loyalty to the dwarves is as clear as day."

Squeak—

All the dwarves were hoisted up.

Watching the corpse gradually lose its ability to struggle and drift away in the wind, Rotten Fish glanced into the distance again. Glory·Iron Hammer, with a smile on his face, chatted merrily with his companions.

He quickly lowered his head as the other person's gaze swept over him.

Then, some crazy ideas began to sprout in his mind.

"Why can they eat and drink well, while we're not allowed to eat the things that humans give us for free?"

1