FYN Chapter 157 Reconstruction
Chapter 157 Reconstruction
Chapter 159 Reconstruction
After dealing with matters on the ground, Thor led a large group of his men back into the Underdark.
In just a few days, the effects of his previous remarks, coupled with the efforts of his gray dwarves and kobolds, have become clearly apparent.
The first group to come seeking refuge was a small cave-dwelling tribe.
This is a humanoid race that is about 1.5 meters tall, with lizard-like heads covered with rough, dark green or yellowish-brown scales, and strong bodies with sharp claws.
Because they have scent glands on their bodies, which release a foul odor when they are angry as a means of attack or defense, they are always surrounded by a stench, which is why they have never won Thor's favor.
But Saul kept his promise and accepted these men, treating them along with his own men as free labor and sending them to clean up the city's ruins.
The existence of these cave dwellers is like that of the first person to eat a crab; countless eyes are watching them closely from the shadows.
Seeing that they were unharmed, more creatures emerged, clamoring to submit to Thor.
Among them are dwarfs, petrified lizards, and kobolds from the Underdark, and many more.
Suddenly, Thor had a large number of men at his disposal, and he sent them all into the city ruins to work as laborers.
But it wasn't long before he discovered that although these creatures obeyed orders, they were all just going through the motions and slacking off.
After a moment's thought, Thor understood the reason—as evil creatures, they were almost all selfish and wouldn't act unless they saw a clear benefit. Naturally, they wouldn't work hard without seeing a definite advantage.
Saul could certainly choose to use violence to coerce others, but that would cut off his path to recruiting more followers.
Let's give them some hope and whet their appetite with bait first.
Having figured this out, Thor immediately flapped his wings and took to the air, his body covered in flames, and descended towards the cave dwellers who had first come to his aid.
A tremendous tremor resounded, and as his massive body landed, a scorching wind instantly swept up.
Feeling the terrifying heat rushing towards them, all the cave dwellers couldn't help but feel a deep fear. Their pupils suddenly contracted, and they immediately knelt down on the ground.
Thor scanned the creatures that resembled distant relatives of the lizardmen, his gaze settling on the strongest one among them. If he wasn't mistaken, this guy should be their leader.
Then, he opened his mouth wide and roared in a loud voice.
"As the first race to come seeking refuge, the great red dragon has decided to bestow upon you my grace, thus demonstrating my generosity and mercy!"
A grayish-green seed emerged from Thor's fingertip and, amidst the surprised gazes of the cave dwellers, fell toward their leader.
This is the Seed of Power, a unique plant originating from the Monster Hunter world, and one of the most common consumables.
It can greatly enhance the user's strength in a short period of time, and its activated energy can also stimulate the user's body, bringing some permanent improvements.
Long-term use can significantly improve physical condition and has no side effects.
"Eat it, and you will gain immense power."
A resounding voice boomed through the air like thunder. The chosen caveman chieftain, his heart pounding with excitement, caught the Seed of Power falling from mid-air.
A faint, fresh scent of herbs and plants wafted into its nostrils, and it immediately put it into its mouth.
A slightly spicy taste spread from the tip of the tongue. After being digested by the stomach and intestines, the swallowed kernels quickly turned into streams of heat that began to flow to the limbs and bones.
The caveman's muscles swelled at a visible rate, and his body quickly grew larger. His originally hunched back straightened involuntarily, and he felt a powerful force surging within him.
It clenched its fist in disbelief, a surge of intense joy welling up from the bottom of its heart. It immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to Thor, swearing its loyalty.
A throng of eager gazes immediately filled the surroundings, and many creatures couldn't help but regret why they hadn't been the first to step forward and pledge allegiance.
Some who considered themselves clever immediately started working hard, grabbing their pickaxes quickly, hoping to attract Thor's attention.
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Thor couldn't help but reveal a sinister smile.
Inside the cave, the clanging and tinkling sounds echoed continuously. One after another, the molten pointed castles were chiseled open, and the valuable items inside were looted and converted into new dwellings.
The quarried stones were transported to a lava lake in one corner of the cave, where they were melted and shaped by the high temperatures to be remade into new building materials.
Every day, new evil creatures come to join them, and through their combined efforts, the abandoned dungeon begins to rapidly come back to life.
As the number of creatures gathered increased, the demand for various supplies naturally increased as well. This allowed some shrewd underground merchants to sense a business opportunity and begin to tentatively return with their goods.
As a red dragon with lofty ambitions, Thor is not like the other five-colored dragons, who have a morbid possessiveness for wealth.
Only wealth that circulates can accumulate like a snowball; if it is simply piled up in a vault, it will ultimately remain nothing more than shiny metal.
Therefore, Sol welcomed all the merchants who came to trade, and even offered them some partially renovated buildings as shops—of course, taxes were to be paid on these.
He collects a tax of 20% of the total value of all goods brought in from outside the country, regardless of whether they are sold or not.
He also collects a tax of 20% of the total value of all goods shipped out from here.
In other words, Thor would take half of any wealth circulating in this underground city. It sounds harsh, but it's actually much lighter than what the drow elves used to do.
You should know that in addition to the city entry fee, those black-skinned rats also charge a commission on transactions, protection fees, currency exchange fees, tithes from the temple, and all sorts of other miscellaneous fees. If you don't have a powerful backer, your goods may even be confiscated directly.
Saul didn't have the energy or time to manage these complicated matters, so he simply combined all the taxes into one sum, which actually allowed the merchants to earn more.
After tasting success, more merchants began to flock in. Some came from the depths of the Underdark, bringing various ores, magical materials, and mushrooms that were local specialties; others came from other parts of the surface, bringing food and various supplies that were scarce in the Underdark.
Because of the existence of magic, spatial equipment does exist in this world, but it is quite rare and only wealthy merchants can possess it.
When these wealthy merchants also sensed the allure of wealth and flocked to the site like sharks, the reconstruction of the entire abandoned underground city suddenly accelerated to a new level.
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