We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 279 Malice from the World

Having lost his memory, Shane naturally didn't remember where his cave was. It was only with the help of a dwarf that he returned to his "home".

Despite being called a "home," the interior of this cave is actually very simply furnished.

There was only a stone bed and a stone bench.

The walls were decorated with animal heads, animal hides, and swords, which were hung in a somewhat messy manner.

This also shows that, apart from their advanced forging technology, the dwarves' living conditions were by no means particularly pleasant.

Moreover, Xia En was the only person in this simple room.

Previously, Shane learned from Kur that Bronzebeard's parents had passed away long ago and that he had no other relatives.

This was undoubtedly good news for Shane, greatly reducing the possibility of him being exposed.

Along the way, he overheard some whispers among the dwarves, and only then did he understand the meaning behind Chief Hope's meaningful look earlier.

It turns out that Kul and Bronzebeard were the two most prestigious young men in the Warhammer Horde.

Kur is skilled in forging and blacksmithing.

Bronzebeard, on the other hand, is exceptionally gifted in combat—as evidenced by the fire lizard that perished alongside him earlier.

They were also considered by other members of the tribe as candidates for the next tribal chief.

This time, Kur and Bronzebeard went out together.

As a result, Bronzebeard unexpectedly lost his memory, while Kur was unharmed, which inevitably aroused some suspicion.

Back in the cave, Shane stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "I see."

He had sensed something was amiss earlier.

Kur was unusually enthusiastic in his attitude toward himself, and when he said the word "good brother," his expression was slightly strange.

However, Shane's motives were not entirely innocent either.

In addition, the stereotypical image of dwarves as straightforward and reckless led him to subconsciously overlook these unusual features.

But now, Shane immediately realized that Bronzebeard's death might not have been a coincidence, but a long-planned conspiracy.

Perhaps, when Bronzebeard covered Kur's retreat, Kur deliberately slowed down his return with reinforcements.

By the time the dwarves reached Bronzebeard, it was too late.

Kur can then sit comfortably on the throne of the next chieftain.

But no one expected that a shadow from outside the [Forge Realm] would take over Bronzebeard's body, which led to the story that followed.

Of course, there are many aspects of this speculation that Shane has not been able to verify, and some are even just subjective inferences.

But mere speculation is enough.

In fact, Shane had little interest in Bronzebeard's interpersonal relationships or even the Warhammer Horde as a whole.

After all, the fighting strength of this group of dwarves is not particularly strong.

Even the white-bearded dwarf chieftain, in Xia En's eyes, was only around the third tier of combat power.

Even if Shane doesn't use his [Projection Body] trump card, he could probably defeat his opponent using only his identity as "Bronzebeard Warhammer".

Strength is the foundation of confidence!
From another perspective, the identity of "Bronzebeard Warhammer" is something that Shaun can give up.

If you're really pushed to the limit, just lay your cards on the table and stop pretending!
Therefore, although Xia En vaguely guessed the truth of the matter, he did not take any initiative to do anything, only thinking that he would deal with whatever came his way.

More than these trivial matters, he cared about...

What benefits can you gain from exploring the [Forge Realm]?
A thoughtful look flashed in Xia En's eyes, and he quickly listed several targets in his mind.

First of all, that strange lava mineral is a specialty of the [Furnace Realm], and may have unique effects.

He'll definitely get a few pieces to bring back to the Seven Seas World.

Secondly, the physical structure of the Fire Seed is vastly different from that of the creatures in the Seven Seas World.

This organism itself is a valuable material.

Finally, the dwarves' unique forging and smelting techniques are also very valuable.

According to Shane's observation, materials forged by the dwarves often have significantly improved performance.

Moreover, it is extremely sturdy and durable.

Such stable production makes it a highly sought-after product, whether for personal use or for trade.

However, Xia En clearly didn't have the energy or time to learn this skill himself—he was too busy improving his own strength to have time to become a blacksmith.

Thinking of this, a dangerous idea popped into Xia En's mind.

"If only we could abduct a few dwarf craftsmen..."

"……Um?"

Xia En's eyes widened slightly, as if he had discovered a blind spot.

Yes, he himself doesn't have time to learn the dwarves' forging techniques, but if he just packs up the dwarves and takes them away, wouldn't there be fewer problems?

Not only the dwarves, but also their homeland, these enormous furnaces and hammers, were taken away with them.

Of course, Shane had no intention of forcibly abducting the dwarves like in the slave trade.

Given the environment of the Rhine Rift, it's definitely much better than the Forge Rift. Maybe a group of dwarves will be willing to leave with him?
Just like the previous [Moon Wanderer Clan] and [Tree Clan].

At that time, [Rhineland Secret Realm] will not only have a hardworking workforce, but also skilled craftsmen who have mastered advanced techniques, and the construction of [Rhine City] will surely progress by leaps and bounds.

The surplus equipment forged can also be traded on the Seven Seas for seeds, materials, and more equipment.

Perhaps one day, Shaen might even be able to cultivate his own kingdom in the [Rhine Secret Realm]?

Just imagining that scene made Shane's heart pound with anticipation.

However, dreams are often grand, but reality is often harsh.

At this moment, a crucial question was placed before Shane—

He first needs to have the ability to take the dwarves and the lava mine away!

Shane has already checked it.

It's probably because they're in a "submerged" state and in another "secret realm".

His spatial ring was unusable, and the [Empty Beast Heart Seal] on his chest had temporarily stopped responding.

This means that the only loot he can take with him is the one he received at the end of the [Submarine] mission!
Establishing a stable passage between the Seven Seas World and the Forge Realm is still a long and arduous task.

"A secret technique to connect the two [Secret Realms]..."

Xia En stroked his chin, recalling the blood-red full moon on the sea, the way the vampires entered the [Blood Moon Secret Realm].

Given this precedent, there will surely be similar secret techniques in the Seven Seas.

As one of the centers of the Federation, [Liuli Island] may have records of such secret techniques.

Thinking of this, Xia En silently kept it in mind.

While Shane was pondering these questions.

On the open ground below, a large number of dwarves were busily dismantling the corpse of the fire lizard.

To the dwarves, the Fireseed is a treasure from head to toe!
Their flesh and blood are food.

It can nourish the dwarves' bodies, making them stronger and gradually helping them adapt to the hot environment.

Their blood is an essential ingredient in forging equipment, providing it with mysterious and extraordinary enhancements.

Their claws and scales are excellent materials.

Some only need simple polishing to become useful tools.

And when the fire lizard was gutted and its bronze skeleton was exposed...

A hint of surprise flashed in Xia En's eyes.

He had been wondering where the metal on his hammer and armor came from, since he hadn't seen any metal ore in the [Forge World].

Now, seeing the skeleton inside the fire lizard's body, Shane suddenly understood everything. It turned out that these fire creatures possessed a special ability: they could continuously absorb metallic elements from the air, soil, and food, integrating these elements into their bones.

For most living beings, this would undoubtedly be suicidal.

But for the Blazing Fire Seeds, this has long been their instinct.

Therefore, their bones turned into natural metal ores, which became materials used by the dwarves for forging.

According to the dwarves, there seem to be different criteria for classifying the Fire Seeds.

The one that Xia En and the others brought back was a "Bronze" Flame Seed.

Soon after, the dwarves unearthed a sizable crimson crystal from the heart of the fire lizard.

Even though the fire lizard had been dead for some time, the crystal was still emitting a bright, intense light.

It is lava mineral that exists in the rock wall!
Seeing this, Shane was surprised once again.

Lava minerals, actually the heart of the Fiery Seed?
Could those crimson lights in the walls of the [Forge Realm] be the corpses of one after another of the Fiery Seeds?
Or is it that each Fire Seed is born from a lava mineral core within a rock stratum?

Regardless, this discovery was quite novel to Shane.

The world is full of surprises.

Different environments create different ecosystems and ways of life.

In each secret realm, there will likely be a unique, exclusive race called the [Fire Seed].

……

at the same time.

In a corner of the cave, Kur, with his thick beard, returned to his home.

But as soon as he entered the cave, his expression suddenly turned unusually gloomy. He paced back and forth, muttering to himself.

"How could this be... How is this possible..."

"Bronzebeard actually killed a fire lizard and survived by sheer luck?"

Soon, a strong female dwarf emerged from the cave.

By dwarven standards of beauty, she was strikingly beautiful and could certainly be considered a "beauty".

This dwarf woman was named Mary, and she was Kur's wife.

Upon hearing Kur's voice, Mary's expression changed slightly: "What? Your plan failed?"

Kur was clearly afraid of his wife, and said timidly in a low voice, "It's not a complete failure..."

"Bronzebeard has lost his memory."

Mary said with a sneer, "But he still survived, and he's much stronger than you!"

"Oh no, to be precise, he should be stronger than before, right?"

"Do you even understand that, regardless of the tribe, only the strongest can become the chieftain!"

"Even if forging skills are important, the leader of a clan must ultimately be able to fight!"

Mary's words poured out like a barrage of bullets, piercing through Kur's already fragile defenses.

“I’ve said it before, as long as Bronzebeard is alive, you will never become the chieftain of the Warhammer Horde!”

As she spoke, a hint of regret flickered in Mary's eyes.

"If I had known you would be so indecisive, perhaps I shouldn't have left my tribe to marry you!"

These words were incredibly damaging to Kur. He covered his face in agony and asked helplessly.

"Then what should I do now?"

Mary's tone remained indifferent: "Find an opportunity to strike again."

Kuer muttered to himself in confusion, "But he's already back home, where can he find an opportunity?"

"As long as you're willing to wait, there will always be an opportunity..."

A dark flame burned in Mary's eyes as she murmured to herself.

Her insistence on making Kur the chieftain of the Warhammer tribe was not just due to vanity, but also because of her mission.

Where there are people, there will be conflict.

Dwarfs are no exception.

Mary's tribe was a "Wild Axe Tribe" that was relatively close to the "Warhammer Tribe".

Due to conflicts over territory and resources, the two tribes often fought each other, and even engaged in battle at one point.

Mary was a pawn planted by the Barbarian Axe Tribe within the Warhammer Tribe.

While dwarves are generally straightforward and reckless, that doesn't mean there aren't some among them skilled in scheming and intrigue.

In the Wild Axe tribe's plan, Mary could take advantage of becoming the wife of the next chieftain and annex the Warhammer tribe.

Back then, Bronzebeard and Kur, as outstanding young men of the younger generation, both pursued Mary, a beautiful dwarf.

But at that time, Bronzebeard had not yet shown his fighting talent.

Therefore, Mary chose Kur as her husband.

Who would have thought that later, Bronzebeard's strength would increase by leaps and bounds, while Kur became the one who fell behind.

In order to fulfill her mission, Mary devised that wicked plan, which led to the current conversation.

But for Kur, this was undoubtedly a double ordeal.

On one side are his own tribe and his former friends.

On the other hand, there is his deep-seated desire for power and his beloved wife.

This pulling sensation was almost driving him crazy!

"Mary, how about we call it quits? Isn't life just fine like this?"

Looking at Kur's pained and cautious expression, Mary's eyes flashed with pity.

But the next moment, the softness in her eyes was replaced by determination.

She still possessed the stubborn and persistent nature of a dwarf, never giving up until she achieved her goal!
However, Mary hadn't said anything yet.

boom!
A loud roar suddenly came from deep within the cave, behind layers of rock walls.

Immediately afterwards, the rock walls around the two began to shake violently.

Click... click...

The entire underground space was trembling, and dust and gravel kept falling from the ceiling.

The unexpected turn of events threw the Warhammer tribe's dwarves into a panic.

"What happened?"

"Is the cave about to collapse?"

Among the panicked dwarves, only Chief Hope remained calm.

His face was extremely pale, and he muttered, "The rumble! The rumble is coming!"

Inside the cave, Shane frowned, his expression grave.

For some reason, he had a strong premonition.

This sudden disaster was caused by him!