It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

Chapter 792 No Impression at All

Snow Bear replied. Bai Lin smiled and asked,

"It's normal for those in the know to be confused. No one is perfect. With things like this, as long as you think clearly, it's never too late."

"By the way, Snow Bear is just your code name, right? I'm more curious about your real names than that. Just like you guys keep saying, knowing you're waiting for a hero, I'm also vaguely starting to feel like I have a connection with you guys. If possible, I'd like to get to know you better."

With Bai Lin's observational abilities, how could she possibly have misread Snow Bear's expression? Snow Bear's loss of composure, his own look of complete bewilderment and confusion, must have been caused by some unavoidable factor. That wasn't an expression she could fake. For Bai Lin, the dwarves' unknowns were possibilities equally unknown to her, so she was determined to take this opportunity to ask a few questions.

The dwarves had indeed shown a number of flaws. If these flaws were exploited, and the dwarves were merely bait to catch Bai Lin and the other two, that would be disastrous. Although the dwarves themselves appeared to be fine, and Bai Lin trusted them, if they themselves were unaware, there was nothing that could be done.

Of course, even if it weren't for the above content, Bai Lin still wanted to communicate with the dwarves from the bottom of his heart. Because the dwarves are indeed a very interesting race.

When asked by Bai Lin, Xue Xiong was slightly stunned, then quickly shook his head.

"I'm deeply sorry, but even in private, we can't reveal our names to you. This is a clan rule. A simple given name is fine, but I'd prefer you call me Snow Bear. This is my personal preference. Although it's just a code name, our real names are just another common hobby within the clan, so there's no significant difference."

It's impossible that his real name is Wang Ergou or something, so why is he hiding it like this? Bai Lin thought so, but she naturally didn't ask any more questions. Soon, she turned to ask other topics.

"Indeed, this is fine. Well, I'll get straight to the point. I'd like to hear about your general content first, and then I can experience the details myself when the time comes."

Thus, Snow Bear's narration began. This was naturally not a simple message, and was longer than the previous conversation.

In short, the feud between the wolves and the dwarves didn't seem to be about territory. Rather, the wolves had been driven to a certain area for some unknown reason, disrupting the ecological balance. The number of nearby creatures was no longer sufficient for their appetite, and they began to frequently kill each other. But even so, their appetites were never satisfied.

So, the dwarves resorted to creating conflict with them, luring them closer to their territory and then shooting them. It wasn't for any particular reason; this was the dwarves' usual behavior. For centuries, whenever there was a potential conflict in their area, the dwarves would intervene.

"If I had to explain why, it's probably because we want to bring a little peace to the area. We have the strongest armed forces in this area, and our culture and civilization are the most advanced. If we take action, things will usually be easy."

"Like this time, we've only ever deployed two teams simultaneously, similar to the one we used to greet you this morning. Such a team formation is innumerable within our tribe. This is a rare opportunity for us to practice actual combat, and something we believe, as advanced individuals, can address."

"Maintain order and guide its growth. This has nothing to do with justice or stance, it's simply about allowing spirits and ideas to grow in an environment with less tragedy and difficulty. Ultimately, what we do is still killing, so it's not absolutely right, it's just what we want to do."

Snow Bear, that’s what he said.

When conflicts arise, they investigate. When they see problems, they adjudicate them in their own way. They understand what they need to understand, and when they feel they should kill, they kill. There's no right or wrong; it's simply a matter of protecting the stability of the surrounding ecological environment.

Just as Snow Bear said, perhaps this is an easier thing for them.

This is not a perfect system, and Bai Lin is not clear about its specific content, so Bai Lin did not express too much opinion on it. However, she now obviously knows what she wants to know. However, she still lacks the most direct answer. She only heard Bai Lin ask,

"I see. So, on your peacekeeping missions, have you ever encountered any obstruction from those who use platinum and claim to be perfect?"

Hearing this word, Snow Bear thought for a moment, and then quickly gave an answer.

"Indeed, they were a rather troublesome presence during the recent troubles. Besides their immense strength, they've also repeatedly come here to cause disturbances. The first few times they were trying to massacre an entire race, but after we took action, they came straight for us."

"Their leader is still able to speak. He said that we dwarves are an ancient race, and they respect us and don't want to conflict with us... But, what I want to ask is..."

"Who are they? They sound like some ancient race. I have no idea."

Snow Bear's last words weren't meant to be disdainful or sarcastic; she was simply raising her most genuine question as a silver dwarf. This left Bai Lin slightly stunned, but she could understand.

After all, Bai Lin had only heard of their notoriety after several visits. And generally speaking, a race or force that engaged in such a large-scale campaign, burning, killing, and looting everywhere, even if powerful, exuded a sense of cheapness. If they were truly powerful, such as robbing something today and burning something tomorrow, these things wouldn't even be spread as news. Furthermore, not many races would be willing to resist them.

This evoked the feeling of nouveau riche, suddenly bursting into extravagant spending. Bai Lin subjectively felt that they weren't a particularly powerful force. Of course, to Bai Lin personally, they still seemed quite formidable. So when she heard Xue Xiong speak so nonchalantly, she felt a sense of emotion.

Chapter 793 Only Death Can Cure

"Although the number of troops they send each time isn't very large, their resources are indeed abundant. It's like being at home on the road. Fortunately, we dwarves have more than enough mass-produced supplies."

"All in all, there were quite a few conflicts. We have to admit that we, the Silver Dwarves, did suffer a small number of casualties. They are indeed very powerful. However, they haven't attacked us in recent times, so we don't have much impression of them."

Xue Xiong commented calmly. Bai Lin was stunned by what she heard. She replied,

"...There were casualties? How could we forget that? This must be a blood feud."

Listening to Bai Lin's words, Xue Xiong's eyes were a little complicated for a moment. She sighed lightly, spread her hands to the side, and then took a cigarette from Yu Mo's hand. Then, she skillfully took out a lighter from her coat pocket, lit the box of cigarettes, and then replied,

"A blood feud? Well, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with that."

"However, war itself will always result in casualties. We have never forced any dwarf to take the battlefield. Everyone chooses this path only after they have fully prepared themselves mentally. Once you embark on this path, you can consider the person who made this choice as dead. She has already dedicated her life to the belief she fought for."

"So when there are casualties, we remember that person and pay tribute to them. This is their noble choice, and we shouldn't mix too much of our personal emotions into it. This is an insult to their personal choice."

Harmful gases emanated from the smoke. This smoke smell seemed different from normal nicotine, like a strong smell of sulfur and gunpowder, with a hint of the refreshing yet slightly heavy smell of white tea. Melancholy emanated from the smoke, pouring over Snow Bear's iron-blooded expression. She sighed again and said,

"Of course, it's impossible for anyone to be completely emotionless. Sentimentality often occurs, especially among the younger tribesmen. Take Akagi Lu. Even though she seems heartless when nothing is wrong, when the last gunpowder bearer who went on a mission with her died, Akagi Lu cried so hard at her funeral."

"But, we must learn to accept it. Since everything has been chosen, as the victims who took the initiative to step into it, we must also prepare our own minds."

"So, even if it's a blood feud... we might not be able to take it seriously. Because in our hearts, there are things deeper than blood feuds."

Xue Xiong's words gradually became calm, but the thick, low-pitched smell of cigarette smoke showed no sign of fading, just like Bai Lin's gloomy face. She clenched her fists and asked,

"Deeper... something deeper? What is that?"

"Why are we fighting? We just want to protect this little corner of the world. There's no particular reason, we just want to start with something like this."

"However, now that we've begun, what exactly are we heading towards? Why are we so committed to this? What are we pursuing? It's like waiting for a hero. We don't really understand. We just have this belief in our hearts."

Xue Xiong took another drag on her cigarette and sighed. Her ethereal voice made her words even more cruel; it was a child's, after all. Confusion, yet now it sounded so light and airy. This caused Bai Lin to suddenly feel an inexplicable rage. She pounded her hands on her knees, and her whole body trembled for a moment, but she finally relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I still want to ask why, for such an unclear purpose, you decided to sacrifice yourself like this? At least, at least you should think it through first. Can you accept such a thing?!"

She raised her head and looked at the Snow Bear in front of her, expressing her doubts from the bottom of her heart. The Snow Bear extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray beside him, looked directly at Bai Lin, and replied,

"Holy Son, you don't need to apply your human values ​​to us. The Silver Dwarves are not a normal group in themselves. Although I can't remember it clearly, I still remember that we originally came together to allow the best heroes to equip them with the weapons that best suit them."

"This belief surpasses the value we all place on life. It sounds extreme and foolish, but we know it well enough. So when we hear others call us the strongest craftsmen, we actually want to laugh... But it's precisely this kind of foolishness that allows us to achieve the meaning of life."

"For fools like us, only death can heal us. So even in this dark period, we seem to have chosen a very paranoid way of living. Without this foolish disease, so-called life would have no meaning for us."

The faint scent of fireworks lingering in Snow Bear's self-deprecating words gradually faded. Just as the harmful substances contained in nicotine gradually settle in the lungs and corrode the body, a will that does not value life will eventually lead to the extreme of death.

The noise and dust, everything drifted away with the substance clamped between Snow Bear's two fingers, and also flowed away with the sound of her words.

"..."

After hearing this, Bai Lin fell silent. Perhaps some people would immediately and fiercely refute this statement, but for Bai Lin, it gave her more of a mixed feeling. She took a deep breath, as if it was her first breath in such a long conversation.

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"This isn't stupid... Although it certainly goes against our ideals, being able to follow through on one's convictions is actually a very good quality. But..."

"I know what you mean, Holy Son. Everyone has their own way of living. As I said before, don't we all cry at the graves of those we've passed away and confess at their funerals? So, sadness is actually allowed."

Chapter 794: Dinner

"Even if the person involved isn't willing to shed tears, and even if tears are considered a sign of weakness by the world, they are still permissible. After all, that's human nature. But as for us, we have no regrets about our choices. Whether others feel sad or not, or whether our lives are saved, it doesn't affect our hearts."

Bai Lin's expression remained gloomy. She looked at Xue Xiong's impassive expression and knew he was simply expressing her thoughts, not offering any eloquence. It had been a heart-to-heart talk, nothing complicated, yet the gloom lingered on her face for a long time.

Finally, Bai Lin sighed again and replied,

"Now that we've made up our minds... there's really nothing we can do about it. Let's stop talking about such grand and empty things and get down to business. For example, what enemies have you encountered recently?"

Bai Lin, now in a state of working, was less troubled. Her words cut straight to the point, just like the Snow Bear sitting across from her: concise and powerful, yet with her own unique style. Snow Bear nodded slightly and began a brief report.

Simply put, the dwarves seem to have recently battled a giant pest similar to the "Plague." Furthermore, a variety of apparently unidentified entities have appeared in the vicinity, including monsters, substances that affect the natural environment, and even bizarre entities that directly shake the laws of physics.

"Although it's normal for something new to happen in the world every once in a while, given how diverse our world is, it's not impossible for new matter to emerge. However, it's definitely a rare occurrence, and shouldn't be as frequent as it has been recently."

Snow Bear said so. On the other side, Yu Mushroom took out something that looked like a screen from his pocket after hearing this, tapped it twice, put it on the table, and said,

"Besides being frequent, it's also very troublesome. The frequency of substances that break the original laws has clearly exceeded expectations, and there's a definite upward trend."

The screen looks very high-tech, but Bai Lin can't understand the data on it, and poets don't need to see it, so although it looks very professional, no one knows why Yu Mo put these things out.

So Bai Lin didn't pay much attention to it. He fell into deep thought for a moment, then glanced at the poet. Seeing that the poet was communicating with him through his eyes, Bai Lin nodded thoughtfully.

Is this... the so-called omen of the end of the world? It really fits with what the poet said.

The emergence of new species isn't unusual. But breaking the rules and causing disasters is a major event. It's like injecting a little "Alien" into the real world one day, letting "Sky Babies" and their suns move in the next, and then adding some interdimensional viruses the day after, and then just popping some black holes and holes in your planet out of nowhere.

This metaphor is actually a bit conservative, but that's the point. Who can withstand such a toss?

Fortunately, Bai Lin hadn't seen many similar situations so far. Apparently, the frequency wasn't very high, just significantly higher than before. But it had certainly alerted her. It seemed she did have something akin to "saving the world" to do.

But today, her main concern wasn't this. She simply wanted to understand the current state of the dwarves' enemies and consider whether there was a conspiracy behind it. Now, it all seemed reasonable. After all, they had passively accepted the enemy. There was nothing they could do.

As for why the Perfects attacked the Dwarves, it's obvious. You're here to protect the ecological balance. Doesn't that mean you're essentially the protector of order in this area, albeit uncrowned? Those bastards wouldn't be happy with you. Who else would they attack?

Now, Bai Lin's thoughts were clear. After she finished figuring out the reasons for people's behavior, she had another reason. So, Bai Lin nodded and replied,

"I kind of understand. Even though the situation isn't serious yet, it's not optimistic. We must act quickly, both you and I."

"Well, of course, it would be nice if we and you could be us."

This was a very direct statement. Hearing such a warm and direct appeal from Snow Bear, the other members of the team would have been very surprised. Bai Lin's performance was also as natural as his. She smiled twice and replied,

"Of course I do, and I hope so. Tomorrow, if there is room for me to perform, I will definitely work hard."

"Well, let's not talk about more. Let's just eat. We've come such a long way and started working right away. I'm sure you've been hungry for a long time, Holy Son."

Finally, things got to the point. Yu Mo seemed to realize that it was her turn to appear. Her eyes lit up as she pushed the iron box in front of her a little closer to Bai Lin and the others. Bai Lin was also slightly expectant. She rubbed her hands, very curious about what kind of food would be inside.

"Okay, that's just what I want, let's get started!"

After her response, Yu Mo swept across the lunch box with near-flash-speed, opening the lid. Puffs of steam billowed out, a flashing effect reminiscent of the opening of a steamer lid in the TV series "The Chef of Chinese Primary School." Bai Lin, watching this scene, couldn't help but gasp.

Then, inside the iron box, she saw a fist-sized, red object, as translucent and shimmering as a gem. It had sharp edges and a vibrant color, resembling everything except food. So, after pondering for a long time what it was, Bai Lin finally followed her intuition and made a judgment.

R*m, this is just a diamond or something, right?

But out of respect for the other world, Bai Lin still turned his head somewhat stiffly, looked at the person across the table and asked,

"What...what is this?"

"It's one of the ores that's abundant here. We dwarves have a technology that allows us to increase our mineral resources indefinitely, so we'll build a factory like this underground and station ourselves here. As for food, we'll naturally choose the one closest to us.

"The minerals are rich in energy and are quick and easy to eat, so that's why we chose them. Generally speaking, we can finish one in just a few bites and stay full for the whole day."

Chapter 795 I really can’t stand it

Snow Bear explained this to Bai Lin, and by the way, she also confirmed Bai Lin's understanding. She did not notice that Bai Lin's face was not very good, and continued to say calmly,

"This one's icy. Generally speaking, we don't like to eat it. We dwarves prefer the ore that's just been processed, that's piping hot. It has a stronger taste and a stronger sense of energy entering the body. But considering that some of you humans seem to have... cat tongues? They can't handle hot food, so we specially prepared this more niche flavor of ore."

"Well...that's very thoughtful of you."

Bai Lin stared at him in a daze, a look of shame on his face. This angle was completely wrong, wasn't it?! This, this is a question of whether or not you can eat something hot? Normal human teeth wouldn't be able to chew this, let alone digest it. If enough calories alone were considered good food, then why not just nibble on some sun?

Bai Lin was stunned. At this moment, the poet beside him spoke. She reached out her hand, grabbed the red stone, and said,

"Hmm... As for the Holy Child, that's not a problem. She has a high tolerance for high temperatures and can eat hot food without any problems. As for me, I prefer something cold, so I'll eat this one."

What?!!!!!!

Bai Lin turned her head and looked at the impassive poet. She felt as if she had been electrocuted, her entire body radiating the word "extreme shock." Her heart trembled violently, and her eyes fluttered unnaturally, as if she were trapped in a small room filled with low-quality speakers, the volume cranked up to the maximum, letting something that could no longer be called music directly occupy her mind and fill her body.

However, on second thought, what the poet said was true. Furthermore, she took the initiative to do this, perhaps believing that Bai Lin would experience some miraculous effects after eating the hot ore. Furthermore, this was an experience of alien culture, so eating directly would be more in line with the alien's taste and the most authentic.

Bai Lin thought of three reasons to comfort herself before she finally let go of her trembling star. She looked at the iron box and said in a gritted teeth tone,

"Yeah, I'm a big eater."

Obviously, even a pig would have noticed Bai Lin's change of mood, but the dwarves weren't pigs, so they naturally didn't need to pay attention. Yu Mo quickly removed a layer of the iron box, revealing another hot golden ore inside, and made a gesture of invitation to Bai Lin.

Bai Lin reached out and grabbed the mineral, which was like a small sun, bright enough to illuminate the entire two-hundred-square-meter room. She gasped and trembled as she brought it to her face. She felt as if she was holding something incredible, something she might not even know what would happen if she took it and ate it.

Her gauntlets began to hum because of this thing. Bai Lin's armor was made of multiple layers of heat-resistant armor, which was enough to show how pure this ore was. She stared at it with a sullen expression for a moment before finally making up her mind. She placed it in her mouth and began to chew it viciously.

The process was quick, just as Snow Bear had said, and it was finished in just a few bites. Honestly, the taste wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either. It was quite hard to chew, and it was really hot, which probably masked any flavor of the ore. Eating something like this... wasn't it a wonderful experience?

"How is it? The taste may be average, but it's definitely very efficient."

Snow Bear also ate his own portion and asked Bai Lin this question. Bai Lin laughed dryly and replied,

"It feels... not as good as Traveler's Bread."

"? What is that?"

"Nothing much, it's really quite full of energy. This box contains one ore for each of us. What's in the box?"

Bai Lin pointed to another iron box. Yu Mo, like a professional cook, moved her hands again. She quickly opened the box in front of Bai Lin, revealing its contents.

"This is also our dwarven technology, brewing wine from ore. We love it. Generally speaking, it has a completely different taste from the previous ore, with a chilled flavor. After eating the ore, a glass of it will penetrate your bones, leaving you with a very sour and refreshing feeling, as well as a stimulating and strong taste."

After saying that, Yu Mo directly took out the special wine bottle from inside and threw it directly into Bai Lin's hand. Bai Lin didn't hesitate and directly unscrewed the bottle cap. The rich and unique aroma of wine immediately filled his nose.

However, is this really the right amount to drink after a meal to refresh yourself? This isn't just a small cup, it's a whole pot. And drinking this right after eating something so hot is a bit harsh on your stomach...

But Bai Lin's worries were clearly unnecessary; they were simply something she, as a human, found difficult to accept. Neither she nor the dwarves would encounter the aforementioned problems. The four of them raised their wine jugs high and clinked them on the table.

"cheers!"

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