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Chapter 583.5: Ah, It Smells So Good!
Hearing Gater's report, the commanders who had prepared for a big fight looked at each other.
They never expected to encounter such an oddity as the minotaurs on a peril-ridden continent.
Even Matthew was quite amazed.
If the current trajectory remained unchanged,
Over the next decade, the 60,000+ minotaurs would be reduced to mere dozens.
Eventually, these minotaurs issued a "desperate" revenge quest to the players.
They distributed the entire heritage of the minotaurs to the players.
Demonstrating incredible combat prowess, they led players into Icewind Valley.
Thousands of players, led by a legendary minotaur Warrior, broke through the blockade of thousands of mutated wyverns and stormed the wyverns' lair.
Sadly, even though all the minotaurs died, they failed to destroy the wyverns' nest.
It was a tragic revenge battle!
Even Matthew got caught up in the moment and risked his life in that battle.
However, now that the mutated wyvern nest had been destroyed, the minotaurs who were supposed to perish seemed to have a new chance to live.
Matthew rubbed his forehead and said to the group discussing:
"Some of the minotaurs speak Common. Just explain our intentions to them."
"Also, since they're currently low on food, we can sell them some in exchange for labor."
"After all, we're severely understaffed."
"Every one of them is strong—it'd be a waste not to have them haul bricks for us..."
Everyone agreed to try the lord's proposal.
Failure wouldn't harm Bay Territory—but success could ease their labor shortage.
Moreover, given the minotaurs' decent combat power, hiring them might also mean a batch of free fighters and bodyguards.
No sooner said than done.
The burly Beelzebub led a squad of fully armed modified warriors, escorting over a dozen carts of dried fish toward the minotaur settlement.
Cain Bloodhoof spotted them immediately.
The young and clever minotaur Warrior sensed the strong aura from Beelzebub and the modified warriors.
Recognizing their strength, he ignored the subtle deadly threat and shouted boldly from the bushes:
"Who are you? What's your business with the Bloodhoof Tribe?"
Cain Bloodhoof showed no hostility.
But if anything seemed off, he'd flee instantly and sound the alarm.
Unexpectedly,
Beelzebub communicated in a way Cain had never encountered, making him feel the wealth of Bay Territory.
"We're soldiers from Bay Territory on the Northern Continent, building a dock city here to mine the western veins."
"We've caused some disturbance to the Bloodhoof Tribe, so we're bringing a token of apology."
"We also heard food is scarce in the tribe, and we happen to need extra hands for labor."
"We're willing to pay with food like this."
"If your tribe is interested, you can consider cooperating with Bay Territory."
"Payment is negotiable—we can meet at noon to discuss further..."
What?
Northern Continent?
Bay Territory?
Food?
An apology?
Cain Bloodhoof watched Beelzebub and the others retreat in confusion.
He couldn't help but eye the carts of aromatic dried fish and subconsciously swallowed.
The clever Cain didn't act on his own—instead, he quickly reported this to Captain Moren.
The latter immediately passed the message to the minotaur chieftain.
The chieftain picked up a fragrant piece of codfish and sniffed it.
Under the nervous gaze of many minotaurs, he took a bite.
After chewing and savoring the flavor, his eyes lit up:
"What kind of fish is this? I've never tasted it before."
"Seems like they really are from the Northern Continent."
"What do you all think of their offer to trade?"
A leather-armored minotaur Warrior shook his head warily and said harshly:
"Humans can't be trusted. If not for their betrayal last time, we wouldn't have lost our chance to reach the Fairy Forest..."
Some minotaurs nodded. Anyone who had been deceived and suffered losses would naturally remain cautious.
Captain Moren, however, shook his head and said helplessly:
"You've all seen the gap between us and Bay Territory."
"They built a massive, solid city in just a few days."
"The soldiers we've met were also incredibly strong—only a handful of our elite could rival them."
"And they showed goodwill first—and we're short on food..."
Before Moren could finish, an angry minotaur Warrior interrupted him.
His eyes widened, nostrils flared, and white steam snorted as he shouted:
"This must be another trap—just like their past tricks."
"If we fully trust them, a bigger trap will await us."
Honestly, his reasoning was solid.
Even Moren was moved to silence.
The other minotaurs quickly nodded in agreement.
One betrayal was enough.
If they hadn't learned, they'd never survive on this dangerous continent.
They'd be long dead!
However, young Cain Bloodhoof saw this as a great opportunity.
Seeing the stirred emotions of his kin, he hesitated and looked at the pensive chieftain.
The elder quietly chewed his codfish and sighed.
The elder chieftain was highly respected. When he spoke, silence followed.
"No matter their intent, we must learn more about them."
"Since they didn't choose to fight us immediately, we shouldn't show hostility first."
"Still, we must always stay ready for battle—never give them an opening."
"Who wants to approach Bay Territory's people?"
"Be warned: this task is dangerous and may cost your life..."
Most minotaurs agreed with the chieftain's response.
Even the fierce Warrior Alista nodded.
Whether friend or foe, they needed to know more.
Interestingly, Cain raised his hand instantly, shocking many:
"I'll go meet Bay Territory's people and see if they mean us harm."
Alista glared fiercely and pounded his chest, protesting:
"You're too young to sense human cunning. I must go myself..."
Cain wisely shook his head and argued convincingly:
"Precisely because Lord Alista is too important—our strongest Warrior—you can't be risked."
"I, on the other hand, am unimportant to the tribe."
"Even if they harbor malice, they wouldn't harm someone like me."
The elder chieftain looked at Cain with surprise and a hint of approval.
He waved at Alista, saying calmly:
"Stop arguing. Since you have differing views—you'll both go meet them."
"Cain is more observant—pay attention to details."
"Alista has experience—watch their words for traps."
Cain and Alista saluted with clenched fists.
They exchanged glances and rushed out.
The chieftain took another bite of codfish, lifted his glowing staff, and waved it over the food, releasing a green light.
The green light stayed clear—it didn't darken or turn red.
The chieftain breathed a sigh of relief and waved:
"The food is safe. Start cooking for the kids and women!"
The minotaur tribe immediately got busy.
Meanwhile, Cain and Alista argued all the way during their journey.
They soon reached the base of Warrior City and looked up at the 12-meter-tall wall.
They had only seen it from afar before—now up close, they felt its overwhelming pressure.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three heavy steel gates opened in succession.
Cain and Alista's eyes sparkled as they stared at the gates.
The minotaur tribe sorely lacked steel.
Their former home had vast iron ore reserves.
Now occupied by terrible monsters, the remaining reserves were nearly exhausted.
Any metal was precious to the minotaurs now.
Yet what they prized so dearly was used for defensive gates by Bay Territory's Warrior City.
A heavy blow for the two Warriors.
The gap was... quite large.
Still, they didn't despair. Instead, they focused harder on their surroundings.
Two neat lines of Bay Territory modified soldiers silently awaited their arrival.
Beelzebub, in Thunder Heavy Armor, observed the 2.5-meter-tall minotaur Warriors with excitement.
Even the carefully selected barbarian Warriors weren't as tall.
These minotaurs still stood a head taller.
Their visible muscles showed immense strength.
Perfect candidates for training as heavy infantry!
Beelzebub, clearly tempted, gestured politely under their silent stares:
"Please follow me. It's lunchtime—I'll take you to eat and discuss everything."
Noticing Beelzebub's light step, the experienced Alista became wary.
Wearing such heavy armor yet moving freely—
That level of control made Alista feel pressured.
The curious young Cain, meanwhile, looked around.
He saw the residential district under construction.
Especially the 5–6-meter-tall construction golems shocked him.
The patrolling Bay Territory soldiers,
Also caught Cain's attention.
Even regular soldiers were very strong.
Many things in Warrior City drew Cain's notice.
He memorized everything—even if he didn't understand now.
He believed the wise, well-traveled chieftain could glean key insights from it.
Soon, they followed Beelzebub into the military camp.
There, they saw ranks of fully equipped Bay Territory soldiers in perfect formation.
Even the confident Alista began to feel uneasy.
He realized one thing with certainty:
"I had underestimated Bay Territory's troops."
"Though there are only a few hundred soldiers before us, they emanate a terrifying, unstoppable aura."
As the minotaurs took in the view, Beelzebub led them to the mess hall.
The rich aroma of meat quickly caught Cain and Alista's attention.
They twitched their noses and stared wide-eyed at the food, drooling involuntarily.
Piles of bread, barrels of meat stew, tables full of meat, and a dozen unfamiliar but appetizing fruits and vegetables.
Such a feast—even the elder chieftain hadn't tasted food like this in a long time.
The Bay Territory soldiers already eating didn't seem overly curious about the arrival of the two minotaur Warriors.
Even in special ops squads, trolls and ogres weren't uncommon sights.
Beelzebub tasted each dish in front of them and, after flashing a satisfied smile, cheerfully said:
"Bay Territory warmly welcomes you both."
"However, due to limited conditions, we can't host you with banquet-level standards, so I hope you'll forgive us."
Cain Bloodhoof resisted swallowing, tugged at the dazed Alista, and motioned for the older, similarly inexperienced Warrior to sit.
Cain quickly noticed—
His chair was custom-built, clearly designed for large-bodied beings like himself.
From this small detail alone, Cain felt immense pressure.
It was a suffocating feeling closing in from all directions.
Alista grabbed a piece of bread, dipped it in the stew like Beelzebub had, and took a bite.
The dazzling gleam in his eyes made Cain start eating too.
Soft, fragrant bread.
Tender, flavorful stew meat.
Aromatic grilled meat skewers.
Hearty stir-fried meat.
Sweet, rich soup that soothed the soul.
Cain Bloodhoof's eyes filled with repeated shock.
He had never imagined food could taste this good—or come in so many varieties.
The minotaurs' crops were tough and hard to chew.
As a result, minotaurs suffered heavy dental wear, often losing all their teeth by age 50 or 60.
Without enough food, even the strongest bodies would eventually weaken.
Seeing them enjoy the food so much, Beelzebub smiled warmly and explained:
"As you saw upon arrival, we've built the outer perimeter of Warrior City."
"Inside the city, there's still much to construct."
"This area is far from our main territory, so manpower replenishment is slow."
"Therefore, we hope to hire help to complete some simple but tedious tasks."
As Cain and Alista turned to him, Beelzebub immediately stated the terms:
"Every minotaur who works for us can enjoy three meals a day—for free—until full."
Until full?
Cain Bloodhoof's eyes lit up. Just moments ago he was holding back, but now he dug in heartily.
Alista wasn't far behind.
He still remembered his mission and gave Beelzebub a "I'm listening" look.
Seeing how happily they ate, Beelzebub knew his plan to lure minotaurs with food was halfway successful.
Without hesitation, he added the rest of the offer:
"In addition to three meals, we'll also provide 30 kilograms of food per day as payment."
As he spoke, he placed a bag beside the table.
Cain Bloodhoof swiftly picked it up and opened it to see the contents.
Inside was half a sack of gleaming white rice, seven or eight dense loaves of bread, and three arm-length dried fish.
Plus two fist-sized chunks of fatty meat weighing about three pounds.
This payment...
Was definitely generous!
Tempted, Cain gave Alista a subtle look.
Alista swallowed the food in his mouth, took a big gulp of soup,
Then opened the bag, eyes glowing as he looked at Beelzebub and said earnestly:
"How many people does Bay Territory need? We'd be honored to help!"
Ah!
It smells so good!