The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 444 A mushroom cloud is created by a single shot?

"It smells like stew..."

"It smells so good, this aroma..."

"While our brothers are eating dry rations at Griffin Cliff, these bastards are already living the good life!"

"Hey...it won't end well. These scum who betrayed Lord Kailan's cause will not have a good end!"

In the forests downstream of the Benliu River, an army resembling bandits was marching, and whispers rippled through the loose ranks.

They all wore identical green headscarves, their eyes burning with bloodthirsty jealousy, and the way they gazed at the distant smoke was as if they were looking at their father's killer.

A week ago, they learned of "Iron Bull" Brennan's betrayal and uprising.

That two-faced traitor not only let the Earl of Sparrowwood Castle go, but also shamefully made peace with Saint Sith's lackeys and even changed their flag!
This is blasphemy!
The great true god "Urgos" will never let those whose loyalty is not absolute go unpunished!
They will surely go to a purgatory more desperate than famine!
Those who would eventually go to the Nest City were convinced of the fate of these traitors.

Just as anger was spreading throughout the camp, their leader, "The Executioner" Aka, stepped forward and read out the orders of "Quartermaster" Silas.

“Our leader is too merciful, unwilling to go to extremes, but how can we deter our enemies if we let the traitor go unpunished? Brothers, listen to my command! You will follow me to Sparrowwood Territory immediately to purge the traitor Brennan and his followers! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!”

Although Aka usually appears honest, kind, and sleepy, when it comes to killing someone, his ruthless eyes are anything but confused.

Amid cheers and applause, the five thousand-man squads stationed outside Griffin Cliff Fortress left their camp under cover of night and marched in a mighty force toward Sparrowwood Territory.

Since Aka himself was the supreme commander of Griffin Cliff, and the Green Forest Army's main force had already marched to Twilight City for the final battle, his departure did not attract the attention of any other leaders.

They traveled along the Benliu River, taking a shortcut to Quemu Fortress, and also brought explosives for the siege.

As they traveled to the vicinity of Wheat Field Village, they saw large plumes of smoke rising from the plains outside the forest.

Along with it came the aroma of food!
Aka, walking in the group, sniffed, licked his chapped lips, and a beastly grin gradually spread across his face.

"...It seems our 'Iron Bull' has been doing well lately, but I wonder if his skills have improved."

It's been a long time since I've sparred with him.

Aka remembered that the last time he saw that guy, he seemed to be at the peak of the Gold level, and later he was said to have been promoted to Platinum.

Hopefully he has improved since then, otherwise this fight will probably become quite boring.

After all, after slaughtering Griffin Cliff Fortress, the infamous "Executioner" was already a Diamond-level character!

All thanks to the blessing of the Claw of Eternal Hunger...

He could almost see the despair on the faces of the traitors, and on the face of the so-called Holy Maiden.

This time, he wouldn't let those cowards find a chance to commit suicide again; he was going to enjoy himself.

“Can you smell it, brothers?” Aka grinned and whispered to his men behind him, “The traitors’ last meal smells really good.”

A low chuckle rippled through the crowd, but their fierce eyes gleamed with a blatant green light.

They had already smelled the rich aroma of meat.

The aroma not only fueled their hatred but also awakened their desires!
"This is their last supper, bought with betrayal."

Aka pointed the guillotine in his hand forward and spoke in a cruel voice amidst the rattling of the chains.

"Let's sneak up behind them and give them an unexpected surprise..."

……

"...What smells like?"

Along the banks of the rushing river, sawdust flies in the newly built timber processing plant, and rows of freshly processed pine and oak logs are neatly stacked on the open ground by the river.

The dwarf, who was looking up to inspect the timber, suddenly twitched his nose, and his shrewd eyes, like kerosene lamps in a mine, unconsciously drifted toward the north of Wheat Field Village.

It had a strange meaty aroma, which, mixed with the dwarves' favorite pickled vegetables, created an unexpected and unique charm.

It's worth noting that neither dwarves nor hell dwarves eat pork. Firstly, they lack the dietary habit associated with it, and secondly, they lack the space to raise pigs. For example, the Calamity Keep in Shattered Rock Peak primarily raises goats and other magical beasts suitable for living in mines.

However, on that day in North Peak, Grace Ironhammer unusually ate two large baskets of bread and left half of his stomach for the fragrant sauerkraut and meat soup and the tender and flavorful chunks of meat.

From that day on, he fell in love with North Peak City and used it as a base to expand his business, selling the products of the Great Cemetery to the underworld of the Old World.

In short, it was a wonderful place. Whether it was the food, the things they used, or even the hardworking and tireless spirits of the dead.

To be able to build a city where humans, undead, hell dwarves, and other races live together, and to manage all the forces in such an orderly manner... the demon king there is simply a genius!

Far away.

"...Mr. Grace Ironhammer, what did you just say?" Thomas, standing to the side, asked in a friendly voice, looking at the dwarf who had suddenly frozen in place.

As the only businessman in the entire Sparrowwood Territory who knew how to do business, Thomas quickly gained the favor of the Salvation Army's high command.

The first task Her Highness has given him is to develop sales channels for the lumber mill in Wheatfield Village.

Soon, he was greeted by the first merchant from the oracle. And just as the oracle had foretold, this friend from afar was a dwarf.

"……nothing."

Grace twitched her nose.

Of course, he couldn't admit that he had been daydreaming, so he put on a serious expression again and said, "I mean, this wood smells a bit foul... I was wondering if a rat peed on it."

"...?" Thomas was stunned for a moment.

Before he could react, Grace tapped the oak in front of him with his thick knuckles, and listening to the dull sound, continued in a deep voice.

“There are some knots here… and the texture is too rough. It’s not suitable for axe handles for us dwarves. It feels damp to the touch. I doubt it would even be good for making railroad sleepers. Are you sure this is your best material?”

After finding a series of faults, Grace got up and reached out to scratch her hair... or rather, her wig.

The cheap glue made his scalp itchy, and he was always worried that the wig wouldn't stick properly and would fall off.

According to the Demon King, if they want to continue their business in the long run, they must follow the local customs and do business with them while wearing wigs.

At first, he felt awkward, but for the sake of the ghost money, he completely felt at ease.

Thomas could tell from what the guy was saying that this was definitely his first time doing this kind of business.

He had never heard of dwarves using high-quality wood to make axes; weren't they usually made from scraps left over from making beams in mines?

Anyway, the valuable part isn't the axe handle; the best steel is in the axe head.

Seeing this guy pretending to know everything and acting like an expert, Thomas couldn't help but laugh and explained.

"Scars... those are marks left by the growth of the wood, like scars on a man's body, they don't affect their quality! As for the grain... that doesn't affect its use either, so you can rest assured. Whether you use them to make ships or load-bearing beams for mines, they are top-notch materials!"

Grace, whose thoughts had been read, was not embarrassed at all; she simply snorted.

"Is that so? Although I haven't decided what to do with it yet, since you've put it that way, I'll take it that way. You humans know the consequences of deceiving dwarves; we'll inscribe you in our Book of Hatred!"

"Yes, yes! How could I dare offend you? I would never lie to you, no matter who else I lie to." Thomas smiled and went along with him, saying, "I can swear in the name of Saint Sith!"

He had never heard of anyone writing a hate book over such a trivial matter; this dwarf merchant from the countryside probably had never even seen what a hate book looked like.

Although he didn't intend to cheat his short friend, after all, the Twilight Forest has no shortage of high-quality wood, genuine materials are everywhere, while fakes are something you have to go through a lot of trouble to find.

In fact, Thomas was half right—the dwarf brother had indeed never seen the Book of Hatred.

After all, this guy isn't a real dwarf at all, but a hellish dwarf wearing a wig!
The Benliu River, which passes through Quemu Territory, flows south. It is the only tributary that enters the depths of the Wanren Mountains and passes by the dwarves' homes. It also connects to the infamous Shattered Rock Peak in the dwarf world.

The lords living there are all renowned figures in the Book of Hatred of the High Mountain Kingdom; they have no power to place others there.

"Is that so?" Grace snorted and smacked her lips, as if weighing the options in her mind.

That was clearly an expression of being smitten.

Thomas, who had been in business for many years, saw right through the guy's thoughts.

After all, if they weren't really interested, there would be no need to put on such a show for themselves; they could simply turn around and leave.

Interested? That makes things easier!

Currently, in the entire Twilight Province, only Sparrowwood Territory is suitable for this business.

Elsewhere, there was either no one left, there was war, or there was simply no suitable way to transport the goods.

As Thomas expected, after some nitpicking, Grace finally said the words he had been waiting for.

“Our demand is huge, and we need to make purchases on a long-term basis. Quality, stability, and output are all things we value... Let me be clear from the start: if you want to do this business long-term, you have to agree to these conditions.”

Thomas smiled with pleasure.

"Dear Mr. Grace, please rest assured! These requirements you have made are our very basic bottom line!"

He paused for a moment, then continued without stopping.

"So, for our long-term benefit, let's talk about price and the method of cooperation... If you plan to make long-term purchases, my suggestion is that we sign a contract and agree on the time and place of delivery and payment—"

He had only spoken halfway when the dwarf brother standing in front of him suddenly coughed, interrupting him.

"There's one more thing I forgot to tell you: I have no money."

Thomas's smile froze.

No money—

Are you kidding me?!

"Then, what do you mean?"

Grace gestured with her fingers, speaking in a measured and deliberate manner.

“It means exactly what it says. We don’t use the Empire’s currency where we are, so I proposed bartering.” Thomas was taken aback.

It's true that dwarves have their own currency, but I've never heard of dwarves not doing business with the Empire.
How could they possibly not have the Empire's currency!
However, this quick-thinking businessman didn't dwell on it for long, because he soon came up with a reasonable explanation—

That was the tribe of the dwarf before him, located deep within the Wanren Mountains.

If that's the case, it's indeed possible that they haven't done business with the Empire, since ordinary Imperial merchants wouldn't go there, and most goods from the Dwarven world can be bought in Brass Pass.

"Then... what about gold? You must have some gold, right?"

"Uh...that's a bit difficult too, our gold is all with our neighbor."

"Neighbor?!"

"It means the neighboring tribe!"

Looking at the seemingly disappointed human in front of him, Grace felt a little embarrassed and touched his red, bulbous nose.

"My idea is to barter... You don't need money anyway, do you? I have something better than the Empire's gold coins that you'll definitely be interested in!"

As he spoke, Grace beckoned to his attendant beside him and took a club-sized rifle from the man with a beard and many braids.

At first, Thomas didn't even realize it was a gun; he thought it was a hammer.

The dark muzzle was as big as an adult's fist, and the dark blue barrel was as thick as a thumb. It looked more like a handheld cannon than a musket!
Thomas swallowed hard.

"What's this?"

When talking about the weapon in his hand, Greist immediately became excited, spitting as he spoke.

"Hand cannon! You can think of it as a cannon you hold in your hand! Our soldiers can use this thing to throw fist-sized grenades two or three hundred meters away! The only side effect is that the shoulder is prone to dislocation, but it's not a big problem. We'll just put a rune on the leather holster and solve it. We'll sell it to you together with the cannon later!"

As he spoke, he insisted on demonstrating it to Thomas, so he took a bronze "cannonball" from his companion and began to load it into the gun barrel.

Thomas was startled by the madman's actions and quickly reached out to stop him.

This is the Salvation Army's lumber mill!
If a single shot were to set this place on fire, even selling his entire caravan might not be enough to cover the losses!
“No, wait a minute, Mr. Grace! Calm down! We have no doubt about the power of the thing you have, it’s just that we… don’t need it for the time being.”

Grace's eyes nearly bulged out.

"Not needed? How could it not be needed? Aren't you at war?"

He couldn't understand what these humans were saying. In a war-torn land, was there any hard currency more valuable than arms?
Thomas gave a wry smile and said.

"That's true, but the war is mainly between the kingdom's regular army and the rebels, and it doesn't really concern us for now. We need production tools like steam engines more than weapons... oh, and fertilizer too."

He had only recently heard of the term "chemical fertilizer."

It is said to be a magical potion concocted by alchemists that works on crops and can be used as a supplement to compost to greatly increase crop yields!

Although he remained skeptical about the thing's true purpose and didn't know where to buy it, one thing was certain: they needed tools for development more than weapons at the moment.

Grace's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she was overjoyed.

"Steam engines and fertilizer? You should have said you needed those things earlier! We have them all!"

"You...you have that?!" Thomas's eyes widened in surprise as he stared incredulously at the dwarf brother before him. "Are you sure? Do you even know what fertilizer is?"

Even he himself had only recently heard of the word, yet the dwarf in front of him seemed to have heard of it long ago?

Grace laughed heartily as she spoke.

"I've seen that stuff in the human town north of North Peak... cough, North of Shattered Rock Peak! Don't worry, they can find all kinds of goods there. As long as you transport the timber to the location we agreed on, we can definitely deliver what you need! The price will be absolutely fair!"

If that's the case, it's not unacceptable.

Indeed, as the dwarf brother said, given their current situation, they probably wouldn't be able to spend their money even if they had it, so bartering might be a solution.

These are all acceptable as long as the other party has enough goods.

Seeing that Thomas seemed interested, Grace chuckled and pressed her advantage.

"You can give us a list! We'll use the imperial currency to calculate the value of the goods, but we'll settle the payment with the goods themselves, not the currency, upon delivery!"

Thomas pondered for a long time, but did not give a decision immediately. Instead, he spoke.

"I think your suggestion is good, but I can't make a decision on my own. I need to consult Her Highness."

“No problem!” Grace knew it was just a formality and laughed heartily. “But you’d better hurry, I’m not going to stay here forever, time is money!”

The two finally reached an agreement.

Grace warmly grasped Thomas's hand and shook it vigorously for a long time, then suggested that she should demonstrate the power of the dwarf grenade launcher to him.

Thomas couldn't resist his enthusiasm, so he reluctantly agreed to go with the dwarf brother and his entourage to the grove outside the lumberyard.

The test firing location was chosen on a small hill beside the flowing river. The location offered a wide view, extending two to three hundred meters downstream, and was free from villagers, making it the perfect spot to test the grenade launcher's power.

Thomas even thought to himself that if a fire broke out, he could find someone to put it out in time.

Holding a large gun with a caliber about the thickness of a fist, Grace put on the rune-covered leather holster, rested the butt on his leather-protected right shoulder, and winked at Thomas.

"Brother Thomas, just you wait and see! This one shot of mine will knock down at least two trees that two people can barely hug! When you go to your Holy Maiden, you can demonstrate this to her just like I did!"

"I understand... Please begin." Thomas nodded, both amused and exasperated.

Without a word, Grace aimed downstream and pulled the trigger. With a "bang," the gun flashed like a torch, and a dark figure shot like a meteor straight towards the woods four hundred meters away!

The sound was like thunder, startling Thomas, who was standing to the side. He thought it was a musket exploding and instinctively bent down to hide, only to find that the dwarves next to him were laughing out loud.

Thomas blushed, pretended nothing was wrong, coughed, and stood up straight again.

"Looks like I shot a bit too far." Grace chuckled, lowering his gun, his voice tinged with a hint of smugness, as he waited for the explosion.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, a burst of intense heat shot into the sky from the woods 400 meters away, and a deafening roar was like a thunderbolt striking the ground. A mushroom-shaped cloud also appeared to rise into the air!
"boom--!!!"

The shockwave from the explosion not only knocked down two trees, but also swept the surrounding trees to the ground, leaving them scattered and broken!
Hearing the noise, not only were the lumberyard workers startled, but even the dwarf who had been mocking Thomas just a moment ago was so frightened that he sat down on the ground like a tilted wine barrel.

“…By Saint Sith, when did your dwarves’ weapons become so terrifying?!” Thomas stared in astonishment at the distant clouds and the swaying treetops, his bewildered gaze as if he had witnessed a miracle.

Even a salvo from the Imperial warships might not have such power!

Measured by magical standards, it's at least silver-level magic! It might even be gold-level!
“No…it’s not mine…” Grace’s face was pale, her expression as if she had seen a ghost.

Meeting Thomas's puzzled gaze, he swallowed hard and spoke softly with difficulty.

"We might have hit something..."

Before he could finish speaking, a furious roar suddenly came from the forest ahead, like a wounded lion howling.

Then the woods seemed to boil over, and shouts of charge erupted.

"Damn it, we've been found out—"

"It's an ambush!"

"Kill!!! Charge!"

"These traitors! Chop them to pieces!"

traitor?!
ambush?!
Thomas's mind went blank for a moment, and he didn't realize what had happened.

But his legs moved instinctively, and he ran desperately toward the lumber mill, shouting as he ran.

"They're bandits! Go and warn the garrison!"

Knowing he couldn't outrun the long-legged creature, the hellish dwarf decided to do the opposite, plunging headfirst into the rushing river and swimming frantically downstream.

Those who frequently mine can all swim, since encountering waterlogged areas is a common occurrence for them.

Meanwhile, at the Rock Inn in Wheatfield Village.

Slightly tipsy, Gunter suddenly opened his eyes, then narrowed them dangerously.

The Chaos Apostle he had been searching for for over a month had actually delivered itself to him.

This is great!
That saved him a lot of trouble.

"Don't stop, buddy, let's have another drink! This one's for you, hiccup—" The drunken old man grabbed him, trying to force him to drink another glass, but he was gently pushed away by the old man's broad hand.

"I'm going out to run some errands. I'll be back to drink in a bit."

After saying that, Gunter pushed the table aside, stood up, and took a step to stand in front of the door a dozen steps away. At the same time, a greatsword had somehow appeared on his back.

Old Hank looked up blankly and around, but couldn't see Gunter anywhere. He muttered "That's strange" and continued drinking.

At the same time, a bell rang loudly to the west of Wheat Field Village, and the patrolling sentries rushed to the military camp in a panic.

The thousand-strong force stationed in Maitian Village quickly assembled, and the Holy Spirits also threw down their pots and pans, grabbed all sorts of weapons, and rushed towards the direction from which the smoke of war rose.

Although most of the players active in this area are professional players, they all possess extraordinary strength at the Iron, Bronze, or even Steel levels!
There are even a small number of top-tier players who have already reached the Silver rank!

"Let's grind monsters, brothers!"

"Ouch!"

"Experience! My experience! It's all mine!"

Chaos reigned in Wheatfield Village.

No one noticed that a figure passed by them, heading straight towards the Chaos Apostle...

(End of this chapter)