Final Lord

Chapter 298 The Happy Life of the Minotaur
“This isn’t animalism, this is liberating productive forces,” he corrected righteously, flicking a gold coin from his fingertip that traced a gleaming arc in the air.

"Those cavemen who were chained to mine can now live in underground crypts, and the dwarves can openly run forges without being whipped."

He suddenly lowered his voice, a hint of cunning in it, "As for the minotaurs? I found them decent jobs with room and board included, so they no longer have to worry about running out of grain."

Isn't this all a good thing?

Wei Yi's lips twitched, her emerald eyes reflecting her brother's self-righteous expression. She opened her mouth as if to retort, but ultimately let out a soft laugh: "According to your logic, haven't we done an incredibly great act of kindness?"

"The scope has broadened." Wang Bufu suddenly spread his arms, his cloak fluttering in the wind, the setting sun casting his long shadow that enveloped the entire convoy. "These races, riding the fast train of our territory's development, will all become founding fathers in the future."

He turned to look at Wei Yi, a burning ambition in his eyes. "Just wait and see. In a few years, they'll thank us."

The undead truck rolled over the last ridge, and the Minotaur labyrinth vanished completely into the twilight. In the dust kicked up by the wheels, fragments of the undead's bones rumbled like the gears of fate beginning to turn.

……

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the Sunset Mountains with a blood-red hue. Keynes stood on the rugged ridge, his gold nose ring jingling in the wind.

His rough hooves crushed a clump of withered thorns, and his sulfurous breath condensed into white mist in the cold air.

"This is the territory you call yours? It's all mountains, all trees, all rocks!" Keynes' voice was filled with suppressed anger, and his three-meter-tall figure cast a shadow over Wang Bufu. "Even the goblin latrine is more lively than this!"

His gaze swept across the desolate mountains—withered vines climbed the bare rock faces, weathered skeletons lay half-buried in the gravel, and the occasional howl of hyenas echoed in the distance. This was far from the "prosperous territory" he had imagined: there were no towering city walls, no bustling markets, not even a decent thatched hut.

Wang Bufu merely chuckled, his cloak fluttering in the north wind. "What's the rush?"

He flicked his finger, and a gold coin traced a gleaming arc in the air. "The real surprise is yet to come."

As they passed through a hidden mountain pass, entered the woods, and traversed a spatial tunnel, Keynes' pupils suddenly contracted.

The ice wall stretching between heaven and earth was like a divine barrier, its deep blue ice crystals shimmering with magical light, dividing the world in two: on one side lay a blizzard-ravaged winter, and on the other, a fertile land bursting with spring. At the top of the ice wall, the silhouette of a giant formed from condensed ice mist looked down upon all living beings, the oppressive aura of a legendary powerhouse causing Keynes's horns to tremble slightly.

"This is Ed, the God of Ice Barriers. My good friend. This city before you is my new territory, and the place you will be stationed here for the time being." Wang Bufu's voice was seductive. "Now, do you still think my territory is shabby?"

Keynes's golden nose ring froze in mid-air.

"Hahaha... Your Excellency is too kind. Where a legendary expert is guarding, even a dilapidated outhouse is magnificent."

In the days that followed, the minotaurs experienced an unprecedented "happiness".

At dawn, they carried battle axes and followed the sled knights on their expedition, crushing the monsters of Sunset Mountain into mincemeat; at dusk, they and the Ice Barrier Recruits dragged their prey back to New Gru Territory, drinking mead in taverns made of ice bricks, the fat from roasted venison dripping and crackling in the fire.

The two things a Tauren loves most in life are fighting and eating meat.

"Daytime battles, awesome!"

"Meat for dinner, so delicious!"

It feels so good!
Every night, Keynes would get drunk and beat his chest with his people, so much so that even the broken ruby ​​on his nose ring was covered in wine foam.

Until dusk on the fifteenth day, a minotaur warrior suddenly hiccuped: "Chieftain, weren't we here to escort a caravan?" *Bang!*
Keynes froze, his hand still clenched as he smashed the barrel.

As dusk fell, his gaze slowly swept across the camp—mountains of prey, tribesmen emaciated from drinking, and human leaders playing musical instruments in the distance.

This territory has everything, except for caravans.

"Damn it!" Keynes's roar sent frost fluttering down from the igloo. "Where's the caravan?!"

……

Keynes's golden nose ring gleamed darkly in the setting sun as his rough hooves pounded heavily on the ice-brick floor of the New Gru territory's lord's mansion, each step seeming as if he were about to crack the ice.

"Wang Bufu!" His roar shook the roof, causing icicles to fall in a flurry. "You've finally returned. Where's the caravan?! Where's the caravan you promised me?!"

Wang Bufu was leaning against the railing of the ice sculpture, playing with a gold coin in his hand. Hearing this, he turned his head slightly, a sly glint flashing in his amber eyes, but it quickly returned to a gentle smile.

“Chief of Cairns, don’t rush,” he said slowly, flicking his finger. The gold coin traced a shimmering arc in the air before landing steadily in his palm.

"The goods to be transported this time are not ordinary; the preparation alone will take some time."

Keynes's nostrils flared, and his sulfurous breath hit Wang Bufu's face: "Don't try to fool me! How much time has passed? Are you trying to pull some kind of trick?!"

Wang Bufu sighed, as if facing an unreasonable child: "Chief, think about it, if I really wanted to deceive you, why would I spend so much to support your entire tribe? Providing you with venison of high rank every day, having dedicated chefs to cook for you, and having plenty of medicine when you're injured—what would I be after?"

Keynes was speechless for a moment, the cracks on his horns gleaming a dark red in the setting sun.

It's true... Back in the Minotaur, even he could only enjoy a little bit of meat during festivals. But here, even the most ordinary tribesmen get a share, and he eats it every day with his mouth greasy.

"Then hurry up." Keynes stroked the bull's horns and left.

A week later, Keynes kicked open the temporary council chamber of Wang Bufu again, this time his hoof shattering the ice bricks on the threshold.

"Your Majesty! You refuse to accept this!" His voice seemed to burst from lava. "When will the caravan finally depart?!"

Wang Bufu was discussing something with some soldiers from the Ice Barrier Group when he heard this. He looked up, still wearing that infuriatingly calm smile on his face.

"It'll be soon, it'll be soon." He waved his hand reassuringly. "The supplies are ready, and the guards are mobilized. We just need to go through the last few details—just a few more days, I promise."

Keynes' fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but in the end, he snorted and turned to leave.

Another ten days passed.

When Keynes came to him for the third time, Wang Bufu was sitting at the ice sculpture table, leisurely sipping a cup of hot wine.

“Chief Cairns,” he said, this time without waiting for the other to speak, his expression already showing confusion, “I know what you’re going to ask. The caravan is ready.”

(End of this chapter)