Free Web NovelChapter 170: Chapter 100: Pale Elegy: My Little Mouse, Only I Can Touch (4)
Aus’s eyes lit up. The Lord was planning to "hide the wealth in the lake," breaking the whole into parts. It was both a secure and sustainable method.
He immediately nodded emphatically. "Rest assured, my Lord. I understand what needs to be done. I’ll see to it that everything is handled perfectly."
With the ore situation handled, Lynch’s mood improved considerably.
Next, it was time to meet the other "important asset" in the mine.
「A few moments later.」
Flanked by his Skeleton Guards, Lynch and Aus reached the deepest part of the mine.
There were numerous excavated dens here, packed with shivering Kobolds.
This was Lynch’s first time seeing Kobolds.
They generally stood between four and five feet tall. Their bodies were covered in earthy-yellow scales, and they had lizard-like heads and long, slender tails. They still clutched the pickaxes essential for their survival.
A preliminary headcount revealed one hundred and eight surviving Kobolds.
During the previous battle, these Kobold miners had been clever enough to hide in various narrow mine shafts, managing to avoid the plague and the fighting.
Now that the Gnolls were annihilated, the Kobolds had naturally become Lynch’s spoils of war.
Although Kobolds were notoriously weak and cowardly in a fight, they had a keen sense of smell and an instinct for locating ore veins. They were especially adept at working in narrow, dark environments, making them natural-born masters of mining.
Moreover, they reproduced quickly. With enough nutrition, a single litter could have seven or eight young. Their growth cycle was also short; they could typically start working in less than a year.
This was why Lynch’s gaze was filled with such warmth and concern as he looked at the Kobolds.
’These were some precious, heaven-sent work-dogs.’
Lynch had heard that these Kobolds were originally hired by the former Lord of Lakefront Town. Their pay was mediocre—barely enough to scrape by—and they were confined to the mining district.
Later, when the Gnolls occupied the mine and enslaved them, they lost even their most basic "kobold rights." They lived a miserable existence, never knowing if they would survive to the next day, their bellies never full. The Gnolls would even eat them as a source of food.
Therefore, winning them over completely would not be too difficult.
Soon, the leader of the Kobolds was brought before Lynch by his Soldiers.
"My Lord, this is the Kobold chieftain, Golden Fang," Aus explained. "He’s quite intelligent and can speak the Common Tongue. He was the one who communicated with the humans before."
Lynch looked down, sizing up the Kobold chieftain named Golden Fang.
He was much sturdier than the others of his kind, his scales had a golden hue, and one of his teeth had been replaced with a gold one.
’No wonder he’s called Golden Fang.’
Lynch was currently mounted on a tall Hellhound, surrounded by his Skeleton Guards. Behind him, Aus and the other militiamen stood in respectful attendance. The entire scene projected an unspoken aura of leadership. freewebnovёl.ƈom
When Golden Fang met his gaze, his legs instantly went weak with fear, and he threw himself prostrate on the ground.
He stammered respectfully, "H-Honorable Lord, I... we are willing to work... to mine... We only ask... only ask for a bite to eat. Please, don’t kill us..."
Seeing his terrified and subservient state, Lynch’s expression grew exceptionally warm.
"Rest assured. I have no intention of killing you. In fact, I’m going to give you a better life."
"I promise that as long as you focus on mining, you will be guaranteed a plentiful supply of food every day."
"And that’s not all. I will establish a new set of rules. From now on, the ore you excavate will be assessed based on quantity and quality. Anything you mine beyond a basic quota will earn you an extra ’bonus.’ This bonus could be better food, warm clothing, or even—money!"
Lynch paused before delivering his most tempting offer. "With money, you’ll be able to freely enter and leave Lakefront Town at designated times. You can use what you’ve earned to buy anything you want from the town’s shops."
"That could be better tools, more delicious food, or even some shiny little trinkets to decorate your nests. As long as you abide by the town’s rules, you will enjoy a certain measure of freedom and rights."
This barrage of incredible promises left Golden Fang, who prided himself on being the cleverest of the Kobolds, utterly reeling. He began to tremble with excitement.
’Guaranteed food? And bonuses? We can freely go shopping in a human town? This... this was a life he’d never even dared to dream of!’
’Compared to barely scraping by under the humans, and being treated worse than an animal when enslaved by the Gnolls, this Necromancer Lord was a savior! A true savior!’
"My Lord! My great Lord!" Golden Fang was so moved he threw himself into a full prostration, his eyes welling with tears and his voice choked with emotion. "I, Golden Fang, on behalf of my entire clan, pledge to support you and follow you forever, my Lord. We will work as hard as we can at mining to repay your magnificent grace!"
Behind him, the hundred-odd Kobolds all fell to their knees in a great wave, YIPPING and SQUEALING to express their submission and gratitude.
In truth, Lynch himself was a little moved.
’I just gave them a few basic rights, and their loyalty instantly maxed out. What a bunch of simpletons.’
’Compared to goblins, he found this race far more agreeable.’
Afterward, Lynch had his Soldiers bring out the Gnolls’ meat jerky and some of the older, less-than-perfect grain, distributing it all to the Kobolds.
"Let them eat their fill and rest today. Starting tomorrow, get them to resume mining as quickly as possible!"
"Yes, my Lord!" Aus immediately took his leave to carry out the order.
