Chapter35: dwarf condition

"Decided... um~! Though we dwarves aren't known for our easygoing nature, we cherish life, enjoy crafting, and indulge in spirits. But... we don't relish the idea of warfare. So, I hope we dwarves can contribute to the war effort without joining the army!"

Lei Jiu couldn't help but think to himself, "If you hadn't admitted that dwarves have bad tempers, I would've mistaken you for speaking about other races." Dwarves enjoying crafting and drinking was true, but not liking fighting? Lei Jiu found it hard to believe.

Edgar's statement seemed contradictory given his earlier embarrassment and laughter. In Lei Jiu's experience, races with muscular physiques tended to be more prone to conflict due to excess energy and impulsive behavior.

Lei Jiu knew this firsthand from his encounters with the red-haired inhabitants of Huanghuang Island. While they were helpful for manual labor, their potential for violence was a concern.

Despite the dwarves' aversion to combat, Lei Jiu anticipated challenges in managing their population as Huanghuang Island expanded. He already had plans to establish a police force to maintain order and resolve conflicts.

While Edgar expressed willingness to support Huanghuang Island, he made it clear that the dwarves were reluctant to shed blood in warfare. Lei Jiu understood their predicament; with their small population, any casualties would be devastating.

Lei Jiu proposed recruiting dwarves with a combat power of 80 or higher within the next ten years. Edgar agreed, acknowledging that they had three individuals meeting that criterion.

Lei Jiu was pleased with the arrangement, recognizing the value of high-end combat power for exploration missions. However, he didn't include dwarves in his long-term military plans due to their small numbers and potential conflicts with other races.

With the agreement reached, Edgar then made a modest request for food and wine, explaining their scarcity on the island.

Lei Jiu regretfully informed Edgar that Huanghuang Island had just begun agriculture and could only offer seafood at the moment.

To Lei Jiu's surprise, Edgar and the dwarves were content with fish, citing the dangers of sea monsters preventing them from fishing.

Lei Jiu found this hard to believe, given that Huanghuang Island's fishing team faced minimal threats. However, Edgar confirmed that sea monsters were a common occurrence for them.

Lei Jiu suspected that the "novice protection" system ensured the safety of Huanghuang Island's fishermen. He speculated that a similar system prevented sea monsters from threatening the dwarves.

Despite his doubts, Lei Jiu respected the dwarves' reluctance to venture into dangerous waters and understood their preference to wait for the islands to merge before securing their food supply.