Chapter 422

To the north of the vast Wall of Ice and Snow, the mountains stood stacked and continuous, much like the orc cities built near these towering peaks. These dark cities, like blemishes against the pristine white icebergs, clung to the mountainsides.

When viewed from above, the city closest to the black Great Wall stood out, its buildings emitting billowing black smoke. Orcs moved in orderly lines through the streets, heading to their shifts at the factories. Without a doubt, this Orc City, nearest to the black Great Wall, served as a super military factory, rather than a typical residence for orcs. Across the seven Orc Empires, such cities were dedicated to manufacturing weapons, armor, catapults, arrows, and various accessories for the orc soldiers stationed along the seven sections of the black Great Wall.

Each of these seven super military factories housed millions of orcs on average.

Under the faint morning sun, the industrious orcs left their less-than-warm living quarters and picked up their tools, making their way to the factories. They did not rest at noon and worked tirelessly. This intense labor had become unbearable for many, leading to the deaths of numerous orcs, who succumbed to fatigue on the job. However, escape also meant death, and laziness was synonymous with death.

These orcs were among the simplest and most common of their kind. In the Orc Empire, they were denied the rights to cultivate fighting spirit and magic within their bodies. Furthermore, their treatment was not as favorable as the 700000 orcs mining for Dawn City. However, given the vast size of the Orc Empire and the lack of family planning, there simply weren't enough sea fish in the far north to sustain the orcs.

In light of the ongoing war, Gultai had once again implemented a policy to encourage orc births, leading to more orcs dying in battle and an increasing number of orc infants. He couldn't predict how long the war would last until these orc children grew up and gained enough strength to wield a sword in battle.

Gultai understood that they were destined to lose this war. The Elves and humans possessed Sages and legends in abundance, outnumbering the orcs. Gultai, despite his ambition, couldn't single-handedly alter the course of the war.

He dared not break the rules of engagement on the battlefield, for doing so would grant the Elves and humans license to do the same. The consequences of such actions were unpredictable, and the outcome could be disastrous for the orcs.

Gultai's anger and frustration were palpable. Their ancestors had made the wrong choice when they sought refuge in the dark world. Now, they served as cannon fodder in a world that once belonged to them. Nevertheless, the orcs aspired to grow stronger and acquire more territory. Such aspirations were natural and consistent with their racial development.

Gultai contemplated the irony of their situation. Why should the Elves and humans unite entire continents while the orcs remained relegated to obscurity in the Land of Gods? Ethnic conflict, he believed, had no concept of justice; it was driven by the pursuit of power and strength for one's race.

Gultai remained determined to hold onto the rules of engagement in the war, knowing that breaking them would only invite more chaos and destruction. He understood the magnitude of his responsibility as the orc Sage, bearing the weight of his entire race.

Yet, deep down, he also knew the sentiments of the common orcs. They resented the harsh conditions they endured and referred to him as the "king who devours his people without mercy." The bottom orcs accused him of betrayal, calling the orcs who served the dark world "running dogs" who led them to their deaths.

Gultai couldn't help but think about these accusations and smile bitterly. He admitted to himself, "Indeed, I lack the courage to fight." Still, he recognized that he was the Sage of the orcs, and his duty was to protect the orc heritage.

Despite his self-awareness, Gultai continued to hear the complaints of the common orcs. Their voices echoed incessantly in his mind, from cries of cold and hunger to despair and wailing. He had grown weary of hearing it all, from the initial distress to his current state of indifference. The weight of his position weighed heavily on him.

The footsteps of an approaching orc disrupted Gultai's thoughts. He gazed at the intruder with an expressionless face as a Legendary orc knelt before him. The orc reported, "Your Majesty, we have already selected three million individuals with promising talents and sent them to a different realm."

Gultai issued a solemn command, "Continue the selection process, encourage procreation, and personally inspect each newborn orc to evaluate their potential."

The Legendary orc, filled with compassion, hesitated before saying, "But they are separated from their mothers at such a young age…"

Gultai's stern gaze silenced the orc, who promptly rose and left the room.

Gultai understood that the Legendary orcs shared his knowledge of the situation. However, their powerlessness frustrated them. The necessity of separating newborn orc children from their mothers, even before they could receive their mother's milk, weighed heavily on all who understood the grim reality.

Gultai closed his eyes slowly. He was well aware of the emotions and complaints of the common orcs. Their words echoed in his mind, reflecting their dissatisfaction and resentment. Despite his authority, he felt powerless to alleviate their suffering.

He knew he had made a grave mistake when he founded the Orc Empire. He realized that it wasn't a bastion of strength but rather an inescapable cage.

In another part of the world, William had little understanding or concern for the sorrows of the orcs. He was aware that self-interest was inherent in all intelligent beings, a trait that emerged from birth. In his eyes, weakness was the original sin in this magical world.

He was determined to grow stronger continually, acknowledging his own weakness. Even in his past life, nobody had paid him much attention. When he was killed, his body remained hanging under a waterfall, forgotten by all, eventually becoming a mere tourist attraction.

William had spent the past three hours digging a tunnel over 40 kilometers long. His hand speed had significantly increased, as he had learned to utilize both hands simultaneously, leading to a threefold improvement in digging speed.

He examined a map on a crystal ball, given to him by Queen Bernice. The map was of the internal regions of the orc empire, detailing the location of warehouses and other key facilities.

William pondered whether Bernice had a specific purpose in giving him this map. He found it hard to believe that the map's detailed information was merely coincidental. Regardless, he was prepared to take advantage of the opportunity it presented.

He scrutinized the map and considered the possibilities. "This should be a super military factory of the orcs nearby," he mused. "The defense in this internal region of the Orc Empire appears to be relatively lax. The strongest here are generally Epic Level individuals. This opens up many opportunities for me. Even if I am discovered, I can take down one enemy before making my escape. By then, even if a Legendary orc pursues me, they'll be left eating dust in my wake."

William continued to study the map, expanding it to gain a better understanding of the terrain. However, a thought crossed his mind. "But something seems off. Could Bernice have given me

 this map with a hidden agenda? It feels rather premeditated."

Nevertheless, he dismissed his suspicions, knowing that he had the means to protect himself if things went awry. William felt confident that, should a confrontation with Gultai or a Legendary orc occur, he would be able to escape unscathed.

With renewed determination, William focused on his task and continued digging.