Arrogant Agou

"This task is yours!" Haotian said to the gnoll Agou. "Tomorrow, go to those three sand people settlements and bring their leaders to me. Can you handle it?"

Agou shivered at the order. The Blackwind Tribe hadn't been kind in ruling those settlements. A lone gnoll might be torn apart by the sand people. However, he quickly reminded himself that he served the Divine Envoy who had annihilated the Blackwind Tribe. Once he explained the situation, the sand people wouldn't dare act rashly for the sake of their own survival. All he needed was the courage to face them alone.

"I promise to complete the task, great Divine Envoy!" Agou declared confidently.

"Good!" Haotian praised again. Even small characters have their uses.

At midnight, the Royal Knight Training Grounds' recruitment refreshed. Haotian promptly summoned fifty new Royal Knights, bringing his total to over two hundred.

"Go patrol," he commanded, sending the new recruits out. Soon after, the main Royal Knight force returned with the hundreds of desert coyotes, having emptied the Blackwind Tribe's supplies in two trips. The territory's warehouse saw another surge in resources.

Haotian instructed the knights to dissect the coyote corpses, then returned to the Village Hall with his maid Sally to sleep.

"Five days," he mused. "In two more days, my super divine lord talent will refresh, adding a new troop building to my territory. I hope for better luck this time."

While the Royal Knights were strong, they showed their limitations against higher-level beings like holy beasts or superior races. The territory needed stronger troops. Troops were ranked from low to divine, and Haotian hoped for at least a top-tier building. If he could get that, he would be ecstatic.

That night, Haotian dreamed sweetly, smiling in his sleep. It even woke Sally, who snuggled closer and fell back asleep.

Early in the morning, Agou set off on a desert coyote. The Royal Knights organized into teams for hunting outside the oasis, and the old butler Horden also departed. The large territory was left with Haotian, Sally, and a few injured Royal Knights.

Haotian opened his task menu. With no new side quests, he focused on his two ongoing tasks: upgrading the Town Hall and the timed hunting mission. So far, the hunting mission had accrued 4,135 gold coins, with more added as the Royal Knights continued their hunts.

"Today's goal: upgrade the Town Hall!" Haotian said, stretching as he exited the Village Hall, a gleaming knight's sword in hand. His job today was chopping trees to gather the needed 3,000 units of wood. With nearly 2,000 units in reserve, he needed just over 1,000 more.

By late morning, Agou crossed the desert and reached the first sand people settlement. The sand people were humans exiled to the Kalar Desert for their ancestors' crimes. As such, they weren't accepted by the human empire of the Fertile Lands. They risked arrest if they ventured into the empire, and unscrupulous merchants often kidnapped young sand women to sell as slaves.

"Stop! Gnoll from the Blackwind Tribe! This is sand people territory. Do you intend to break the rules?" Seven sand people, armed and robed in gray, blocked Agou's path. Their weapons and clothes were crude compared to the gnoll riders, highlighting why they couldn't resist the Blackwind Tribe's tyranny.

"You lowly sand people..." Agou, seated on his desert coyote, puffed his chest and lifted his head arrogantly. "I bring news that can change your fate. Summon your leader immediately!"

The sand people exchanged wary glances, some with murderous glares at Agou. But the fear of the Blackwind Tribe's cruelty kept them from attacking. They escorted Agou to their leader, a level-four professional. Surrounded by angry villagers, the leader asked, "What news do you bring? If it's about more tribute, you can leave. The Blackwind Tribe will get nothing more from us until the next deadline!"

Agou, unperturbed, announced loudly, "The Blackwind Tribe has been annihilated by my great master. All gnolls, except me, have been sent to hell. My master wishes to see you. Mount your elk and come with me; we have two more settlements to visit."