Hogg was soon given his first assignment after returning to the Gnoll's Den.

Not surprisingly, Kenpot asked him to return to his death after escaping the danger, and it was clear that the gnolloin warlord didn't care about the life of a crippled minch, and he didn't even hide it.

Fortunately, Hogg had never had any illusions about Kenpot, so he was not disappointed in the current situation.

This wasn't Hogg's only "covert mission".

At this time, the skinny gnoll rode a dirty and messy coyote, and led his elite people to gallop in the jackal camp, which occupied a large area.

Nominally, it wanted to find a place for its "Bloodclaw Clan" to set up camp, but in fact it was taking the opportunity to record the general terrain of the entire Gnoll camp with the Orb of Arithmetic hidden in the breastplate.

This is something that must be taken seriously!

Because Kenpot's power has now swelled to more than 30,000 gnolls, it is definitely not possible to continue to stay in the former border col, so Kenpot chose a new place to be his den.

It was not far from the section of the Cadman River that flowed through the Andman Hills, and it was close to woodland for easy logging, and there was a trade route to the East Phorus region, which made it easy for the Wolf Venom Clan to arrange a steady stream of supplies.

It sounds perfect, but the atmosphere of the whole camp at this time can not be said to be "happy, all ethnic groups are one family" or "full of vitality, and everything is out of the blue".

What would it be like for more than 30,000 gnolls and their kobold vassals to gather together?

The answer is simple.

Confusion! Confusion! Or TMD chaos!

Although Kenpot's camp is generally arranged according to the four-layer structure of "core-elite-main force-cannon fodder", even in the second circle where the elite brute is located, Hogg can always see gnolls fighting each other, and even dozens or hundreds of people fighting.

And the reason they fight is simply because the other person takes an extra piece of meat, or glares at the other person.

This is not at all a symbol of a clear system of rule, and the warlord Kenpot has only symbolically sent his guards to patrol the area.

Its only request for its Transian minions is that there be no mass deaths, and you love nothing else.

The elite brute soldiers are like this, and the chaos of the cannon fodder in the outer circle is even more indescribable, if you have to say it, it is estimated that even the migrating beasts are more disciplined than them.

"Black plague."

Hogg, riding a coyote, ran up a hillside outside the camp.

It brought its most trusted guard, Nash, and three kobolds, and here it could vaguely see the whole of the large camp.

Everywhere you see is a crowded "ocean", black and oppressive, accompanied by noisy sounds, really like a disaster brewing that swallows everything, more like a hungry beast waiting to be preyed.

Hogg had never seen the Black Plague.

But from the camp of the 30,000 gnolls in front of it, it was as if it had seen the scene of the black plague, it was not 30,000 people, it was not 300,000, it was most likely 3 million

This had pushed the limits of what Hogg could have imagined, and it had even made it feel terrified on its own.

On the contrary, Nash beside him was feeling honored to be part of such a large and powerful super clan.

Its toothless shoehorn had a look of longing on its face, as if it had begun to imagine what it would be like for the army to storm the Crimson Keep.

After all, who could resist such an army?

Hogg had a different opinion on this, but it wouldn't be stupid enough to discuss it with Nash, who didn't have a walnut-sized brain, and it would be better to find a random stone on the side of the road and tell him what was on his mind, or at least the stone wouldn't ask him some stupid questions.

"Clean up, Nash."

Hogg rode on a coyote to make himself "taller" than his own guards, and said to Nash:

"Go to our companions and let them camp on the outskirts."

"Why?"

Nash asked quizzically:

"We're the elite appointed by King Kenpot himself, Hogg! We can stay in the inner layer with better conditions, and the king has specially given us enough supplies. ”

"Because it's hard to run away when there's chaos, you idiot! I've only seen it once, and I've only seen it once, and I've never seen you respect me so much.

I still can't see who the boss is, and the bastard who worships his fists more than his brains really can't ask for it."

Hogg roared in his heart, but the words became:

"Because we still have a mission, don't forget that the king asked us to take those vampires back again.

Well, I know you're all willing, so I'll go myself.

In my absence, you and the others will have to recruit a few more leaders of other clans, but remember, there can't be too many people, and we don't want fools who only eat meat, mate, and fight. At least not stupider than you! ”

"I'm not stupid by Gnoll standards! And Hogg, that's not the way we used to. ”

Nash cristed at the neck and barked his teeth:

"What we have now is power, Hogg, we are already more elite than the elite of King Kenpott, we can recruit hundreds, even thousands, overnight, and some of the cubs who want to eat meat will obey us."

"But I don't need so many idiots who only eat meat and only think about it!"

Hogg lost patience with Nash's obstinacy, and said in a gruff tone:

"Fools, cannon fodder, you can recruit whenever you want, there is no shortage of thugs in this land, but the shame in the gladiatorial arena has not taught you a lesson? The ones who can fight the most are often the ones who die the fastest!

Only the combination of strength and brains can make our clan survive for a long time, and you don't want to finally grab a good territory but can't hold it because the clan died too quickly, right?

All in all, it may take me two days to come back.

When I return, our clan can't exceed 200 people! I'll check them myself, and if they're all stupid, you won't want to eat meat for the next month.

You've got to think for yourself, Nash.

You're not a good one among your people now, but if you get some more brutal bastards, will you be able to keep your spouse, your slaves, and the meat in your pot? ”

None of the Nash Hogg had said before wanted to hear it.

But the last sentence went straight to its heart, which shocked this guy who obviously has a little brain, but just doesn't like to use it.

"Now you understand, right? You're my lieutenant, you're the number two leader of the clan, and you're going to have to keep your power and majesty, just as I did. ”

Hogg said intently:

"Don't recruit them until you have full control over those fools whose brains aren't as big as walnuts, just as I recruited you, and learn from me, just as I learn from greater wisdom. Ha, you can't understand it even if you have more.

Go get to work. ”

With a wave of its paws, it told the shaking Nash to go to the clan with the three loyal kobolds.

It left itself on the hillside, looked left and right to make sure that no one was approaching, and then quietly took out its arithmetic orb, and clumsily edited a "report" with the gnoll's paws, which were not actually suitable for writing, and sent it to his superiors along with a map of the gnoll's camp.

Of course, the signature is still that strange "pangolin".

"I have absolutely no way of understanding how this thing works, it is said to have been made by a halfling"

Hogg carefully looked at the infinite orb of magic in his hand, and his green eyes were full of some strange light, and he thought:

"Maybe when I have a territory in the future, I'll have to catch it and ask a few halflings to teach me. This is what Lord Murphy uses to manage and command his warriors, and I have to learn from him, and I may have my own Crimson Keep, maybe not as big as this messy camp in front of me, but certainly more loyal and united

I'm going to call it 'Hogburg' or 'Wolfsburg'!" ”

Thus drawing a pie for himself, the gnoll leaned against his coyote again, opened another interface of the arithmetic orb, and began to read the "History of the Continent" with some difficulty, which had been greatly simplified by Professor Malcolm.

It's not that it's a love of learning.

This is one of its "tasks"!

The Lady Adele, who was the direct chief, said that every five days, a total of ten exams, at least seven times in total, to gain full control of the smuggler's woodlands.

Hogg didn't dare to slack off.

Even though it knew that Kenpot's current power was much stronger than that of the Crimson Keep, it seemed to have chosen a less advantageous force to take refuge in.

However, it seems to have a choice, but in fact it has no choice at all.

Because Kenpot's arrogant idiot doesn't give it a chance to hug his thighs at all! ——

"Our senior agent 'Pangolin' has sent over a map of the Jackal Camp in the Under Armour Hills, now you two can calculate the perfect location for the Astral Rift to open."

In the Vulture Corridor, Murphy handed out the map from the Orb of Arithmetic to Tracy and Phimis as he said:

"In terms of maximum lethality, it is also necessary to deter the enemy on a psychic level, and to leave a safe enough route for our troops to attack and retreat. Is this psionic construct over? ”

He asked.

Tracey poured herself a glass of wine, and as she drank it, she said:

"It's almost over, it's almost a few days away, but this technique needs coordinate guidance when it is activated, are you sure that 'pangolin' can take on such a task? That's almost the same as sending it to death.

If it's not careful, it will be swallowed up by the astral spiritual energy, a gnoll, it shouldn't be loyal to you to death, right? ”

"I never use the word 'loyalty' to describe a pangolin, and that's a humiliation for a true loyal, but I'm absolutely relieved because it doesn't have a choice."

Murphy also poured himself a glass of wine, explaining:

"Hogg's innate condition is destined to make no waves in the Gnoll society, and it has the handle in our hands, even if it's just a fictional identity, but I don't think King Kenpot will let a bold gnoll who calls himself 'Bone Biting Sun' live leisurely.

What's more, if it wants to fit into the land, it has to contribute to it!

This is true for me, for the witch hunters, for my warriors, and for it and its Bloodclaw clan are not exempt, how can it be possible to gain dominion over an area as large as the Smuggler's Woodlands without paying a price? ”

"Are you really going to give it the title of 'Baron'? Bestow a medal on a gnoll? I can't imagine. ”

Philimis exclaimed:

"Others will think you're crazy."

"You thought I was crazy when I was going to join forces with the witch hunters to fight back against Sarokdal, but see who now rules the land?

Facts speak louder than words, but I'm not going to give the pangolin any positive reward, it's a dangerous gnoll in the eyes of others, and its status as a 'double agent' if used well can bring benefits that we can't imagine in the future."

But I do have to cede some power to it, and that's part of the agreement. ”

Murphy rubbed his chin and said:

"Anyway, the front line of resistance to the Black Plague we have chosen is between the Dark Barony and the Filthy Swamp, and once that line of defense is established, the smuggler's woodland will be abandoned on its own initiative, and there will be no problem in handing it over to the Gnolls to manage.

If the pangolin is smart enough, it can even do some interaction with my warriors like we do.

In short, the aspect of psionic decapitation is left to the two of you.

I'm not a professional.

So, I won't say anything. ”

"You can be professional! You're also a psyker, albeit with a preferring for summoning. ”

Triss was quite dissatisfied with Murphy's lack of care in psionic powers, and she said in a long voice:

"Little Murphy, I know you prefer swordsmanship, but this won't work, if you can't pass the test I'll give you in a few days"

"Ah, I'm already revising, Trace, and you know I'm busy, so give me some time, please."

Murphy stopped drinking, turned around rather embarrassed, and left the patriarch's office amid the strange laughter of Tracy and Fimis, who was going to find a place to carefully read the codex that Trass had given him, but as soon as he walked out, he saw the Earl of White Mountain in front of him.

This is not a chance encounter.

Andrei was specifically waiting for him.

"What's the matter?"

Murphy asked politely and with a sense of distance, and Andre did not greet him, he blinked his gray-blue scarlet eyes and said to Murphy:

"I don't know what you're planning, but I've seen Lady Leenia training her knights and servants for a crusade against the gnolls. However, when the Knights of the Blood Alliance came, they made it clear that they would not be involved in similar operations.

The situation has obviously changed, and I guess it should have something to do with the activities of the Wolf Venom Clan in Transasia? ”

"You're sharp."

Murphy nodded, not denying it.

The Earl of White Mountain immediately said:

"Then, please leave this part of the responsibility to me and my followers!"

"Huh?"

Murphy looked at the very formal and serious alien vampire in front of him in amazement, and after a few seconds, he asked:

"Why? You have no reason to help us, and it is not in your personal interest, and in the current situation, shouldn't you expect me to be disgraced by the gnolls and you will be in power? ”

"If I were a fool or an authority-hungry short-sighted, then I should have thought so, but unfortunately or thankfully, I wasn't."

Andrei shrugged his shoulders, the leader of the vampire faction who was not mature but had been trying to grow, said:

"We do have a conflict of interest in this regard, but I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my philosophy to you.

The White Mountain Faction I have established does not exist for the benefit of the Thorn Clan, and it may seem arrogant and inconsistent with the ancient traditions and virtues of the Bloodline, but the truth is that most of my faction members are vampires with close interests to the Nordtov royal family, just like me.

Our goal is to help the nation become better, and not stop at power struggles within clans.

We don't bother to indulge ourselves in such pathetic ideals, nor do we settle for a little bit of leftovers.

In the face of the threat of the Black Plague, it doesn't really matter if I can get the position of Governor of Translasia, it is the top priority to survive this Black Plague and let those of us who are trapped in Transencia survive and have a 'future' to speak of.

And let's be honest.

I've been with you for almost a month now, and I have to admit that you're better than me in every way.

In this case, it is only right for me to lie dormant and learn from you.

Moreover, Grand Duke Xia Ni and Grand Duke Tris have formed a blood pact, which means that we have common interests in the fight against the Wolf Venom Clan.

I want to shoulder this task! ”

The Count of White Mountain emphasized:

"It's not just for my personal honor, it's for my country and my clan."

"That's a good reason."

Murphy nodded, and seemed to accept the statement, but then he changed his words, stared at Andre, and said:

"But I don't believe a word! You'll have to give me one more reason to convince me.

We're vampires, Andrei, and we won't do anything that doesn't do us good, and this selfish nature doesn't even come from our own volition, but a kind of rule under midnight.

Unless you're a rare vampire saint like Lord Kudell, who loves to help others the most.

But from what I've observed, you're not.

So, could you please tell me honestly, what do you have to gain from this to make your competitors want to help you so proactively? ”

Andrei hesitated.

After a few seconds, he lowered his voice and said:

"The remaining members of my faction will arrive at the Crimson Keep tomorrow, and the White Mountain faction has been abolished, which is a huge blow to the motivation within my faction and the unity I have been trying so hard to maintain, and I desperately need a victory to cheer up.

Most importantly, I have to prove to those who are watching me that I am still capable of being a leader.

To my followers.

To my patriarch.

Finally, to my sister who sits on the throne of the Ice Palace!

I want to prove my growth and my abilities, and I want to prove that I can become the Earl of White Mountain and the leader of the faction not only because of my bloodline, but also because of my abilities!

And most importantly"

He looked up at Murphy, and with a frustration and unhappiness and stubbornness that could not be concealed, he said in a deep voice:

"You and I have been transformed together, Murphy! You can do it, why can't I? ”

The last reason is the same as child's play.

This is definitely not the words of a mature and cold vampire count.

But Murphy chose to believe.

"Ah, the unyielding and competitive spirit peculiar to young people is a terrible thing."

Murphy sighed.

The same is true of the voice of the heart that he hears with desire, which proves that André is not lying.

Although he and Andre were transformed at about the same time, and even the actual age of the two of them is about the same, compared to himself, Andrei is indeed a little impulsive and childish.

There's no way around it.

After all, he just looks young, and what exists in his vampire body is a cunning social human soul, and he has already passed the stage where he plans to act brutally because he does not admit defeat, and Andre

He's really young.

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you!"

Murphy waved his hand and said:

"My heir Adele will cooperate with you in this 'Dances with Wolves' operation, if you want to prove yourself, I will give you this chance, but this time please be cautious and don't mess up again.

Face is often given by others, but it is often thrown away by yourself.

I gave you face, Andrey.

So, you've got one more person you want to prove your abilities to!

Don't let me down! ”

(End of chapter)