Chapter 312:
After completing his daily sword training, the vampire lord returned to his office as usual to review the territory briefings submitted by Regent Miriam.
At this stage, the entire focus of Transia is shifting from combat expulsion to stable construction, particularly the development of residential areas and collective farms is of utmost importance. Knight Palen has once again departed for Bataxin City.
She will receive 6,000 armed Blood Servant prisoners who are about to “arrive” there, and Maxim has also been dispatched to stabilize the situation.
While the governing system in Countess of Seicob’s territory has not yet been established, even with the support of little Countess Sharon and the winged cavalry, Murphy’s available manpower is still insufficient to complete this task in the short term.
Therefore, Murphy plans to select some witch hunters with management experience to help him gather personnel in Seicob territory, as a “substitute” before his administrative players grow up.
The first armament factory to be established in Anderma Hills is also something that needs serious attention, though Murphy has already decided to make that area a player territory “stronghold”. What he needs to do now is just maintain minimal observation to determine which player faction has the ability to independently build and manage the territory.
Now that the plot has progressed to this stage, the little players can no longer be viewed as individual entities. Their growing numbers have made Murphy confirm that they will inevitably need to be incorporated into player affairs considerations based on “guilds” as the fundamental unit.
This means that different organizations and factions will form among the players, which is not a bad thing for both the players and Murphy, as positive competition can always inspire more exploratory drive from them.
Murphy currently has three strongholds that can be delegated: the southern defense line definitely counts as one, the area near the armament factory counts as another, and one can be left in reserve.
If both of the soon-to-be-delegated strongholds can be well operated, then Murphy won’t need to worry too much about the subordinate management system of the territory later.
As a lord, he must trust in his subordinates’ wisdom.
And as an administrator, he must also trust in his players! After all, he doesn’t have a second choice.
These matters were all planned in advance, Murphy knew he had to take it step by step, guiding the little players to discover their potential in Transia. However, while he was reviewing today’s territorial report, an unexpected communication request interrupted the Governor’s contemplation.
Murphy looked down at the core bead and furrowed his brow.
He connected the communication and asked:
“What’s the matter, my ‘Pangolin’?”
“Lord Murphy, I have a question that requires your wisdom.”
The gnoll chieftain Hog’s embarrassed voice came through the slightly distorted spirit bead communication due to distance, speaking in the gnolls’ strange accent:
“I have achieved peaceful transfer of spoils with your warriors and the Blood Rat Gang, all three parties are satisfied, but when I requested your warriors’ help in defending the Blood Claw Clan against the enemies we currently face, they refused.
I can sense that they are clearly willing to participate in the expulsion war between gnolls and the skeleton legion in Smuggler’s Woods, but they seem to be waiting for me to provide more compensation.
But I’ve already given them everything I can offer, yet they’re still not satisfied.
Or rather, the spoils and wealth I offered don’t seem to be what they want. I cannot understand what your warriors truly desire?
Their representatives told me they need to see sincerity from the Blood Claw Clan before they’re willing to help us.
But ‘sincerity’…”
“Ha, I guessed you would encounter this problem when communicating with my warriors, and the fact that you know to inquire directly with me proves you indeed have a wise and studious heart.”
Murphy leaned back in his chair.
In the dim office, he manipulated spirit energy to levitate the computation bead beside him, while relaxing his body and rubbing the corner of his eye, he asked:
“First tell me, Hog, what kind of compensation can you offer my warriors?”
“We have coins in our remaining spoils, things we have no use for!”
Hog immediately replied:
“And weapons and armor left by Kenport’s elite gnolls, some bone implements made by plague sorcerers, as well as leather from gnoll hunting and herbs collected regularly, and finally the dirt wolf mounts trained by our beast masters.
Especially the last one!
When I proposed giving them mounts as compensation, many warriors were tempted, they asked me where to sign up, but those warrior leaders still refused.
I know this is a negotiation strategy.
But I really can’t offer anything more.”
“No, you still have many gifts to choose from, you just haven’t realized their value, or rather, your understanding of wealth and compensation remains at quite a primitive stage. There are quite serious disparities between you and my warriors in understanding these issues.”
Murphy explained in a gentle, guiding tone:
“I can spend some time advising you, Hog, but you should know that this valuable knowledge cannot be given without cost…”
“I am willing to pay the price to pursue this knowledge, my lord.”
Hog answered quite humbly.
But even across a quarter of Transia, Murphy could sense the urgency hidden in Hog’s words.
It seems the rampant skeleton legion in Smuggler’s Woods has indeed threatened the survival of the newly established Blood Claw Clan, and Hog clearly doesn’t want to see his regained clan disappear from Transia’s story just like this.
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to do anything excessive.”
Murphy said softly:
“I just need you to be my eyes and ears in Smuggler’s Woods, observing and collecting various information about the Foul Swamp. If possible, I need you to quickly scout out a relatively safe route through the swamp to the Dark Mountains. Gnolls who move swiftly and enjoy dark environments, able to quickly traverse the swamp, are very suitable for this work.
One month!
In one month, I want to see that route, can you do it?”
“Half a month! My lord.”
Hog immediately replied:
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“I can scout out a safe route for you within half a month. Before my father died, he told me about the route the gnoll army used to enter Transia back then. I can send people to search for that path known only to gnolls.
I am willing to offer it to you.”
“Hmm, seems the skeleton legion is putting great pressure on you, Hog.”
Murphy said with a smile:
“Making you so eagerly expose your trump card, this is a flaw that needs improvement. You must hide your intentions well, especially in conversations like this. When you expose your desires, it means I can manipulate you at will.
You should be thankful we are now in a cooperative relationship.
Well then, listen carefully. There is a fixed pattern when dealing with my warriors. They follow the principle of fair trade, you must prepare compensation before asking them to do something.
And this fairness is built on an equivalent basis. I acknowledge that all those things you offered are needed by my warriors.
But you must properly ‘grade’ them, this way you inadvertently possess another thing that can be given as compensation.
Reputation!
Or call it respect and reverence for warriors.”
Hog was silent for a few seconds, clearly as a gnoll he still couldn’t understand this system.
So Murphy continued to explain:
“Let me give you the simplest example, Hog. You also have distinctions of closeness among your clan members, especially when you have resources in hand that are not enough to satisfy everyone, you must make choices in resource allocation.
Those clan members you value naturally receive preferential treatment, while those who disobey orders and always like to oppose you, you drive them out to fend for themselves.
This is also the correct way to treat my warriors.
Towards strangers, you should be vigilant and stingy.
When you become acquainted, you can open up some things that only acquaintances can see.
When you become true friends, it means the Blood Claw Clan’s treasury has opened its doors to the warriors, they can exchange what they need with things you need.
When my warriors have made enough contributions to your clan, when they become heroes in the eyes of your clan members, you should present your clan’s most precious treasures with both hands.
This ladder-like relationship progression is the correct way of employment, and if my warriors want to win your trust, they naturally need to make some contributions, rather than you lowering your posture pitifully to beg for their help.
You can’t give away treasures for free!
Because easily obtained things won’t be cherished. If you want them to fight for the interests of the Blood Claw Clan, you need to learn to be friends with them. You need to be patient.
You, can you understand what I’m saying?”
Murphy asked, and Hog pondered for a few seconds before guessing:
“You mean, not just giving compensation, but also giving respect? Reverence? But will they enjoy the cheers of gnolls?”
“Smart!”
The vampire praised:
“Seeking recognition from others is life’s instinct. If you can earn respect from other races, that’s also a manifestation of your own ability. You can’t just give compensation.
Because cold monetary transactions can only bring about an employer-employee relationship. If you can add some gradually progressing respect and sense of ceremony beyond compensation, then this transaction will become full of human touch.
And human sentiment…
You know, even the most despicable scum among vampires know that debts of gratitude must be repaid.”
“I think I understand now.”
Hog whimpered, but then asked:
“But you said earlier that I have many precious things that haven’t been properly utilized? You mean?”
“Not just money and wealth, not just equipment and weapons, my warriors crave all rare things. To be more precise, they want anything that can bring them joy.”
Murphy reminded:
“Like pets that can accompany them through their travels? Or a mercenary contract issued by the Blood Claw chieftain? Or kobold miners that can be bought and sold, a battle horn that can summon nearby gnolls for aid when blown in Smuggler’s Woods…
And finally the most precious things you can offer.
Your trained dirt wolves, this is something that only you have in all of Transia while others don’t. You need to properly utilize the scarce resources in your hands.
Oh right, speaking of this, I want to ask you something.
These days while reading past history, I found that in legends, the gnoll vanguard during the Black Plague rode majestic dire wolves rather than ugly dirt wolves. You seem to have ‘inherited’ such an awe-inspiring beast from Kenport.
Do you know where to get these dire wolves that can serve as both mount and battle companion?”
“Those dire wolves were trained by gnoll beast master secret methods, my lord. Only in the Dark Mountains can wolf packs be found and cubs captured for raising from young.”
Hog explained:
“We Transian gnolls don’t have those training secret methods, but perhaps we can find a way to get them? If we can pass through the Foul Swamp to seek our powerful and fierce kin in the Dark Mountains…
Ah, I understand!
This is what you meant by ‘scarce resources’!
I understand!
Only gnoll vanguard dire wolves can serve as the most precious reward the Blood Claw Clan can offer warriors, that’s the magnificent mount only heroes who truly contribute to the Blood Claw Clan are qualified to obtain.
I understand, thank you for your guidance, my lord.
I will go establish this system immediately.”
“Very good, go ahead, I look forward to you properly guiding my warriors to unleash their passion and their strength.”
Murphy nodded with satisfaction, and at the end of the communication, he reminded:
“But I must warn you, I am the guarantor of all contracts you sign with my warriors, so if I discover you deceiving my warriors, or if you try to send them into dead ends as consumables, then you and your clan will have to pay the price.
Or you can be smarter and try not to let me discover your little tricks.”
“No no no, my lord, I urgently need their aid now, how could I do such an unconscionable thing?”
Hog promised:
“I firmly believe your warriors will return satisfied from Smuggler’s Woods! I guarantee it!”
——
In the abandoned tax office in Smuggler’s Woods, the little players had already spread out to move freely around the woods.
As the first lesson for beginners, they must learn how to fight in order to survive in this not-so-gentle game world, and the various beasts roaming in the woods were very suitable for newcomers to practice with.
Lady Dorothy was assigning personnel.
It seems the Blood Rat Gang plans to establish this abandoned tax office as their stronghold in southern Transia, and those players who have already joined the Blood Rat Gang were helping clear ruins and set up camp nearby.
Dump Truck and others were waiting for Hog’s response.
They had already stated their conditions, if they wanted to hire little players to participate in the Blood Claw Clan’s war against the skeleton legion, that small cunning gnoll chieftain must come up with a more attractive offer.
They didn’t wait too long either.
An hour later, Hog’s attendant Nash returned to the ruins riding a dirt wolf, and handed a “letter” from the chieftain to Brother Dump Truck. The latter took it and looked at it, finding this crooked letter was actually a “price list”.
“Hey, interesting! The dev team finally got the reputation system up and running, come take a look!”
Brother Dump Truck called out, and both veteran and new players gathered around. Since passing around that one piece of beast hide letter back and forth was too cumbersome, Dump Truck simply posted the translated content in the world channel:
【The Blood Claw Clan treats well all warriors willing to contribute to the stable order of Smuggler’s Woods, and we have also prepared sufficient rewards for warriors.
We are willing to hire all adventurers dedicated to aiding the Blood Claw Clan, and grant them the title of ‘Woodland Mercenary’.
When a mercenary completes 10 bounties issued by the Blood Claw Clan, our beast masters will gift a hyena pup and teach training methods.
When a mercenary completes 30 bounties issued by the Blood Claw Clan, our kobold leader Goldtooth will gift five kobold miners and sign master-servant contracts.
When a mercenary completes 50 bounties issued by the Blood Claw Clan, Chieftain Hog will gift woodland warriors with long-term contracts to employ Blood Claw barbarians and hunters.
When a mercenary completes 70 bounties issued by the Blood Claw Clan, they will receive the precious ‘Blood Claw Battle Horn’ to command the woodland gnolls to launch devastating attacks against their enemies.
When a mercenary completes 100 bounties issued by the Blood Claw Clan, the Blood Claw Clan’s beast pens and treasury will open their arms to warriors.
Finally, when powerful mercenaries can deal with the troublesome threat of the skeleton legion for the clan, then Chieftain Hog will gift them his precious vanguard dire wolf!
This is the greatest sincerity the Blood Claw Clan can offer!
All warriors dedicated to participating in battle can go to the woodland hunter outpost to sign mercenary agreements.
This agreement will have the Adventurer’s Guild and Crimson Citadel as guarantors and witnesses.
The safety of the woodland needs you! Warriors.】
“Holy shit, the rewards for this new reputation are great!”
Miaomiao Shark exclaimed:
“Directly giving hyena pups and teaching training methods? Isn’t this must-farm reputation for hunters?”
“And what’s that dire wolf?”
Life Is Pretty Good rode his dirt wolf back and forth before stopping beside Brother Dump Truck and asked:
“Is it more powerful than dirt wolves?”
“Those things are not even comparable.”
Fatal Orchid, returning from hunting in the woods, casually explained:
“I saw it in history books about the Black Plague. Dire wolves are not only excellent mounts but also loyal battle companions, only the most valiant vanguards among gnolls were qualified to obtain them.
That armored beast Hog was riding when he appeared earlier should be the legendary dire wolf. I feel three Lady Aquas together couldn’t beat that ferocious beast, but little Sword Saint Ashina would definitely love this strange and cool mount.
This Hog really has quite a lot of good stuff in hand, looks like this new reputation is worth spending time to farm too.”