Sorcery Monarch

Chapter 63: Kobold Mines

 

Half an hour later.

 

The soldiers finished cleaning the battlefield, throwing the gnoll corpses into pits dug by the kobolds.

 

Then, they doused the bodies with oil and burned them until only ash remained.

 

As for these moon-worshipping cannibalistic creatures, Matthew had no intention of sparing them, nor did he want Yaya to subdue them—he just wanted them all dead.

 

Seeing that the remaining gnolls were taken care of, Yaya let out a small cry and dispelled the spell.

 

The bewildered gnoll sentry, unaware of the situation, was immediately surrounded by Goldfang and the soldiers.

 

Before it could struggle much, it was tied up securely and thrown into a cage.

 

With the capture of the gnoll sentry, the brief but fierce battle came to an end.

 

"Ding! Your soldiers have killed a total of 107 gnolls, earning you 4,500 experience points."

 

"Ding! You have achieved a flawless victory, gaining an additional skill point and 1,000 experience points."

 

The sweet sound of victory brought a smile to Matthew's face.

 

His experience points, which had been dipping close to his next level requirement, were now back up to 7,000, and his precious skill points had increased to 8.

 

He glanced at the gnoll sentry's talent, then at his "Talent Analysis" skill at level 1, and decided to start working on it later that night.

 

Angela looked on proudly at the soldiers—no one had died, and only a dozen had suffered minor injuries.

 

After bandaging their wounds and taking some healing potions, most were back on their feet.

 

Angela had gained new insights into battle tactics—how to time her entry into battle, how to target different enemies, and how to manage the use of various forces effectively, all of which had a profound impact on the outcome of combat.

 

But beyond the battlefield, she also realized that logistical support, quality equipment, and thorough soldier training and preparation were just as critical.

 

As Matthew observed Angela in deep thought, he noticed a flood of "experience points" appearing above her head, indicating that she was gaining a deeper understanding of both knighthood and command.

 

A few more battles like this, and Angela's professional rank would surely advance quickly.

 

Besides Angela’s growth, Matthew also noticed the improvements in his soldiers.

 

During the battle,

 

Ten soldiers gained insight into the warrior's path, becoming warriors themselves.

 

Two first-level warriors successfully advanced to level 2.

 

Another third-level warrior emerged—Leon, who had single-handedly taken on a gnoll warrior twice during the fight.

 

However, Leon paid the price, with his injured arm leaving him unable to fight or train for two days, not to mention receiving a stern scolding from Old John.

 

The kobolds hiding at the cave entrance stared in disbelief at Yaya.

 

When she glanced back at them, they immediately dropped to the ground, groveling obediently, showing none of the previous madness.

 

Yaya glanced at Matthew but didn’t receive any indication from him—he seemed to be letting her make the decision.

 

The little creature tilted her head, raised a small paw, and pointed at Goldfang and Silverfang:

 

"If possible, subdue them. We need more kobolds to help with the work."

 

"If they don't cooperate, eliminate them. This territory is ours; we can't let them take it!"

 

Yaya’s "dominant" statement had a strange yet natural quality to it.

 

Matthew silently glanced at her but said nothing, allowing the little one to indulge in her moment of pride.

 

Goldfang and Silverfang nodded and led their kobold subordinates over.

 

These scrawny kobolds didn’t dare resist, their heads bowed in submission, fully accepting their fate.

 

The soldiers watched curiously, wondering just how many kobolds would end up working in the village after this.

 

To Matthew’s surprise, his system's data visualization revealed the entire mine’s situation, seemingly acknowledging his claim over the area.

 

"462 adult kobolds, 385 kobold pups, and 1,042 kobold eggs have joined your faction."

 

"The kobold mine has been added to your territory."

 

"At the current stage, if 300 adult kobolds are assigned daily and provided with new pickaxes and adequate food, 3,000 kilograms of medium-quality iron ore can be mined per day."

 

"At peak stage, with 300,000 kobolds assigned daily, equipped with new pickaxes, mine rails, mining carts, and provided with sufficient food, 600,000 kilograms of top-quality iron ore can be mined per day."

 

Matthew raised an eyebrow, never expecting that this seemingly insignificant kobold mine had such enormous developmental potential.

 

Watching the steady stream of kobolds emerging from the mine, Matthew's eyes gleamed with excitement, and he didn’t hesitate to agree with Yaya’s earlier suggestion:

 

"The more kobolds we have in Bay Village, the better. We can work together for mutual benefit."

 

"We’ll provide them with ample food, safe housing, entertainment facilities, and opportunities for growth."

 

"In return, they just need to work hard for the benefit of our territory."

 

"In the future, any creature, race, or individual who contributes to our land, without harming others, can enjoy similar privileges."

 

While Matthew seemed to be addressing the kobolds, the surrounding soldiers were also taking his words to heart.

 

It was an unusual idea, but strangely, none of the soldiers saw anything wrong with it.

 

The primary reason for this shift in mindset was that the kobolds under Goldfang and Silverfang had always been well-behaved, never causing trouble, and had only brought benefits.

 

With this understanding, the soldiers’ attitudes toward the kobolds naturally changed.

 

Matthew knew his approach was unconventional and might even spark some controversy.

 

But he didn’t care at all.

 

His status as an arcanist, heir to the Ser family, and ever-growing power and influence would gradually support his "small indulgences."

 

The only thing holding him back from being even bolder and more aggressive was his constant vigilance against the mysterious force that had attempted to assassinate him several times.

 

Matthew had a hunch that the Blood Hand Slave Hunters, who had attacked him and Bay Village, might also have been influenced by this force...

 

What would they try next time?

 

Just then, a sudden kill notification left Matthew momentarily taken aback:

 

"Ding! Your subordinate, 8th-level rogue Hall, has used a fireball scroll to kill two gnoll sentries. You have gained 120 experience points."

 

"Ding! Your subordinate, 8th-level rogue Hall, has used a fireball scroll to kill three gnoll berserkers. You have gained 150 experience points."

 

"Ding..."

 

Gnoll sentries?

 

Gnoll berserkers?

 

Another large group of gnolls?

 

"Everyone, stay alert! Prepare for battle!"

 

Matthew shouted loudly as he looked toward the area where he sensed magical fluctuations, muttering to himself:

 

"Hmm? Where is he?"