Chapter 454: Hog: You Plague-Wielding Folk Just Can’t Understand My Joy!

“Burp~”

Blood Claw Chief Hog had no idea that an evil old gnoll in the swamp was shedding crocodile tears over its “passing,” but even if it knew, it probably wouldn’t care.

Because Chief Hog was having a great time right now.

Ever since Governor Murphy officially launched the “Shadow of the Swamp” event, Hog immediately sealed off its Smuggler’s Woods. It ordered its clan members not to casually cross the forest boundaries towards the swamp or Saxony region, almost completely locking down its forces to prevent dim-witted warriors from running out and getting caught by plague mages or Goldflower vanguard troops.

After all, its clan had stockpiled enough food and supplies to last them through a long period. Moreover, after the skeleton army in the woods was incorporated and the swamp battle began, the animals that had originally fled returned, and even swamp beasts showed signs of migration, allowing Blood Claw Clan hunters to bring back plenty of fresh meat every day.

Additionally, the Blood Claw Clan had been given more important responsibilities.

Transia’s field hospital was arranged near Smuggler’s Woods, a place that needed gnolls to guard and provide cover. Hog also knew the significance of that location and very carefully arranged defenses for the field hospital.

It was well aware that if it or its clan pups had bad luck one day, they would also need these doctors to save their lives.

At this moment, on a hillside cliff above the Blood Claw Clan’s great beast den, sparks flew from a roaring bonfire in the evening darkness, while a deer was being rotated on the erected grill by two gnoll warriors. The clever Nash was holding a jar of “secret spices” brought from Crimson Citadel and sprinkling it on the roasted deer.

Who knows where the Crimson Citadel’s chefs got this stuff from, but when sprinkled on the roasted meat, it added a slightly spicy flavor to the already tempting fatty aroma, making the warriors nearby sneeze uncontrollably while constantly drooling as they waited for the moment when the food would be ready for feasting.

A group of young gnolls who had finished their classes today were also eagerly waiting nearby. They obediently carried over firewood and wagged their tails while waiting for the evening meal to begin.

Chief Hog, who was hosting this “barbecue party,” had already enjoyed the delicacies in advance, eating until its belly was round while continuously burping, then unscrewed another bottle of beer and gulped down a big mouthful.

Although gnolls have “wolf” in their name, they are intelligent creatures and omnivorous.

While they can survive on raw meat, gnolls occasionally “improve” their diet. Barbecue is their favorite snack, and eating cooked meat is also very beneficial for dental care.

Of course, previous barbecues certainly didn’t have fancy things like spices. From this perspective, Hog also had to thank Governor Murphy’s warriors for bringing this “otherworldly flavor.”

Not just the chief itself, but even its two “guests” today had an indescribable feeling about this hospitality.

Sitting on a tree stump opposite Hog, Colonel Frayzer, who was heading to the swamp from Malo Town and taking a break midway to specially visit the gnoll clan, held a piece of roasted meat in his hand. His eyes carried a pie chart expression of three parts surprise, three parts curiosity, three parts investigation, and one part discomfort as he looked at everything around him.

On this cliff, there were only him and Professor Malcolm, two humans, while everyone else was gnolls.

Colonel Frayzer felt he was probably the first “traveler” outside of Transia to receive such warm hospitality from a gnoll clan, like the protagonist in those bizarre stories who accidentally enters an isolated place and is treated as an honored guest by local savages.

The scene before him indeed gave the colonel a sense of unreality. He thought that if he were an anthropologist studying barbarian tribes, he would have been ecstatic by now.

However, due to certain stereotypical impressions, he still didn’t dare to eat the roasted deer meat that Hog personally cut for him. Although he knew it was cut from a deer, he always felt he was holding a piece of “mysterious meat.”

After all, in all human legends, gnolls were portrayed as raw meat-eating, bloodthirsty cannibals.

After staring at the roasted meat in his hand for a long while, the colonel still couldn’t convince himself to taste it. He made excuses about not being hungry and praised the virtues of fasting, then with a friendly smile handed the meat in his hand to several eager young gnolls nearby.

The latter excitedly accepted it and turned to run, but Chief Hog across from them snorted, and the little gnoll immediately hit the brakes, turned around with the meat in its paws, and seriously thanked Colonel Frayzer before trotting away.

Chief Hog nodded with satisfaction, proving that its recent education of the clan’s young ones had been quite successful.

This bizarre scene also made Colonel Frayzer click his tongue in amazement.

He had a feeling that in his next memoir of observations in the swamp, the story about the Blood Claw Clan gnolls would definitely become the next chapter that King Louis and his ministers would praise.

Perhaps this was also one of the reasons why Professor Malcolm personally invited Colonel Frayzer to visit the gnoll clan?

“I never imagined gnolls could sit so peacefully with humans to enjoy a meal.”

Colonel Frayzer took out his handkerchief to wipe the grease from his fingers, while constructing in his mind how to describe this magical journey, he said to Professor Malcolm beside him who was taking small bites of the roasted deer:

“When Governor Murphy told me he had a group of ‘civilized’ gnolls under his command, I thought he had done some artistic flair, but I didn’t expect he was just telling the truth.”

Professor Malcolm put the deer meat in his plate, lit his dwarf-style pipe again, and while exhaling smoke in the evening wind, glanced at his children playing with a group of half-grown gnolls under his wife’s care, then asked humorously:

“Don’t you think this is just Chief Hog and its clan pretending to be hospitable, actually just trying to lull you into a false sense of security, planning to tie you up after you fall asleep and throw you into the fire to roast as a midnight snack?”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

Colonel Frayzer shook his head and said:

“I’ve done intelligence work for 10 years, and although my knowledge of gnoll habits comes from books, I can distinguish between genuine goodwill and pretended goodwill.

Chief Hog and its clan members obviously aren’t interacting with humans for the first time. The gnoll guards in the beast den don’t look at me in any special way nor treat me as prey.

They even use strange accents to remind me in human language to follow the rules here. Although there’s an element of intimidation, that practiced manner clearly shows they’ve had lots of dealings with humans.

Even kobolds stopped me, enthusiastically trying to sell me some odd things they dug up from underground. Those timid rodent creatures mistook me for someone else, they think I’m no different from the humans who regularly visit this tribe. Perhaps they actually can’t distinguish between human faces, anyway, they must have done similar things before and succeeded.”

Speaking of this, the colonel picked up a rusty dagger still covered in mud beside him. In his relaxed mood, he used his fingers to clean the mud from the dagger, saying:

“Like this! If I’m not mistaken, this should be a battle sword used by the commanders of Boris’s vanguard army during the first Black Plague 500 years ago. There’s a 1:1 replica in my family’s collection room.

My father really likes collecting these antiques.

He would definitely love this authentic piece I unexpectedly acquired during my journey, and he absolutely wouldn’t imagine I got this thing from kobolds for just two candles.”

“If you like these things, Colonel, Gold Tooth’s warehouse is full of such strange items dug up from underground.”

Hog sat casually on its tree stump using a freshly carved toothpick to pick its teeth, and said to Frayzer:

“The kobolds always dig up similar things when they dig trenches nearby, and when Governor Murphy asked our clan’s kobolds to dig defensive lines outside the swamp, even more antiques were excavated from that ancient battlefield.

If your father really likes these antiques, I can personally gift him a complete set of Boris’s vanguard cavalry officer armor! That’s also been authenticated by Professor Malcolm.”

“Oh? That would be perfect, just in time for my father’s upcoming birthday.”

Colonel Frayzer laughed, but then he looked at Professor Malcolm with a strange expression, saying:

“Chief Hog calls you ‘professor’?”

“Yes, I taught it all its history.”

Professor Malcolm held his pipe, smiling and even slightly proudly waving his hand saying:

“Although limited by gnolls’ barbaric thinking making it difficult to understand complex human politics, so I made some edits to continental history, but just in terms of learning attitude, Chief Hog was much more hardworking than some of my former students.

If you read Chief Hog’s personally written thesis about the Black Plague, you would know that, aside from those misspellings and occasional improper word usage and grammatical errors, it truly counts as one of my students.

However, this unique teaching didn’t just benefit Hog, I also learned about how gnolls view the world from its perspective.

Their unique worldview, although narrow, cannot be said to be wrong, so I’ve begun to doubt the prevalent view on the continent that sees gnolls as barbarians.

If I can personally tour Moss Valley in the future, perhaps I could provide strong evidence to prove that gnolls’ history is actually not shorter than humans’.

In those ancient years, they also developed their own civilization system in the Dark Mountains. I believe that from the perspective of living species, they are not inferior to us.”

“What shocking views, professor.”

The colonel said in a low voice:

“Promoting such views elsewhere would get you in trouble, especially at this time point when the Black Plague is approaching.”

“But this is Transia.”

Professor Malcolm snorted and said:

“Stupid blood supremacy doesn’t exist here, nor does arrogant ‘human supremacy’ views. I’ve never been able to understand what courage some of our self-proclaimed civilized individuals have to mock elves, dwarves, or other races. Everyone is essentially no different, and learning from others is nothing to be ashamed of.

Moreover, Hog isn’t part of the Black Plague.

It’s a Transia local, one of the indigenous people of this land recognized by Governor Murphy.”

“Yes, colonel.”

Hog immediately joined in saying:

“I even have identity files in the archives of the Crimson Citadel administrative office. Each of my clan members has complete information registered, and after the Black Plague ends, we can receive citizen certificates from under the administrative office.

We were born in Transia, we have no connection with the Dark Mountain gnolls who started the Black Plague.

If anything, our relationship with the Dark Mountain gnolls is probably like the relationship between Silans, Caiths and Nords. Although we share the same origin, we’ve formed different groups.

We also have internal conflicts, we also oppose each other, even in the same war, we choose different sides.

For example, in this Black Plague, Transian gnolls chose to stand with humans, just like how at the end of the Second Night War, Silans chose to stand with vampires to resist the Nords’ occupation of Ice Bay.”

“Your history studies are really good, Chief Hog.”

Colonel Frayzer shook his head and said:

“However, this doesn’t change the reality of opposition between humans and gnolls. Language alone isn’t enough to convince the Goldflower Kingdom to accept your existence. I personally can sit here and talk with you with an open-minded attitude, but that doesn’t mean my compatriots won’t raise weapons when they see you.

The relationship between individuals and groups has always been complex.

Moreover, in this war, you haven’t clearly defined your faction yet, you haven’t taken actual action for your choice.

Stance is never just about talking, we only look at actions!”

“You’ll see.”

Hog bared its teeth and said:

“When you step into Plague Town, you’ll see my soldiers, and when the Black Plague army attacks Transia, you’ll also see gnolls fighting for him in Governor Murphy’s army.

Actually, to be frank, my clan and I have contributed far more to this land than you can imagine, colonel. Even in the Malo Town incident, I also made contributions to your battle.

Just because you didn’t see it doesn’t mean I didn’t do it.

Regarding this point, your short marshal probably understands better than you, otherwise you wouldn’t have accepted Professor Malcolm’s invitation to visit me here, would you?”

“Uh, are you really a gnoll? Your thinking is sharper than many humans I’ve met.” 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Seeing Hog speak frankly, Colonel Frayzer dropped the act too. He sat up straight and said:

“Indeed, Marshal Loren has received intelligence sent from the Transia Governor’s Office, he acknowledged your positive role in the Malo Town battle and commissioned me to inspect your clan.

But Chief Hog, you must understand, this is just the marshal giving face to Governor Murphy, it doesn’t mean he really values you that much. Also, the term ‘short person’ is too disrespectful!

Governor Murphy’s slip of tongue will definitely cause quite serious consequences.

Especially when you have more contact with dwarves in the future, such careless speech will seriously affect Transia’s position in their hearts.”

“Then call them ‘halflings’!”

Hog laughed and said:

“We’re not afraid of dwarves. What we need now is just for your soldiers not to come to Smuggler’s Woods to ‘borrow’ our heads for military merits.

That’s why we invited you here to discuss this issue!

Under Professor Malcolm’s witness, I want to make a contract with you, Silan commander.

During the swamp battle, my clan will be your safest rear area. Transia’s field hospital will also be temporarily placed here. We will provide necessary security for the hospital, but your wounded soldiers must also follow our rules.

Now this mountain forest is under our Blood Claw Clan’s control!

This authority has been recognized by Governor Murphy, the Crimson Regent personally promised that Smuggler’s Woods will become Blood Claw Clan’s autonomous region, just like the agreement between Governor Murphy and the halfling marshal.

I also want to reach the same agreement with you.

I want you to recognize Blood Claw Clan’s rule over the forest, this recognition should last until the Black Plague ends, to avoid us being inexplicably caught in a shameless backstab from allies.

Speaking of this,” Hog listened for a moment, then drawled:

“Of course, the abundant resources of Smuggler’s Woods also need some sales channels. It’s still a bit far from Crimson Citadel, so Governor Murphy allows us to export some furs and herbs we don’t need to the Carpe family, exchanging for grain we need from the Saxony region.

If you need, we can even make a special trading market near the forest for the Carpe family, for you to smuggle various materials from your headquarters in Saxony region to Transia to make big money!

This way we can circumvent that official monopoly business contract between Transia and the Nordtov people.

Our Blood Claw Clan only needs to collect a tiny insignificant toll fee from it, that’s all.”

“Enough!”

Colonel Frayzer snapped in displeasure:

“I am speaking with you in my capacity as a Goldflower Kingdom soldier, Chief Hog, this does not involve my family business.”

“Hehe, humans are just hypocritical.”

Hog opened its mouth, showing its canine teeth and sneered:

“You clearly carry that surname, yet always try to escape its influence. You’re not even as good as Kenport, that fool at least knows to use its Gnawbone Clan warlord position to get more benefits.

Anyway, I can work for the Carpe family anytime. My people have already become friends with several of your business guild leaders at the casino, and some gambling addicts among them who are desperate to win back money owe me money. They promised to help me, a barbarian chief, contact the noble Count Leon.

It’s your business if you don’t want to, but your father is the best merchant in the Goldflower Kingdom, and you can’t change the fact that the shortest route from Saxony region to Transia is crossing Lake Shulps and then through Smuggler’s Woods.

Even I, a gnoll, know this is a real good business for the Carpe family, so, would you like this trade route or not? A promise made by you would let your father see his son’s talent in this aspect.

You see, this won’t do you any harm.”

“Hmm…”

Colonel Frayzer glanced at the silently smiling Professor Malcolm, and after several seconds of contemplation, he said:

“A business guild leader will come to discuss this matter with you in a few days, this is not within our discussion range… Hm? What’s that noise?”

His words were interrupted by a sudden violent tremor.

Everyone, including Hog, jumped up from their tree stumps. The gnoll chief roared for panicked guards to quickly check if any cave dwellings in the beast den had collapsed, while Malcolm and Frayzer looked towards the direction of the tremors.

“In the depths of the swamp…”

Professor Malcolm lowered his telescope, stroked his grown beard, and said:

“It’s coming from the direction of the swamp’s forbidden zone. The Plague Clan has begun marching towards the forbidden zone? Why would they make such a choice in this situation?”

“It’s not clear yet, but I can’t stay here.”

The colonel whistled, making his warhorse gallop towards him. He felt relieved, finally not having to deal with these matters unrelated to war. He gripped his riding crop and said to his mentor and Chief Hog:

“I must immediately head to my position. Gentlemen, let’s leave the remaining matters until after the war.”