The Dwarves were all injured, some very severely. In this condition, they were completely unable to hunt for themselves.
On this continent, many small tribes were wiped out every year, either from a lack of food or attacks by magical beasts. Moreover, with winter approaching, the conditions for survival would become even harsher.
Having rescued them, they couldn't just ignore them.
The simple-minded Snow Wolf people had no objections to this.
In their eyes, given the Dwarves' stature, even if their numbers were double that of their own tribe, they wouldn't eat much combined.
Eric thought so too. Although the Dwarves' appetites were larger than humans', compared to the Snow Wolf people, it was truly a world of difference.
Michael led the tribesmen to build tents for the Dwarves. First, they would set up a few temporary tents, and once the Dwarves' injuries had healed, they could split off and build their own settlement.
Max looked at Eric. "Didn't you want black stone? I'll take you to get it."
He still hasn't forgotten about this!
Eric didn't want to make Max, who had just returned from a long trip, go out with him again. His conscience pricked him a little.
Seeing his troubled expression, Max continued, "I know the way to Joseph's tribe. The others don't."
That was right. He had initially planned to have Luban show him the way, but their family had just been reunited. It would be wrong to bother them now.
Eric was somewhat convinced. "Then let's go tomorrow or the day after. you just got back..."
As he was speaking, he was snatched up by Max, who had transformed into a snow wolf, thrown onto his back, and carried straight out.
"My spices! And Leo!" The wooden barrel in Eric's hands fell to the ground as he cried out in alarm.
Michael stood on the ground, flashing a grin of white teeth and waving at him. "Go on, don't worry! I'll put your things away for you, and I'll look after Leo too!"
Eric gave him a glare of utter disappointment.
That's your man! He's being snatched away by me, your love rival, and you're still standing there grinning!
The howling wind whipped against his cheeks. Feeling uncomfortable from the blast, Eric transformed into a wolf cub and burrowed into Max's fur, carefully holding down his own animal hide. In truth, he was also very eager to get the coal soon.
Since the Dwarves could use coal, there must be a coal mine nearby. When winter came, he would ask Luban and the others to help him make a few heaters. Just the thought of it was comforting.
But why hadn't there been any development in Michael and Max's relationship? He pondered miserably.
In the original story, it was apparently because the original owner clung to Max relentlessly. Max angrily told Luci that if he had to mate with a male beastman, he would rather choose Michael, the person he had the best relationship with.
It seemed the original owner was the catalyst.
Does that mean I'll have to cling to Max like that in the future?
Eric shuddered. He couldn't do it. He was not cut out to be this kind of matchmaker.
Max ran very fast. They arrived at Joseph's tribe before sunset. The houses built by the Dwarves were like cave dwellings, half above ground and the other half underground. In the tribe, there were many tall, cylindrical smelting furnaces, as well as many large hammers and other tools.
In front of every Dwarf's house were piles of various ores, weapons, and unfinished tools.
Inside the houses hung all sorts of longswords, shortswords, battle axes, bows, and crossbows.
It seemed the main purpose of those mercenaries was to kidnap the Dwarves. They attacked quickly and fled with the Dwarves, having no time to loot the tribe.
The Dwarves' living conditions were much better than the Snow Wolf tribe's. Their houses were all fully constructed earthen homes, and some even had glass windows.
What a bunch of skilled craftsmen!
Eric curiously ran back and forth through the tribe, even going down into one family's basement, where he saw it was filled with food supplies, ores, and even raw stones containing gems. It was a real eye-opener. No wonder the Dwarves were so sought-after; they were like a succulent piece of fatty meat.
Max squatted on the ground, watching as Eric finally tired himself out and stopped.
His curiosity satisfied, Eric was only a little confused. He tilted his head and asked:
"The Dwarves are so capable, why don't the Elf race and the Golden Kingdom bring them into their own territories for protection?"
Max's large, strong tail swept back and forth across the ground. "The two sides are in a stalemate. Neither wants the Dwarves to fall into the other's hands."
"Then couldn't they divide them evenly? To demand tribute from them but not protect them properly, that's too much," Eric grumbled.
Max smiled.
He drew a vertical line on the ground with his claw.
"To the Elf race and the Golden Kingdom, no division would ever be even. Their greed would not allow them to concede to the other side."
So greedy.
Eric thought of a possibility and looked up at Max.
"Does that mean the Dwarves have to pay tribute twice a year?"
Max nodded. He thought with contempt that a beastman's claws were the most powerful weapon; those traitors had lost their true nature.
Eric didn't know what he was thinking. If he did, he would definitely have jumped up to object.
Do you even know what evolution is?
If one day the level of science and technology here reached that of his old world, a single bomb could turn even the strongest beastman to ash.
The Dwarves were truly a difficult problem.
He really wanted to keep them, but he was afraid of bringing disaster to the tribe.
Well, he would just have to take it one step at a time.