"Thank you for saving my life, sir!" As soon as the door was closed, the dwarf slaves knelt in unison, expressing their gratitude to Bai Ye.
Earlier, the snake woman had mentioned that the lizardmen detaining them had blocked her path, leading to a series of conflicts. Later, battles erupted, resulting in the death of the demon king leader of the enforcement team, and finally, they were led away from the perilous situation.
Even a fool would understand that this was intentional help.
"We don't know why you would save us humble slaves, sir, but whatever you need us to do, please, just say the word!"
A middle-aged dwarf stepped forward from the group. He was one of those who had previously offered to help the elder dwarf carry his things.
Bai Ye scanned them and asked, "Do you desire freedom?"
Bai Ye's simple question stunned all the dwarves. The many kneeling figures raised their heads in unison, gazing up at Bai Ye. Some were astonished, some confused, and some their eyes trembled, as if something long suppressed within their hearts had been released.
The room, in its silence, buzzed with a quiet commotion, yet no one spoke.
They had been enslaved for hundreds of years, spanning generations. Many had been born into the lowly status of slaves and had accepted it.
Few remembered that a few hundred years ago, they had been a free and glorious race. Even fewer knew that the half-demons' most relied-upon demonic artifacts had been stolen from their civilization's crystallizations. They didn't know they had once been the masters of this continent!
"In the Nalas region to the east, there is a newly built giant city called Bright City. There, a group of dwarves like yourselves live free and safe lives."
Seeing the dwarves' delayed response, the snake woman spoke. Of course, she had Bai Ye's permission to say this.
"And this person before you is the guardian of Bright City. Your people call him Lord Bright God."
The snake woman's tone was tinged with excitement. Bai Ye's image in her heart had unconsciously grown grand. Having been forced into slavery, she had felt a degree of resentment, but now, she was slowly beginning to worship him.
She had expected the dwarves to show overwhelming excitement, just like the dwarves in Nalas who prostrated themselves before their god!
However, while the dwarves in the room appeared excited, their eyes held much confusion, which was evident on their faces.
Lord Bright God? Why would Lord Bright God save them, the dwarves?
"You... you mean, you can take us there? To Bright City in Nalas?" the middle-aged dwarf asked cautiously. One thing was certain: they were incredibly drawn to Bright City. And this mysterious and powerful person before them had the ability to take them there.
The other dwarves' hearts pounded furiously, their ears perked up, filled with anticipation.
The snake woman frowned and looked at Bai Ye awkwardly. The dwarves in Bright City were fervent followers of Bai Ye, and these dwarves seemed indifferent, which made her feel a bit uneasy.
Bai Ye asked, "How many of your race are there in this city of Illyth?"
The middle-aged dwarf, unsure why Bai Ye was asking, replied honestly, "One million."
"Oh!" Bai Ye expressed some surprise. From what the gruff chieftain from Bright City had told him, there were only about two to three hundred thousand of their people in this city. He hadn't expected the actual number to be so much higher.
"Tell me about your situation in the city."
"Yes, sir."
After a brief exchange, Bai Ye learned about the situation of the dwarves in the city. These nearly one million dwarves were almost all confined to this slum area, with only a small portion residing outside.
All dwarves were forbidden from practicing martial arts and were only allowed to learn demonic artifact forging, serving the half-demons. Those who excelled were treated differently from slaves. Those living outside the slum were the elite artifact builders.
Those who didn't learn well were forced to do menial labor like them, awaiting death amidst endless torment and hardship...
"Oh no, Zite, Grandpa Zite is dying!"
As the middle-aged dwarf was slowly recounting their plight, a dwarf girl's panicked voice suddenly called out from behind.
Everyone turned their heads.
"Grandpa Zite!"
"Grandpa Zite, hold on! We've already sent someone to buy medicine..."
Alas! The middle-aged dwarf glanced over, sighing sadly. He had already witnessed too many of his kin perish before their eyes.
"This way, it's merely a release."
"Make way." Bai Ye walked over. The dwarves looked at him in astonishment as they slowly parted.
Bai Ye extended his hand, and a vibrant, life-giving magic power flowed into the old man's body.
The old man, whose gaze had become unfocused, miraculously regained his spirit. His sallow, paper-like complexion gradually regained a healthy flush. Although his breath remained weak, everyone clearly felt that the old man had been pulled back from the brink of death.
"Grandpa Zite, Grandpa Zite is saved!"
"Thank you, sir!"
"Thank you, Lord Bright God!"
"Lord Bright God is truly merciful. Now we understand why our people over there call you that!"
The dwarves once again prostrated themselves in gratitude.
"My purpose here is to take you to Bright City," Bai Ye said with a smile. "In the next two days, go and contact the Great Chieftain, have him arrange and organize the great migration. The opportunity will present itself within these few days."
The Great Chieftain was the chosen leader within the giant city of Illyth. They said he held great prestige and was deeply loved by the dwarves.
"You, you want to take our over a million people?" All the dwarves found this unbelievable.
"Qi, Qiqik. Do as the sir says!" Grandpa Zite, having had his life saved, suddenly spoke. Even in his gravely injured state, he had overheard Bai Ye's conversation with his people.
Although he didn't know why Bai Ye wanted to take them, he felt that following Bai Ye was the right thing to do!
"Yes, Uncle Zite."
The old man's authority was clearly much higher than the middle-aged dwarf's.
"Make the arrangements." Bai Ye left a final remark and then, with the snake woman, disappeared from the room.
Outside the room, the snake woman thought about it and voiced her concern, "Lord Ye Ge~ Can that Great Chieftain be trusted? What if..."
Bai Ye smiled mysteriously, "If something were to happen, wouldn't that conveniently help us screen out a group of people?"
!!! The snake woman, enlightened, nodded. "Then... where are we going now?"
"To visit an ailing elf."