"Wait, the workers have to be provided by myself?"
Wotru stared at the system prompt, lost in thought. His gaze then shifted to Bolikri, the kobold chieftain, who was still scaling the cliff wall with great effort.
To be fair, Bolikri had taken clinginess to a whole new level. Even though Wotru had flown to such a high point on the cliff, Bolikri insisted on staying by his side.
It was just a pity that Bolikri was a kobold and not a charming, delicate half-elf girl.
"The fact that buildings constructed by kobolds have enhanced durability does make sense."
Wotru could attest to this personally. Though the exterior of his dragon lair appeared rather crude, the interior was meticulously designed. Its sturdiness could probably withstand a Tier-5 magic spell like Mini Meteor Strike without much trouble.
For now, the best choice was undoubtedly to have the kobolds assist in constructing the Flame Arrow Tower.
As for the human players, they likely wouldn't dare leave the safety zone for a while. Besides, the 20% efficiency boost they offered was currently negligible.
They were better suited for planting potatoes. If they refused to cooperate, Wotru could always feed them dung eggs from the Overlord Stinkbug.
"Master, I..."
Bolikri, who had just climbed up to Wotru's side and was panting heavily, barely managed to utter half a sentence before being interrupted by the black dragon.
"Bolikri, go down and gather 20 strong kobolds to assist in building this Flame Arrow Tower."
"...(T＿T)"
Bolikri glanced at the towering cliff wall, his eyes brimming with tears. He had just climbed up, after all.
Moreover, he was afraid of heights. In fact, every kobold was afraid of heights. With their short arms and legs, they rarely ventured to high places.
Now what? He couldn't possibly ask his master to carry him down, could he? He feared such a request might earn him a swift kick to his demise.
But Wotru, being a black dragon who understood kobold sentiments well, immediately sensed his subordinate's dilemma. Flashing a menacing grin, he said:
"Bolikri, you are already a strong kobold, but you're not strong enough. Do you know what true strength is?"
Faced with the black dragon's question, Bolikri obediently lowered his head and prostrated himself.
"Great Master, your servant does not know."
"True strength lies in confronting fear, overcoming it, and even transcending it. Like this..."
As Wotru spoke, he lifted his hind leg and, to Bolikri's astonishment, gave the kobold chieftain a firm kick on the backside.
"Awwooo..."
With a yelp akin to a defeated dog, Bolikri was sent flying.
He landed with a resounding "splat" on the ground below.
The cliff was only about ten meters high, so the increasingly robust Bolikri was unharmed. Instinctively, he rolled a few times upon impact to dissipate the force of the fall.
Apart from a sore rear from his master's kick, he was perfectly fine.
"Bolikri fell from such a height and wasn't hurt?"
Bolikri shook his canine head and quickly got to his feet. Clenching his claws, he gazed at them with a hint of joy in his golden eyes.
"Bolikri has conquered his fear! Oh! The Master is truly magnificent. With just a small gesture, he has given Bolikri such great strength!"
The gradually deluded kobold chieftain felt nothing but boundless admiration for his black dragon master. Dusting himself off, he happily went off to gather his subordinates.
Moments later, 20 kobolds were "huffing and puffing" their way up the cliff wall. Once assembled, they stood at attention before Wotru.
Around them lay piles of stone and wood hauled in by Spearboars.
"Attention, all of you!" Bolikri barked. The kobolds immediately straightened their postures, standing as tall as their bow-legged frames allowed.
"At ease! Align to the right! Face forward!"
"Count off!"
"Woof!"
"Woof woof!"
"Woof woof woof!"
...
"Woof woof woof x20!"
After the count was completed, Bolikri respectfully prostrated himself before the black dragon, his canine face full of reverence.
"Reporting to the Master, 20 kobolds have assembled. They are the strongest warriors in the tribe and await your orders."
Wotru gave Bolikri an odd look.
The last kobold to count off was nearly hoarse. And this was just 20 kobolds. What would happen when there were thousands of them? Would the last one have to count until nightfall?
"Bolikri, haven't you taught them how to say numbers?"
Bolikri looked a bit embarrassed and hesitantly replied, "Master, since they haven't undergone your Dragon Blood Bestowal, their personalities are quite straightforward and lack adaptability."
"They do understand the concept of numbers, but when it comes to counting, they can't help but revert to their most primal way of expressing them."
"..."
Wotru was speechless. He finally understood why constructing the Flame Arrow Tower had to rely on the system's assistance.
With brains like these, they might manage to build a den, but expecting them to construct a complex structure like a tower was asking too much.
"Forget it. Just let them in. You don't need to worry about the rest. Just make sure to bring them their meals three times a day, and they'll build the Flame Arrow Tower on their own."
"But..."
Bolikri was a bit bewildered.
He knew his subordinates well. They had no clue how to build a Flame Arrow Tower. If they ended up constructing a flaming outhouse instead, wouldn't their entire kobold tribe in the Silvermoon Forest be wiped out by their master's Dragon's Might?
"You're worried they can't build it? Don't worry. Just do as I say. Don't ask questions you shouldn't."
Wotru patted Bolikri's shoulder with a benevolent look, then spread his wings and flew back to his dragon lair.
"What are you looking at? Damn it! Get to work now! Or I'll skewer your butts with the sharpest fork and knife!"
Bolikri cursed at his dazed subordinates while pulling his lower half out of the cracked rock.
Fortunately, his physical condition had improved. Otherwise, with the "encouragement" from his black dragon master, he might have ended up lying on the ground foaming at the mouth, ready to meet the great Kurtulmak. "
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