Gorgin's astonishingly straightforward manner left Karin utterly dumbfounded.

  This was... truly unexpected.

  Was he really handing over power just like that?

  An overwhelming sense of gratitude immediately washed over Karin.

  She felt a lump form in her throat, on the verge of tears.

  In the city where succubi were once a dime a dozen, she had never been given any meaningful tasks.

  Merely because of her striking appearance, she was on the verge of being dispatched as a means to forge an alliance, treated no better than a disposable object for carnal pleasure.

  But here, the ogres, who could effortlessly decimate an elite goblin army, were entrusting her with command without hesitation.

  This level of recognition... Honestly, if she didn't have her heart set on continuing to serve the chief, she might even be willing to lay down her life to bring the chief some fleeting joy.

  At that moment, Karin's loyalty reached new heights.

  The Branding of the Rock on her arm glowed with an intense, almost blinding light.

  She made a solemn vow in her heart to spare no effort in ensuring that the chief and the Dragon's Lair Tribe would reign supreme in the desert.

  She would dedicate her entire existence to making the chief's life one of utmost comfort.

  If the chief fancied a maiden from a particular tribe, that tribe would have to hasten to send her over, tails between their legs.

  "I will never let the chief down!"

  Karin's solemn demeanor even took Gorgin aback.

  "Relax, relax. It's no big deal," he said with a grin. "Just bring back something worthwhile. I'm still looking forward to your 'attention' later!" Gorgin chuckled, giving Karin a gentle tap on the back.

  "And you, Nu!" he continued, turning to the ogre.

  "You're going with Karin. You can use this weapon for now. If you complete the mission brilliantly, it's yours. But if you mess things up, I'll reclaim it when you return!"

  Gorgin pointed at Nu, who stood there looking a bit daft, and issued his instructions.

  "Don't... worry!!!"

  Nu grunted, hefting the three - barreled machine gun onto his shoulder and pounding his chest with a sense of importance.

  Remembering Karin's earlier words and Gorgin's current ones, Nu finally grasped the significance of this mission.

  He had to take it seriously. There was no other option.

  At the same time, he began to reevaluate Karin's standing.

  "Jie hahahaha!" Gorgin laughed heartily and sauntered off towards his dwelling.

  This was perhaps the most carefree laugh Gorgin had ever let out.

  Nu turned to Karin and gave her a solemn thumbs - up.

  The succubus had mentioned that he might acquire a better weapon, and he never expected it to materialize so soon.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  She truly was a woman of her word! Ogres, who highly valued integrity, held those with the same virtue in high regard.

  Karin nodded resolutely. She was determined to make this first mission a resounding success, a feat to be remembered.

  After two days of meticulous preparation, Karin was finally ready to embark on her journey.

  Kodo beasts were chosen as the main mode of transportation. With such a large quantity of iron columns, three camels simply couldn't bear the burden.

  Only the massive Kodo beasts had the strength to carry such a load.

  When Karin requested the use of the Kodo beasts, Gorgin agreed without a moment's hesitation.

  After all, he wouldn't be leaving the tribe, so he had no need for a mount. It was better to put the Kodo beasts to good use.

  These creatures had quite an appetite, and it was time they earned their keep.

  Karin handpicked ten ogres, with Nu at the helm, and also included the Dog Captain's squad.

  She joked that she was bringing along a supervisor. The ogres, with their limited mental faculties, would follow her orders when outside, thanks to Gorgin's command.

  But the Dog Captain, loyal only to the chief, was far from stupid.

  He was sly and shrewd, and Karin knew he would report every detail of their journey back to Gorgin.

  Gorgin dismissed her concerns, saying that the brand on the Dog Captain's arm was evidence enough of his loyalty.

  If he couldn't trust someone with such a blatant mark of allegiance, then he might as well trust no one.

  Karin set off, leading ten ogres, a group of gnolls, a Kodo beast, and hauling the weighty iron columns.

  Three days later, they reached Giant Sand City. The Dog Captain, having been here before, knew the way.

  When the dwarves in Giant Sand City spotted the approaching ogres, they promptly closed the city gates.

  However, they didn't seem as panicked as they had been on previous occasions.

  The unique combination of Kodo beasts, gnolls, and ogres was unmistakably that of the Dragon's Lair Tribe.

  Soon, the dwarf leader emerged on the city wall.

  "Ogres of the Dragon's Lair Tribe, our employment contract has expired. What brings you here?"

  Karin stepped forward, standing at the head of the group with her head held high.

  "By the command of the great chief Gorgin of the Dragon's Lair Tribe, I am here to conduct trade with the dwarves of Giant Sand City. Moreover..."

  Her voice dropped an octave, taking on a menacing tone.

  "We demand an explanation from Giant Sand City!!!"

  Nu immediately took a menacing step forward.

  He was clad in Gorgin's heavy armor, his massive bone hammer slung across his back, and the three - barreled machine gun he now held in both hands was aimed directly at the dwarf city wall.

  For the dwarves, it was a formidable wall.

  Given their average height of only about 1.4 meters, the tallest section of their city wall reached a mere six meters.

  But for the towering ogres, it was no more than a wall of their own height.

  "Goblin weapon!!! Ogres of the Dragon's Lair, what in blazes are you up to?!"

  Dwarves and goblins had a long - standing history of conflict, and this goblin - style machine gun immediately caught the dwarves' attention.

  "Could it be that you've accepted a job from the goblins?!" The dwarf leader's expression darkened.

  "Employment?"

  Karin scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.

  "Those wretched goblins aren't fit to hire the great Dragon's Lair Tribe! Listen closely. The pursuit forces of the Hot Sand Consortium arrived here."

  " They intended to cause trouble for you but ended up straying into the territory of our Dragon's Lair Tribe. Dwarves, we were hired by you to deal with the Hot Sand Consortium. You owe us an explanation!"

  Karin's words were sharp and well - reasoned, a far cry from the usual ogre communication style.

  She deftly shifted the blame onto the dwarves of Giant Sand City.

  Dwarves, being relatively straightforward beings, actually found some merit in her argument.

  "Then what of those goblins?"

  Karin pointed to the iron columns loaded on the Kodo beast.

  "Dead. Their machines have been smelted into these iron columns."

  As she spoke, a proud smile spread across her face.

  "The Dragon's Lair Tribe has mastered advanced smelting techniques. If it weren't for our prior trade and your decent craftsmanship, why on earth would we trade iron of such purity with you?"

  The dwarf leader looked perplexed.

  "So, are you here to trade or to discuss the goblins? And who are you? Why is a succubus representing the Dragon's Lair Tribe?"

  "Does my identity matter? What matters is that I speak for the great chief Gorgin!"

  Karin retorted, unflinching.

  "You know this ogre, right? Nu, the most powerful warrior after chief Gorgin, answers to me during this mission! Do you... care to test that?"

  Karin raised her hand, and Nu immediately lifted the three - barreled machine gun, his eyes ablaze with eagerness.

  He couldn't care less about dwarves or goblins, or the existence of a trade agreement.

  If the person in charge said to attack, he would charge headlong, regardless of the opponent.

  "What in the world do you want?"

  The dwarf leader was forced to take this alluring succubus seriously.

  "Hehe~" Karin let out a seductive laugh.