Gorgin rummaged through the goods of the merchant team and curled his lip in disdain.

  There were some dried meats, some turbid canned water, and some salt blocks.

  The most valuable item was probably a small bag of rice.

  This stuff could only be produced in minuscule amounts deep within the oasis.

  Logically, it shouldn't be possible, but there's no helping it.

  After all, this isn't a world governed by science.

  In a scientific world, there wouldn't be a black dragon as massive as a small hill...

  "Gorgin!"

  A deep - toned voice rang out: "I'm starving!"

  Gorgin rose to his feet helplessly.

  "Alright, Mom. Just hold on, and I'll whip up a meal for you."

  The only one in the tribe who can boss Gorgin, the chieftain, around is the sole ogre mage, Gorgin's mother, Horne.

  Gorgin's mother is also a burly ogre, and her weapon, a thick bone hammer, doubles as her staff.

  Gorgin hoisted the large cauldron in the middle of the tribe and made his way towards the oasis not far behind it.

  He needed to fetch some water first.

  The ogres knew better than to establish their tribe right in the oasis.

  They were well - aware of their own destructive tendencies. Once they settled in, it wouldn't be long before the oasis was laid to waste.

  As it stands, this small oasis still attracts other creatures to come and drink, which, in turn, provides food for the ogres.

  Despite their brutish appearance, ogres understand the importance of sustainable resource development.

  Paying no heed to the other creatures scurrying about in a panic, Gorgin filled the cauldron halfway with water from the oasis's central pond and then headed back to the tribe.

  Currently, the tribe isn't short on food, so there's no pressing need to hunt these creatures.

  He set the water - filled cauldron over a makeshift bonfire and hollered, "Mom! Light it up!"

  No sooner had Gorgin finished speaking than a human - head - sized fireball shot out and landed smack on the firewood in the bonfire.

  Sparks flew everywhere, and the firewood erupted into a roaring blaze.

  These firewood pieces were desert thorns that thrived on the gobi.

  They were incredibly drought - resistant and ubiquitous.

  If they were lucky, these desert thorns would bear some small fruits that could barely quench thirst and stave off hunger.

  Gorgin dug through the supplies contributed by the human merchant team, pulled out a piece of dried meat, placed it on a nearby stone slab, then grabbed his bone hammer and smashed it down, reducing the meat to bits.

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  He lifted the stone slab and dumped the minced meat directly into the pot, then tossed in a chunk of salt for flavor.

  After a moment's thought, Gorgin poured the entire bag of rice into the pot.

  He gave it a stir with the bone hammer and let it simmer.

  While waiting, Gorgin went into the oasis and gathered some tree and grass leaves.

  Back at the camp, he set them aside, waiting to add them when the porridge was almost done.

  Amid Horne's impatient muttering, Gorgin saw that the rice had fully bloomed.

  He then scattered the green leaves into the pot.

  "Dig in!"

  Gorgin called out, and his mother, Horne, strode over with a confident gait.

  "Let's call this rice and minced meat porridge."

  To be frank, Gorgin was far from satisfied with the dish he'd prepared.

  Before his transmigration, he'd been a bona fide Chinese chef.

  Although he'd worked in a small eatery, he'd spent seven or eight years in the kitchen.

  If circumstances allowed, Gorgin could have whipped up a table - full of mouth - watering delicacies!

  Sadly...

  In this godforsaken Endless Desert, simply being able to eat and drink one's fill counts as a happy life.

  Besides, there's nowhere to obtain a decent variety of seasonings.

  At Gorgin's shout, the ogres who'd been hiding from the sun in various nooks and crannies of the tribe emerged slowly.

  Meanwhile, the door of the House of Amorous Feelings swung open.

  Six waitresses from different races stepped out.

  The newbie of the day trailed timidly behind the other five.

  If it hadn't been for the five senior waitresses filling her in on the perks here, she'd never have come out.

  As for the first five, they'd been here for a while and had grown somewhat accustomed to the place.

  Gorgin had strictly forbidden the ogres from laying a hand on the staff of the House of Amorous Feelings as long as they didn't attempt to escape.

  After the initial fear and unease, they'd abandoned all thoughts of running away.

  The only one in the tribe interested in their services was Gorgin, the chieftain.

  The other ogres couldn't care less about them.

  For Gorgin, building the House of Amorous Feelings was one thing, but finding the female staff appealing was another story.

  Even though Gorgin had been an ogre since childhood, he couldn't bring himself to accept the looks and figures of female ogres...

  Here, all they had to do was their jobs, and they'd have food, water, and safety.

  So, why not?

  As for humiliation?

  Compared to the basics of survival, it was negligible.

  From the initial terror to now, they regarded Gorgin with a hint of gratitude.

  Every time the chieftain came for their services, he'd first go to the oasis to clean himself up, all for the pleasure of their massages.

  What was this?

  This was respect!

  If they could, they'd even invite their friends and sisters to join them.

  In this world, most females and some weaker males held a lowly status.

  Here, the strong reigned supreme!

  As staff of the House of Amorous Feelings, each of them was served a bowl of thick rice and minced meat porridge.

  Ogres didn't bother with fancy tableware and used animal skulls instead.

  The tableware for the waitresses was provided by kind - hearted passing merchant teams.

  It was clear that the large cauldron of porridge wasn't enough to fully satiate the burly ogres; it was more of a treat.

  After all, the chieftain was the only one who took the time to cook something decent.

  Gorgin ladled himself a bowl too.

  As the ogre chieftain, he was no different.

  His bowl was also the skull of a giant beast.

  He took a big gulp and smacked his lips.

  As a Blue Planet native, Gorgin found the porridge hard to swallow.

  In the rural Dragon Kingdom, even a dog that hadn't eaten for three days would turn its nose up at it.

  But as a denizen of the Endless Desert, this porridge, with its meat, soup, salt, and precious rice, was a pretty good meal.

  While ogres would eat just about anything, they preferred tastier fare.

  For the House of Amorous Feelings staff, this food was better than what they'd had back in their own cities or tribal settlements.

  Back home, they'd have to be frugal with such provisions.

  For Gorgin, since these supplies were acquired effortlessly, he didn't think twice about eating them.

  As he was eating, messages started popping up in Gorgin's mind.

  [Approval rating +2]

  [Approval rating +1]

  [Approval rating +2]

  ...

  [Statistics complete. Current dish: Rice and Minced Meat Porridge. Number of diners: 23. Total approval rating: 36]

  [Award distribution in progress...]

  [Dish: Rice and Minced Meat Porridge. Award: Clear Spring Water Cauldron]

  [Clear Spring Water Cauldron: A 500L - capacity water cauldron filled with clear spring water, refreshed and replenished every morning. (Fragile. Handle with care. Non - repairable)]