In fact, Ryo was really mistaken. The reason Derek didn’t tell him about this matter back then was not due to any restrictions within the family; it was simply because he had never thought that he would encounter a silver wolf in his lifetime. After all, the recorded history of the family mentioned the birth of the last silver wolf five hundred years ago.
The silver wolf at that time was a harbinger of destruction. It brought the zerg to the planet, plunging the entire planet’s orcs into a bitter struggle, almost losing the planet.
However, the bravery and determination of the orcs allowed them to defend their homeland, driving the zerg into the barren desert, preventing them from trespassing into the territory of the orcs.
So, encountering Derek back then was a kind of luck for Shao Qian and the wolf cub. After all, the disaster brought by the silver wolf five hundred years ago had kept them struggling until now. If people from other families encountered the wolf cub, they might have killed him on the spot.
Although the wolf cub was the protagonist of this world, it wouldn’t be so easy for him to be killed. However, the experiences wouldn’t be as pleasant. Therefore, meeting Derek was also a stroke of luck for the wolf cub.
“You see, I’ve talked so much nonsense.” Ade had been observing Shao Qian and the wolf cub, and seeing that they didn’t panic because of his words, he nodded in satisfaction. His brother’s judgment was, as always, excellent. Just this calm and composed demeanor alone was pleasing to him.
“Thank you, Grandpa Ade, for enlightening us.” Shao Qian smiled and said, “Grandpa always told Adolf not to transform into beast form unless absolutely necessary, but he didn’t tell us why. Today, Grandpa Ade has enlightened us, allowing us to understand Grandpa’s thoughtful intentions.”
Ade was pleased with Shao Qian’s words and nodded approvingly. This child, although a half-orc, was clever and resourceful. If given the opportunity, he would surely have unlimited potential.
“I’ve just been listening to your conversation, but now I can join in.” Ryo smiled and spoke, “This time Derek brought you here mainly to have you take over the affairs of Black Street.”
“Grandpa Ryo, please go on.” Although Ryo briefly introduced Black Street last night, Shao Qian felt that Ryo only outlined the framework at that time. The actual Black Street might be quite surprising.
Ryo exchanged a glance with Ade and then continued, “Black Street was established by Derek for Ade. Although it is ostensibly to shelter homeless half-orc people, and even those who are destructive or fugitives, in reality, it is a small-scale army that has been organized.”
At this point, Ryo paused and added, “Although it is considered a small-scale army, it can only engage in activities such as trading information or manufacturing and production.”
Shao Qian frowned upon hearing this. “How many people are there in Black Street?”
If, according to what Ryo said, there should be quite a few people in Black Street, right? But how did they manage to accommodate those law-breaking half-orcs? Wouldn’t those half-orcs rebel and destroy their lair?
“Now there are more than 800 half-orcs here, and there are only a few dozen orcs. It is impossible for all these half-orcs to be in this city,” Ryo replied.
Shao Qian’s eyes lit up. More than eight hundred people were enough to form a team through competition and selection. “Are these more than eight hundred people all in this city?”
“Of course, that’s impossible.” If so many half-orc people gathered, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the beast people. In such a case, it might even alarm the beast people’s army. Once discovered, they might face expulsion or even massacre, rendering these years of effort useless.
“Do you want to gather some of your trusted subordinates?” Gathering all of them at once was impossible. In that case, they could only try to gather a portion and see if Shao Qian’s training methods were applicable to these half-orc people.
“It can be done.” Ryo hesitated a bit and said, “But we don’t have that much space. If the half-orcs are discovered by the orc army, those who return may be in danger.”
“I have some ideas. Would you like to hear them?” Shao Qian probed.
“Okay.” Ryo signaled for Shao Qian to continue.
Shao Qian explained his ideas about the underground tunnel system. Ade shook his head and sighed, “We’ve considered this before, but digging underground is a massive project. Moreover, transporting the soil outside will inevitably be discovered. It’s not a good solution. Besides, once the underground passage is exposed, we’ll be trapped.”
“Grandpa, please rest assured. If I mention it, I’ve definitely taken all these into consideration.” Shao Qian continued to explain the detailed plan, addressing the questions raised by Ade and Ryo during the process.
“Ryo, it seems we are really old.” After a long time, Ade patted Ryo on the shoulder and laughed, “The younger generation’s minds are more agile.”
“But…” Ryo still had some worries. “If the ground collapses during excavation…”
“Since we’ve decided to hand over Black Street, let the young people worry about it.” Ade joked, “Or do you not trust them and plan to dig soil underground with your old bones?”
After being teased like this, Ryo didn’t have much to say and laughed, pointing at Ade: “Only you can say that.”
Shao Qian looked at the two sitting on the bed with some curiosity. The ones who had just entered seemed to have some barrier between them. However, just now, it seemed that this barrier had disappeared, restoring their relationship to the previous close and intimate state.
Thinking of this, Shao Qian laughed at himself again. It was true that whenever he met someone, he couldn’t help but try to understand them. This was not good, and he needed to change.
In reality, Shao Qian’s feelings were not wrong. Ade and Ryo used to be good friends, but because of what Ryo did back then, their relationship directly ruptured. Even when Ryo came to Black Street later on, they only nodded at each other when they met.
Now, with Shao Qian and the wolf cub’s arrival, their relationship was changing and gradually repairing the broken friendship between them.
“Diudiu, I’m hungry,” the wolf cub, standing there listening to them talk, became a bit impatient. However, as a good beast person who loved his partner, he couldn’t interrupt his honey and couldn’t make his honey unhappy. Yes, that’s what the inherited memories said.
“I thought wolf-type beast people were the most patient?” Ade teased the wolf cub, “Why do I only see strong possessiveness from you?”
Ade had lived for a long time and could easily see the relationship between the silver wolf and Diudiu. From the moment they saw these two, the silver wolf’s possessive arm had never left Diudiu’s shoulder. Also, looking at their gazes, it was full of vigilance, as if they were afraid that someone would snatch Diudiu away.
“All the patience is given to my partner, and all the possessiveness is given to my partner,” the wolf cub retorted. “My Diudiu is so cute; what if he gets bullied by you guys?”
Shao Qian’s forehead twitched, then he lifted his right foot and stepped on the wolf cub’s foot. “You talk too much.”
Ade and Ryo both laughed. They watched the two juniors interact, and their moods improved a lot. Ryo looked at Shao Qian and the wolf cub interacting and couldn’t help but think of his past with Derek. If he hadn’t done those things back then, could he also be as happy as these two juniors now?
But this thought only flashed through Ryo’s mind, after all, what happened had happened, and no one could turn back time.
Because the wolf cub mentioned he was hungry, Ryo and Ade took Shao Qian out for a meal. Shao Qian unexpectedly found that the orcs inside weren’t as repulsive to half-orc people as those outside. Even a few nodded and greeted them when they saw Ade and Ryo.
Later, Shao Qian learned that those who greeted them were mostly orcs who had reacquired their status after fleeing here. Those orcs who didn’t show much aversion were ones who frequently saw them or received help from Ade or Ryo.
After having dinner, Ade and Ryo collaborated separately. One went to contact closer confidants, and the other tried to find ways to have orcs or half-orcs with special skills help create some tools.
In the following month, nearly two hundred half-orcs returned to the city one after another. Upon learning about the plan, they all expressed agreement.
The reason they gathered was simply to make their lives better and receive some protection under the law, rather than being slaves bought and sold at will.
During the return of these half-orcs, the tools for excavation were also ready. Three days before they started, Shao Qian asked Ryo to take him and the wolf cub to the City Lord’s Mansion. After a night of secret talks, no one knew what agreement they reached, only that three days later, the underground excavation proceeded without interference from others. The City Lord’s Mansion even dispatched a few half-orcs to help transport the soil.
Although Shao Qian felt that the few half-orcs sent by the City Lord’s Mansion were mainly there to monitor.
With the huge project requiring many people, the original two hundred people were far from enough. Due to the transactions with the City Lord’s Mansion, Ryo’s actions became more flexible, and he even directly sent letters to let the outside half-orcs return here.
Because of this move, the originally calm city lord wrinkled his brows. He specifically came to confirm that they only wanted manpower to build the underground city. Only then did he return to the City Lord’s Mansion reassured.
With more than eight hundred people, it took almost a year and a half to build the underground city. The successful establishment of the underground city also indicated that Ryo and Ade were about to leave Black Street and go to the Ryo Mountains to find Derek.
Although Shao Qian and the others were reluctant, they didn’t stop them much. It was just that when the two of them left, they let a few people follow along to escort.
