Chapter 26 Chapter 22 Desperate

"Well, oh." Nanfudo whispered to Santilla. The Archon looked in his direction, and the dwarf lifted his chin at the crowd gathering at the edge of the cliff.Togg, Thingus Macluuff, Catti-brie, Wulfgar, Banneker, and Tred of Fairbarburg.Tred had just returned from Mithril Hall, with an update on Pike, and no doubt about a visitor from Mirabar. Banneker turned around with everyone else to look at Dwarf and Santilla, whose expressions said it all. "We have to leave." Santilla said softly, pressing Nanfudo's shoulder. "No," the dwarf insisted, taking her hand away. "We can't get cold feet."

"You do not understand……" "The dwarves will be grateful to us for helping them when they are in trouble," said Nanferdo, walking towards the crowd. "I thought of that from the beginning," said Togg Hammerer as Nanfedo came up, with Santilla a little closer behind him. "You haven't recognized the true face of that damn Marquis, have you?" "We didn't run away, did we?" Nanfudo replied, "Shut up if you're sensible, little man." Singers said, there was no threat in his tone, more sincerity, and even a hint of approval.

"You've gotten yourself into too much trouble. To be fair, you'll be kicked out soon enough." "We would have left long ago," Nanfudo replied stubbornly, "but we didn't." "Because you're all idiots?" Togg sarcastically said. "Because we believe we are still useful here." Nanfudo retorted. "For us or for the orcs?" Banneker Braunenwell interjected. "You are here to destroy our metal, as you told Lord Regent Regis yourself." "At that time we didn't know about the orc invasion." Nanfudo explained.

He argues, tries to calm down, convinces himself of reality. "Do you think that makes things better?" Banneker asked rhetorically. "We did come for this purpose," Santilla Xingyao admitted.She took a few steps forward, stood beside Nanfudo, and met Benneker's gaze without flinching until it gradually softened. "Your departure has caused great panic in Mirabar," she continued, nodding to Togg, "and greatly weakened our city." "That's not my problem," replied the stubborn dwarf. "Yes, of course it's not your problem." Santilla admitted. "This is the responsibility of the Marquis. He failed to protect his people."

"He'd be better able to protect his people if he could tell friend from foe," Togg growled, extending a stubby finger to Santi. The Archon reached out and clapped his hands to quiet him. "This is not the time to argue," he said. "Anytime I know is a good time to argue," Togue said. "We didn't come here to cause damage..." the consul began to defend. "The little man admits it." Qu De said and led a group of people to climb up from the cliff. "...we are just here to investigate," the consul continued, "we must confirm whether there is any potential danger in Mirabar—you should understand. Maybe some dwarves who fled will return angrily because they were treated unfairly in a foreign land, and they may With some Warhammers."

"Nonsense," said Togg. Santilla wanted to retort, she sighed and nodded. "I'm just stating the thoughts of Marquis Erastu, who is very concerned about the safety of Mirabar." "Just like I said." Togg said dryly. "Looking for potential threats in Mirabar - Nanfudo and I never planned to find them - we will never use those methods. In fact, those potions Nanfudo has been used to destroy the ballista of the giants, you Have you forgotten so soon?" "Of course we didn't," Banneker said. "This is also a headache. We are fighting here, and you suddenly appear, and you seem to be enemies and friends. There is no such middle force in the war."

"We are friends." Nanfudo said without hesitation. "We could have left, but we didn't. If we want to run, we can leave in Guardian's Canyon without waiting for news from Mithril Hall.But we know that you are fighting our common enemy, and that we are bound to be of service to you, how can we leave?Don't take my word for Regis, I never meant to break the metal of Mithril Hall. Once I came out of Mirabar, I didn't think about doing that mission.The same is true for Santilla Xingyao, who was originally a friend of Torger Hammer and Singers McCluf. " Banneker, Tred, Catti-brie, and Wulfgar turned their faces to the dwarves of Mirabar, and the two dwarves nodded in agreement with the dwarf.

"And what do you want us to do, little man?" asked Banneker. "Send you back to Mirabar?" Nanfedo looked at Santilla, and turned his face to the dwarves with a smile. "No," he insisted. "Take me to Regis and I may clear things up. Tie me up if necessary." He held out his hand to the dwarf, who pushed his hand aside. "You helped us out here and bought us time," Banneker said. "If you want to run, now is the time. We won't stop you." Nanfodo looked at Santilla again, and then directly at the dwarves. "If we cannot help, we will accept your generosity. Dear lovers." Nanfudo looked back at the ridge where new parts were being assembled, so he continued. "You have to deal with these giants, and I think I can help. So I will not leave, and I will not accept the unfair evaluation of the regent Regis."

"Sounds like the little one has a plan," said Catti-brie. Nanfudo smiled, happier than ever before. Regis settled back in his comfortable armchair, resting his chin on one hand, and contemplating the pile of charts and maps that Nanfodo had strewn about. "I don't understand," he admitted, looking at Santilla. The consul also looked bewildered and shrugged in response. "Is he always doing these abstract things?" the halfling asked. "Indeed." Santilla replied. On a chair next to Regis, Ivan Stoneshoulders was carefully examining a pile of diagrams Nanfudo gave him, and it took him a while to realize that all three of them were looking at him.

"It's too simple." The dwarf said to them, especially to Regis, "A small box, with a very simple principle, can just be regarded as a device." "A hollow metal tube, nothing complicated," Nanfordo said. "Except for achieving the quantity you mentioned, it's all very simple." Ivan looked at Regis and said. "To complete this project, all the forges in Mithril Hall need to work around the clock." Regis shook his head, feeling even more confused. "If I'm right..." Nanfudo began. "You don't even know if those passages are open or not," Regis replied. "You don't know what you're going to find there."

"At least I'll have to see it," said the dwarf. "I can't get all the blacksmiths to do it until I've confirmed it," replied the Regent. Although the opinion was denied, or at least sounded to be denied, the dwarf grinned to his ears. "Okay, let's go." Regis said gently.He looked at the pile of maps and charts underground, shook his head in disbelief, and put on a skeptical tone. "It sounds like a silly thing to do, but there's nothing we can do better." The dwarf bent down, bowed again and again, and his movements were full of joy-he often made crazy suggestions to those in power, but rarely got them as he did this time.At last he turned to Ivan, the dwarf whose fame for his craft had spread throughout Mithril Hall long ago. "You're going to make that box?" he asked. "Get everything I need," said the dwarf, "except the bitumen." "Leave it to me, and it will be ready as scheduled." Nanfudo assured him.His cheerful face darkened for a moment. "Where is your brother?" "Still in that dark place." Ivan replied. "I hope you can convince him to go to the tunnel with you, he's not interested in anything right now." "I'll go find him," Nanfudo said. "With your permission, I'm going to Mr. Braunanwell." Santilla said. "I think it would be fools to believe you after you told me those things," Regis told her. "I should tie the two of you up and ask Marquis Erastu to pay a high ransom, otherwise I will tear up the ticket." Santilla smiled: "But you didn't." "Go to Banneker." Regis waved his hand. Santilla stepped out of the room, and suddenly she stopped, looked back at the benevolent regent, and added something. "Thank you." When she left the room, the Consul had already made up her mind that once she returned to Mirabar, she would oppose any resolution by Marquis Erastu that attempted to destroy the relationship between Mithril Hall and Mirabar. As he approached the door Nanfred could not help feeling a pang of sympathy when he heard the poor dwarf's incessant low "Ooooooh!"The dwarf raised his fist and knocked on the door, then took the dragon-shaped handle on the door, and slowly opened the door.The beautifully carved gates are well-oiled and barely rattling. Pike sat in the middle of the floor with his head down, drawing something absently on the floor with his only remaining hand. The dwarf with the green beard was so distracted that he didn't even notice that Nanfred had entered and stood to his right.All the while he just kept repeating "Oh oh oh oh oh." "Does it still hurt?" Nanfudo asked softly. Pike looked up at him. "Yeah." He said, waving his stumped arm. "You are sorry," said Nanfudo.Pike looked at him, obviously saying it couldn't be more obvious. "You think you're useless to the Warhammers, don't you?" "Huh?" replied the green bearded dwarf. He raised his hand and shook his fingers. "Can you still cast spells?" "Hey, hey," Pike said. "What are you doing on the ground?" asked the dwarf. He bent down and looked at Pike who was still sitting on the ground—the dwarf didn't just draw something on the surface of the stone with his fingers, his fingers went deep into the stone.A big smile broke out on Nanfudo's face, and it was right to come to Pike Stoneshoulders by himself. Nanfudo came to Pike, sat down, and looked into the eyes of the dwarf. "Your brother is working for us," he said. "Ok?" "I need a craftsman, an engineer." Nanfudo explained. "I've heard Ivan is the best." "Hey, hehe, my brother." "Regis is also interested in this, and he knows that my plan will change the situation on the cliff." He paused, making sure the dwarf was listening to him. "You want to help too, don't you?" Pike's expression became visibly confused. "hey-hey." "Look, I'm short of manpower now." Nanfudo explained. "There are very important things to be done, but there are some tasks that ordinary dwarves can't do, and the help that Regent King Regis can provide is also limited, but he mentioned that there is an indispensable person in every task." "Pike?" the dwarf asked, pointing at himself with a stone-encased finger. "Pike." Nanfudo confirmed.He pointed to scratches on the floor. "I need the help of the animals—they won't be harmed, I assure you. We're not that smart, that quick." "Hehehe." Seeing the smile on the frustrated dwarf's face, Nanfudo was very happy.Pike had a gentle heart, and it made Nanfudo very sad to see such a person suffer.But he is more aware that Parker's trauma is more mental than physical. Generally speaking, people with strong self-esteem like him tend to endure greater pain. "Come on," he invited the dwarf cheerfully, extending a hand to help Pike to his feet. "We still have a lot to do." "You're pulling my beard!" said Voko Braunanwell, Brooks' brother and cousin to the Hero Commander of Mithril Hall. "I didn't. If I pulled your beard, you would kneel, there is no doubt about it." Ivan Stone Shoulder replied. "The little gnome is a troublemaker," Vorku said. "Is he going to get that damn airship? It is said that it blows up on his own face more often than on the enemy's side." "Ha, no." Ivan assured. Walku and all the blacksmiths gathered together and breathed a sigh of relief.Ivan felt that there was no need to explain this matter too clearly.The dwarves would not be pleased if they knew what Nanfredo thought. "So you just want metal pipes?" asked another dwarf. "Yes, the caliber must be the same." Ivan replied. "What about the length?" "Do what you can." The blacksmiths looked at each other. "Regis wants us to do this?" one of them asked. "Here is his seal, isn't it?" Ivan said, pointing to a position on a roll of parchment in his hand. It was full of diagrams, and at the end was the signature of the regent of Mithril Hall. "Is everyone going to do this?" asked another. "We still have a lot of weapons to repair, and the war is still going on up there," Vorku explained. "We've been overwhelmed since Regis sent men to the southern tunnel." "This needs to be done first," Ivan said. "If you make the mold, you can make a dozen of these things at a time." The blacksmiths looked at each other again, but this time several nodded. "How much?" Vorku asked. "Just keep doing it," Ivan said. Grinning, he unfolded in front of the dwarves a roll of gilded parchment, a drawing of many metal tubes coiled to form an intricate device. "I want to make something that can explode." Ivan sniffed. "Explosion?" Vorku asked. "I hope I don't trip over my hammer." Ivan laughed, and the others followed suit. "Explosion!" they repeated together. Vorku raised his hand in salute to the roll of parchment, then motioned his companions back to the production line. Ivan's work was more detailed, and he turned and walked to another road, which led to a special studio set up for him by Regis, next to the reception room. It didn't take him much effort to pass through the dungeon to the northwest, and to the sealed tunnel door, a smile spread quickly on his face.Pike was in it, and Nanfred. Ivan only hoped that his brother would be fine and find his heart again, and he smiled even more happily. Pike raised the severed arm, and a bird stopped nervously.The dwarf druid approached it, whispered something, then lowered his arm and pointed to the depths of the tunnel, with a soft red light shining from his arm. "Are you sure it will work?" Nanfred asked the dwarf. "I'm unarmed, and I'm not sure if my spell will work on those creatures." Pike looked back at Nanfudo, and wrinkled his face in answer.His closed eyes reminded the dwarf that he didn't use anything related to fire, which would not cause disaster. "Yes, but..." Nanfudo wanted to continue explaining. Pike just "hehehe" a few times, and then moved on. Nanfudo turned around and shrugged at the five dwarf warriors who were acting as guards. They also made the same movement, with a bit surprised expression on their faces, but they didn't look worried. "Just bugs, little one," explained one of the dwarves. "Big bugs, but bugs after all." To reassure the dwarves, the dwarves showed their weapons, including two beautiful looking longswords, reflecting a faint light. They don't need those weapons, and Pike can convince those potential enemies to avoid a fight.Soon, all seven of them found their mounts and rode on the back of the beetle with red glowing glands.Fire beetles, as they are called, are often used by adventurers in the Underdark for their glowing glands, which continue to glow for many days after their death.Of course, Parker's method is more effective, and the live beetles don't stop glowing. The green-bearded dwarf communicated incessantly with clicks and snaps in the tunnels, and he even (according to his words) got some useful information from the giant bugs. Whether what he said was true or not, the dwarf did lead the team deeper into the tunnel. They passed a bad-smelling downhill road to the north. Difficulty distinguishing the color of the stripes. "Yellow," Nanfudo said to them.Gnomes are familiar with the sulfurous smell. "Watch your bird well, Pike. You don't want it to die here, do you?" Pike answered with a short cry, bringing his face closer to the brave bird.Almost at the same time, the bird began to panic, and Pike whispered something in its ear, causing it to fly back into the clean air. Beside him, Nanfodo read the meaning of the gesture, and held his breath across the foul-smelling lot. The tunnel ended in a wide hall, overgrown with stalagmites and stalactites, quite a few of which were connected together.A puff of smoke filled the hall, and even the strongest dwarves covered their mouths and noses with the cloth strips Pike had prepared. "I almost spit out my breakfast," said one, and the other dwarves nodded in agreement. Nan Fudo looked very excited, he urged his beetle mount to move forward, quickly passed through the stone pillars, and stopped at the edge of a large pit. He laughed, understanding the source of the smoke in the hole.The water in the big pit kept tumbling and bubbles came out one by one, and it was obvious that the gas was leaking from the bottom of the pit. "If a fire is lit here, we will all be burned to ashes," the dwarf announced to the dwarves. "I hope he didn't eat spicy food for breakfast." A dwarf laughed, pointing to his companion, who was slowly squatting on the ground with his hand over his mouth. The other dwarves who were still able to move gathered around Nanfudo and looked at the magnificent scene at the bottom of the pit. "The gas we need must not have a smell, and it should be transparent." "Don't lie to me," said a dwarf. "No, no." Nanfudo explained. "The gas is mixed with other things under the pressure of the ground. But do you see how it emanates? he asked, pointing to the bubbles at the bottom of the pit. "Yes, yes, it's all in there." " "I don't understand what you're talking about, dwarf," said one of the dwarves. "But you found it, right, can we go now?" "In a while." Nanfudo replied. "We have to figure out the thickness of the rock. You have to be prepared when you come back, it's not an easy thing." He looked at Pike, who was already standing on the ground, waving his arms with his eyes closed. The casting was over, and the dwarf lay down laughing, then melted into the rock and disappeared. "That's not right," muttered a dwarf, recovering from his shock. "Shut up and get back to your bug," said another. "Bargains..." said the third dwarf, shaking his head. Nan Fudo smiled and said nothing. Soon, Pike's body appeared on the rock like a relief, and then slowly emerged from the ground. "Wow!" he said. "How thick?" Nan Fudo asked impatiently. Pike patted himself on the head three times. "Fifteen feet," Nan Fudo murmured. "How does he know?" a dwarf asked his companion. "Three pikes tall," answered the other dwarf. "You scare me, dwarf," said the third dwarf. "Can you go through?" Nanfudo asked Pike, ignoring the others' comments. "Hey hey," said the green-bearded dwarf.