After resolving the matter with the dwarves, this battle was finally concluded, and Li De could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
In his mind, the dwarves were no less important than the main objective of this war, the Mithril Vein.
To Dawn City, the dwarves also represented a strategic force that would be of great use in the future.
However, now wasn't the time to think about that. The war was won, and more importantly, it was time to clean up the spoils.
Li De had initiated this war for the legendary Mithril Vein. The dwarves were merely an added bonus.
Now it was time to reap the rewards.
But before that, there was still one matter to attend to.
The Level 18 Beastmen King, that Lionman warrior whose terrifying combat strength had shocked him, had regained consciousness.
He very much wanted to meet this Beastman King.
After all, as a proper dark boss, a standard dark lifeform, it only seemed fitting for him to visit the defeated and philosophize about life, wasn't that exactly what a villain should do?
"Stanley, take me to see the Beastman King."
With Harrison not by his side, Li De had grown fond of giving orders to Stanley, the Dark Priest. He was intelligent, perceptive, and more importantly, had a very broad perspective.
That suited Li De's taste in subordinates perfectly. He was even considering whether to recall Stanley back to Dawn City to develop further.
Though the Dark Pact was important, Dawn City was his foundation.
"As you wish."
Stanley nodded respectfully. Loyalty to the Vampire Progenitor was something that flowed in the blood of the bloodline descendants, fused into their very souls.
Before long, under Stanley's guidance, the two circled around the ruins scattered across the dwarven streets and arrived at a house personally guarded by Grote.
Compared to the dwarves, who were left relatively free, the Beastmen Kap and Craig received no such treatment.
Their bodies were tightly bound in anti-magic chains, their limbs fully broken.
More than a dozen vampires guarded the outside, and Grote, a Level 16 warrior empowered by the Fearless Bloodline, was personally standing watch, never leaving their side.
Looking back at the history of Dawn City, this level of security was a first, even for these two Beastmen. Li De even felt they should consider it an honor.
Craig was nothing special. As a Beastman who had been instantly killed, he was just a side piece. The real threat was the Level 18 Beastman King, Kap Lionmane.
This powerful Beastman King didn't just leave Li De deeply shaken, he had put all the top combatants on high alert.
He was simply too powerful. No one dared to underestimate him, even in his heavily wounded state.
Hearing footsteps, Kap slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on the ground, completely immobilized and wrapped in black chains like a sticky rice dumpling.
In his blurry vision, he saw a pair of black leather boots. The air carried in from outside was fresh, tinged with the faint scent of blood, and entered his nostrils along with the new arrival.
He blinked hard. Once his vision cleared somewhat, he slowly turned his head. His massive lion head moved like that of a true beast.
His gaze moved upward. The dark floral embroidery on the black mage robe carried a trace of nobility, and finally, he saw that infuriatingly handsome face.
"You are the king of the vampires?"
Kap's voice was very weak, but it carried no fear or tremor. Even in such a dire state, he still maintained the pride befitting a Beastman King.
"I am the king of the Lionmane Tribe, Kap Lionmane.
Vampire, this war, under your schemes, we have lost."
His broken Common Tongue carried no resentment, no fury, just a detached tone as if reminiscing with an old friend.
"This defeat was due to the absence of our shaman, which allowed your spellcasters to successfully cast their magic.
Though I have fallen, it does not mean the Lionmane Tribe is finished.
The Lionmane Tribe will not be destroyed. Our shaman will lead them to continue surviving on the Barren Plains."
Li De's mouth twitched. What the hell are you telling me this for? I don't care one bit about your Lionmane Tribe, okay?
"The reason the Vampires waged war against you has nothing to do with the Lionmane Tribe. It's simply because you occupied the dwarves' Mithril Vein, which the Vampires happen to need. That's all."
Vampires' goal was the Mithril Vein?? Not the Lionmane Tribe?
Kap's previously calm expression turned somewhat ugly.
His tone carried disbelief.
"Your goal… was the dwarves' Mithril Vein?? There's a Mithril Vein here??"
"Of course. Did you think the Vampires were so idle they'd just randomly pick a fight with the Beastmen?"
Li De's expression grew strange as he said this. You enslaved the dwarves and had them forge weapons for you, and yet you didn't even know there was a Mithril Vein here??
He frowned. "Don't tell me you took over the Dwarven Valley not because of the Mithril Vein?"
Kap felt like his mental state had collapsed. "No, we were here for food."
After saying that, something he had always taken for granted suddenly felt a little shameful under Li De's dumbfounded gaze. He added, "And the dwarves' armor and weapons."
Li De's mouth twitched hard. It was only now he realized, this Beastman King, though powerful enough to shake him, was ultimately… just dirt poor.
Compared to himself, who earned a monthly income of over 100,000 Gold Pucks, the difference was downright pathetic.
Such a mighty tribe had gone to war primarily for food. They had crushed a powerful dwarven clan largely just to get a meal.
Indeed, life itself is the greatest playwright.
Kap gave Li De a deep look, then closed his eyes and said no more.
But bitterness filled his heart.