In the afternoon after the blizzard subsided, sunlight filtered through the clouds and shone upon the Blackrock Clan, plating the snow-covered rooftops with a layer of warm gold.
A burst of cheers suddenly erupted from the south side of the central square—after ten consecutive days of busy work by the hobgoblin laborers and engineers, the [Green mushroom tavern] was finally completed.
The tavern was not grand, but it exuded a unique vitality: the main structure was a pointed wooden cabin built from logs, the exterior walls were whitewashed with lime plaster, the roof was covered with thick thatch, and two strings of dried mushrooms hung under the eaves.
It was also decorated with quite a few beast and ratman skeletons. A wooden sign hung over the doorway, painted with a grinning green mushroom using charcoal ash, which served as the tavern's emblem.
The hobgoblin laborers circled the tavern, still holding unused wooden hammers, their faces full of accomplishment—this was the first "House where they could drink wine" they had built with their own hands.
Kurzadh walked over quickly, followed by Scarface and several hobgoblins.
He stood in front of the tavern and opened the system light screen to check its attributes. The moment he touched the "Green mushroom tavern" icon, a new prompt popped up:
[Temporary Quest Triggered: Grand Opening]
[Quest Requirements: 1. Prepare 13 Medium Mushrooms and 189 Small Mushrooms; 2. Select two hobgoblins for one month of closed-door training. Upon completion, they will become bound Tavern Retainers (Unique Employees).]
[Quest Reward: 2 Ordinary Retainer Slots]
"Still need to train retainers?" Kurzadh raised an eyebrow, then understood.
This kind of special building often required dedicated personnel to operate; ordinary hobgoblins couldn't handle it.
Looking at the required number of mushrooms in the quest, he felt relieved—the large mushroom field produced a massive amount of mushrooms every week. 13 Medium Mushrooms and 189 Small Mushrooms could be gathered easily.
What truly needed consideration was which two hobgoblins to select for the training.
Kurzadh's gaze swept across the busy greenskins in the square, finally landing on the nearby livestock area—Zaggur and Chik were squatting by the palisade, adding hay for the goats.
The two occasionally huddled together, whispering, looking exceptionally harmonious.
These two brothers were among the first hobgoblins to follow Kurzadh. They had worked for him since the tribe was just a small wooden hut, and they had always been dedicated to looking after the livestock, never making a mistake.
When the tribe was small, they could only manage the livestock. Now that such an important position as the tavern was available, it was a perfect opportunity for them to advance.
"Zaggur! Chik! Come here!" Kurzadh called out.
The two brothers immediately dropped the hay they were holding and ran over quickly, a few strands of goat hair clinging to their bodies: "Boss, what is it?"
"The tavern is about to open. It needs two people to undergo training to become the tavern's employees later. Are you two willing to go?" Kurzadh looked at them, his tone filled with anticipation.
Zaggur and Chik exchanged glances, and their eyes instantly burst with surprise and delight.
They had long heard that the tavern was a place where they "Could eat and drink good things every day." Getting to be employees there was simply a huge stroke of luck!
Chik quickly nodded, his voice trembling slightly: "Willing! We are willing!" Zaggur also nodded, too excited to speak, just continuously rubbing his hands together.
Kurzadh smiled and patted their shoulders: "Train hard, don't disappoint me."
Over the next few days, Kurzadh had people transport enough mushrooms from the mushroom field and instructed the hobgoblin laborers to clean the tavern's interior.
A month later, when Zaggur and Chik walked out of the tavern, they were completely transformed—Zaggur wore a set of tight black leather, a red bowtie tied around his waist, and carried a wooden brewing barrel, looking energetic; Chik wore a white chef's uniform that, while slightly dirty, was neat, topped with a tall chef's hat, and carried an iron spatula, looking every bit the chef.
Kurzadh opened the system light screen, and the information for the two of them was clearly displayed:
- Chik: green mushroom tavern Exclusive Chef, Skill "Gourmet Soothing" (food prepared can boost greenskin morale and reduce irritability.)
- Zaggur: green mushroom tavern Exclusive Brewer, Skill "Fine Wine Buff" (Brewed beverages can slightly increase the greenskins' stamina recovery speed, and can also serve as a trade currency, boosting the territory's economic vitality.)
What surprised him even more was the system prompt: "Zaggur and Chik presiding over the green mushroom tavern can annually increase the territory's [Development] attribute by 12 points and the [Compliance] attribute by 12 points."
This was much stronger than the bonuses from ordinary buildings—the [Development] attribute could accelerate infrastructure speed, and the [Compliance] attribute could reduce internal strife among the greenskins . It was truly killing two birds with one stone.
"Come on, let's go inside and try your skills." Kurzadh led the way into the tavern, while Scarface stood guard outside, dispersing the young greenskins who were curiously peeking in the doorway—the boss was going in for a "taste test," and these little fellows couldn't be allowed to disturb him.
As soon as they entered, a wave of warmth washed over them.
The tavern space wasn't large, but it was comfortably arranged: a few strings of dried mushrooms and animal hides hung on the walls, thick wool blankets were spread on the floor, soft to the touch; four rough wooden tables were placed in the center, each accompanied by two wooden chairs; a roaring fire burned in the fireplace in the corner, the flames crackling and making the whole tavern wonderfully cozy.
Zaggur and Chik were already waiting behind the bar.
The bar counter was crafted from a single piece of oak, wiped clean, and held several wooden mugs and a barrel full of fungal beer.
"Boss, what would you like to eat? What would you like to drink?" Chik rubbed his hands, his face full of nervousness and anticipation.
Zaggur quickly added: "We can now make grilled mushroom slices and brew fungal beer. We made them exactly according to the methods you taught us, boss. Would you like to try?"
"Then bring me one order of grilled mushroom slices and two mugs of fungal beer." Kurzadh sat down in front of the bar and casually picked up a wooden mug to examine it—though rough, the mug was polished smooth, without splinters.
Chik immediately turned and ducked into the small kitchen behind the bar (a small space partitioned off with wooden planks), and soon the sizzling sound of grilling and the rich aroma of mushrooms could be heard.
Zaggur picked up a wooden ladle, scooped fungal beer from the barrel, and slowly poured it into the mug—the beer was light brown, topped with a layer of fine blue foam.
Even before drinking, one could smell a faint scent of malt and the fresh fragrance of mushrooms.
"Boss, please try the beer first." Zaggur pushed the mug toward Kurzadh, his eyes full of anticipation.
Kurzadh raised the mug and took a large gulp.
The beer was slightly bitter upon entry but carried a refreshing sweetness.
After swallowing, a warmth slid down from his throat to his stomach, and all the fatigue in his body seemed to be dispersed.
The flavor was surprisingly similar to the imported craft beer he had drunk in his previous life.
The familiar taste nearly brought tears to his eyes—it was the first time he had tasted such "Decent" alcohol since transmigrating to this greenskin world.
"It's good, delicious!" Kurzadh couldn't help but praise it.
A smile instantly bloomed on Zaggur's face, and he rubbed his hands, saying: "I'll fill you up again!"
Just then, Chik walked out of the kitchen carrying an iron plate.
On the iron plate were several slices of golden-brown grilled mushrooms, sprinkled with some ground herbs (foraged from the forest).
The aroma was intoxicating; just smelling it made one's mouth water.
Chik placed the iron plate in front of stone and said cautiously: "Boss, please try these grilled mushroom slices. I brushed a little honey on them (collected from a beehive), which should make them taste better."
Kurzadh picked up a slice of mushroom and put it in his mouth.
The mushroom was very tender, the exterior slightly charred, carrying the sweetness of honey and the fresh scent of herbs.
It was also a little chewy, and paired with the beer, it was absolutely perfect.
He ate the mushroom slices while drinking the beer, feeling extremely comfortable all over—this was probably the most enjoyable meal he had eaten since transmigrating.
"You both did very well." Kurzadh put down his mug and looked at Zaggur and Chik with satisfaction, "The tavern is yours from now on. Work hard, and you won't miss out on rewards."
Zaggur and Chik nodded quickly, their faces full of excitement—the boss's approval was more important than anything.
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If you're wondering Zaggur and Chik are the goblin equivalent of Stan and Bran