WorldCrafter - Building My Underground Kingdom-Chapter 229: Entering Gravenhold

Chapter 229: Entering Gravenhold

Time passed. Barrek’s first trade run had turned a profit. Not a massive one, but enough to make the dwarf giddy, twice his usual margin. That alone was cause for celebration.

Ben wasn’t surprised. The product was still new, and most didn’t yet realize just how fun, or addictive, it could be. But give it a few months, and the orders would start pouring in.

Once that happened, he’d begin the next phase: opening a casino. Then a bar. An inn. All of them operated under Taleth’s watch.

Expensive to build, yes. But once the network was complete, it would become a web of information, one of Ben’s key weapons against the Ashking’s shadow.

Now, Barrek was on his second run, this time bound for Gravenhold. His newest product: the drone golem.

Beside him sat a tall figure, arms crossed, posture rigid, Nephirid by appearance, but not by blood. It was Taleth, cloaked in a new disguise artifact Ben had provided. After surrendering his entire underground network, Taleth had been sent on his first mission.

As the caravan rumbled along the rough road, the high black wall of Gravenhold rose in the distance.

Inside the lead transport cart, Barrek cleared his throat for the fifth time. The silence had been choking him for nearly an hour. “…You’re Taleth, right?”

The Nephirid figure didn’t move at first. Only the slight tilt of his head showed he’d heard.

Barrek chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Are you angry or something?”

Taleth slowly turned his gaze toward him. “Is that why you think I’m not talking? Anger? Rage?”

He let out a low laugh. “Both of us were sent on a suicide mission, and you’re worried I’m angry? Have you realized where we’re headed?”

Barrek held up both hands. “Hey, no offense meant. Just… you’ve got that look.

As for the danger? Of course I know. But isn’t the reward worth it? Lord T’zarek is generous.”

Taleth narrowed his eyes slightly, but there was a flicker of amusement behind the mask. ‘So he’s different from me, he thought. This one wasn’t forced into it.’

“You talk too much for a trader.”

“I trade because I talk too much,” Barrek grinned. “Silence doesn’t sell goods.”

A beat passed before Taleth replied, voice low and measured. “Why are you doing this? You had your profit. You could’ve walked away.”

Barrek looked out the slatted side of the cart. The mountains loomed closer, black and severe.

“Because I’m tired of crawling,” he said quietly.

“I’ve spent years not knowing what tomorrow holds. Some days, I thought I’d wake up in chains. Thought my kids might be sold while I was on the road.

But Lord T’zarek gave me something rare, security. He promised my family would be safe. So now… I’ll do whatever he needs. I want to see how far I can climb.”

Taleth studied him for a moment, saying nothing.

“…And you?” Barrek asked. “Why’d you come along?”

Taleth’s lips curved faintly. “I’m not here by choice. Let’s leave it at that. And my goal… is quite different from yours.”

Barrek blinked. “So we are bait?”

He was only half-joking, Taleth’s tone made it hard to tell.

“No,” Taleth said. “You’re here to sell. I’m here to establish a foothold… and start the infiltration.”

A silence settled again. But this time, it was thinner, less suffocating.

Barrek grunted. “Hells. Next time, I’m bringing flameroot wine. You’re a long ride.”

Taleth gave a short, sharp breath, something that might’ve been a laugh. “Bring two. You’ll need it when we leave.”

The peaks of Gravenhold loomed ahead now, jagged and towering, with torchlight glittering between the cracks of the massive gates.

Barrek adjusted his collar. “So, Taleth. You ever lie to someone so well they start to believe it themselves?”

Taleth’s voice was soft. “I did once. But they didn’t survive long enough to regret it.”

“…Right. Noted,” Barrek muttered, sinking back into his seat as the caravan rolled forward into the lion’s mouth.

The caravan slowed as they reached the black gates of Gravenhold. Sharp barricade lined the walltops, their edges glowing faintly with residual magma heat. Twin watchtowers flanked the entrance, each crowned with a sigil of primordial flame.

As they approached, a line of guards stepped forward, tall, armored figures with halberds and stone-faced helms. One raised a hand.

“Halt. We need your Identification, and Cargo manifest. Please, Step down.”

Barrek swallowed hard, glancing at Taleth beside him. “Well,” he muttered, “here we go.”

Taleth didn’t respond. He slid down from the cart with relaxed motion. His disguise was flawless. He wear A long trimmed coat over ash-gray armor.

The lead guard stepped forward, a grizzled veteran with a magma-burn scar curling down his neck. “Name and Intent, and Open your crates.”

Taleth inclined his head with respectful formality. “My name is Dathrek, coming for a trade. We bring mechanical tools, drone golems, to be precise, requested by your Guild of Infrastructure.”

“Never heard of a request,” the guard said flatly.

“It was informal,” Taleth replied, unbothered. “A speculative offer for joint investment. If the Guild declines, the eastern foundries will take them. But we thought Gravenhold would appreciate first pick.”

The guard’s eyes narrowed. “Open the crates.”

Barrek flinched. “W-Wait, these are delicate prototypes-”

Taleth held up a hand, stopping him cold. Then, he turned slightly, stepping close to the officer. “Listen,” he said in a lower tone.

“I know how this works. You’ve got rules, pride, procedure. But tell me something…”

He leaned in just enough to make it personal.

“Is it really worth dragging out a full inspection? Delays. Reports. And maybe drawing attention from the quartermaster’s office when coin could simply… smooth the road?”

Taleth produced a small token, ringed with silver and pressed into the old officer’s hand. There was a moment’s hesitation, then the man’s thumb ran over the token’s edge.

A flick. Click.

Inside the token, a slit opened, and several red token, rare minted coins used only for black market dealing, clinked into the officer’s glove.

He closed his fingers slowly. “Hm.”

Taleth smiled slightly, keeping his tone pleasant. “We’re here for honest trade. But honest trade should be… efficient.”

The guard said nothing for a moment. Then he grunted, waved a hand at the other soldiers.

“Mark their cart.. Temporary pass: two days. Stick to the lower merchant tier. You step into the noble quarter without clearance, I’ll gut you personally.”

“Understood,” Taleth said smoothly. “You won’t even notice we were here.”

The gates began to creak open, thick steel groaning as the lava-run mechanisms engaged. As the caravan rolled through, Barrek leaned in, voice low and astonished.

“By the Forgefather’s beard, what was that?”

“An oldtrick,” Taleth murmured. “That red coin is special, created to be used for many underhanded dealing to avoid The Ashking taxes.”

Barrek grinned wide, shoulders relaxing as they passed under the gate’s shadow. “Remind me to never have conflict with you.”

Despite the long years he spend doing trade, this is the first time Barrek hear about this coin, but based on how the gravenhold guard easily recognize it, this mean the method really have exist for awhile.

‘Maybe this coin only exist around this area…’ He thought.

Taleth replied dryly, “You don’t need to worry about that, we’re on the same boat.”

And with that, the caravan rolled into Gravenhold’s lower city, It didn’t take long to reach the market district, a wide stone plaza encircled by merchant stalls and low-tier forges.

Dozens of traders, smiths, and transport handlers wandered between the booths. Everyone here was a buyer, a seller… or a spy.

Barrek wasted no time. He hopped down from the cart, adjusted his coat, and clapped his hands loudly. “Ladies and gentlemen of Gravenhold! You’ve seen hammers, you’ve seen a golem, but I promise, you’ve never seen anything like this!”

A few heads turned. Skeptical stares. Barrek gestured toward the crate behind him.

“Behold, the future of labor and logistics. The Drone Golem, model R-One! Light enough for small jobs, strong enough to lift a wagon wheel with one hand!”

He cracked the lid open, and the first prototype inside stirred, clicking softly as its mana core hummed to life. Metal limbs unfolded in segments, and the small, beetle-like construct rose on three legs and two manipulators.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Barrek grinned wide. “And that’s just the start.”

He pressed a glyph on its back. The golem sprang into motion, walking forward with mechanical precision. It picked up a fallen anvil, balanced it with its sensors, and set it down gently on a pedestal.

A few of the local smiths stepped closer, murmuring.

Barrek’s voice rang out, smooth and confident. “Fast. Silent. Loyal. Perfect for workshop use, delivery, or even guarding your property when you sleep. And best of all, our company mass produce this.”

The crowd quickly become crowed, many question followed, while some start negotiating price. Golem is not new but so far most of them come from ruin, with capabilites focused for combat.

As for one like the drone golem, capable to do work like smithing, and even at the level or price? It’s unheard of.

But beneath the cart, unnoticed by all… something else stirred.

From the side of one sealed crate, a sliver of wood peeled open just enough for a tiny, ant-like creature to crawl out, no larger than a fingernail, with black plating and faint runes etched into its carapace.