Shadow Trails in Azeroth

Master Craftsman Oversback and his expedition team reluctantly boarded the Nagfar.

It's not that these gnomes are spoiled and can't adapt to the cramped and crowded merchant ships, they just can't accept being with goblins who believe in heretical engineering concepts across the endless sea.

Gnome engineering and goblin engineering are simply natural enemies. The two engineering philosophies are very different. One school focuses on practicality, and the other focuses on the art of explosion.

Ever since the two engineering concepts appeared in Azeroth, they have been completely unable to understand and convince each other.

Coupled with the neurotic character of the gnomes and the disgusting business nature of the goblins, the two races cannot coexist anywhere.

They would taunt each other as soon as they met, and then eagerly start to compete with each other's inventions, eventually blowing themselves and everything around them up to the sky.

This is what happens every time goblins and gnomes meet.

For the sake of the expedition team's mood, morale and safety, Oversback finally gritted his teeth and paid for it and bought a round-trip ticket for the Nagfar.

There are thirty thousand gold coins in total. I have already counted them. Here is the receipt. Take it.

On the side of the ghost ship, First Officer Sephiel quickly put a few gold cards from Goblin Bank into his pocket, wrote a receipt from his notebook, and stamped it with Wharton Trading Company's The seal was handed to the dwarf craftsman who looked pained at his feet.

This number isn't quite right.

Kelsey Steelspark, who was watching this scene from the side, saw that the stupid Overback actually took the receipt and was about to put it away, so she coughed and whispered:

How can you write 30,000 gold coins? You can't be so honest. Madam first mate, we obviously paid 50,000 gold coins.

Kelsey blinked, took the receipt, tore it into pieces, and said to the first parasaurus:

Write it again.

Hey, I'm very tired from writing.

Sephiel put his hands on his hips dissatisfied and said to the little dwarf:

And as the first mate of the Naqfar, I must be honest about everything. This is my professional ethics!

Give you 'hard work', five hundred gold coins?

You cunning dwarf, stop humiliating me with vulgar money! I am an upright pirate first mate!

One thousand gold coins?

Hey, do you want to buy my integrity with such a small amount of money? You underestimate me!

Two thousand, no more. Let's change the amount to 60,000 gold coins.

Ha, you are Captain Black's friend, that is my friend. Although I am an upright pirate, I naturally have to go to all lengths for my friends.

Wait a minute, I'll write right away.

This conversation that ruined three views made Oversbach, the master craftsman next to him, widen his eyes.

He flicked off his mechanical goggles, his eyes widened, and looked at Kelsey who was doing transactions with a familiar face.

The master craftsman who devoted himself to engineering attainments felt that he had learned something today. He exclaimed belatedly and complained in a low voice:

No wonder the research funds approved by the Craftsmen Council are overspent by so much every year. I thought that the money was really used for technological research and development. Could it be that when I joined the council, I said I wanted to audit the accounts, but everyone unanimously rejected it.

OK, you guys!

You worms of Gnomeregan!

Snapped

The dwarf agent slapped the receipt with sixty thousand gold coins in Overback's hand, patted him on the shoulder, and said:

When you go back, remember to transfer 15,000 gold coins to my laboratory, and we will split it 50-50. In addition, congratulations, Master Craftsman, you are now a 'worm' too.

After saying that, the dashing dwarf agent whistled, threw another piece of raspberry chewing gum into his mouth, and began to tour the rare ghost ship Nagfar with his hands behind his back.

The master craftsman stared blankly at the receipt in his hand.

He had the righteousness to draw a clear line between himself and such a moron as Kelsey Steelspark.

But when I think about it, if I take this thing back and convince the Craftsmen Council to reimburse it, my laboratory will be able to get an additional 15,000 gold coins in research funding this year.

Uh, no, it's thirteen thousand, and there are two thousand gold coins as hard work fees for the pirate first mate in front of me.

But this is enough. Although there is very little money and it is impossible to complete the research of even a small project, but...

Shua

Just as he was about to turn around and leave, Sephiel's clothes were pulled.

Pirate Dragon turned around in confusion and saw the extremely smart master craftsman looking at her. Ai Ai said with some shame:

Well, the number on this receipt is still not quite right. I just gave you 80,000 gold coins, right?

Wow, you are too greedy!

Sephiel was shocked for a moment.

She twitched her eyes, and said sincerely to the dwarf at her feet:

Believe me, Master Gnome, this number is already the tacit limit that everyone has understood. Any more, and your Council of Craftsmen will definitely slap this receipt on your face and charge you with corruption or malfeasance.

No, that's not right.

Oversbach blinked his eyes. There is absolutely no dwarf who can become a craftsman councilor who is not smart. He took a deep breath and said firmly:

As long as we can really find evidence of the existence of mechanical gnomes on this trip, even if we just bring back a broken sample, not to mention 80,000 gold coins, even 800,000, the Council of Craftsmen will recognize it.

You foreigners have no idea what the legend of the Mechanognomes means to us.

Besides, I’m not greedy!

I just use the method that everyone is using to get more research funds for my laboratory. This is to prevent precious money from flowing into other vulgar research projects that are not popular.

This is in the name of scientific development!

Tsk, tsk, you are the first greedy person I have ever seen who has taken this behavior to such a high level.

Sephiel flicked his tongue and said:

To be honest, I kind of admire you. At least I can't tell lies like this. But since you have written so much and you are so confident, why not write more?

Moreover, if you pay an additional five thousand gold coins, you can enjoy the Nagfar's 'super VIP service'.

I can arrange for you a large room that can accommodate your test bench. There are also several unused cabins in the lower cabin that you can use for experiments.

Several ghost servants can also be arranged to serve you specifically.

Those were servants who had served the astral mage Medivh before, and they knew how to serve people best.

Since it’s a trip with public funds, right?

Why are you so hard on yourself?

Besides, after spending so much, it’s just a matter of getting a little more.”

I hope I got my money's worth.

Oversbach said angrily and threw another gold card to Sephiel.

The Pirate Dragon made an OK gesture, and ghost servants were immediately summoned to help the dwarfs deliver large and small packages of gifts into their respective cabins.

And a few minutes later, after witnessing the Nagfar sinking into the sea like a whale, the dwarfs immediately felt that their money was well spent!

It's even worth a little too much.

Under the water film on the deck, a group of dwarf engineers headed by Oversbach were just like backpackers. They were lying on the side of the ship, exclaiming in admiration, and taking crazy pictures with the mechanical cameras in their hands.

They want to record this rare underwater scene for ordinary people, so that they can take it back to brag about this rare experience to their dwarf family or friends.

I suddenly had an idea.

The dwarf master who had just captured a group of seahorses swimming across the seabed with his camera put down his camera. He raised his head and looked at the Nagfar that was moving silently in the deep sea. He murmured to himself:

Why has no one considered designing a ship that can sail underwater? Just like this ghost ship, just like the diving bell equipped by the Kul Tiran Navy.

But bigger, smoother, quieter, and can fight underwater!

Ambush a battleship on the sea.

Well, maybe we can call it a 'submarine'. I have to write this down, it will be a hit! I already have a premonition of this wonderful future!

The commotion of the dwarfs on the deck did not attract much attention from Blake.

He was currently standing in Kelsey's cabin, curiously watching his dwarf friend open her large box with a sense of fantasy technology and lay out the contents one by one.

I'm curious, why do you, a little man, collect so many knives?

The eyes on the stinky pirate's shoulder rolled as he looked at Kelsey's big box filled with a whole layer of knives of all kinds, from the classic MI7 combat dagger to the unusual dwarf cutting saw.

From the gear flying knife that can be thrown away and easily cut off the head, to the dwarf's exquisite sword that requires both hands to maintain with the stature of a dwarf.

There are also various daggers and daggers of different sizes and shapes, which are neatly stored on the first floor of this box.

Faced with Blake's question, the dashing dwarf agent whistled, looked back at Blake, and said:

Aren't you, a big man, full of weapons? Look at you for asking such a stupid question. I'm a secret agent. Isn't it normal to carry a box of knives with me?

And this is only a small part of my collection. In my home in Gnomeregan, I still have a whole wall of knife collections.

No, no, no, I didn't mean to ridicule you for being a little man.

Blake leaned against the table, took out the wine bottle, and said to Kelsey:

I mean, the dwarfs don't have an advantage in strength and height. Shouldn't your combat style be to avoid close combat and make proper use of explosives and wisdom to win?

Well, maybe I'm different from other dwarves.

Kelsey shrugged, and the pink-haired dwarf with a ponytail tilted his head and said:

Maybe I'm one of those dwarfs who are naturally bold?

Well, it's true. Your race can produce people who are less courageous than rabbits, and can also produce crazy people who are more courageous than whale sharks.

Blake laughed, and Kelsey laughed too.

This little dwarf has a good personality. Regardless of her small size and soft voice, staying with her really makes people feel safe.

Hey, what is this?

The stinky pirate was about to say goodbye to Kelsey who was cleaning up the room, but his sharp eyes saw two things placed in the box.

Instinct was telling him that he shouldn't touch these two things, let alone ask about them.

However, the curiosity from the assassin made Blake move his fingers. The eyeballs on his shoulders glanced to the side and found that Kelsey was humming a song and making a bed for herself, and did not notice it.

So Blake squatted down quickly and put his hand on a straight black metal short stick with a small coil and a delicate switch on the edge of the box.

The next moment, the translucent character card in front of him immediately gave the entry description of this thing:

Name: Braze’s latest dwarf self-pleasure stick

Quality: Excellent

Item effect:

Injects 1,000 megavolts of dwarf bliss into the user.

Item Description:

If you get caught using it, don't tell me you know me. - Blazer Gates

Oh my God! How taboo!

Blake only had this damn thought in his mind. He quickly retracted his fingers as if he was electrocuted, feeling in his heart that these dwarfs were really good at playing.

But Kelsey

You can’t see it on the surface! She shouldn't be that kind of girl, right?

With this question in mind, the pirate turned his attention to the small box next to the self-pleasure rod, which contained several books of the same style. Blake pursed his lips and glanced at Kelsey again, who was unaware of this.

With a feeling of exploring taboos, he stretched out his hand towards the books.

The moment the fingers came into contact, the attribute entries of these books immediately jumped out:

Title: Blazer's The Mysterious Black Book

Quality: Epic·Reading

use:

Take out one of these mysterious black books for relaxing or stimulating reading.

The books that can be taken out include but are not limited to Guide on How to Pick Up a Dwarf Girl, I Have a Date with a Dwarf Girl, Notes of a Bold Girl in the Dark Night, Human Savage Girlfriend Taming Manual, etc.

Item Description:

Compiled based on the author's real experience, the content is exciting, please do not read if you have a weak heart. - Blazer Gates

.

Blake wordlessly retracted his finger.

He rubbed his head, feeling that his outlook on life had been impacted, but he stared at the set of black books again, and an inexplicable desire to read them arose in his heart.

In addition, one of the most important questions surrounding Blake's mind is:

What kind of dwarf is this amazing Blazer Gates? I really want to meet him and see what an amazing guy he is.

Hey, Blake, thank you for helping me choose such a good cabin that allows me to enjoy the underwater scenery all the way.

When the pirate rubbed his head and walked out of the room, Kelsey, who had made the bed, shouted energetically. She said:

Now, I'm giving this to you. I just made it before. It hasn't been tested yet. You can just treat it as a toy.

She threw something over, and Blake raised his hand without looking back, clasping it accurately in his hand. When he picked it up and looked at it, he found that it was a quite exquisite pocket watch.

However, the dial of this pocket watch is engraved with some unknown runes, and it looks strange.

The moment Blake got the pocket watch, the character card showed attribute entries, making the pirate's eyes widen for a moment:

Name: Hypnosis Pocket Watch

Quality: Excellent

use:

Activate the engineering power of the pocket watch to perform an emergency hypnosis on your enemies. (one minute to cool down)

Item Description:

I'm going to count from three to zero, and when I get to zero, you won't hit me again. Well, in theory, that's how it should be.

“My eyes were really opened today!”

Blake flicked the pocket watch in his hand, turned to his dwarf friend Kelsey, who was lying comfortably on the bed under the light of the sea floor, and picked up the mysterious black book with a groan:

You gnomes have redefined 'combat'. You are indeed a black-tech race. Goblins are not as good at it as you are. Enjoy your journey, my friend.

Also, the room is not very well soundproofed, so... I mean you can probably... forget it, like I didn't say.

The pirate slapped his forehead, covered his eyes and walked out of the cabin.

What he saw today was so awesome that he had to take some time to calm down and digest it.

He admitted that he underestimated the dwarfs.

PS:

All the black technologies that appear in this chapter have real objects in the game. Do you think dwarves are the most honest? No, you are wrong.

There is no one better at playing than them.