Chapter 179: Goblin Scooty

It had been a while since Duke last saw Itana, and now she seemed more capable and mature, almost like a stranger. Even though Itana was worldly, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy in the presence of so many high-ranking figures of the kingdom. After taking a few deep breaths, she quickly adjusted her emotions.

"Your Majesty King Llane, esteemed lords and ladies, I am Itana, a follower of Duke Markus. Please allow me to introduce Mr. Monte Scooty, a goblin engineer and merchant from Stranglethorn Vale."

"Your Majesty, esteemed lords and ladies." Goblin Monte performed a perfectly standard nobleman's bow.

Despite his impeccable manners, everyone present couldn't help but feel awkward, as the goblin was, well, infamous. Unlike the dirty, despicable, dimwitted, and prolific goblins from the world Duke had once known, the goblins of Azeroth were humanoid creatures with green skin similar to orcs, standing just a bit taller than a human's knee, with stick-like limbs and large eyes on their pointed heads.

However, their mischief-making tendencies remained a hundred percent intact. Overall, the goblins of Azeroth were more money-loving, skilled in various technologies, and better at conducting business. They had established numerous 'companies,' with structures resembling actual companies from Duke's previous world. These so-called 'companies' were often more like bloodsuckers, such as the notorious venture capital firm.

A joke perfectly illustrated the reputation of the venture capital firm:

Venture Capital Firm: "Join our company! We have investments in every corner of Azeroth."

Someone asks: "What's the cost?"

Venture Capital Firm: "We're being hunted worldwide."

Someone: "..."

Goblins' actions could be described as abhorrent, and many Night Elf druids would slay goblins on sight. Witnessing the arrival of the goblin merchant, Lothar unabashedly pointed to her head in disbelief, as if asking Duke if he had gone mad to collaborate with a goblin.

Duke smiled and ignored Lothar, then paraphrased a classic statement from "Capital": "Yo, Monte, I've heard that with 20% profit, goblins start getting excited; with 50% profit, they'll take risks; with 100% profit, they'd dare face the gallows; and with 300% profit, they'd trample over all the laws of the world. Is that true?"

Monte raised his voice, denying the accusation: "Slander! Utter slander! We goblins possess noble character."

Duke posed a hypothetical scenario: "Let's say I offer you 5 million Arathor gold coins to bring me the head of Warchief Blackhand of the Horde."

It could have been an illusion, but it seemed that Monte's eyes instantly grew ten times larger. His shrill voice suddenly became resolute and determined, "I guarantee the mission's completion—"

As he spoke, Monte rushed towards Duke with his right hand extended, fingers rubbing together. But the next moment, he realized Duke was merely joking.

"Your Highness, are you mocking me?"

"No, I'm simply demonstrating your unparalleled courage in the face of money to King Llane."

Both King Llane and Anduin, as well as Bolvar, struggled to suppress their laughter.

"You—" Monte wanted to lash out.

Duke's words, however, felt like a bucket of cold water poured over Monte's head: "Don't think I don't know about your so-called 'suicide squad.' They might suffice for taking out a Horde squad leader, but Warchief Blackhand?

Even if I handed over the gold to you, you'd just send a bunch of cannon fodder to their deaths and then run off with the gold!"

Monte Scooty's face turned pale, and he lowered his head, stammering, "Uh, well, we goblins are all about honesty and business ethics. How could we possibly do such a thing?"

As he spoke, under Duke's piercing gaze, Monte grew increasingly uneasy, his feet unconsciously shuffling towards the door.

Suddenly, a pair of mage hands appeared behind Monte, lifting the small goblin up to Duke's face.

"I have no interest in a goblin's so-called honesty. The only thing I'm interested in is the engineers at your venture capital company's branch. Has Itana already discussed with you what we need?"

With his life in the hands of this terrifying mage, Monte nodded like a wronged woman.

"Fine, I have one more condition — if any of these items explode before being thrown and injure anyone on our side, I'll take the life of one of your relatives, chop off one of your fingers, and deduct 100 crates from the payment."

Monte remained indifferent to the earlier conditions, but when Duke mentioned a penalty of 100 crates for each damaged item, Monte suddenly let out a squeal like a slaughtered pig.

He flailed his limbs, shouting, "No goblin would accept such terms! Forget it!"

Duke sneered, "What if I increase the price of the goods by 10% and then ask for twice the quantity?"

"Raise the price by 30%!" Monte immediately calmed down and began to bargain.

"Bullshit! Don't think I don't know that you're using cheap materials, mixing heavy stones with high explosives, and then adding an iron ingot and a silk cloth to make it. You dare to charge me an extra 30% for such a low cost?"

Monte was dumbfounded, and after a moment, he conceded like a defeated general, "Fine, 10% it is."

And so, with a mournful face, Monte withdrew.

Itana, greatly distressed, hastily apologized, "I didn't know that those things would explode before being thrown."

Duke rubbed his brows, thinking, 'Darn gnome engineering is unreliable, and goblin engineering always explodes. If I didn't know this, playing the game for so long would've been a waste.'

"You're not an expert in this field. It's not your fault." Comforting Itana, Duke finally turned to explain to Llane and the others, "You said you have tens of thousands of militiamen but don't know how to use them? Are you worried about how to evacuate the last remaining guards? I'll solve all these problems for you at once. And as a bonus, I'll throw in a gift package."

"What gift package?" Llane asked in astonishment.

Duke smiled mysteriously, "If I tell you now, there will be no sense of mystery." (To be continued.)