Harlem listened to his father's call, slowly turning around at the door, looking at the people around the family meeting table.

There sat his father, mother, sister, and brother.

As the youngest son of the family, although he had begun to learn the family business, he had little interest in it and rarely participated in such meetings.

Usually, he also seldom communicated with his family in business matters. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Fortunately, his sister and brother had considerable talent in this area, so West Bruto no longer forced the youngest son to develop in the business domain, letting things take their course.

However, today's situation was different.

How could he just walk away like an outsider from such an important meeting?

At this moment, West Bruto, agitated with anger, couldn't help but yell in question seeing his youngest son's actions.

Harlem shook his head helplessly.

"This outcome should have been foreseen a few years ago, or even a few months ago."

The people were momentarily confused by Harlem's words, failing to grasp his meaning immediately.

Only his mother sighed softly.

"Harlem, the situation now is different from then."

Hearing this, a mocking smile surprisingly appeared on Harlem's face, a rare expression for a Dwarf.

"Yes, back then, our kin didn't put a knife to our throat, forcing us to choose. He merely stated the facts to us.

He gave us a chance to pursue lost glory, to rebuild a nation of our own."

Understanding immediately dawned on the previously perplexed people regarding what Harlem was referring to.

He was talking about the Night Watcher Dwarves and the call from that Dwarf King.

That Dwarf King claimed to have heard the ancestors' call, hoping the Dwarves could return to the Empire's homeland and rebuild their own home with him.

However, many Dwarves rejected this proposal.

It wasn't that they didn't recognize the Dwarf King's identity, nor that they couldn't hear the ancestors' call.

They simply didn't want to.

"Back then, didn't their Prophet, Lord Lurik, who is still in Silver Fortress, say so?

"'Living under others' roofs, there will eventually come a day when we lose freedom. When the Beastmen have needs, when war breaks out, we will merely become tools to provide them with weapons.

Even if we can supply them with weapons through legitimate trade, even under the guise of so-called glory, the Beastmen still want us to become their vassals, completely under their control.'"

Clearly, the Beastmen couldn't tolerate any possibility of Dwarven betrayal; even a slight decrease in trade volume was unacceptable to them.

After all, they were excessively dependent on the Dwarves' weapons forging.

From the beginning to the end, the "help" the Beastman Empire gave the Dwarves came with a price, and now, it was time to pay that price.

"We originally had a chance, didn't we? Back then, as long as we responded to the call of the Golden King, we could reclaim our Dwarven homeland.

That was our only way out; back then, the Night Watchers were still there, able to assist us in resisting Beastman invasion and control."

At that time, the Evil God was rampant, and the situation was in utter chaos. To be honest, the Beastmen's performance during that period was not even as good as the human forces.

Beastmen were a naturally frenzied Race, with some Clans being notably simple-minded and battle-obsessed.

If it weren't for the Night Watcher's assistance, the Beastman Empire might have long plunged into chaos.

Back then, for all Dwarves, it was a perfect opportunity to escape being manipulated. Compared to losing a stable supply of fine weapons, survival and stability were evidently more important.

Furthermore, at that time, the Dwarves had the noble cause of revival, which even the Beastman Empire had to consider.

But now, the situation was very different.

The call of the Golden King had ended, and due to the changing war situation on the Lebia Continent, he took those Dwarves willing to follow him away.

Now only Lurik remained here, trying to recruit more Dwarves. However, as the Beastman Empire gradually stopped relying on the Night Watchers' full assistance, the Night Watchers' influence significantly declined.

Worse still, the Night Watchers had almost entirely withdrawn from this continent, struggling on their own.

And with war flames spreading across this continent, amidst chaos, even without the Beastman Empire's pressure, other forces would covet the Dwarves, attempting to control them.

After all, Dwarves were a prime source of weapons and could even become a source of military strength.

It was due to the surrounding forces giving the Night Watchers face that the Silver Fortress had remained temporarily untouched.

"Dealing with these Merchants every day, I think we've long forgotten what honor is, forgotten how resilient our ancestors were.

Yes, how comfortable it is to stay here, with a stable environment and ample food. We only need to forge weapons we're good at to gain substantial wealth.

Father, you are still a renowned Merchant, how glorious, those Clan Leaders, and City Lords all have to show you deference." Harlem said with sarcasm.

Back then, he had fierce disputes with his family over this, firmly believing that responding to the Golden King's call was the fundamental way for Dwarves to regain true freedom.

Yet his father and other family members wouldn't listen, merely thinking of him as an impulsive young lad.

Just like those young Dwarves who responded to the call, driven by a moment of youthful fervor.

Though that element was indeed present, Harlem had a deeper understanding in his heart.

"Father, how long has it been since you listened to the voice of Mother Earth?"

West Bruto was enraged, his face red at his son's sarcastic words, but was momentarily stunned when he heard this question.

"I'd almost forgotten, right? Forgotten we are children of the earth, descendents of the mountains.

But I can still hear Mother Earth's call; she needs us."

With that, Harlem shook his head with regret, turning to leave.

Leaving the crowd in silence.

Harlem knew well that there was no need to continue persuading his family.

Even though everyone seemed to be arguing, discussing, and yelling just now, the truth is, they had long accepted becoming vassals of the Beastmen, continuing to provide weapons for them.

After all, compared to before, there was essentially no difference.

He even knew that the Unihorn Clan had agreed to send troops to Dragon Hammer Town to "help" them defend against attacks from other directions.

"Harlem, come back! Where are you going?" his mother called out anxiously from the door.

By now, Harlem was already fully equipped, wearing the Armor he forged with his own hands, holding a Warhammer, and had packed some provisions.

"I'm leaving here to find our honor, to reclaim the glory our ancestors once had."

He declared loudly, as if making a vow.

Only then did his mother realize,

A group of Dwarves had unknowingly gathered outside the door, all residents of Dragon Hammer Town.

At this moment, they were all fully armed, carrying provisions.

And so, they accompanied Harlem as he embarked on his expedition.

His mother watched this scene, as if seeing her son for the first time.