The last trace of flavor from the Squig jerky dissipated in his mouth. Kurzadh clapped the crumbs from his hands, his gaze sweeping over the corner of the wooden hut—where several polished stone blocks and a bundle of dry wooden planks were stacked, all specifically prepared by the hobgoblin Sappers yesterday.
He stood up and called out towards the entrance, "Scarface!"
Within seconds, Scarface ran in with four sturdy hobgoblin Laborers.
These hobgoblin Laborers carried stone hammers and wooden saws, with small bags of lime powder on their backs, clearly having been waiting for orders.
"boss, we're ready!" Scarface's voice was filled with excitement. He was now a "little leader" among the goblin, and being able to do "big things" with stone made him happier than anything.
"Let's go, follow me to the eastern corner of the tribe," Kurzadh said, leading the way out. The cold wind carried snowflakes that hit his face, but it didn't dampen his spirits at all.
The eastern corner of the tribe was usually deserted by greenskins , with only a few withered trees, perfect for building the "important structure" he had been pondering for days.
Upon arrival, Kurzadh first drew a rectangular frame on the snow with a wooden stick: "Build it this size. First, lay the stone blocks as the foundation, then use wooden planks for the walls. The height should be up to my waist." He gestured with his hands as he spoke—the style of latrine he had seen in the countryside in his previous life, he remembered clearly, simple and practical, perfect for the greenskin tribe.
Although the hobgoblin Laborers didn't know what their boss was building, they learned very seriously.
Scarface directed two goblin to move the stone blocks into the frame and flatten them with stone hammers; the other two goblin took wooden saws and cut the planks to the appropriate length according to Kurzadh's requirements.
Lime powder mixed with snow water was made into a paste to bond the wooden planks and stone blocks. Although crude, it was sturdy enough.
Kurzadh squatted by the side, occasionally adjusting things with his hands—the gaps between the planks needed to be small to prevent drafts; the foundation had to be laid flat, otherwise the latrine would easily tilt; most importantly, he also had the goblin separate the latrine into two small compartments with a wooden plank. Although greenskins didn't care about such things, a little more "privacy" would always make them more willing to use it.
About an hour later, a simple but neat latrine was finally built.
Its foundation was made of bluish-grey stone blocks, the walls were light brown wooden planks, and the top was covered with thatch. Although it couldn't compare to the wooden huts in the tribe, it exuded a "special" aura—especially behind the latrine, Kurzadh had specifically had the goblin dig a half-meter deep pit, covered with wooden planks, leaving only one opening. This was the core of the latrine.
"This thing is called a latrine. From now on, you all have to poop here," Kurzadh said, patting the latrine's wooden planks, to the greenskins who had gathered to watch the commotion.
The surrounding greenskins looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.
Since Kurzadh came to the tribe, the greenskins had developed the habit of bathing—every evening, the hot spring pool by the palisade was crowded with greenskins , scrubbing away dirt with soap pods. The pungent stench that used to permeate the tribe had long since faded considerably.
However, the habit of relieving themselves anywhere seemed to be ingrained, and whether it was by the wooden huts, near the palisade, or around the mushroom field, greenskins could always be seen taking care of business casually.
Kurzadh himself had stepped on "landmines" several times—once, going out in the morning, he had only walked two steps when he felt something sticky under his foot. Looking down, he nearly vomited. Another time, going to the Lumber Yard, he was almost tripped by "unidentified objects" casually left by the hobgoblin Boys by a tree.
In fact, the tribe had specialized "dung carriers," which were the goblin. Every day, they would gather these excretions and pile them at the edge of the tribe, and then nothing more would happen—they would either dry naturally or be washed away by rain, dirty and smelly, and prone to breeding insects.
"Why do we have to poop here? I'm pretty comfortable pooping by a tree," a hobgoblin boy scratched his head, voicing everyone's thoughts.
Kurzadh had already anticipated they would say this. He cleared his throat and deliberately raised his voice: "Because Gork and Mork like clean greenskins ! Whoever comes to the latrine to poop, Gork and Mork will bless him to be better at fighting and grow stronger!"
At these words, the greenskins instantly erupted.
Since Kurzadh evolved into a hobgoblin, led them to defeat the ratmen, and helped many greenskins evolve into elites, the idea that "Kurzadh is Gork and Mork's God's herald" had long been deeply rooted in every greenskin's heart.
In their eyes, what Kurzadh said was what Gork and Mork wanted them to do. Let alone coming to the latrine to poop, even if he told them to fight the dwarves head-on, they would dare.
"I want to go! I want Gork and Mork to bless me!" A hobgoblin boy was the first to rush over, pulling open the latrine's wooden door and squeezing inside.
"I'm going too! I'm cleaner than him!" Another hobgoblin also rushed over, not forgetting to push the boy in front of him.
"Don't push! There's enough for everyone! Gork and Mork will bless all of us!" The greenskins scrambled around the latrine, their initially indifferent attitude instantly turning into a rush to "show off," which made Kurzadh secretly smile.
He watched this scene with satisfaction, pondering—the tribe now had over three hundred greenskins , and one latrine would definitely not be enough. In a couple of days, he would have the goblin build one each in the western and northern parts of the tribe. By then, the entire tribe would be able to completely bid farewell to the days of "relieving themselves anywhere."
Just then, a light green curtain of light suddenly popped up before his eyes, and the system's notification sound rang out:
Congratulations, host, for independently creating a building. Building template is being generated...
Building Name: Latrine
Function: Can produce 1 ton of greenskin fertilizer per month. After use, mushroom field growth rate increases by 17%
Maintenance Requirements: goblin × 15 (responsible for cleaning and maintenance)
Kurzadh was stunned, then overjoyed.
He had built the latrine simply to improve the tribe's sanitation, but he hadn't expected to unexpectedly gain "greenskin fertilizer"! One had to know that it was winter now, and while the mushroom field's yield was not low, it was affected by the season, growing slowly.
With this fertilizer, an increase of 17% in growth rate per month meant that even in the cold winter, the mushroom field's yield would not decrease, and might even be higher! This meant that the tribe's food reserves would be more abundant, able to feed more greenskins , which was a pleasant surprise.
"Damn it, this is a good deal!" Kurzadh patted the latrine's wooden planks, his eyes gleaming.
The maintenance cost of 15 goblin was not high, but it could exchange for a stable fertilizer output. It was a good deal no matter how you looked at it.
He could already imagine the scene: the mushrooms in the mushroom field growing big and plump, the greenskins eating their fill every day, working with more vigor, and fighting more bravely.
The surrounding greenskins were still bickering over the latrine, while the hobgoblin Laborers, under Scarface's command, began to clear the snow around the latrine, preparing to welcome their upcoming "work."
Kurzadh stood still, watching the scene before him, but his mind began to ponder another matter—building a latrine was just a small experiment. Since the system could recognize independently created buildings, could he perhaps do something else?
He stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping over the statue of Gork and Mork in the center of the tribe, then looking at the Lumber Yard and quarry in the distance—among the building upgrade options previously given by the system, there were large Lumber Yards, large quarries, and a large statue of Gork and Mork that could train shamans.
Although the tribe's resources were not yet enough to upgrade all buildings, with proper planning and the fertilizer benefits from the latrine, it wouldn't be long before they could gather enough materials for upgrades.
"Next, it's time for a big project!" Kurzadh muttered softly, a glimmer of anticipation in his green eyes.
He had already decided: first, concentrate resources to upgrade the mushroom field to ensure more abundant food reserves; then, upgrade the Lumber Yard and quarry to increase the output of wood and stone; finally, upgrade the statue of Gork and Mork to unlock shaman training functionality.
Once all these were completed, the Blackrock Clan would truly be able to advance from a "small village" towards a "large village." By then, he would be able to consider establishing secondary territories, and plant the Blackrock Clan's flag in every corner of the Forest of Gloom!
The cold wind still howled, but it could not extinguish the warmth in Kurzadh's heart.