"I thought the Xyrrh are ant people?" Galthor asked Karathra as they were led into the castle by humans.

Now, looking down at the humans, Galthor couldn't help but marvel at the new world he found himself in. He was previously a human, but now they looked like puny things before his eyes and height.

"They are, but they also like to keep slaves, especially since they live underground. They use their slaves during negotiations and diplomatic relationships the most," Karathra said.

The way the Xyrrh people built their castle looked like an anthill. They had no towns, at least not on the surface, as their territory was dominated by a sand castle built on a man-made hill.

The castle was made of dry mud and filled with countless holes.

And in the Divine World, slavery wasn't outlawed. At least not generally. There were some gods that were against it and outlawed it in their territories, but there wasn't any universal law against it.

A whole race was enslaved after all. Lots of races were enslaved, so it wasn't really a new thing.

Galthor just found it strange to see a human slave since humans were one of the major races with countless gods of their own. They were a formidable race, and their Region was one no one wanted to confront if given the choice.

"But why humans? Won't that cause... international troubles?" Galthor asked.

Karathra shrugged. "Why would it, when it was the humans who sold them? Slavery is a profitable business. Look at us barbarians, each one of us could be sold off for lots of gold. If not for the fact that this Region is rich in resources, we would all be scattered throughout because the overseers would have sold the lot of us."

Galthor didn't need the divine connection to feel the anger coming off her. "I see."

They didn't say anything more about it as they were led into the throne room. At present, there was no one else there apart from the humans who stood to one side and waited with their hands behind their backs.

"The Xyrrh like to live underground. They only send their slaves up here to manage things, and they only come up if it's important," Karathra explained when she saw him looking at the empty hall. "The town might seem empty as well, but that's only because they are deep underground. If you check, they might just burst out from the ground."

'...so many races with their own ways of doing things!..' Galthor nodded.

But Karathra wasn't done. "Their society is very colony-like, just like ants. They have a single queen that gave birth to all of them, but unlike ants, the queen is the absolute ruler. It's one of her sons that leads the banner here."

Karathra didn't seem to mind, and she openly spoke about them, as what she was saying was common knowledge.

"Are they legacy-blessed then? Their race?" Galthor asked.

But Karathra shook her head. "No. The queen herself is an entity. Which type? I don't know, but she came from an Abyssal land. In fact, in the past, lots of races had trouble with them, and they always fought, but somehow, the Xyrrh have the uncanny ability to always come out on top.

"They are also a major backer of the Howling. That's why it's not surprising to find them here."

That word struck Galthor. It seemed everyone had a bigger, larger backer out there. Like the Winged people, they only sent one of their Jaded Lords here, the same as the Xyrrh. What about the Kobolds? They were likely the same.

But Galthor didn't have the time to ask her more questions as the door rumbled open and the Xyrrh banner lord came in.

When Galthor saw him, he was suddenly at a loss, because he couldn't differentiate him from the others at the back. Only because he was taking the lead did he think he was the leader.

Their steps were entirely silent, just like ants, as they filled the throne room, surrounded it, and the leader sat.

Galthor and Karathra watched this without speaking until she leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "Only the nobility and royalty of their kind can speak language."

"You are absolutely right!" The voice came from the Xyrrh that sat on the throne, his dark shell glittering like polished metal and his unblinking eyes fixed on them. The claws on his jaws opened and closed as he spoke. "Only us, that are strong in mind and in spirit, that are above, can speak like this. All thanks to the grace of our Mother!"

As he said "Mother," all the ants around, including their human slaves, raised their hands and bowed their heads.

Galthor had never seen anything so uncanny. He cleared his throat. "I see. Lord..."

"I am called Doveling," Lord Doveling said.

Galthor opened his mouth and then paused, blinking. He's called what now?

"Ahaha!" Lord Doveling laughed. "You people always attach great importance to names, but to us, it's only a means of identification. Why, even one of the most respected of our kind is called Lord Rock!"

Galthor didn't know what to think, but he couldn't help secretly criticizing the Xyrrh in his mind. '...why won't you just give yourself any names? You all look the same!..'

"I must admit, it's much easier if one doesn't have to think hard to give names to things," Galthor admitted out loud, his face showing none of his thinking.

"Just so! Naming things is one of the cultures we adopted among the beings here, and it's helpful when you don't have to only recognize people by their scents alone!" His antennae twitched wildly as he said this.

Galthor once again nodded his head, but he gave no reply, and the room soon fell into silence.

But Lord Doveling continued. "I am assuming that you are here for the barbarian master?"

Galthor looked at him calmly. "Just so. I want her back."

They stared at each other, both unblinking.

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