The Forest Feeds No Idle Goblins

"I have some. Want any, Green Egg?" Caocao extended a hand, her palm full of gingerbread.

Shire grabbed a small handful and tossed a piece into his mouth. "The defensive fortifications are in place, Broken Tooth is on daily patrol, the goblin soldiers are stepping up their training, we have plenty of potions, and we’ve also stockpiled Hand Grenade Fruits."

He chewed on the gingerbread with a CRUNCH, CRUNCH, mumbling indistinctly, ’They probably won’t come looking for me, right?’

"Nine-finger." Shire called out to his subordinate who was working up ahead. "In a bit, take some men, go to the stone chamber up front and carry 40 Brain-Eating Monsters to the small room next to the Hand Grenade Fruits."

"Yes, Chief." Nine-finger nodded in response.

"Remember to seal that room," Shire added as a reminder. He couldn’t let the Brain-Eating Monsters get out; that would be a huge mess.

For the past few days, the brains of all sorts of prey had been used to feed the Brain-Eating Monsters. As a result, these "big fat cats" had actually reproduced, and their numbers had grown considerably.

The goblins in the clan all loved to feed them and would cuddle them while playing. The one who loved petting the Brain-Eating Monsters the most was, surprisingly, Red Eyes.

Shire could only say that the mind of a madman knows no bounds, and a fool is never short on fun.

Not far away, a few little goblins flew over. They were back to trade planted Red Bulls for honey syrup. The Red Bulls had been growing splendidly these days, which meant the goblins could once again have chunks of Red Bull in their lunch.

"My friends, it’s a pleasure to see you again." He smiled and walked toward the little goblins.

...

"Send them to Torch City?"

In Black Lion City, inside Valentine Castle, Philip sat on a sofa, leisurely drinking coffee.

"Yes. The Count’s intention is to transport a batch of Gold Coins to Torch City in half a month. It would be best to use this opportunity to send the little goblin along as well." Captain of the Guard Yu Le explained, standing to the side.

"Isn’t Torch City quite chaotic right now?" Philip set down his cup, his eyes fixed on the map of the Fran Kingdom on the wall.

After the Merlot Clan was executed for treason, Torch City and its surrounding territories were temporarily reclaimed by the Royal Family. They’ve since appointed a group of new administrators.

"The Count says that while Torch City is chaotic, Plantagenet City is even more so. At a time like this, going to Torch City is better than going to the Royal Capital." Yu Le immediately refilled Philip’s coffee.

"Half a month should be enough time," Philip said with a nod.

"But, Young Master," Yu Le paused for a moment before speaking, "we haven’t heard from Matel and his men for three days."

"A stray dog eats a little meat and suddenly thinks it’s a wolf." Philip picked up his coffee cup and snorted. "Draft a Reprimand Order. If they still can’t find the little goblins, order the Public Security Bureau to expel them. They are never to set foot in the Valentine Clan’s territory again."

"Yes, Young Master." Yu Le placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly. "But you know the character of people like them. I fear a Reprimand Order may not be very effective. If they bungle this, it could lead to the Count reprimanding you."

"You’re right," Philip nodded slightly. "These gutter rats are always more of a hindrance than a help."

"Yu Le, be prepared. If they run into any trouble, we may need to lead the Knight Order into the forest ourselves." He turned to Captain of the Guard Yu Le, his tone calm.

"But Young Master, the forest is dangerous. Are you certain you want to go yourself?" Yu Le took a step forward, trying to dissuade him.

"If those gutter rats can come and go from the forest as they please, is your Knight Order afraid? Afraid of the Magical Beasts and goblins in the forest?" Philip glanced at the Captain of the Guard.

"I understand. I’ll go draft the Reprimand Order at once," Yu Le said, straightening up and speaking seriously.

He then walked out of the reception room, gently closing the door behind him.

Philip sipped his coffee while gazing at the kingdom map on the wall.

On the map, Valentine County bordered the Nightmare Forest to the north. To the far south, at the mouth of the Darren River, was a small area less than a fifth the size of his own domain. That was where Torch City was located, the former territory of Baron Merlot.

’Father is truly greedy, wanting to extend our domain all the way down the Darren River to the sea,’ he thought, holding his coffee cup as he rose and walked to the map. ’Still, the future really is a golden opportunity for our clan to rise.’

’From a Border Count to a Duke, perhaps even an Elector... We must seize this chance.’ A smile slowly spread across Philip’s face as if he were envisioning the glory of inheriting the title of Duke. But the smile soon faded. ’We haven’t even found the little goblins yet, and we’re already dreaming of elevating our status.’

CRASH! He violently slammed his coffee cup onto the floor. "Rats."

The sound of the shattering cup startled a maid. She pushed the door halfway open, peeked in, and asked respectfully, "Young Master, is something wrong? Is there anything I can do?"

Philip didn’t spare her a glance, just tossed out a single sentence as he walked straight out: "Clean this room."

The maid clasped her hands, bowed her head, and waited respectfully for Philip’s footsteps to fade away before immediately grabbing her tools and entering the reception room to clean.

She sat on the floor and leaned over, wiping at the pool of coffee on the ground with a cloth.

"Ah!" the maid cried out, snatching her hand back. A bloody cut had appeared; she had been cut on the palm by a shard from the cup.

But she had no time to tend to the wound properly. Not knowing if someone else might come to visit Young Master Philip, she needed to clean up the mess in front of her as quickly as possible.

The maid skillfully took a white cloth from her person and wrapped it around her palm. After confirming it wasn’t a serious injury, she endured the pain and continued to clean up the shards and spilled coffee.

Soon, the floor was sparkling clean again.

Seeing that Young Master Philip had not returned, she let out a long breath and turned to look around the reception room.

"The petals will fall, what shall we do? We must find a way..." A lovely singing voice drifted from the inner part of the reception room.

The maid tiptoed inside. A little goblin was sitting on a gilded bird perch, singing softly.

The maid picked up a nearby pitcher and filled the small basin on the perch with honeyed water.

"Yun Xiya, I’m sorry. I was busy and forgot," she said apologetically.

"You’re hurt." The little goblin looked at the red blood seeping through the white cloth wrapped around the maid’s hand. She reached out her hands and cupped the maid’s palm.

Cyan starlight began to emanate from her hands. A breeze stirred, and the points of light spun and danced around the maid’s hand like mischievous fireflies. A few seconds later, the maid discovered, to her amazement, that her palm no longer hurt.

She unwrapped the cloth and found the wound had healed completely.

"Thank you, Yun Xiya," the maid said. She stuffed the bloodstained cloth back into her pocket and looked up to see the little goblin once again leaning against the metal pole of the perch, staring blankly out the window.

The maid glanced around and saw a pot of pansies on the windowsill, but the flowers were somewhat withered.

She walked over, plucked one, and brought it back to the little goblin. "Here, Yun Xiya."

Yun Xiya grasped the stem with both hands. A flash of green starlight followed, and the flower, which had been on the verge of wilting, was miraculously restored to life.

"Yun Xiya, I think you could try being a little more obedient next time." The maid looked at the little goblin, choosing her words carefully. "After all, you wouldn’t have to suffer torture then."

"No. I will not yield," Yun Xiya said firmly.

"But it’s so painful," the maid said, frowning in an attempt to persuade her. Every time she eavesdropped from outside and heard the little goblin’s screams, it made her hair stand on end. "If you just give in a little, sing a song for the Young Master, you wouldn’t have to..."

"I will not sing for him. I never will," Yun Xiya said, enunciating each word.

"Sigh..." The maid sighed and stopped trying to persuade her.

The little goblin hugged the flower and continued to lean against the perch, staring vacantly at the sky outside the window.

She just kept looking, silent and unmoving, like an inanimate object. But her lively eyes proved she was still alive.

Outside the window, a few sparrows flew past with a FLUTTER of wings.

A single teardrop escaped from the corner of her eye and rolled down her cheek.

"Father, Mother, Shan Xi Ao," she murmured in a low voice.