The Forest Feeds No Idle Goblins

"So, that guy jumped into the underground river right after he ate his fill?" Shire rubbed his face as he carefully questioned Buck Teeth.

Buck Teeth, with a look that showed he had no idea what the Naga was thinking, nodded. "Yes. I asked around. When he jumped into the water, he said it was nap time. After that, all I heard was BUBBLE BUBBLE."

"Nap time?" Shire frowned. ’Is this guy really a Prince of the Naga Race? It feels like he’s just here to freeload.’

But he quickly shook his head. ’He’s probably not an impostor. The Mother Tree would be able to tell, after all.’

"Leader, what’s our next move?" Buck Teeth asked. He had other things to do this afternoon, and since this situation seemed a bit complicated, he decided to get clear instructions.

"Just go on with your work," Shire said, waving his hand to dismiss his subordinate. ’I’ll ignore him for now and focus on planning the tribe’s next steps.’

He took out a notebook, spread it open on the table, and began to think about their future development. ’The Rune Mortar calibration needs daily monitoring. No one else can keep detailed data logs, so I have to do it myself. As for the shoes and Armor, I’ll have to get Mary to hurry things along...’

Shire was diligently taking notes. After a moment, just as he was about to send someone to see if that Naga should perhaps change his name to "Chen Sinks-to-the-Bottom," a faint scraping of scales sounded from outside the stone house. A moment later, a still slightly damp Pazani appeared at the entrance.

Shan Xi Ao, who was fluttering nearby, said with a sour look on his face, "My big bro is in here. You can go in. Next time you’re wet, stay away from those ’Red Bulls’."

With that, he flew off on his own.

Pazani tilted his head to watch the little goblin fly away, then said, "So you are here, Goblin Leader."

"You’re awake?" Shire set down his pen and looked toward the doorway. "Come in if you have something to discuss."

Pazani ducked his head to squeeze into the stone house. He surveyed the room for a few seconds before speaking. "Not bad. But it’s nothing compared to our underwater Royal Palace."

Shire chuckled. ’Just what you’d expect from someone who hasn’t even completed his coming-of-age trial.’ He looked at Pazani and asked, "Can we talk now?"

"Yes," Pazani said, pulling out a Pocket Watch to check the time. "I’m five minutes late. It took some time to find you. I’ll have to make up for it before the afternoon ends."

"Er, don’t tell me you’ve been sleeping this whole time," Shire said, growing ever more certain that this Prince was completely unreliable.

"I have. The underground river was a bit cold, though, so I didn’t sleep very well," Pazani replied nonchalantly.

The corner of Shire’s mouth twitched. ’You didn’t sleep well, yet you stayed down there until now?’

Pazani looked at the goblin before him and frowned slightly. "That was my rest period. Work must be done during its designated time. Now is the time for work."

"You mentioned your people were under threat?" Shire asked, his tone hesitant.

"Yes. The situation is rather difficult. We are being threatened by a powerful group of goblins." Pazani’s tone was grave, as if to prove he wasn’t joking. "I must apologize for my earlier behavior. I wasn’t mentally prepared. When the Mother Tree told me I had to seek aid from a group of goblins, I was... resistant."

"No, hold on," Shire said, waving his hand. He couldn’t quite comprehend this Naga’s "Face-Changing" ability. "Your people are under a serious threat, and yet you..."

He gestured toward the Pocket Watch in Pazani’s pocket, leaving the rest of his question unsaid.

Pazani glanced down at his pocket, then said sternly, "Yes, my people’s problems are very serious. But that does not interfere with my personal schedule. During work hours, I will give our urgent problems my most serious consideration. But my rest time must not be wasted, either."

Shire’s mouth twitched as he let out an exasperated puff of air. ’So, he’s a nine-to-five Naga Prince. Work is work, and rest is rest. "I’ll handle my people’s life-or-death crisis on the clock, but that won’t interfere with my regularly scheduled meals and naps."’

’I’m so tempted to tell this Naga right now: "Sorry, our tribe is far too weak to solve your crisis. You should use your ’work hours’ to hurry back. Maybe you’ll even make it back to see the Mother Tree before ’quitting time’ this afternoon."’

However, after a moment’s thought, he decided to suppress his annoyance and patiently hear the prince out.

Seeing the Goblin Leader across from him make a "go on" gesture, Pazani’s expression became serious once more. "The elders sent me. For the longest time, we made offerings to nature, but we received no response. It was only in the last two months that nature’s will finally answered. To resolve our problems completely, I must walk this path of trials."

"You said before that a group of goblins is threatening you?" Seeing that the "nine-to-five prince" was finally talking sense, Shire slowly reined in his own emotions. He had to admit, he was impressed by the Naga’s ability to switch so naturally between his two states. It reminded him of an old colleague from his department at his old company. No matter how drained he was after lunch, no matter how much his face sagged with exhaustion, the moment a work call came in, he would answer, full of vigor, "Hello, this is he. How can I help you?"

’I’m half-tempted to ask the Naga Prince across the table, ’Old Chen, is that you? Did you get transmigrated, too?’’

But he quickly dismissed the thought. The prince clearly wasn’t who he imagined.

"Correct. Those goblins attack us without provocation, and they can even go underwater." Pazani gesticulated, trying his best to describe the enemies his people were facing.

"As far as I know, goblins aren’t good swimmers. And," Shire paused before continuing, "you Naga seem quite large. Goblins shouldn’t pose much of a threat to you."

"No, Leader," Pazani said, waving his hands frantically. "Those goblins wear strange leather suits that let them swim with ease. They move like snakes in the water, and they hardly seem to need to breathe."

Seeing Shire narrow his eyes in thought, Pazani waited a few seconds before adding, "Those goblins from the Feathered Serpent Kingdom also tame giant lizards. The lizards possess a petrification Ability, and our Water Magic can barely harm them."

"Wait," Shire held up a hand, cutting him off. "Are you saying the ones attacking you are goblins from the Feathered Serpent Kingdom?"

"Yes." Pazani nodded. "And what’s more..."

He thought for a moment, then fixed his eyes on the goblin across from him and said:

"I’ve discovered that they seem to be marching south."