Chapter 432: Chapter 340: Danger is Coming (2)

"The elders discussed it. They did have this concern at first." The fleshy tendrils by Pazani’s mouth trembled as he smiled. "But I told them we don’t have anywhere else to run. We can’t just shrink back into the underground rivers, can we? Besides, you’re the subject of a revelation the Naga Race received when worshipping nature. This is completely different from the situation a thousand years ago. The Mother Tree believes so as well. The elders and I may not be certain, but the Mother Tree has lived for so long, she definitely is."

Hearing Pazani’s words, Shire exhaled with a smile. "Fair enough. If nothing else, the goblin Race needs to cooperate with you as well. To other Races, goblins are far weaker. A single human Warrior can easily deal with several goblins. If we want to survive, our only choice is to build good relationships with other Races, uniting our strength to grow more powerful."

"If we were to betray our pact, the humans wouldn’t spare the goblins."

"So what’s the plan when the time comes? Do we attack them directly?" Pazani asked tentatively.

"Just as we agreed, your people will only help me with reconnaissance. If the humans actually reach Darren Lake and come ashore, we will handle everything that follows. The Naga Race will not join the fight." Shire reiterated the battle plan they had discussed. As soon as he’d received Mary’s intelligence report, he’d immediately sent someone to contact Pazani in Darren Lake and lay out their cooperative strategy.

"What if..."

"Don’t worry," Shire said, waving a hand to cut the Naga Prince off. "I think we can handle this for now. In fact, we *must* handle it. If we don’t crush these humans in a decisive, head-on confrontation, there will be even more trouble later. Besides, exposing the Naga Race to humanity right now might just attract more powerful foes. Those High Tier Mages are probably still looking for you, right?"

There was one point Shire hadn’t explained to Pazani: it was currently a time of divine war. This Holy Order Army unit had charged into the Nightmare Forest abruptly and recklessly. After defeating them, the War God Church likely wouldn’t waste more precious forces on probing attacks. After all, who would expect a divine war to break out in the Nightmare Forest?

"Alright," Pazani said, pondering for a moment before nodding heavily. "In that case, Shire, you have to be careful. If you need to run, run. Don’t you have that Teleportation Gate? If things get out of hand, just use it to hide. If that army can’t find you, maybe they’ll just leave."

"Let’s hope so." Shire’s gaze drifted north, in the direction of Darren Lake. He knew in his heart, however, that such an outcome was unlikely. ’The goblins have already begun to level the land, and a portion of the South District is already cleared. There’s no way these signs of construction will escape the eyes of the Holy Order Army. They won’t let the goblins off that easily.’

’I have to find a way to deal with this Holy Order Army detachment here. I can’t let them escape with any news about the Goblin Kingdom.’

In his previous life’s memories, Shire recalled occasionally hearing legends of a Goblin Kingdom. But they were only legends—at most, they were just stories people told in their leisure time to poke fun at the high-and-mighty nobles and kings.

But if news that a Goblin Kingdom truly existed were to spread, it would inevitably attract the attention of certain powerful individuals.

Shire glanced around him. Goblins were everywhere, working feverishly and swinging their tools to build this city of their own. Sweat dripped from every goblin’s face, and in the cold of winter, steam rose from their bodies. Perhaps they worked for a safe city to call home. Perhaps they worked to trade their hard-earned Silver Coins for a bit of Light Beer. Or perhaps it was simply for a steaming bowl of Forest Soup the next morning, so hot it would make them break a sweat.

"What’s coming will come," Shire said, narrowing his eyes. "Sooner or later, it makes no difference. Good thing we aren’t weak."

As he finished speaking, his gaze drifted into the distance where the Elephant Lord was leading its herd. They stomped the earth continuously, leaving a flat, packed road in their wake.

* * *

"Vice... Commander." Inside the ship’s cabin, a Holy Order Warrior tentatively addressed Lingard. "Are we really not going to try and contact the Grand Commander again?"

"What are you afraid of?" Lingard turned his head, shooting the man a sideways glance.

"No, I’m not afraid," the Warrior said, puffing out his chest. His Armor let out a metallic clang. "It’s just that we’re up against an Evil God this time. With something this important, I think it would be better to report it."

"If I could contact her, I would have already," Lingard snapped. "That short... The Grand Commander is never around. She returns to the garrison, stays for a few months, and then vanishes again to who-knows-where. The only way to reach her is by posting notices at the various churches scattered across the continent."

"Those in the know understand she has business to attend to. Anyone else would think the Grand Commander of our Holy Order Army was a world traveler."

"Then..." The Warrior hesitated.

"Just do as I say. Remember the Blood Oath you swore before the idol of the War God: for your honor and your faith, protect the weak and crush evil." Lingard’s piercing gaze swept across the Holy Order Warrior’s face. The moment their eyes met, the warrior lowered his head in shame. "This Evil God is a malevolent creature. It has disrupted human activity, and I am certain that many human Adventurers have lost their lives to it. Slaying the Evil God and proclaiming its defeat to the world so that all may know the glory of the War God—that is our mission as the Holy Order Army."

"Or are you saying you’re not a worthy Holy Order Warrior? Have you forgotten your Blood Oath?" he asked, turning to the warrior and poking a finger into his chest.

"I will always remember my Blood Oath. I will never forget it." The Holy Order Warrior puffed out his chest again.

"Very good. The Divine Being remembers all." Lingard nodded, patting the warrior on the shoulder.

"So, Commander, the earlier reports also mentioned a large horde of goblins serving the Evil God. What should we do about them?"

"Just goblins?" Lingard gave a contemptuous laugh. "Filthy-blooded, stinking little green-skins. Just kill them all."

"Don’t let a single one get away," he said, smiling as he clenched his fist. "In fact, I have an idea. If we pile up all those goblin heads and place the Evil God’s skull on the very top, it will surely be a sight to stun the world."

"That..." The warrior hesitated. He pictured the scene in his mind and couldn’t help but shudder.

"Hm?" Lingard shot him a look. "Are you sympathizing with those vile creatures?"

"No, Commander, I am not! To crush evil is our oath. I will not forget it. Not a single one of those goblins will survive," the Holy Order Warrior declared loudly.

"Leave. Report to me again when we arrive." Lingard waved his hand, dismissing the man.

’An oath?’ he thought, looking out the cabin window. The forests on both sides of the Darren River were lush and green, and birdsong drifted from the trees. ’If I don’t eliminate this Evil God, how can I petition the Bishop to become the new Grand Commander?’

’Only when I present the Evil God’s head to the world will everyone know my name. Only then can I legitimately become the Grand Commander of the Holy Order Army. The Bishop has already named me a Chosen One. As long as I win this divine war, any price will be worth it.’

As he thought this, he reached out, his hand gripping the air at his waist as he slowly performed the motion of drawing a blade. ’So what if she has three "Spiritual Artifact" Longswords? When it comes to Swordsmanship, I’m not that far behind her.’

Lingard held his arm level, his palm curled as if gripping something. Yet, there was nothing to be seen; he appeared to be clutching a handful of air.

"After this, we’ll see who still dares to call me ’Vice Commander’ to my face." With that, he swung his hand. CLATTER! The ropes and other items hanging on the cabin wall fell to the floor. The ropes appeared to have been sliced by something, the cuts exceptionally smooth and clean.

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