Chapter 29: War Looms!
The goblins overnight became a race capable of mining materials that could prove far more valuable than ore, and as the day progressed, they had managed to make three more forges.
Byung oversaw the construction and didn’t partake directly in it. All mining was put on hold for now until they could make as many tools as they could.
He understood the importance of this, and things were going accordingly. Murkfang summoned Byung to speak to him in private.
It was clear this goblin wasn’t going to be treated like the rest because everyone now knew he was special.
"How did you learn all of this?" Murkfang asked right away, but Byung was skeptical because whatever he said, he doubted it would make sense to this creature before him.
If he told him he was from another world, Murkfang would definitely ridicule him.
This meant he had to think of a believable lie, but either way, Byung wanted to explore the farms.
He knew there were goblins assigned to the farms and wondered if he could help them too.
However, there was no doubt he was more useful here right now, and this was in regards to their very future.
"I learn fast," Byung muttered under his breath, out of breath from the labor he had just done.
"These things you have done... I promised you, you will be rewarded," Murkfang said, pausing briefly as if to reassure Byung his words weren’t just words.
"It nothing... I make goblins stronger... stronger than orcs," Byung reiterated his ambition, and Murkfang smiled upon hearing this because he believed every word out of his mouth.
The goblins outside were busy building more forges, and this would no doubt create a new branch and line of work.
These goblins would be assigned to making forges, and it was all possible thanks to Byung.
He gave them the blueprint to create these forges because Byung knew he couldn’t do it all alone.
In a day or two, they should have the necessary tools they would need to not only work, but in a week, they should be able to meet their quota—even though they would still need a miracle.
"Hahaha! Do you really think we can be stronger than them? We cannot even reproduce as we want," Murkfang had to remind him of their reality.
A few weapons were fine and dandy, as they would be able to protect themselves, but this wasn’t why the goblins chose this path.
If they fought and died, even with women to give birth to their kids, it would be near impossible for them to replenish lost numbers due to their low-quality semen and the death rate of the women who bore their children.
If there was a way to correct this, then there would be a chance for the goblins to resist all of this.
"Wrong... We strong together," Byung informed him once again, and Murkfang chuckled at his response.
"You’re right," Murkfang conceded. This young goblin reminded him that as long as they were alive, there was a chance.
But Byung wanted to explore the world, and it became apparent the orcs would prove a problem to his conquest.
"I want... more," Byung muttered under his breath, but unknown to him, Murkfang heard him.
-
The day ended and night came. The attacked mine was back on track, and the goblins that were fit enough to work quickly got back to it.
They worked their hardest because they had a job to do, even though night had come.
The work had to continue, but then something happened—two of the injured goblins succumbed to their injuries.
They were pronounced dead, and this effectively changed everything because it meant the orcs had now spilled their blood.
The single pact that kept everything in order had changed with that single event, because this meant the goblins no longer had to obey the rules.
The goblins were angry. Borg might have manipulated the narrative to his superiors, but the goblins knew the truth.
The supervisors decided to keep the goblins’ deaths under wraps until morning because they knew it would affect morale.
The night was a long one, because security was amped up to the max. The workforce was thinned out, but it had to do for now.
They cleared out the minerals, but not everything. There was no way a single orc could clean out the mines, which meant the news that left these mines was false.
Drekk arrived soon after. The fact that he had journeyed all day showed his seriousness in this situation.
He traveled during the day and into the night without rest, but he was alone. This was how he was able to move fast—because he didn’t have to cater to a force.
Drekk unmounted the horse. An assault on the scale they claimed should no doubt bear casualties.
He had a taste of Borg’s strength, and if they sent someone like him out here, this would mean Borg was strong enough to handle him.
Drekk knew that orcs might be strong, but there was no way one of theirs would attack a mine and beat everyone easily without killing a few.
The goblins were feared in the past for a reason.
Drekk noticed someone had attacked this place, but the damage wasn’t extensive. He also saw the goblins had gathered the leftover ores.
"Oh," Drekk muttered under his breath. This made a lot more sense, and Drekk noticed there were a few things out of place.
The supervisors were anxious, and one finally spotted him.
He had to rub his eyes twice to make sure he was seeing what he thought.
"M-Mogul!" the supervisor exclaimed, but Drekk was impressed they were still working this late.
"Tell me everything that happened," Drekk commanded, and the goblin took him into the shed where the two bodies lay.
The look of sadness was evident on his face, but Drekk’s lips curled from ear to ear.
"I have my war."