Lord: Starting from a Goblin Nest

”Then who made these?” Ron asked, pointing to another set of prints.

Even though they were covered by countless Lizardman claw prints, the tracks were too distinct to ignore.

They were boot prints.

”One of them is tall and heavy,” Delaford said, rushing over when he heard Ron’s discovery. ”And the other is very short and light.”

”I can’t tell much about the other two. They seem to be about the same build as you all.”

”It’s obvious these people ordered the Lizardmen to fight us,” Victoria said, looking down at the tracks. Her tone was unreadable.

”Going down?” Klade asked, walking over.

Ron closed his eyes, considering. ”We’re going down. We have to find out what’s happened.”

”If there are no other exits, they might still be in there,” Delaford reminded his companions. ”Weapons ready!”

”You heard him! Look sharp, everyone!” Klade shouted, then took the lead and jumped down.

Victoria and Aive followed right after. Ron and Delaford went next, and the Goblin Hunters brought up the rear.

These hunters had just survived a brutal fight and taken some losses, but every last one who was still breathing followed them down.

The reason was simple: they had discovered their enemies weren’t that strong. This was their chance to prove their courage!

The first part of the Lizardman nest was simple; their limited intelligence wasn’t enough for them to build a complex network of tunnels. But the deeper they went, the more intricate the structure became.

”Looks like they found some ancient ruins or a tomb,” Klade snorted with a hint of jealousy.

Just as he’d said, a huge stone door appeared before them as they ventured deeper.

The door wasn’t closed but stood wide open. Ron peered inside but saw nothing in the pitch-black darkness.

”It’s that Elf!” Aive said coldly. ”What’s he doing here?”

”Weren’t they supposed to cross the Delusional Land to get to the other side?” Victoria asked, confused. ”Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

”An Elf, a Tiffling, a Dwarf, and a human barbarian. That’s a hard combination to forget,” Aive said, looking at Ron.

”So, what’s the plan? Do we just charge in?”

”Don’t be rash,” Ron said, glancing at Victoria. ”Technically, we’re still colleagues. Let’s just walk over. We might be able to get some information out of them.”

”Besides, we have the numerical advantage right now, don’t we?”

”Numerically, yes,” Aive mused, ”but he still has a few Lizardmen with him—oh, wait. The injured one was just killed. It’s on the ground.”

”Let’s go see,” Ron said with a nod, then turned to Klade. ”Captain, I need you and your men to wait here. If a fight breaks out, we’ll be counting on you.”

”Go on, don’t worry about us,” Klade said, baring his gleaming canines. ”I hope you can’t come to an agreement. I really like this place. It’d make a great base of operations.”

’Building on flat land in a pass and having to live among other intelligent races is just too unconventional.’ Klade much preferred a place like this, one that was obviously perfect for a Goblin Nest.

”Hurry up! You idiots!”

As Ron’s group drew closer, they heard a familiar voice berating his followers.

”That human’s party arrived three days late, then wasted another three days dawdling on the outskirts! Even with all that time, you still haven’t found what I’m looking for! At this rate, they’re going to beat us to it, and we won’t get a single copper!”

”Enough! You noisy pest!” Sera, Chieftain of the Ocher Tribe, slammed the iron shovel she was holding onto the ground and glared furiously at the Elf, Ming Datiss. ”I’ve had enough of you ordering me around!”

”I was supposed to cross the Delusional Land and settle down in the town on the other side! Instead, you’ve got us digging around in this sunless tomb! What are you playing at?!”

”I don’t mind either way,” Quest shrugged. ”I’ve hedged my bets. If you keep squawking like this, I’ll just go join Ron.”

”Join that human? Go on, then! I’m not stopping you—Hey! How long have you been standing there watching?!”

Ming Datiss was still arguing with Quest when he turned and spotted Ron’s group standing at the entrance.

”Aha! I should have known! You must have used those stupid Lizardmen! Otherwise, you’d never have found me!” Ming Datiss yelled furiously at Ron.

”Oh? And here I thought you led us here on purpose. Was I wrong?” Ron said, leaning against the large stone door.

”Long time no see, the clever Mr. Ming Datiss. Or should I say, the *too-clever-for-his-own-good* Mr. Ming Datiss?”

”We’re here now, just as you wished. So, is there anything you’d like to say? For instance, you could tell me what you’ve been up to and what your goal is.”

”What have I done?” Ming Datiss laughed, but there was a trace of anger in the sound. ”I haven’t done anything. I merely revealed their true desires to that fool Harlek and the other refugees, then hired a band of robbers from the Gobi Desert to the west.”

”I thought I could take control of the entire Pioneer Corps that way, forge a force that answered only to me! I never expected you lot to pop out of nowhere and ruin my plan!”

”But no matter. I can find new slaves here. They’re so stupid they’ll obey my every command!”

”Is that so?” Ron’s gaze shifted to Sera. ”And what about you, Chieftain of the Ocher Tribe? What are your thoughts?”

”As you can see, this Elf is an egomaniac and a control freak. He wants to devour this land all for himself, Sera. You should understand one thing by now: he will never allow a second power to exist here—like the Ocher Tribe, for instance.”

”Are you still going to follow him?”

”My god, my heavens!” Ming Datiss stomped his foot dramatically. ”How despicable, shameless, and vile! How dare you try to poach my people right in front of me?!”

”This is outrageous! Sera, you’re not going to fall for this man’s lies—”

A double-bladed great-axe whistled past Ming Datiss, shearing off a lock of his golden hair. The barbarian pulled her axe back, her gaze cold as she stared at the Elf.

”You guessed right, beanpole. Just like I said: I’ve had enough of you!”

”You fool!” Ming Datiss shrieked, clutching his ear. ”You ungrateful wretch! I’m the one who brought you here, not that man who pals around with freaks!”

”All of you, attack! This tomb will be your grave today!”