Lord: Starting from a Goblin Nest

”Simply reinforcing our defenses is useless!” the earth goblin said earnestly. ”Ron, we can’t solve anything by just turtling up and defending. Do you understand?”

”We can’t be on guard forever! Do I really need to teach you that simple truth?”

”They won’t let this go, that much is obvious,” Seymour said, propping his legs on the table and frowning as he toyed with his dagger. ”And next time, they’ll definitely send more formidable people. Maybe fewer of them, but they’ll be more elite.”

Seymour had excelled in his assassination courses, and as a highly skilled Zor Assassin himself, he knew this sort of thing like the back of his hand.

”I know that too,” Ron said, looking around at the members of Team Two. ”But what can we do? Carolina isn’t exactly close, and that’s their home turf. On top of that, there’s the Western Lords’ Alliance. If we go on the offensive, we’ll be at a severe disadvantage.”

”Then let’s find people who aren’t in such a vulnerable position to handle it,” the earth goblin said firmly. ”Regardless, we can’t just sit around and wait. Where would that leave us?”

”Find people? That’s easy for you to say,” Victoria shot him a look. ”Your influence barely reached Fromm. Who are you going to find in the south?”

”Please. Surely there are assassin organizations or Mercenaries out there we can hire, just like Carolina does?”

”Unfortunately, almost none,” Aive spoke up. ”The local groups are all small-fry. They aren’t nearly powerful enough to shake Carolina. No amount of money would convince them to take on a job like this.”

”That approach simply won’t work.”

Ron thought for a moment. ”Maybe there are two groups of people we have a natural advantage in winning over?”

”Which two? Goblins and slaves?” Silvia chuckled.

”Close enough. Goblins and Adventurers,” Ron said, looking at Klade. ”Do you know how many goblin tribes there are to the south, past Delusional Land?”

”There are plenty. Just today, on my way back, a Hunter reported encountering a goblin from another tribe at the edge of Delusional Land.” Klade took a moment to think, then his eyes widened in understanding. ”You’re suggesting...”

”Haven’t you always wanted to be an Earth Goblin Warlord? Here’s your chance,” Ron said. ”Go out there. Win them over, defeat them, and absorb them into your ranks. Build up your strength, cut through the wilderness between the city-states, and harass the lands around Carolina.”

”But don’t do it under our banner. The goal is to keep Carolina too preoccupied to bother with us. If you get the chance, incite a slave uprising, stir up some internal chaos for them.”

”As for the Adventurers... could we pay top dollar to hire Adventurers over there to cause trouble in Carolina? Aive, the client’s identity is usually kept secret in these matters, right?”

”It is, unless the Guild wants to ruin its own reputation,” Aive said. ”If that’s the plan, I could make a trip back to Rose City to recruit some people. And see my parents while I’m at it.”

”My mother used to serve in the Elven army, so she should still have some connections.”

”However, the pay for a mission like this has to be high, and the objective has to be small in scope. Otherwise, nobody will take on a thankless job like that.”

”What if...” Ron tilted his head back, thinking, ”I wanted to hire people to attack Slave Capture Teams and free the slaves?”

”Or to raid Carolina’s territory to rescue slaves?”

”Oh, they’d be thrilled to take on missions like that,” Aive nodded. ”It’s good pay, a decent challenge without being overly dangerous, and they get to earn a good name for themselves. They won’t turn it down.”

As a veteran Adventurer, Aive knew exactly how her peers thought. ”We wouldn’t even need to create any hype for it. They’ll raise all kinds of righteous banners on their own.”

”Is there any chance other city-states might intervene?” Victoria asked. ”They are an ’Alliance,’ after all.”

”’Alliance’ just means they split the profits when there’s money to be made, and turn on each other to pick at the scraps when there isn’t,” Aive scoffed dismissively. ”Rose City’s leading position in the West’s City-State Alliance isn’t just because of its spice trade.”

”Not that this was a bad thing for my family—back then, we were like refugees, blocked outside the city walls by the Inspector in Fromm. If we hadn’t been from Rose City, do you really think he would have let the three of us in?”

”Then we’ll go with you,” said Ron. ”It’s not safe to travel alone, especially now that we’re apparently on a kill list.”

”Heh, southern cities!” Sera cracked her knuckles in anticipation. ”Don’t worry, Aive, we absolutely won’t cause you any trouble!”

”Looking at you now, I’m not so convinced...” Aive shot her a look. ”But Ron is right. It is a little dangerous to be traveling alone right now.”

”Can we go too?” Andre asked, looking at Ron with wide, hopeful eyes. The young man from the village was clearly eager to see more of the world.

”Someone has to stay and guard Delusional Land,” said the old veteran who had fought against Carolina, lifting his heavy eyelids. ”Klade has to go recruit the goblins. It won’t work if the rest of us leave too.”

”Eh, I wouldn’t say that,” Seymour said, glancing at Andre. ”Young people should get out and see the world, don’t you think? I’m the best example. If I hadn’t run away from my family and escaped to the surface, how would I have ever met you lot?”

”There’s not that much to manage here right now. A few of us old hands staying behind will be more than enough.”

”But don’t play favorites, Benefactor. When you get back, we’ll want our turn to go out and see the world, too.”

”You don’t have to worry about that,” Silvia laughed. ”I’m here, so I’ll be sure to pester our Benefactor until he agrees.”

”This trip is mainly about containing Carolina,” Ron said. ”Once things have settled down and the danger has passed, you’ll all be free to travel south as you please.”

”Besides, you’re all still being hunted by Carolina, aren’t you? A group that large would make for a massive target.”

A team of nearly twenty people would find it hard not to attract attention.

”That’s a fair point.” The old veteran sat back down and fell silent.

”Then it’s settled. Annie,” Ron said, glancing at the young Earth-Wood Bloodline Sorcerer, ”while we’re gone, you’ll be in charge of all things construction-related. The rest of Team Two can coordinate on other matters. If any other problems arise, feel free to get input from our handful of advisors.”

Ron was, of course, referring to Lavinia, Buni, and Rurik.

”Don’t you worry about things here!” the Dwarf Blacksmith stroked his great beard. ”I may have my ’Three Things I Won’t Forge’ rule, but I owe you lot my life. I’ll help build a few little gadgets like traps and defensive works. They might not be able to handle Carolina’s assassins, but they’ll be more than enough for beasts and bandits.”

”May the Goddess bless you and keep you safe on your journey,” Buni, a woman of few words, said with a gentle smile. ”Lavinia and I will both fulfill our responsibilities here.”