Rei had raised his hand and said that he wanted to quit, but the Orc Chief pretended to not listen to what he said.
He wanted to tell yet again and hence was about to raise his hand or stand up, but before could continue he heard another voice. A goblin had raised his hand and said these exact words that Rei had said.
Rei was smart and not a fool. He knew very well what kind of a being the Orc Chief was, but because of being praised quite often and being called special or favourite, he thought that even if there was a catch, the Orc Chief would favour him and not let anything happen to him – he couldn't have been more wrong!
Regardless, the Orc Chief suddenly raised his voice just when another goblin had raised his hand.
"You know, there is another benefit of quitting…"
"And that is…"
"You will be free from slavery!"
The moment he announced this, all the goblins started to whisper to each other.
They were confused and failed to understand why the Orc Chief said such a thing.
Especially Rei and Gaburu were baffled by the words.
'It would be somewhat understandable if the reward for completion of the mission was being freed from slavery…'
'But those who wouldn't go to the mission would be freed from slavery?', this time, Rei realized the gravity of Lucas' words.
Now, even his instincts started to tell him that something was wrong.
"So, you over there…"
"You had raised your hand right?", the Orc Chief asked while pointing at the goblin other than Rei who had raised his hand.
"Yes…", the goblin said in a low voice.
The Orc Chief then turned his head toward one of his guards.
"Free him."
"Yes master.", upon receiving orders from the chief, the guard went towards the goblin.
For a fraction of a second, the goblin thought that he would indeed be freed! But no, what happened next bewildered everyone present there!
The orc's large hand grabbed the tiny head of the goblin. He then lifted the goblin into the air, seconds after which, he used his strength and crushed the goblin's head, leaving its now headless body behind.
Scream…
Not even a single goblin screamed as this happened.
They were all in a nearly petrified state.
"Did you see? He is free (dead) from his slavery. He doesn't have to serve me anymore…"
"Does anyone else want to be freed?", he asked sarcastically.
The way he demonstrated the death of the goblin, it was engraved in everyone's heart that no matter what, they had to go and complete the mission!
In case they denied or tried to quit the mission, or failed it somehow, only death would await them!
"Good…"
"Now… Rei, you had raised your hand, hadn't you?", the chief's eyes paused on Rei as he asked in a maniacal voice.
Rei gulped down a chunk of saliva as he stared at the chief, preparing himself to reply.
"Yes, master… I just wanted you to know that this thrash is very pleased knowing that the great orc chief gave him such a mission. I feel blessed...," Rei said as sweat drops formed on his forehead.
-"HAHAHA!"- Lucas merely laughed at his words.
"I see. So you feel blessed… Very well. I will make you in charge of this mission. If you are successful then I will give you many rewards but..."
"But...?", Rei's eyes twitched.
"If you fail then you will have a promotion." He said.
"Eh? Promotion on… failing?"
-"Bro, didn't I tell you…? Don't trust thi-"-
'Yea, I know… I am not trusting this guy… I never did…', Rei said to Lucas.
However, Rei knew that he had to play the part of the fool.
The chief and almost all the orcs thought of him and the rest as fools.
"What promotion master?", he asked with widened eyes, as if he was genuinely expecting a promotion.
"A very large promotion."
"Yes…?"
"Right now you are just a goblin, right?", the chief asked.
"Yes…", Rei tilted his head a bit in confusion.
"Haha, then don't worry, the promotion will help you to turn into a headless goblin."
"Yes!"
"Wait… what!?", Rei merely stared at the chief when he mentioned this.
"Yes, you will have the honour to turn into a headless goblin. I will promote you personally if you fail.", the chief said.
"I-"
"I understand master."
Silence surrounded everyone which was soon broken when the chief said, "Now go and bid your family farewell."
"Bid my family farewell?", Rei asked in confusion.
"Uh… I meant to say meet them before going to the mission.", the chief stuttered for a second when he mentioned this.
Rei and the rest didn't think much of it.
"Ok master.", Rei said as bowed to the ground while the chief walked back to his large throne to sit.
-"Bro, my gamer intuition is screaming loudly… Something smells fishy."- Lucas said.
'No… that's not possible.'
-"Huh?"-
'We have no fish nearby, how can you get their smell?', Rei asked.
-"Ha?"-
'There is no fish unlucky enough to live with these orcs.'
'Fishes are legendary creatures with super-tasting delicious meat, at least that's what I have been told.', Rei said all this to Lucas who only got much more confused as time passed.
-"No… Wait… I think you misunderstood what I meant…"- Lucas tried to explain the phrase that he had just used, but before he could say anything else, Rei just kept speaking his mind.
'Sadly they are found only in the GREAT BLUE and in great rivers and oceans…'
'Only humans and some intelligent creatures have access to it.'
'We can't find even a single fish in this shitty place. We are nothing but mere slaves who are destined to live as insects and die as insects.'
-"St-"-
-"STOP TALKING YOU BASTARD!"-
-"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"-
-"With the amount of bullshit coming out of your mouth, I'm pretty sure that your ass is jealous! YOUR TRASH!"-
-"Huff Huff…"-
'Uh…'
"…"