Night Threefold gently patted the remaining logs, which were discovered in the goblin camp inhabited by the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.
Apart from that, he found several saws and axes there, and that's where he felt something was amiss.
Wood cannot serve as sustenance, and considering the miserable state of these goblins, why would they go through the trouble of logging?
Furthermore, where did they obtain their tools?
Clearly, they had iron axes, so why did their warriors wield stone axes?
Night Threefold also recalled the goblins that traded with the city guards. They had better equipment and stronger bodies, likely coming from the depths of the jungle. But why would they need gold coins?
Could they possibly stroll into human territory for shopping and cosmetics?
This matter is undoubtedly suspicious!
Then there's the Misty Forest. Such an unusual place must be accompanied by some danger, but Night Threefold understands that he currently lacks the ability to unravel this mystery.
However, the abnormalities of these goblins can still be explored.
After donning the new leather armor, Night Threefold contemplated having Old Gu and Dong Chen wear two other intact sets of leather armor. As for Xi Jiu, he could only bear with wearing the one with a slashed shoulder.
With a sword in hand for each of them, Night Threefold led his subordinates back into the forest.
The night was dark, and the woods were eerily quiet. By the dim moonlight and his sharp vision, Night Threefold, accompanied by the elderly skeleton trio, stealthily approached a goblin camp.
While Old Gu, Dong Chen, and Xi Jiu were busy moving things under Old Gu's direction, Night Threefold had not been idle during the afternoon. Unfortunately, this camp had slightly more goblins; there were fifteen tents. According to goblin customs, only warriors could reside in tents, while others slept in the open.
Even during the day, six warriors guarded the camp. Adding other slave goblins to help, a direct confrontation seemed unwise. So, Night Threefold chose to wait until deep into the night, hoping to seize an opportunity while they slept.
Carefully avoiding goblin excrement left nearby, Night Threefold hid behind a tree, observing the situation in the camp.
Regrettably, the campfire in the camp had not yet extinguished, and six goblins with spears were roasting by the fire.
"Are the peripheral goblins all so cultured? They've arranged so many sentries!"
Just as Night Threefold was in doubt, a sudden commotion came from the camp. A robust goblin adorned with a tooth necklace emerged from the largest tent, shouting loudly.
Soon, other goblin warriors from the tents rubbed their eyes, grabbed their weapons, and used spears to beat the goblins sleeping on the ground.
"Get up and work! Whoever lingers won't have food!"
Work? What kind of work in the middle of the night?
Soon, Night Threefold found out.
The goblins drove the elderly and weak out, then pulled out logs from behind the tents, placing them on the makeshift cart prepared on the ground.
Although called a cart, it was essentially a wooden board with four small wooden wheels. After placing the logs on it, the goblins could drag it more effortlessly.
However, the logs were substantial, and goblins were small in size and strength. Generally, it took eight goblins to drag one log. With just over forty goblins able to work in the camp, it meant they could only move five logs at a time.
The goblin leader seemed dissatisfied with this efficiency. After shouting at a goblin warrior beside him, that goblin barked at several weaker goblins.
Eventually, eight more goblins joined in. Although they were a team of four, they could drag one log, as the best food in the entire camp had been given to them, providing them with a slight advantage in strength.
"Depart!"
Waving his hand, the leader led the group of goblins transporting logs, slowly disappearing into the night and heading towards the depths of the jungle.
"The leader isn't following?" Night Threefold saw the goblin leader heading in another direction with four warriors and couldn't help but find it strange.
On one side was the eerie logging team, with over forty miscellaneous goblin laborers and eleven warrior goblins. On the other side, there was only one goblin leader and four warrior goblins. Without hesitation, Night Threefold decided to follow the goblin leader.
As for the elderly and weak left in the camp, he would deal with them later.
However, after carefully following for a while, Night Threefold realized that the direction the leader was walking was very familiar. Indeed, not long after, he trailed the goblin leader to the goblin camp he had slaughtered during the day.
The goblin leader noticed the abnormality in the camp, drew out a machete, and fitted a round wooden shield on his left hand, loudly instructing his subordinates to inspect the camp.
However, Night Threefold's search had been thorough; apart from bloodstains everywhere, they found nothing.
"These useless guys! Who took them away!" The leader viciously slashed with his machete.
"Leader, they stored a lot of roe wood. The only forces near here that could clear this place in a day are humans and big-nosed ones!" A goblin with a spear said.
"Could it be... humans sending troops in?"
"Humph! Humans wouldn't even leave a tent leather behind. It must be that stingy big-nose guy!" The leader snorted.
"This bastard! It must have come to rob me because it couldn't meet the target. It even killed Little Five. Doesn't it know he's my favorite warrior!"
The leader arranged this camp, and when goblins were to merge with another camp, anyone could live except the leader.
That was their rule.
"So... leader, what should we do?"
"What to do? Humph! Tomorrow, gather everyone, and we'll pay a visit to that big-nosed fellow. If it can't offer a satisfying price, I don't mind recruiting all its subordinates and making them slaves for you!"
"Leader is mighty!" The four goblin warriors cheered.
The more goblins they had under their command, the higher their status would be. They could do less strenuous work, and their food supply would be more plentiful.
But just as they cheered, two sharp arrows swiftly emerged from the night.
"Be careful!"
Seeing the situation, the leader immediately warned, but only one goblin managed to dodge the arrow attack. The one who was happiest was struck in the mouth, with the arrowhead protruding out from the back of his head.
"Old Gu, you're not doing well!"
Night Threefold disdainfully patted the old skeleton's shoulder and unsheathed his longsword.
Dong Chen and Xi Jiu, the two skeletal companions, were disabled, with one hand unable to draw a bow. Therefore, the results of the first wave of attacks were not ideal.
However, four against four, that seemed fair.
"Who are you?!" The goblin leader, seeing a pale human emerge, asked in surprise.
Indeed, there were several human soldiers on the stone wall, but they were all cowards who would be frightened away at the sight of them. The figure in front of it was obviously different.
"You can call me..."
Night Threefold waved his
sword,
"Goblin Slayer."