Chapter 107: Humans Appear
A series of massive wooden sailing ships glided through the water.
Each sailing ship was approximately 80 meters in length.
Along both sides of the ships, a row of oars moved rhythmically.
The sailors inside the cabins shouted in unison as they rowed.
The oars dipped into the water in sync with the sailors' chants.
Over thirty sailing ships formed a column, stretching several kilometers along the river.
Looking toward the sky on either side of the river, two floating ships could be seen.
One floated to the left, the other to the right, scouting the nearby forest for movement.
Looking toward the decks of the sailing ships, rows of soldiers in blue armor were visible.
Each soldier held a long spear, patrolling the decks diligently.
On the decks of some ships, adventurers could be seen admiring the scenery on both banks.
Their attire distinguished them from the soldiers.
Unlike the standard armor of the soldiers, the adventurers' equipment appeared older yet more intricate.
At the same time, on the deck of the lead sailing ship.
A figure in silver armor stood at the bow, leaning on the ship's railing.
His hands rested on the railing as he gazed into the distance at the river's end.
His rugged face exuded an aura of authority and dignity.
"Lord Carlos, the floating ships report a suspected Gobu Xia's Cave has been discovered on the northern bank!"
A soldier hurried to the side of the general in silver armor.
The soldier placed one hand over his chest and gave a respectful salute.
Carlos waved his hand lightly.
"Have the adventurers deal with it. The fleet must not stop!"
Looking at the imposing figure before him, the soldier's eyes filled with admiration.
Lord Carlos was not only a renowned Sword King of the borderlands but also the lord of the frontier territory.
In the principality, he was known as the "Southern Sword King."
"Yes!"
The soldier turned and hurried toward the temple priest responsible for communicating with the floating ships.
Before long, one of the sailing ships detached from the main fleet.
The ship slowly approached the northern bank.
It stopped about 100 meters from the shore.
Two small boats were lowered from the deck into the water.
Two five-member adventurer squads boarded the small boats and headed toward the shore.
This entire scene was observed by multiple pairs of eyes ahead of the fleet.
"It's humans! The human fleet has appeared!"
At a bend where the Goblin River extended eastward.
In the reeds along the riverbank, several lizard heads emerged from the water.
Pairs of eyes spied on the human fleet in the distance.
"Go, report to the chief!"
The five lizard heads submerged one after another.
Beneath the shimmering surface, dark shadows darted away.
Ten days later, at the Yue Clan Tribe.
In the afternoon, inside the tribal chief's wooden house.
"What are the humans trying to do?"
"Isn't it obvious? Such a large-scale invasion—it's war!"
"Who is the target of this war?"
"Of course, it's the Savage Tribe and the magical beasts that humans consider monsters!"
The news of the humans' massive invasion caused heated discussions among the elders in the wooden house.
No one had anticipated that humans would truly invade the Goblin Forest.
When they first heard the tribal chief suggest monitoring the river to the west, they hadn't believed it.
After all, how could mere goblins know anything about human movements?
Yet the humans had indeed appeared.
And they hadn't come quietly—they were advancing aggressively.
This wasn't like the occasional adventurer's foray into the forest.
This was war. Real war.
"Chief, we must quickly inform the Throne Cave Dwelling. If the Yue Clan Tribe is discovered by humans, we'll be in grave danger!"
The Black Scales Chief looked solemnly at Bai Ling, the tribal chief sitting at the head of the room.
Although submitting to the goblins was an extremely humiliating choice, they had no other options.
To survive, they had to align themselves with the goblins.
Bai Ling glanced slightly at the Black Scales Chief.
"Black Scales Chief, I entrust this matter to you. Be quick and return swiftly!"
Black Scales nodded.
He stood up, turned, and hurriedly walked out.
The next afternoon, at the Throne Cave Dwelling.
A Lizardman suddenly emerged from the southern forest.
"Looks like someone's coming!"
"It's someone! It's a Lizardman!"
The appearance of the Lizardman caught the attention of the goblins on the wooden wall.
They didn't recall any Lizardman venturing out recently.
"Open the gate! The boss said to let Lizardmen in if they come!"
"Yes, yes! I almost forgot. Gobu Pig, you're the best!"
"If you really think I'm the best, stop fighting me for meat."
"No way! I'll concede on other matters, but not on this one!"
The Lizardman emerging from the forest was none other than Black Scales.
He had traveled through the night to reach the Throne Cave Dwelling as quickly as possible.
Seeing the wooden gate open, Black Scales quickened his pace.
"Hey, Lizardman, go to the Throne Cave Dwelling to see the boss!"
"He's a Lizardman; he won't understand us."
"In that case, point with the spear!"
The goblins on the wooden wall gestured wildly with their spears, pointing toward the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Other goblins imitated them, causing a commotion.
Black Scales looked puzzled at the goblins bouncing around on the wall.
He couldn't understand what they were trying to convey.
"Lizardmen are really dumb!"
"Exactly, they can't even figure this out."
"I haven't eaten Lizardman meat in a long time. Let's eat him."
"Gobu Pig, I'm telling the boss!"
"You wouldn't dare! I wasn't serious about eating him."
"I don't care. You said it, so I'm telling the boss!"
One goblin scrambled down the wall.
Another chased after him.
The two goblins tumbled and wrestled on the ground.
The other goblins laughed and cheered noisily.
"What are you doing, you useless trash fit only for eating dung!"
A loud scolding came from the wall.
A large goblin approached.
Seeing the two still fighting, the large goblin glared at them.
"Gobu Pig! Gobu Wen! Do you two want to become my dung tonight?"
The large goblin roared.
The two goblins on the ground quickly separated and scrambled to their feet.
They picked up their spears and hurried back to the wall.
The large goblin shot them one last glare before turning to look at the Lizardman below. He pointed toward the depths of the forest.
This time, Black Scales understood.
He quickly turned and ran toward the forest.
Before long, Black Scales found the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Inside, he met the fearsome goblin.
"Do you have news about the humans?"
Li Meng was fiddling with a sand table nearby.
As his size had grown, certain tasks had become inconvenient.
A single careless move could damage the sand table.
Black Scales took a deep breath.
He stepped forward and knelt with a thud.
"Yes. A massive human fleet is advancing up the Goblin River. Their intentions are clear!"
The commotion behind him made Li Meng turn toward the door, looking at Black Scales.
"I understand. You may leave now."
Black Scales hesitated.
He wanted to know what the goblins would do.
But the goblins were unpredictable, and he dared not ask further.
He still wanted to return alive to his family.
Black Scales stood, kept his head lowered, and hurriedly departed.