---Third POV---
The room fell silent.
Mizra snapped back to reality, gripping the splintered edge of the table tightly.
"No! I don't want to die!" Someone spoke up, and soon the other goblins followed suit.
In the end, everyone unanimously agreed to LootGoblin's plan. As for who would negotiate with the prisoners... The shaman and the elite goblins were too proud, and the regular goblins lacked the intelligence to communicate with other races. Thus, the task fell on LootGoblin.
Nailed it! LootGoblin clenched an imaginary fist in his mind.
He barely paid attention to the goblins' subsequent discussion about resolving the food crisis. His mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of what to do after the meeting.
Getting the key to freely access the dungeon from the shaman. Finishing the mission as soon as possible and getting out of here!
---
After the meeting, the elite goblins left one by one, leaving only LootGoblin and the Hassan.
The old goblin handed over a black, twisted branch to LootGoblin.
"The dungeon key is now yours."
LootGoblin gladly accepted it.
"Don't worry. For the God of Fear, I'll do my utmost!"
Hahaha! Finally, it's about to be over!
Once the main mission was complete, his contribution would undoubtedly be ranked first!
Hassan looked at LootGoblin with regret in his eyes. Such a clever and capable subordinate, yet destined for a short life. He frowned in puzzlement as he noticed LootGoblin still wearing his purple-black mud armor.
"Why are you still using the mud remedy? Your wounds should've healed by now."
LootGoblin's smile froze. After a two-second pause, he laughed awkwardly.
"Uh, haha, goblins have varying physiques. Maybe mine is on the weaker side, haha."
"This won't do," Hassan said sternly.
Although the lack of physical growth or increased strength from consuming the divine gift indicated that LootGoblin was indeed physically frail and unlikely to live long… Externally, it had to be concealed.
The cunning humans had invented fiery fruits and curses, spreading panic throughout the land. This was a crucial moment for LootGoblin to stabilize morale.
He had to appear healthier than anyone else!
Hassan waved his hand over the black branch, and black smoke swirled around it.
"I'm granting you one-time access to the warehouse. With your intelligence, you should be able to find some medicine to help yourself."
"Huh?" LootGoblin's eyes flashed with surprise.
He had scouted out the goblin warehouse and knew it contained a trove of good stuff confiscated from prisoners. Finding some healing potions would be a breeze.
But his refusal to take off the mud armor had nothing to do with injuries. It was because he wasn't a real goblin, and his skin was white. Without the mud armor, he'd be exposed immediately.
Still, with the key handed to him, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and accept.
"Thank you for your generosity!"
But internally, he was panicking. He was doomed! Taking off the armor would reveal his secret; keeping it on would raise suspicions!
The dye left by CowardlySurvivor and Lux was nowhere to be found. The battle situation was tense, and he couldn't contact the players outside to send in new supplies. Was he really going to have to run away early?
His mind raced, rapidly drafting multiple escape routes and excuses for sneaking out of the inner zone.
He hadn't yet explored the inner zone's perimeter and didn't know if he'd be marked as an outsider…
"LootGoblin? LootGoblin!"
Hassan's voice jolted LootGoblin back to reality.
Seeing the shaman's questioning gaze, he quickly apologized.
"Sorry. I was just thinking of a punishment to draw out the healer from among the sacrifices."
Hassan nodded in realization. "I see."
No wonder he had to call LootGoblin several times before getting a response.
Hassan offered some reassuring words. "There's no need to rush. This strange disease is still confined to the outer zone; it doesn't pose a threat to us yet. If ordinary goblins die, they die. The tribe's food shortage might even improve."
If it weren't for Yoruba's arrogance in venturing into the outer zone and catching the rash, this issue wouldn't even have come to attention.
"All you need to do is find someone who can cure Yoruba. The other infected goblins can be sent to the outer zone to defend against human attacks. Once the sacrifice ritual is complete, those hairless monkeys who dare trespass on the God's domain will no longer be a threat!"
LootGoblin perked up. "A ritual?!"
After so many days, he still hadn't uncovered any details about the sacrificial ritual mentioned in the main mission.
He had even refrained from asking for fear of violating some taboo.
Finally, he had a lead!
"But the ritual is still some time away. Can we really hold out until then?"
The old goblin, his face full of wrinkles, gazed out the window with a glint in his eye. "Of course! They're just ordinary goblins. If they die, they die. They won't breach the inner zone. In six days, everything will be over!"
Six days!
LootGoblin quickly noted the timeline. This was even longer than the main mission had suggested.
After he finished speaking, Hassan turned his gaze back to his loyal subordinate.
"The God's envoy dislikes injured servants. No matter what, you must heal before then!"
"Huh?" LootGoblin's eyes widened as he pointed to himself. "Servant? Me?"
He knew about the God's envoy—the monster described in the main mission. But when had he become the envoy's servant?
Hassan nodded firmly.
"Skrizz is dead, and Yoruba has been infected with the rash. We're short-handed for the ritual. I want you to take their place."
As a big goblin blessed by the gods with magical abilities, LootGoblin was more than worthy of the role. If the God's envoy was pleased, perhaps LootGoblin's short life could even be extended. This was the greatest help Hassan could offer his loyal subordinate.
LootGoblin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Damn it!
Why did every escape attempt get derailed by some tantalizing opportunity to stay? If his identity were exposed, all the extra experience he'd accumulated would go to waste.
But staying… Would put him right at the heart of the monster-summoning ritual! He'd be a villain, participating in an evil ceremony!
But the thought alone was exhilarating.
LootGoblin clenched his fists. He was tempted. "Alright! I'll head to the warehouse to find medicine right away!"
---
Or not.
Looking around the dimly lit room, piled high with goblin treasures, LootGoblin deeply regretted his bold words earlier.
"I don't even have an illness that needs curing..."
Was he digging his own grave?
After sulking for a while, he picked himself up.
"Well, I'm here. Might as well take a look around."
Dealing with the goblins could wait until he was out.
As he rummaged through the mountain of items, he stumbled upon quite a few treasures. Fine-quality clothing, seemingly unremarkable gold and silver jewelry, and enchanted items that glowed with magic...
It was hard to imagine how many adventurers the goblins had looted in the Great Oak Forest.
He quickly forgot the looming trouble and got lost in the treasure pile.
"Whoa! Gold coins! Emeralds! Rubies! A tiny cube! Uh… why are there moldy fruits here?"
He casually tossed the shriveled fruit behind him and continued digging through the storage room. The more he dug, the brighter his eyes shone. What kind of miserable days had he been living in Honeyvale Town?
The items here looked far more valuable than anything in the newbie village's warehouse!
He pulled out a piece of cloth from his backpack and began tossing everything valuable into it. Though he could only take one item out with him, the rules didn't specify he couldn't put things in his in-game backpack!
"Potion? Mine!"
"Dried herbs? Mine!"
"Salt? That's a fortune! Mine!"
"A cloth covered with strange writings?! Mine!"
"This iron block feels great. Must be good stuff! Mine!"
This is good, that is good, and the one beside it is also good…
LootGoblin was practically drooling.
He could only curse his backpack for being too small and his carrying capacity for being insufficient. Otherwise, he'd have emptied the entire warehouse!
After stuffing five packs full, he reluctantly stopped. He gazed at the packed bundles on the ground and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Sweet! If I'd known this place had so much treasure, I'd have come on the first day!"
Though, on his first day in the inner area, he probably wouldn't have had access to the warehouse. Just as he was about to leave, his peripheral vision caught a familiar color among the piles of goods. He looked at the five bundles he hadn't packed into his bag yet.
"Another unlucky player got looted by goblins too?"
He pulled hard at the clutter and unearthed a package identical to one from Cloth Cuckoo Workshop, intact and in front of him. Opening it revealed a pile of almost-dried vine plants and two bottles of illusion-breaking potion.
"…"
He knew whose package this was.
---
Half an hour later, the stone and iron doors of the warehouse swung open.
LootGoblin staggered out from inside.
"Whoa!"
The two goblins guarding the door immediately ran over.
He flashed a professional fake smile.
"Hi~" Ordinary goblins who didn't understand human speech. To these goblins, LootGoblin was a big shot, and they treated him with utmost respect.
After confirming that LootGoblin had only taken one item, they let him go.
They noticed his unusually slow pace, but what could ordinary goblins comprehend?
---
LootGoblin returned to his room without any obstacles.
The first thing he did was take out the vines he'd found in the warehouse. Then he smashed the mud shell he'd been wearing for several days.
Time to dye!
LootGoblin had spent so long bribing the goblins to search around the pit, but he never expected the plant dyes had already been stored in the goblin warehouse!
Still, finding them was better than not finding them at all.
A few hours later, the dye dried, and a green-skinned goblin was born.
"Finally!" He stretched and let out a deep breath. "Now I can stay a few more days!"
Wearing that airtight mud shell every day had almost given him heat rash! Confident that no one would enter his room, LootGoblin found a corner and hid the treasures he'd scavenged. Then he hurried offline to boast about and flaunt his success on the forums!
---
The post eventually reached Viktor's ears.
The expanded warehouse of the weapons factory was still cluttered with half-processed ores. Even late at night, a few players stayed to tend to the furnaces.
ProGamer_Daddy hadn't logged off either, busy helping him check the day's gunpowder production.
After listening to Hedgehog chatter endlessly, Viktor thoughtfully handed him a cup of water.
Hedgehog shivered and waved his hands frantically.
"No, no, I'm not thirsty!"
He had no interest in slug mucus and didn't want to take on the slimy collection quest.
"…"
Viktor's rare moment of kindness went unappreciated. The cup made a turn in the air and returned to its place.
"If you're not thirsty, let's move straight to the blueprint defense plan."
To meet players' creative needs, he carried a newly updated map of the goblin nest's layout. After covering the explosives crate, he led the two players out of the storage room.
He spread the map on a spacious table and marked the goblin warehouse and the ritual site LootGoblin had discovered.
While he worked, ProGamer_Daddy chugged two bottles of water, finally recovering his energy. Picking up a curved wooden piece on the table, Hedgehog examined it curiously.
"What are you tinkering with all day? What's this wooden block for?"
"Wooden block? This is a component! Ever heard of mortise-and-tenon joints?"
ProGamer_Daddy snatched the piece back, annoyed.
"If you frontline guys didn't keep making bizarre requests, I wouldn't have to come up with so many parts!"
He originally wanted to focus on weapons tech trees. But ever since he improved the Thornleaf Blade and invented gunpowder, other players had treated him like a tool supplier, constantly asking for gadgets.
At first, ProGamer_Daddy refused. He was just one person with two hands—how was he supposed to build a modern shopping mall?
But they offered so much in payment that he couldn't resist, so he took the orders and worked on them bit by bit. Now his workshop was unintentionally filled with random items.
"Ha, just admit you're greedy for money," Hedgehog teased. "After all this time, I haven't seen a single finished product from you. Meanwhile, LootGoblin is practically the second-in-command at the boss' nest, and you're still only selling gunpowder."
"Pfft!" ProGamer_Daddy almost spat water everywhere, slapping the table indignantly. "Don't compare my intelligence-based profits to his dumb luck!"
Unlike LootGoblin, who got exclusive quests thanks to his racial traits, he relied entirely on brainpower.
"Who said I don't have finished products? I sold a triangle lever catapult to Lux the other day. Didn't you see it?"
Viktor raised his voice, putting away his quill.
"The updated map is ready. Check if there's anything missing."
His words successfully saved the teasing Hedgehog from further roasting. The two players immediately ran over to review the map. After a while, Hedgehog nodded confidently.
"Yep, looks good."
ProGamer_Daddy tilted his head in thought.
"We've got the ritual site and captive locations mapped out."
"Lux's spooky plan is taking effect, and gunpowder production has exceeded expectations… Should we organize a direct assault next?"
"Whoa! Are we heading into the final battle?" Hedgehog said eagerly.
Viktor shook his head. "Not yet. We're still missing one last piece of information."