The news of the attack spread quickly, reaching the ears of the other tribes within Goblin territory. Shock rippled through them, but they immediately knew it had to be one of their own. After all, anyone who dared to encroach upon Goblin land had no choice but to go through them first.
It was inevitable, and since no reports of outsiders had surfaced, the connection was easy to make.
Murkfang and Gribnox hosted Borg and spoke at length, with Byung present during the exchange. Borg was manipulative by nature, and he knew full well the Goblins were too stupid to make any serious connections. Because of this, he felt no need to tread carefully.
He told them he was aware of the attack on their settlement, claiming there was a rogue orc on the loose. His proposal was simple: he would bring orcs to help protect the Goblins' territory until the rogue was captured, so nothing like this would happen again.
It was an offer the Goblins considered. They told him they would think about it, but out of basic hospitality, they granted him a place to stay within their territory. Even so, they knew there was a chance this would backfire. Borg was given quarters, but goblins were assigned to watch him closely, wary of the potential threat he posed. His weapon was seized as a condition of his stay.
When the meeting concluded, Byung returned to the room assigned to him—one designed for creating tools. Murkfang was with him, though his body language betrayed unease. Byung picked up on it immediately.
"Okay?" Byung asked, but Murkfang quickly adjusted his posture, trying to mask his nerves.
"The orc… what he said…" Murkfang muttered under his breath.
Byung frowned. He wasn't having it. The Goblins needed to start thinking about defending themselves. Otherwise, they would be trampled. They didn't even have proper weapons, which was shocking considering the age they lived in. Byung couldn't help but wonder if there was some unspoken law preventing them from owning such things.
"I make weapons?" Byung asked, but Murkfang recoiled at the suggestion, almost as if he misheard.
"You can make weapons?" Murkfang questioned.
Byung nodded without hesitation. This wasn't the time to withhold information—not when his own survival was now on the line. If they didn't act soon, the attacks would only escalate.
Murkfang hesitated, partly because he didn't believe Byung was capable, and partly because he had never even considered the possibility.
"What kind of weapons?" he asked, stone in mind.
"Ore," Byung responded simply.
Murkfang raised a brow. Questionable.
"That is impossible…" Murkfang thought to himself. This goblin might actually be something to worry about.
-
Borg had gained the Goblins' trust, but he was still shocked they had allowed him to stay. It was proof they truly had no means to defend themselves. If he wanted to, he could slaughter every goblin in sight, but that wouldn't help him achieve his goals.
The problem was simple: the Goblins had to make a move. If, by some chance, they attacked an orc, there would be nothing stopping the orcs from retaliating. Borg had told them there was a rogue, but those were just words. The Goblins had no way to prove it was an orc. They lacked credibility, and Borg could easily claim he had never told them anything to begin with.
And since no casualties had been reported, the Goblins' one law came into play. No killing. Would it be so unthinkable that a Goblin had gone rogue and staged this?
Borg had weighed all these possibilities before setting his plan into motion. He knew the Goblins would take the bait. Nothing stood in his way now. War was within reach, and with it, the chance to seize all these territories. Goblins didn't deserve the freedom they had, and the primitive weapons they clung to were proof of just how backward they were.
He had already scanned the area. This was far from a fortress. Too many loopholes. Too many weaknesses.
When Borg stepped out of his quarters, five goblins stood in his path to block him.
"Am I a prisoner or a guest?" Borg asked, and after a moment's hesitation, the goblins stepped aside.
"I thought so," Borg muttered, brushing past them. The goblins clicked their tongues in annoyance, questioning why this orc was even here when his kind had already attacked their people.
Borg frowned. Murkfang and the others weren't the leaders he had expected. They didn't give off the weight of true rulers. But then again, every Goblin territory had its Mogul—a figure to keep the Barons in check.
His thoughts cut off when he noticed the goblins nearby growing visibly anxious. He wasn't arrogant enough to think he was the cause. And he was right.
The gates opened. A horn was blown, sharp and resounding, signifying the arrival of someone of true importance. The Barons were present… and the only one who could command such an entry was—
"The Mogul is here…" Borg whispered under his breath, lips curling into a wicked grin.