Chapter 4 – A Crisis Contained
In the deepest part of the area frequently visited by goblins on the outskirts of the Misty Forest, and even into the central region of the Misty Forest, there existed an unknown group—a goblin tribe.
This goblin tribe might not have been one of the strongest goblin groups in the world, but its scale far surpassed human imagination.
The tribe had originally been established by a Purple Goblin who became a goblin scholar. Under his guidance, the clan grew stronger and advanced into the central region of the Misty Forest.
Unlike beasts, goblins posed a far greater threat to humans than creatures of the same rank, because high-ranking goblins required human females to reproduce.
Once humans learned of a goblin group of significant size, they would immediately send forces to encircle and annihilate them, leaving the goblins no chance to thrive.
The goblin scholar who had led the tribe into the central Misty Forest understood this, and he also knew the disaster that would come if the tribe's existence was exposed.
Thus, he ordered his followers to drive away most of the inferior goblins that had been pushed out of the central area, commanding them to survive only in small scattered groups on the outskirts. He also forbade them from entering the central region.
At the same time, the goblin scholar established a layer of isolation so that the wolf packs could continue to live, separating the inferior goblins on the outskirts from the stronger goblins in the center, leaving only a few secret exits known to the central goblins for seeking out human women.
Although the inferior goblins on the outskirts sometimes attacked humans, they rarely targeted human women specifically. Instead, it was the central goblins who bore the blame, and who were frequently assaulted by adventurers and human forces.
However, precisely because the goblins on the outskirts were so weak, constantly fleeing in all directions and possessing countless burrows, humans had not yet launched a large-scale extermination campaign against goblins in the Misty Forest.
How far the central goblins had developed was unknown. When adventurers entered the central Misty Forest, most never imagined a goblin community existed there. Even if they caught sight of a few, they assumed it was just a handful of strays. They never guessed it was part of a vast tribe.
From the moment he saw the intelligence values of the Purple Goblin, Altair knew Purple Goblins were not ordinary beings. But he hadn't expected that they could lead their race to such heights.
A capable military advisor could indeed determine the future of an entire legion.
According to Lyra, three armed ordinary goblins could match the strength of one armed human. But the goblins here were relatively weak, so four goblins were needed.
If facing enemies like her guards, then it would take four strong, battle-hardened goblins with weapons and armor to hold them off.
White Goblins were different. Each one, armed with a tree club and a massive wooden shield, could rival several human soldiers. They possessed high endurance, remarkable vitality, and far greater striking power than ordinary men.
As for Purple Goblins—without magic, they were merely frail and aging goblins. But once they unleashed magic, their power could easily shatter a carriage.
That was why, when Lyra and her party had passed through here, they thought there would be no high-ranking goblins. Even if there were, they expected only a few—ones they could deal with.
Like most people, their knowledge of goblins was extremely limited: they only knew of high-ranking goblins such as shamans and giant warriors, without any deeper understanding.
As a result, the goblin team that ambushed them not only sent out three high-ranking individuals, but had also laid traps from the start and launched a surprise attack. The goblin shaman's prepared spells threw the human formation into chaos and panic.
The appearance of a Goblin Scholar naturally brought good news for Altair. At the very least, it proved that his people were not all brainless warriors.
But new problems arose. The road toward the central region was blocked by wolf packs, while both sides of the outer area were occupied by other large populations. It was impossible for him to enter so easily.
This meant he was trapped here.
Unless he was fortunate enough to encounter central goblins coming out, who would discover his existence as emperor and take him inside, he would otherwise be killed by other populations—or discovered by humans and encircled.
Altair was not one to rely on luck. His previous life had been full of misfortune, and he knew better than to place hope in chance.
Now he had to gather the goblins scattered throughout the outer Misty Forest, then order them to seek out the central goblins.
At the same time, in case the central goblins did not appear, he had to prepare for human adventurers and the possibility of an early military siege. He would need to mobilize the goblins to attempt a breakthrough against the wolf pack blockade.
There was no harm in preparing for both possibilities.
But even all of that was not enough to put Altair at ease.
He had to take everything into his own hands. In this life, he had finally been reborn as an emperor. He could not afford to die meaninglessly.
In his past life, he had only been able to see others with women as beautiful as Lyra through photos and videos. Now, such a woman was within his grasp.
Once, he had worked tirelessly just to afford a decent meal. But now, the finest food among goblins would always belong to him.
To his family and friends in his old life, he had been nothing more than an ordinary human, barely an existence at all. But now, in the eyes of his people, he was the very center of their world, the great sun shining high above them.
He was the emperor remembered by all goblins—Kaelar!
Goblins across the world would support him, and his mission was to produce strong offspring and lead his race to glory!
The next day, the goblins in the cave quietly acted according to Altair's arrangements.
The goblins that had once been scattered began to gather, then were divided into small squads to head out.
The military advisory team was led by the old Purple Goblin, assisted by the younger Purple Goblin, joined by other Purple Goblins from different caves, and several intelligent green goblins.
Their task was to map the outer region, repair old traps, and set new ones under Altair's orders.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the goblins in the outer Misty Forest were undergoing a massive transformation.
At the same time, unrest among humans had also come to an end.
Lady Lyra's guards rushed back overnight to the nearest city in the Kingdom of Regensvale. By the following noon, the first team sent to rescue Lyra had arrived at the outermost edge of the Misty Forest.