"What is this?"
Galos stepped closer and took a look.
It was a square-shaped stone with simple runes carved in the middle, and it wasn't reflective; the runes in the middle were emitting a faint glow.
This is a Communication Stone.
Galos recognized it.
— It's one of the most common and universal alchemy tools on Bernardo Planet, and its effect is just as its name suggests, for transmitting messages.
The runes on the Communication Stone's surface were glowing, gradually dimming and extinguishing.
Obviously, it had just been used.
"This goblin used the Communication Stone before dying, likely conveying some kind of message to its tribe behind it."
"It must be related to me, to Iron Fir Territory."
Galos furrowed his brows lightly.
Goblins have a strong desire for revenge, and according to Samantha's description, this goblin tribe has quite a few alchemy tools. However, besides alchemy tools, the individual life levels are not high, and their size is not too big.
"The goblin tribe received the message and certainly won't let it go easily."
"Since they dared to hunt Samantha, it means they're certainly not afraid of young dragons, even seeing them as prey."
Galos paced in place, lost in thought.
"Should I abandon the Iron Pine Hills? Although the resources here are average, they barely suffice for my current habitat needs. The wilderness is dangerous, and finding another suitable territory won't be easy, and a life of constant wandering isn't suitable for my growth."
But if I don't abandon the territory.
Being surrounded and ambushed by a well-prepared goblin tribe could be dangerous.
"I don't want to give up the territory, nor do I want to die in an ambush."
"I should first investigate, determine the situation of the goblin tribe."
"If they're very weak, I can simply ignore them; if they're too strong, I'll have to abandon the Iron Pine Hills."
"If they're middling, not posing too great a threat head-on, yet capable of causing danger in a sneak attack… just in case, I'll deal with them first!"
Under the sun, the eyes of the Red Iron Young Dragon narrowed slightly, a trace of malice flashing through.
Once life is involved, and danger is perceived, Galos becomes very alert, guarded, cautious, and... filled with intent to kill.
Faced with possible threats.
Galos' style is to try to nip them in the bud in advance.
For example, during the attack on the Goblin Wolf Riders just now.
To prevent any information leaks, the moment he decided to act, Galos prepared mentally not to let any goblin escape, but unfortunately, some information was still transmitted through the Communication Stone, possibly bringing danger to himself.
Turning to Samantha.
Galos asked: "This goblin tribe hunting you, what's their overall standard? Describe what you know to me in detail, don't leave anything out."
Samantha was somewhat dazed, not knowing what Galos intended to do.
It recalled and told Galos everything it knew, bit by bit.
Slowly, after listening to Samantha's story, Galos was thoughtful.
"In terms of life levels, the strongest goblin is only level 6."
"But their tribe holds a lot of alchemy tools, and there's an alchemy golem that makes Samantha feel a huge threat."
An alchemy golem, a quite successful product born in the development of alchemy tools.
There's mention in the Dragon's Legacy, with special attention.
For example.
Holy Flame Judge Ignis.
It is one of the top golems of the human empire [Holden], created through the collaboration of countless alchemists and the Dawn Church, constructed using the skeleton of an Ancient Red Dragon fused with various rare and expensive metals, adorned both inside and outside with sacred runes from the Dawn Church, combining many attributes.
Because the Holy Flame Judge used the remains of an Ancient Red Dragon as material.
This is considered a great disrespect by the Dragon Race.
Even the Metal Dragon, which opposes the Evil Dragon, cannot tolerate it.
Once, a group of Legendary Metal Dragons demanded the destruction of Holy Flame Judge but was refused by the Holden Empire in alliance with the Dawn Church.
The Metal Dragons, after all, are orderly creatures, somewhat apprehensive, and unwilling to start a war over Evil Dragon remains.
Moreover, the Holden Empire wisely offered many alchemy tools to pacify the Metal Dragons' anger, and after extensive negotiations, the matter was settled.
As for Evil Dragons, solitary and aloof, even Ancient Dragons cannot contend with the Empire.
The Holy Flame Judge is now used to guard an Abyssal Rift within the Holden Empire, slaughtering countless demons, renowned throughout Bernardo Planet, extremely powerful.
And like the Holy Flame Judge, top-tier alchemy golems capable of slaying Ancient Dragons.
Are not limited to just one existence.
Back to the point.
The alchemy golem within the goblin tribe, its level mustn't be high, likely mass-produced, even used for mining or transportation, rather than combat-oriented; such alchemy golems can be purchased through many channels.
"I don't need to be too tense."
"Thinking it over, if this goblin tribe was formidable enough, Samantha wouldn't escape their capture from the start."
Galos relaxed considerably, the malice in his eyes gradually dissipating.
"I really want to eat, it's been a long time since I've had meat."
Samantha was staring at the bull, eyes unblinkingly fixed, hard to look away.
If not for the reverence for Galos now at its peak, it would have surely pounced.
Gurgle, gurgle!
A thunderous sound suddenly echoed from its stomach, attracting Galos' attention.
Samantha was suddenly very embarrassed, dragon face flushed, tail swaying side to side, yet unable to suppress the agonizing hunger, pleaded with Galos: "My dear brother, may I have a bit of beef? Just a little, just a little is enough."
Should have acted earlier.
Galos tore off a whole beef hind leg with claws and tossed it to Samantha.
Samantha grabbed the beef hind leg, gorging it down eagerly, even crunching bones to eat it entirely, without wasting a bit.
"Möbel, corral these gray wolves into the hills, keep them as reserve food."
Galos also started eating while instructing.
"Sure thing!"
The Earth Bear nodded heavily, striding to herd the surviving gray wolves.
Time passed slowly.
The sun set in the west, disappearing, as nightfall descended silently.
The Rock-Biting Tribe—namely, the goblin tribe that hunts Samantha.
Its base was at the foot of a severely wind-eroded russet hill, the surface of the hill covered with honeycomb-like natural caves, resembling a hollowed-out rotten wood.
Goblins nailed wooden boards, beast bones, and broken pottery to the entrances of the caves with rusty iron nails, piecing together a crooked wall.
It's more a warning sign made of heaps of trash than a defensive structure.
On the outskirts, there was a fence made of inverted flint spikes and Cannibal Vines woven together.
Dry lizard skulls hung on the vines; in goblin culture, they believe suspending prey skulls can bring good fortune to the tribe.
Though small in scale, it was still complete in its own way.
In the iron pit, goblins selected iron ore with sulfur-smudged claws, sending them to the smelting workshop, where they forged spiked arrowheads, swords, and other weapons and equipment, further enhanced by the tribe's alchemists.
Sel Wilderness is rich in various minerals.
Ordinary iron ore is everywhere; even the smallest tribe doesn't lack iron ore, but as for magic precious metal ores, they're beyond their reach.