A greenish light filled the main hall.
The residue scattered across the floor began to fade, dissolving slowly, until it condensed into small, crystal-like stones. The Vice Captain immediately stepped forward and took one of them, examining it closely.
After a moment, he sighed in disappointment.
"This is a very low-quality spirit stone."
The goblin nodded frantically. "Yes, sir. It was formed from my lowly blood, and there was very little of it. That's why it couldn't become a high-grade stone."
The Vice Captain looked up. "Can you produce high-grade ones?"
"Rarely, sir," the goblin replied. "Very rarely. It depends on what substance I am refining."
The Vice Captain leaned back slightly. "Even low-grade spirit stones are valuable. During war, they are more important than gold. Prices rise and fall, but the value of spirit stones never changes. There will always be soldiers to train, knights to strengthen, wars to fight."
He paused.
"So yes, you are useful."
He returned to his seat, his expression calm.
"But there is something I don't understand," he continued. "You spoke of a Great Flood. You claim you helped humans deal with it. Where did the spirit stones produced from that event go? Were they hidden in the sewers?"
The goblins exchanged nervous glances.
After a moment, one of them spoke carefully. "Some of them… we keep inside ourselves."
The Vice Captain's eyes sharpened. "Inside yourselves?"
"Yes, sir. Our ability allows us to manifest spirit stones into the real world or store them within our bodies."
"So you use them?" the Vice Captain asked.
"No! Never, sir!" the goblin cried. "It is our honor to serve humans. We would never use your energy. We keep it inside us as a sign of respect."
"Where exactly?" the Vice Captain asked.
"Our veins. Our nerves. Everywhere," the goblin replied. "We can manifest them at any time."
The Vice Captain nodded once. "Then what about the rest? You couldn't possibly store everything inside your bodies. Where did the rest go?"
The goblin hesitated, shaking visibly. "Forgive us, sir… we cannot answer that. We cannot betray someone else's trust."
Teddy stepped forward, fury blazing in his eyes. "You filthy creatures. Answer every question the Vice Captain asks. Don't you dare hide anything."
Before he could move closer, the Vice Captain raised a hand.
He smiled.
"I think they've passed the test."
The room froze.
His uncle frowned. "What test?"
The Vice Captain stood. "As you all know, I am the Vice Captain of the 12th Unit, second only to the Crown Prince of our great human empire, the only human empire on this continent. Our duty is to maintain peace, no matter the cost."
He turned back to the goblins.
"We suspected you might have betrayed us, or that your minds were being influenced. So, we tested you. We applied pressure. Fear. Violence."
His voice remained calm.
"You did not waver. You did not betray the trust placed in you. That is… impressive."
The goblins collapsed in relief, tears streaming down their faces.
"Yes," the Vice Captain continued. "We were sent by that person, under the Crown Prince's command, not to destroy you, but to protect this town from an upcoming invasion by orcs and other beasts from the Beast Kingdom."
He narrowed his eyes. "That is why I need to confirm something. Tell me everything about the Great Flood, so I can compare it with what he told me. I need to know if your minds are still your own."
"Yes, sir!" the goblins said in unison.
They explained that during the Great Flood, when waste flooded the city's underground, they refined it into spirit stones. During that time, a man approached them. His armor bore a symbol: two birds pierced by a single arrow.
They struck a deal.
In exchange for loyalty, they would give him every spirit stone they produced. For thirty to fifty years, they refined waste and delivered the stones in secret through the sewers.
"Why not give them to the city's ruler?" the Vice Captain asked.
"We did not dare question him," the goblin replied. "We only obeyed. All deals were made underground."
The Vice Captain's voice dropped. "Is your father or grandfather still alive?"
"No, sir. They died from overwork. Even my eldest son died last year. We gave everything for the benefit of the human race. And that man knows it."
Silence filled the hall.
Finally, the Vice Captain asked, "Do you have any children left?"
"Yes," the goblin answered quietly. "My youngest son. He is the last of my lineage."
He hesitated, then added, "That man even named my ability, sir. Once I say it, you will know I am not brainwashed."
He swallowed.
"Feces-Absorbing Refinement Technique. That's what he called me."