Although goblins were generally considered synonymous with weakness, Lilith looked at the figures cowering before her with a new, cold calculation. In the Forest of Eternal Chaos, this race stood at the very bottom of the food chain; even a village chief could not hope to match a common Succubus in combat, let alone Lilith's elite subordinates. However, in the economy of an empire, everything had its use.
These green creatures, though pathetic in battle, possessed two key traits that made them ideal "material" for subjects:
Extremely Low Maintenance Costs: Goblins were almost omnivorous. They could survive for weeks feeding on grass, leaves, or roots. The cost of feeding thirty such creatures was likely lower than maintaining a single elite Draconic soldier.
Rapid Reproduction: They grew almost before one's eyes - a young goblin reached full maturity in just three years.
The most important factor, however, was their hidden potential. Lysandra, in proposing this conquest, knew something Lilith was only just learning: goblins possessed a natural, almost instinctive talent for agriculture. Nearly every one of them had skills related to farming and gathering.
The higher the level of their profession, the more incredible the effects they could achieve. They were not only able to drastically shorten plant growth time but also increase crop volume, whether dealing with ordinary food plants or rare alchemical herbs. For a territory in need of self-sufficiency, this was a treasure more precious than gold.
Lilith felt a deep sense of satisfaction as she watched Graaz issue his first orders to his terrified kinsmen. Only yesterday, her territory had been a wasteland inhabited by four sentient beings and an army of mindless bones. Today, she had gained over a hundred workers who would turn her dark valley into a finely-tuned production machine.
"Good work, Lysandra," Lilith whispered, stowing her wings. "Your advice was worth more than I anticipated."
The Valley of Eternal Darkness had finally ceased to be just a hiding place. With a population exceeding 150 beings, Lilith's faction was beginning to take real shape.
Lysandra smiled, her gaze reflecting proud loyalty. "That is exactly why I am here, Lilith. So that you may reach for the fruits of victory that others do not even dare to dream of," she replied in a velvety but cold voice.
Lilith, however, was no longer listening to her words; she excitedly opened her system inventory, where the heavy chest, clad in dark metal, rested. As soon as she brushed its lid, the lock gave way with a loud click, and the valley was illuminated by the glow of system notifications.
[You have opened the Black Iron Treasure Chest!]
[You have obtained: "Gold" x300]
[You have obtained: "Blueprint: Fields of Spirit Cultivation" x1!]
Lilith narrowed her eyes, examining the details of the new schematic that hovered before her in the form of a translucent scroll.
[Blueprint: Fields of Spirit Cultivation]
Construction Cost: Earth Gem x1, Wood x40, Gold x600.
Effect: Allows the designation of one hundred acres of farmland with special properties within your territory.
"Lysandra, look at this. I've obtained a building plan called 'Fields of Spirit Cultivation'," Lilith said, relaying the message to her commander.
Lysandra flinched, her eyebrows shooting up. "Truly? You obtained Spirit Soil Farmland?" she asked with clear animation in her voice.
Lilith repeated the name under her breath, feeling its weight. Lysandra nodded vigorously and began to explain: "These fields are not ordinary soil where weeds grow. Spirit Soil is saturated with vast deposits of magical energy. You can plant literally anything on it, but most importantly - every plant placed there will grow ten times faster than under normal conditions."
Lilith paused, trying to calculate the numbers in her head. She looked at the succubus in disbelief. "You mean to say that if a plant normally takes a year to yield a harvest, we will gather it in just over a month on this field?"
"Exactly," Lysandra confirmed with a triumphant smile. "And now add these goblins to that. They have natural agricultural skills that further stimulate growth. If we combine the power of Spirit Soil with their talents, cultivation time could be cut by another half."
Lilith felt a thrill of excitement. The quick math yielded a staggering result. "So a year's worth of harvest... in little more than half a month?" she whispered.
Lysandra nodded. This wasn't just minor progress - it was a logistical revolution that could feed their future army and provide infinite supplies of various alchemical herbs at record speed.
Lilith turned toward the terrorized goblins, but this time, there was more than just contempt in her gaze. She smiled warmly - though to an outsider, it might have looked like the smile of a predator that had just found the perfect use for its tools.
"It seems your fate has just been sealed," she murmured, looking at Graaz, who was managing the goblins to ensure they packed appropriately. "I have the perfect job for you. Your hands will soon be very busy digging into earth that knows no sleep."
***
Lilith let out a long, heavy sigh. She felt exhausted, and every muscle in her new body demanded rest. The entire logistical operation - moving nearly one hundred and fifty goblins along with their meager belongings through the Canyon of Courage to the Valley of Eternal Darkness - had taken over 15 hours of a murderous march.
She turned and looked at the column of green creatures trudging behind her and Lysandra. She gestured with a talon for Graaz to approach. The old goblin ran over, but as soon as he was within a few steps of her, Lilith winced with distaste. Ever since she had deactivated the destructive [Origin Aura], her natural, sky-high charisma had once again begun to dominate her surroundings.
In Graaz's eyes, despite his shattered nose and dried blood, there was now something akin to devout infatuation. Most of the goblins stared at her with the same moonstruck gaze, though thanks to the earlier display of brute force, their brains hadn't turned into complete mush like the three who had fought alongside Korgath. Fear still kept their lusts in check.
Lilith gestured toward the vast, flat plain stretching before them. "You live here from now on," she announced curtly.
Graaz began nodding with such energy he nearly twisted his neck. "Yes... y-yes, Great Lady! A wonderful place! Th-the most magnificent!" he stammered, showering her with flattery while his gaze wandered over the perfectly level ground.
Lilith smiled to herself, looking at the area. It was here, taking advantage of a break in the march, that she had issued the command to build the Fields of Spirit Cultivation. She had acquired the Earth Gem earlier, and the cost of 600 gold and 40 units of wood, though felt, was an investment she couldn't skip. The ground before them now pulsed with a barely visible spiritual energy.
"From today, your only task is to turn this plain into farmland," she said, turning back to Graaz.
The goblin chief froze. He turned even paler, and a mortal hesitation appeared in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, then quickly closed it, trembling with fear.
"Go on, spit it out," Lilith muttered, furrowing her brow. "Do you have something to say?"
Graaz fell to his knees, striking his forehead against the ground. "I b-beg for forgiveness, m-most beautiful Monarch! We... we have no seeds!" he sobbed. "Everything was left in the o-old village! We were so afraid of Your w-wrath and so hurried at Your command to leave that place that... that we didn't have time to gather supplies!"
Lilith froze. She felt a blush of embarrassment creep onto her cheeks. Well done, genius Lilith. You built a magical field, brought in the farmers, but forgot the seeds, she scolded herself mentally.
She felt exceptionally stupid, and her brows knitted in a grimace of irritation at her own oversight.
Graaz, seeing her expression, panicked. He began to wallow in the dust, begging for mercy. "It is my fault! I am an i-inept green goblin! K-kill me, but spare the village!" he roared, choking on his own sobs.
Lilith, however, was no longer listening. She ignored the goblin's hysteria and quickly summoned the trade chat window. Her fingers flew across the interface as she typed a short, specific message:
"Buying bulk quantities of herb seeds and crop plants. Private message me if interested."
She sent the offer to the global channel, praying silently that among the millions of Demon Kings, there was someone who had focused on gathering rather than war from the start.