paranoianovel Chapter 32 Composure
Chapter 32 Composure
"This should be a sunny slope, and it seems to be a sheltered spot. Goblins should run this way."
The slave-catching squad leader, Lasso, pointed to the surrounding terrain and gave a detailed analysis.
The guard, Zwan, nodded in agreement.
"It should be quite warm here, much more comfortable than in the depression."
Laso smiled and turned to look at his teammates: "Spread out and search, pay attention to the footprints nearby."
"OK."
"no problem."
Seeing the figures spreading out dozens of meters away, the strong goblin tensed up.
More than twenty humans... and three donkeys.
This is no small team.
The strong goblin noticed that these humans were wearing exquisite, animal-hide-like garments.
Although it didn't recognize the leather armor, it could tell from its appearance that it was very protective.
We need to find a way to go back.
It turned its head to look at the long-handed creature that had also just woken up, then looked at the clever boy, and waved gently to them.
This is a gesture for retreat.
Long Arm and Clever Boy nodded gently, and the three of them slowly retreated together, gradually moving away from the humans.
With large areas of bushes providing cover, as long as they don't make too much noise, even wild animals won't be able to spot them.
But the sense of oppression is extremely strong for humans.
In particular, several humans were walking towards them.
This is a must-pass place for goblins to go down the mountain to hunt. Whether they went out to hunt wolves yesterday or came down to hunt wild boar the day before yesterday, they all have to pass through here.
"So many goblin footprints!"
The slave hunters who were walking towards the three goblins pointed to the ground and let out an unexpected shout.
Everyone except the slave leading the donkey immediately came over to look.
"Don't be afraid, they just saw footprints."
The clever boy spoke softly, afraid that his two companions would get excited and give him away.
As the crowd gathered, the tallest among them exclaimed excitedly, "So many goblins! I can finally eat my fill!"
The young woman's voice, so different from her figure, came from Enlian's mouth, and almost everyone subconsciously turned their gaze to her.
The slave-catching team was surprised, but not unexpected.
After all, Enlian's appetite is quite remarkable.
But if she was always hungry before, how could she have grown so tall?
It's rare.
Far off, unnoticed, the three goblins had retreated a hundred meters away. Realizing that the humans hadn't noticed them, they quickly headed back towards the cave at the foot of the mountain.
Lasso didn't look up at Enlian; as captain, he had his own responsibilities.
He looked down to examine the footprints, muttering something to himself.
After a dozen seconds, he looked around again.
"There are indeed a lot of goblins."
The opening in the cable attracted the attention of others.
"The footprints were dense and messy. I looked at them and there were probably more than thirty, maybe even more than forty. There was even a human footprint."
The footprints range from old to new.
Perhaps this is a native goblin colony.
This is not surprising, as slave-catching teams rarely operate so close to noble territories.
The Remnant Forest is so vast that blocking the entrance is not worthwhile for them, and it would be even more troublesome if it offended the noble lord.
They usually attacked slave settlements in the summer or autumn.
Even scattered slaves were rarely captured.
If we meet on the road, that's another story.
"hiss--"
Everyone visibly became excited.
Because the goblins scattered so quickly, they have only found a dozen or so goblins since the day before yesterday.
Although these ears were enough to be bundled into a bag and exchanged with Baron Talis for 10 bushels of barley, enough grain for an adult to eat for two and a half years.
But the slave hunters all had families, and how could they not eat meat while doing this kind of work?
To reduce their load, they carried only hard biscuits, salted jerky, hard cheese, and similar foods.
Lightweight and filling, but expensive.
Basic expenses, plus various other expenditures and losses, amount to a generous but not abundant income.
It was even worse for the slaves.
As logistics personnel for the slave-catching team, they received only a small share of the spoils.
Unfortunately, this was related to their winter food supplies.
The slave hunters wouldn't starve to death, but they just wouldn't starve either.
If they fall ill or their strength diminishes in the coming year, they will either die or be sold.
These people themselves had escaped from noble territories, so they naturally knew what fate awaited those slaves.
The nobles didn't even give them a chance to try, and apart from a lucky few, the vast majority of slaves grew weaker year by year.
It would be better to join the slave-catching team!
In short, the fact that so many weak goblins gathered together was like silver coins falling into their purse.
No one could resist.
"Don't just stand there! Get moving!"
Taking advantage of the excitement among his men and slaves, Lasso urged them to continue their advance.
"Forty goblins cost 40 bushels!"
Even slaves are entitled to a week's worth of rations!
Zwan also raised his shield high: "I will bear witness for you on behalf of Lord Taris!"
This was a simple pre-battle mobilization ceremony.
This indicates that the nobles will keep their promise.
"oh!!!"
"For Lord Talis!"
"For Baron Talis!"
The atmosphere reached a climax, and the group immediately followed the footprints.
Humans have longer legs and can walk faster.
They walked quickly for a short distance and then spotted three green clumps running close to the ground.
Lasso made his judgment: "Goblin."
Zwan frowned: "They've spotted us?"
"Don't worry, Lord Zwan." Lasso looked relaxed. "These goblins are probably native wild animals here. They won't run away; they'll just gather together after they spot us."
Autumn is already halfway over, and even wild animals are starting to look for their winter dens.
Migration?
Absolutely impossible!
Ziwan nodded slightly.
That's good.
Having a sense of territory actually makes things easier to handle.
With Lasso leading the way, the slave-catching team advanced unhurriedly and calmly.
Even three donkeys carrying loads of supplies could easily keep up with the group.
On the contrary, the three goblins ran and fled in a hurry, and as a result, they didn't get much of a lead over the human group behind them!
"Ha~ha~they didn't chase us."
The clever goblin noticed the problem.
Long-Armed was speechless: "They could catch up with us just by walking!"
The strong goblin looked up at the sky and realized that he had been sleeping on and off until the next day.
It looked ahead at the road and gave the command: "Go to the cave where we ate yesterday!"
Whether or not we can handle it doesn't matter.
At worst, it can just slip away while the other goblins are holding back these humans!
The three goblins continued running and carrying away, quickly leaving the area.
Before long, the slave-catching team following the strong goblins spotted the goblin settlement in the distance.
The first thing Lasso saw was the ground covered with pine needles.
Both on the road in front of us and on the high platforms on both sides of the road, there are piles of pine needles and many shrubs growing.
Along the roadside, there were also many shacks made of pine needles.
Behind the shack, there was a wall made of pine needles.
"Wow!"
"Wow wow wow!"
In Lasso's view, after three goblins ran into the pine needle wall a few hundred meters away, a group of goblins carrying wooden sticks rushed out from behind the pine needle wall and blocked the road in a mess.
Ziwan became excited and praised Lasso, "You are really experienced."
As he spoke, he took out his equipment from the bag beside the donkey.
Seeing the goblins trying to defend their territory, Lasso turned back and shouted, "Hurry! Get Enlian ready for battle!"