Forests Don't Support Idle Goblins

"The Forest Doesn't Keep Idle Goblins" ranks high in readers' poll for best fantasy novel!

"Someone's shouting?" Charles heard a voice coming from outside the heavy wooden door.

"There aren't any mind-eating monsters outside, are there? Could it be that Red Eyes and his gang did this?" He looked suspiciously at his subordinates who were standing quietly by the stone pillar. "It shouldn't be them. Those guys are so protective of those mind-eating monsters right now, they definitely wouldn't let them out."

"Could it be that idiot Philip got scared?" He covered half of his face with his hand. "I hope that fool doesn't scare him away; he's very useful to me."

Charles was prepared to make good use of Philip, after all, the sole heir of the Valentine family, and his body could mobilize the entire Earl's mansion's forces.

If we put him in the Spider Canteen, it will definitely pique the interest of the customers, and Count Valentine will surely come to "deliver the food." Charles can even check "where your order is" through Mary and the others.

"The giant spiders and giant bees are too dangerous; adventurers alone cannot handle them." Charles had previously considered having Little John report to the association and then entice the adventurers to deal with the two species. However, upon further reflection, he realized that adventurers are bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. In the end, they would not fight the spiders and giant bees to the death; they would only choose to kill the ants and goblins.

The only way to deal with the two giant predators is to rely on the Earl's Knights, but he can't mobilize them. However, Philip's arrival is a real lifesaver.

Once the survival problem of the ant species is solved, one can possess a fully functional means of transportation in these forest terrains for an extended period of time.

Charles had personally witnessed the speed at which ants dig tunnels—quick and sturdy. Moreover, the first prototype of the newly made "ant car" cargo compartment had already been delivered. He believed that after several adjustments, mass production would definitely be possible. In that case, the only thing limiting the production capacity of the "Undying" Alchemy Workshop would be Little Claw.

"This is currently our flagship product for foreign trade, capable of generating substantial income for the community." He glanced at the lame man sitting beside him. "If necessary, perhaps he and Nine Fingers could try brewing the medicine?"

"Let's forget about it. The development over there with the Treants needs these two subordinates, we need to dig out a large space to store Treant fruits, we also need to send some goblins to gather herbs there, and we also need a team of goblin guards." Sharl rubbed his temples. "Without the help of worker ants, we really don't have enough manpower."

With a soft creak, the heavy wooden door was pushed open a crack by someone.

"Here it comes." Ciel grinned mischievously.

…………

Philip glared at the rat that had run away. His shout had drawn everyone's attention, and even the deputy captain of the guard stood beside him with his sword drawn.

Being stared at like that by everyone made him feel ashamed, especially after realizing his noble status, this feeling intensified, and it also made him increasingly disgusted with the goblins hiding in the ruins.

"Ahem." He coughed and, with a stern face, gave the order, "I misread it just now. Continue forward."

The guards didn't say anything, but Philip felt there was a hint of mockery in their eyes, even though he knew his men wouldn't actually look at him like that. That's just what he thought.

"Young master, this place is quite nice," the deputy head guard reported, leaning closer. "The buildings here are very sturdy, and the space is quite large; we can make full use of it."

"What do you mean?" Philip looked at the other person, waiting for what would follow.

"A small knightly order could easily be stationed here, all it takes is to build a gravel road," the deputy captain of the guard said, looking up at the surrounding walls. "The lord mentioned before whether it was possible to develop the Nightmare Forest region. You know that our territory currently only relies on iron ore and agricultural products for profit, while the Nightmare Forest has many resources. However, due to the three-day time limit for humans and the lack of a stable base in the forest, the lord's idea has not been able to be realized."

"You mean we should use this ruin as a base and then expand outwards to collect resources?" Philip understood the other person's suggestion. He thought about it for a moment and felt it seemed feasible.

"As long as we control the flow of people and build a simple road, we can transport the herbs, trees, and fruits from the forest by mules and horses," the deputy chief of guards continued.

"Your suggestion is excellent. I'll tell my father as soon as I get back. I must say, it's indeed a very good idea for development." Philip smiled and patted the deputy captain of the guard on the shoulder. "Then, the first step is to clear out the goblins here."

The deputy chief of guards stood at attention and saluted, then whispered an order for the guards to speed up their advance.

Turning into the passage, they saw blue glowing mushrooms overhead, knowing that this was where the mimics were kept, but right now there was nothing but the mushrooms on their heads.

"Young Master, we're almost at the battle zone Ricardo mentioned," the deputy captain of the guard whispered to Philip. "Please stand behind us and wait until we've wiped out the enemy before coming out."

"I know," Philip nodded.

"Open the door, and keep it down," the deputy captain of the guard ordered the shield-bearing guard walking in front. "Try not to alert the goblins."

The gate was pushed open a crack, and a guard peeked out. "Looks like there's no one here?"

"Nobody here?" The deputy captain of the guard frowned. He knew that goblins were a noisy race and would never stay quiet. If there was no sound, there were only two reasons: either the other party was not there, or they were all asleep.

"Enter slowly and make no noise," he commanded in a low voice. Of course, it would be best if they could launch a successful sneak attack.

The wooden doors were slowly pushed open by the guards, and they immediately rushed into the stone chamber, only to be blocked by the barricades in front of them.

"Try moving it."

Several guards stepped forward and pushed the barricade forcefully. "It's very heavy, and it's bound with iron chains."

"Just as the intelligence said, these goblins have some combat experience." The deputy captain of the guard gestured, trying to get his men to slip silently under the barricades.

With a whoosh, several sounds came from the air. The deputy captain of the guard looked up and saw dozens of black objects flying towards them.

"Defense!" he shouted.

"Bang!" A series of explosions rang out as the grenades, thrown in unison, exploded at the gate. Flying metal fragments continuously struck the walls and armor. As the smoke cleared, the Earl's guards discovered that the stone pillars and walls opposite were filled with goblins.

"Report the situation," the deputy captain of the guard shouted, holding up his shield.

"It's nothing, I'm just a little dizzy."

There are several abrasions.

"I also feel a little dizzy and have some difficulty breathing, but it's not a big problem."

The guards shouted that the grenades had limited effect, most of them being blocked by their huge shields, and the remaining fragments had limited killing power against them, who were wearing armor.

"Shieldbearers in front, axemen, cut the chains!" the deputy captain of the guard immediately gave the order. Although the goblins had already spotted them, they didn't seem to be able to do anything about the guards.

Good equipment and physical strength have withstood the goblin attacks; now all we need to do is rush in and kill them.

"Philip Valentine, you actually came to my fortress!" came the shout from the other side, and it was even in Common.

"It's the mage behind the goblins," the deputy captain of the guard frowned immediately. "Don't be afraid, everyone. We all have magic resistance, so the enemy's magic is nothing to worry about."

At his command, two strong, fully armored warriors, wielding double axes, approached to cut the chains on the barricade.

"Philip, you stupid fool, you actually dare to dream of personally attacking me!" another shout came from the other side.

Philip was initially puzzled when he heard the other person call him by his name, but now that he heard them call him a good-for-nothing, and recalling how he had screamed in fright from the rat earlier, he felt that the guards around him were looking at him strangely.

"You guys stay behind and protect the young master," the deputy head guard said immediately. He knew his young master's temper and knew he wouldn't be happy to be mocked like that.

"Everyone, get ready! Charge in and kill them!"

Just as the guards were about to break through the barricades, the "mage" on the other side shouted again, "Philip, have you cured your bedwetting problem from when you were a teenager?"

"Pfft," Yunxia on the bird perch laughed out loud. Ever since Philip was startled and embarrassed by the mouse, she had been looking at him with disdain. Now, hearing what he said, she couldn't help but laugh.

This laugh completely enraged Philip, who angrily pushed his way forward and shouted for the guards to kill the man.

With a "whoosh," another black sphere was thrown over, and the deputy head guard immediately ordered everyone to be careful and defend.

With a "smack," the black sphere slammed into the guard's shield and exploded, spraying black liquid everywhere, some even landing on Philip's face.

In an instant, a strong stench spread, and the surrounding guards bent over and gagged in pain upon smelling it.

Immediately afterwards, two more foul-smelling black balls exploded in the crowd. "Ugh!" Some guards couldn't stand it and collapsed to the ground to vomit, while the others covered their mouths and noses, trying to leave the area.

"This is not a magical attack, everyone step back." The deputy captain of the guard was in so much pain that his eyes were bloodshot, and he had no choice but to order everyone to retreat back into the passage.

"What is this? Ugh, it stinks!" Philip complained loudly. His magnificent armor was covered in black liquid. He completely disregarded his noble image and wanted to take off his armor immediately.

The deputy head guard, barely able to bear the suffocating stench, ordered his men to protect the young master while simultaneously commanding the guards to stay away from the entrance, which was filled with black water.

"I can't take it anymore," Philip exclaimed, regretting for the first time why he had come here in person.

"I can't take it anymore," Philip exclaimed, regretting for the first time why he had come here in person.

"Bang!" Several explosions rang out from the other end of the passage. Someone threw several pieces of flaming glue, and the raging flames blocked the guards in the passage.

"What's that up there?" Philip, squeezed between his men, looked up at the ceiling and was surprised to find a blue object hidden inside a blue glowing mushroom.