Forests Don't Support Idle Goblins

"Give it a try," Philip said expressionlessly, clutching the small skirt that barely touched his palm. "You know I'm not begging you."

Before him was an exquisite gilded metal bird stand, on which curled a slender, young female fairy, about ten centimeters long. She had fair skin, long fiery red hair, and four translucent, dragonfly-like wings that drooped listlessly behind her. An iron chain bound one of her ankles to the bird stand.

"Hurry up, I don't have much patience," Philip said coldly.

The little fairy didn't even glance at him, just sat there by herself. Although she was so small that Philip could crush her with one hand, she still ignored him.

A few seconds later, Philip put down the tiny dress and picked up a magic metal rod instead.

He pressed the metal rod against the bird stand, and instantly a surge of electricity passed through it, causing the little goblin to tremble all over and howl in agony.

"Put it on," Philip commanded. The bird perch was simple in structure, offering no cover whatsoever, just three platforms for resting and placing sugar water. If this little vixen wanted to change into a short skirt, she would undoubtedly have no choice but to…

After screaming, the little fairy tried to flap her wings and fly away from the bird stand, but the thin iron chain prevented her from doing so.

"Sizzle," another surge of electricity passed through, and the little fairy cried out as it plummeted downwards, swaying weakly, like a butterfly larva unable to hatch, trapped in its cocoon, waiting to die in the wind.

"Young Master Philip." A slightly aged voice interrupted Philip.

He put down the magic metal wand and said coldly, "I hope you'll be changed by the time I get back. Also, hurry up and learn that song I taught you yesterday; I'm running out of patience."

Then, he put his hands behind his back, walked out of the room, and said, "Let's talk in the reception room, Jules."

The two went to the adjacent reception room. Jules closed the door and immediately went to Phyllis's side, saying obsequiously, "His Highness has replied."

"Oh, what did you say?" Philip pressed the call bell twice, and immediately a maid pushed open a door a crack.

"Coffee," he ordered briefly, then looked at Jules, whose temples were slightly gray.

"The Third Prince didn't give a definite answer; the whole conversation was about the aristocratic life in Plantagenet City with the Duke." After Jules finished speaking, he got up, took the maid's tray from the door, closed the door, and returned to his original position.

"The lord said the other party is very cunning and won't make any promises unless he sees benefits." He poured Philip coffee first, then stood aside.

"What does Father mean?" Philip picked up his coffee and took a sip.

"The lord wishes to send you to the capital to meet the Third Prince, but there's no gift to offer," Jules said. "Originally, I wanted to get a few mid-level beast cores from the Adventurers' Guild, but when I inquired, I found that beast cores have been scarce these past few months, and they're not available on the black market either."

"What if we don't use beast cores?" Philip asked.

"It's difficult. The Duke said that the Valentine family wants to get rid of the fate of the border territories and go further. The next year will be a once-in-a-century opportunity. Now we need to actively maintain good relations with Plantagenet City, but none of the nobles there are easy to deal with. The Duke has decided to levy an additional tax on the territory. At the same time, we need to deepen our ties with the Third Prince."

As the next heir of the Valentine family, Philip Valentine knew all too well how much his father, Earl Valentine, wanted to escape the predicament of a border lord. The territory was small and far from the capital, bordering the Nightmare Forest. If it weren't for the ordinary iron ore that could be mined and sold, the income from the territory would be far less than that of a baron's territory by the sea.

"So Father sent you to ask me?" Philippe put down his coffee cup and glanced up at Jules.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I'd like to ask you if there's anything that Golden Flower City is lacking that we can get here."

"There are a few," Philip thought for a moment. "They have no shortage of live goblins, and they don't like other monsters, but there is one thing that really suits their taste."

Jules didn't reply, but instead listened attentively.

"Little fairy, many nobles in the capital want to keep a little fairy as a pet." Philip smiled and picked up his coffee cup again.

"Little imp?" Jules asked.

"Yes, they keep them as ornamental birds. They can fly, sing, and talk to keep you entertained, and they're also intelligent. They really enjoy the feeling of being tamed," Philip said confidently. "Female goblins are more expensive, but some wealthy ladies also keep male goblins."

"But these things are very rare. Should we ask the Adventurers' Guild to help us...?" Jules had almost never seen a merchant selling goblins.

"No, that's too much trouble. The Earl's mansion can't get involved," Philip refused outright.

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the reception room, and a maid outside said softly, "Young Master, the leader of the Storm Brotherhood requests an audience."

Philip nodded and instructed, "Let them in."

A few minutes later, footsteps echoed down the corridor, and several burly men in expensive suits with rough skin pushed open the door and walked in.

"Good day, Your Excellency, Master Philip." They bowed respectfully.

"Hello, Martel," Philip greeted casually from his sofa.

"We've come to see you because we're about to set off for Gieshorn. We were wondering if there's anything we can do for you," Brotherhood President Martel asked, bowing slightly.

"Are we setting off so soon?" Philippe put down his empty coffee cup, and Jules, who was standing next to him, immediately stepped forward to refill it.

"Yes, we've been searching for a long time, but the traitor Charles Mello is still nowhere to be found. Winter is approaching, and we need to go into the forest to exterminate the goblins. We'll come back after the operation is over," Martel replied loudly.

"Alright, maintaining the security of the territory is indeed very important. I hope you return victorious. I will send someone to take you to get some supplies later."

"Thank you for your generosity. Is there anything we can do for you?" Martel asked, patting his chest and looking down.

"There is something," Philip said, picking up his coffee cup and smelling it. "Catch some young vixens for me, with intact bodies and wings, male or female, the more the better."

"Okay, I understand," Martel nodded in reply. "If you have no other requests, we'll take our leave now."

Philip didn't look at them or say anything; he just leaned back on the sofa and drank his coffee.

After bowing, Martel and the others left the reception room.

"Can they handle it?" Jules asked.

"Jules, you've been the chief guard of the Count's mansion for so long, don't you know that there are some things you can only rely on them for?" Philippe said calmly, crossing his legs. "If we don't want those hypocritical fellows from the Church of Earth and Life to come knocking on our door, this is the only way."

"Alright, then, Master Philippe, I'll go and reply to the lord." Jules nodded and turned to leave.

"A once-in-a-century opportunity?" Philippe put down his cup, stood up and pressed the call bell, then instructed the maid at the door to tidy up the room and give the carpet that Martel and the others had stepped on to Jules.

Then he went into the inner room and looked at the little goblins on the bird shelf.

"I told you I don't have much patience." He picked up the magic metal rod.