Evolving by devouring from a young dragon

When Grimm opened his eyes, the sun was already setting in the west.

The streets gradually became bustling with activity, as goblin merchants pushed their various carts past, their copper bells jingling. The warm glow of the magic crystal lamps bathed the streets in a warm golden light.

He sat up abruptly, stroking the edge of the invitation.

Golden Manufactory is located northeast of Eberron, spanning three trade routes and two dwarven mines; the journey by ordinary official road takes five days.

But the gold-embossed invitation in his hand was not only the identity certificate of the chieftain of the Goblin Clan, but also a "passport" handed over by the Goblin Merchant Guild.

He rolled out of bed and first touched the hidden pocket.

The invitations, the checklist, and the spare magic crystals are all there.

He didn't know where the Fire Spirit had gone, but he didn't need to worry, because he knew that the Fire Spirit's arrival must be part of the great dragon's plan.

As I pushed open the door, I heard the innkeeper's greeting from downstairs, mixed with the clinking of wine glasses.

He went downstairs with his cane. The lobby was already about 70-80% full, mostly caravan crew members and travelers from the post station. No one paid any attention to him, the goblin with the cane.

"Shopkeeper, I have something to ask you."

Grimm pushed a shard of magic crystal onto the counter. "What's the fastest way to Golden Manufactory?"

The goblin shopkeeper held the shard of magic crystal, his eyes narrowed to slits, his pupils darting around rapidly:

"Sir, you've come from out of town to attend this party, haven't you? If you're going to Golden City, these two routes are the safest."

He lowered his voice and pointed out the window.

"The first route is the goblin magic train that travels along the Silver Vein Trade Route."

"Tomorrow morning, a special train will depart. The carriages are specially made by the Merchant Guild, equipped with anti-magic shields, and there will be dedicated guards. It will take three days to reach the lower city of Golden Pickaxe. However, the ticket costs two high-grade magic crystals, but it includes three meals a day and is very safe."

"And the second one?" Grimm pressed.

"The second way is the magic minecart that goes through the dwarven mine tunnels," the shopkeeper pointed eastward again.

"It only takes half a day to get to the Dwarven Mining Town. Then you can take a minecart through the tunnel and reach Gold Manufactory in a day and a night. It's just expensive. You need three high-grade magic crystals and a letter of introduction from the merchant guild, otherwise you can't get into the mine tunnel."

Grimm paused. He had high-grade magic crystals, but a letter of introduction... he only had an invitation from the Eberon Empire, not the goblin merchant guild's exclusive documents.

Does the train require a letter of introduction from the Chamber of Commerce?

"Need not!"

The shopkeeper patted the counter. "The special train is jointly operated by the Chamber of Commerce and the Empire. You can buy tickets with an invitation from the Empire, but tickets are scarce and you have to book in advance."

Grimm nodded and pushed the broken magic crystal over: "Book a ticket for tomorrow morning, and also get a list of the inns along the way, as well as the rules for entering Golden Manuscript City."

The shopkeeper deftly collected the magic crystals, took out a roll of parchment from a drawer, and handed over a bronze token:

"This is the inn's pass. Tomorrow morning, I'll have my servants take you to the station. There are goblin attendants on the train; just identify yourself."

Grimm took the token, turned and went back to his room, but was secretly dissatisfied.

Despite being invited to the Golden Cocktail Party, they weren't given exclusive transportation tickets, only the right to purchase tickets, and the tickets were so expensive.

How stingy!

However, he quickly realized the reason.

Many tribes may see the grand scale of the event and receive the gold-embossed invitations, but when it comes to the hefty cost of the train tickets, they simply cannot afford it.

Only those who can afford it are qualified to step into the banquet in the capital; those who cannot afford it, even with an invitation, can only stop there and waste this seemingly respectable invitation.

The empire can also profit from this, earning a large sum of money from train tickets. It's a win-win situation, so why not?

Grimm shook his head, feeling a pang of emotion. He hadn't expected the upper echelons of the Golden Party to be even darker than he had imagined.

Grimm woke up before dawn the next day.

It was still dark outside the window, but rows of magic crystal lights on the street were lit, and light leaked in through the cracks in the window, shining on the ceiling, and the warm yellow spots of light swayed gently.

Grimm, leaning on his cane, came downstairs. The lobby was brightly lit, and the goblin shopkeeper was already behind the counter, holding a cup of hot tea. Seeing Grimm come down, he quickly put down the cup and took out a piece of parchment from under the counter.

"Guest, the train will depart in 45 minutes. I'll have my waiter take you to the station."

The innkeeper handed over the parchment, saying, "This is a list of post stations along the way and information on entering Golden Pick City. Please keep it safe."

Grimm took the parchment, put it in his pocket, and then took out two high-level magic crystals and placed them on the counter.

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up. He quickly bowed, deftly collected the magic crystals, and turned to shout towards the backyard:

"Old Ding, take the guest to the station!"

A young goblin ran out from the backyard, wearing a gray robe and a string of copper bells hanging from his waist, which jingled as he ran.

He was leading a motorized tricycle with an iron body, a cotton pad in the cargo bed, and a glowing magic crystal embedded in the front. The light was faint but sufficient.

This kind of powered tricycle consumes very little magic power, and you might not need to replace the magic crystals for a lifetime.

Grimm sat in the back of the cart, and Old Nail climbed onto the tricycle.

A faint light flashed from the magic crystal on the front of the vehicle, and the tricycle glided forward silently.

The streets were silent, the magic crystal lights were dazzling, illuminating the streets as if it were daytime, the doors and windows of the magic stone buildings on both sides were tightly closed, and the runes on the window sills glowed faintly, flashing intermittently.

Grimm tucked his cane under his arm, sat in the back of the truck, and watched the street scene recede into the distance.

Upon reaching the crossroads, a bronze goblin statue stands in the center.

The goblin raised his pickaxe high, the base of which was engraved with the words: Pioneers of the Eberon Empire.

Grimm glanced at the bronze statue and recognized it as the founding ancestor of the empire.

Legend has it that he was the first emperor to unify all goblin tribes and establish a vast goblin empire, and also the first pioneer to raise a pickaxe and lead the goblins out of the wilderness and expand their territory.

Although the Gudakani Empire later fell, all goblins will never forget this ancestor.

The present-day Eberon Empire can be considered a continuation of the Ancient Dacani Empire, so it is reasonable to recognize it as an ancestor.

No one knows the true name of this ancestor. For thousands of years, all the goblins have called him by the name of the ancient kingdom: Gudakani.

To name an ancestor after an empire is the highest honor and glory in goblin civilization.

The tricycle turned onto a wide street, and a huge building appeared in front of it.

station.

Grimm looked up and was instantly captivated, his mouth agape.

This station is out of place with the surrounding buildings and is completely different from what he had imagined.

The front of the station is a whole wall of goblin alloy, ten feet high, with huge magic crystals embedded on the wall. The magic crystals are arranged in an arc shape and emit a cold blue and white light.

The gate was a gear-hydraulic composite gate, with the door frame engraved with magical runes. The runes rotated slowly in circles, accompanied by a low humming sound.

A giant golden flag hangs above the gate, embroidered with crossed pickaxes and hammers, and edged with gold tassels. When the wind blows, the flag flutters loudly.