The next morning, many members of the 5th special squad moved out and galloped in the direction of the forest.

As a result, only 20% of the squad stayed together with water porters and they moved out slowly, entering into the forest.

They continued to travel for several hours before entering the fields. Along the way, they saw dead bodies of monsters, laying with similar wounds from arrows or swords.

However, Theo and others didn't see only the bodies of the monsters and also passed by several villages which were destroyed from monster attacks. Some even had dead bodies lying near the last positions their owners were at before the monster attack. The vanguard and reinforcements most likely had no spare time to deal with such things because nagas and other monsters continued to attack the vanguard, forcing them to rush to help them.

So, the 5th special squad that stayed with water porters spent some time in such villages and made sure to bury the dead.

In such a way, several days passed. Stella's squad successfully passed through the field area, buried many dead bodies along the way, and was approaching their final destination. Only the big forest-covered area was the last place they had to pass through.

On the evening of the 3rd day, when they stopped at the hill in front of the forest, some hunting groups returned, raising the overall number to 1500 people.

...

..

.

Stella was sitting on her chair inside the tent, looking at the maps with landscape and several reports she got from her groups when the sound of flapping of wings resounded in the tent. Raising her glance, Stella saw an owl landing on the table and looking at her.

A glance was enough to recognize this owl and see a small object attached to one of its legs. This was one of the flying messengers, the army used to communicate with different units on the battlefield. Such curriers could feel and find from distance, so all the unit commanders had one with them. So, it wasn't difficult for tamers to train such birds.

Besides, this owl was the most intelligent one among their feather curriers. It could not only find those stones, but could also discern them, and was much faster than the rest of the messengers, so the appearance of such messenger already meant many things.

Stella furrowed her brows before taking a small object from its leg.

Unfolding the sheet of paper, she saw seals made by headquarters.

A short time later, mysterious flames appeared in her eyes, and almost immediately she stood up from her seat and rushed to give orders for the return of all forces and another order to call all high officers in her squad.

...

..

.

A short time later in the same tent.

Moving her glance, Stella saw many armored and robed men and women that were sitting around the big table with many maps.

Stella spent several moments observing after her subordinates that were quickly gathering in the tent. After the arrival of the last one, she cleared her throat, attracting their attention.

"Frankly, hidden monster race joined the party," said Stella, looking at them.

When her subordinate heard her, many faces became serious and they seemed to want to hear more about that.

"Goblin riders appeared out of the forests and started attacking one unit in or close to forest one after another. Their numbers are unknown, but their ambushes and attacks happen all over this territory. Tamers and scouts, responsible for patrolling forests suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat to the fields or forts, hiding there," explained Stella.

"General Barko orders our squad to find and deal with this problem and restore the overall safety on the forest roads, connected to several of our forts," said Stella, looking at them, "So, we will at first gather all our forces and then depart to help them,"

"Commander, what do we know about the constitution of their raiding groups?" asked one of the officers.

"They are ordinary intellectual goblins a bit shorter than average human, they ride on wolves and their much smaller comrades use poisoned arrows,"

Hearing her words, many warriors and mages became serious. Many of them served in the northern borders of the Freinos family domain in the past and many of them already met with goblins themselves.

"Is it just light-armed cavalry units? Is there a report, indicating the appearance of heavy-armored goblin squads?" asked another officer with clear worry in his voice.

"Relax, there weren't any reports about them and only about mobile groups. Besides, I don't think goblin rulers would send the trump cards that guarantee their survival so far from their territories," said Stella, looking at him,

Hearing her words, that officer relaxed and sighed with relief.

The same expression appeared on many faces in the tent while Stella watched as her subordinates were quickly gaining confidence.

"We shouldn't underestimate them, goblins are natural ambush masters. Besides, nagas must have played a vital role in making them join this war. So, let's 1st concentrate our forces before we start our own offense,"

Hearing her words all officers nodded and continued to discuss their plan of action.

Several hours later when officers returned to their subordinates, the whole camp almost immediately became active.

There were people creating walls, towers, establishing peaks all over the hill, water porters delivered as much water as possible while craftsmen were preparing their weapons for the inevitable battle.

...

..

.

Two days prior the owl delivered the message, there was another gathering happening in the hut where several goblins with skulls of different monsters on their heads were sitting in their seats.

"So, what should we do?" asked the goblin leader who talked with the naga ambassador, looking at three other goblins that were also leaders of mobile groups sent to the hidden bases in this region.

"I oppose, joining this war," said a female goblin, "There is absolutely nothing we can get from sending our warriors to help them,"

"As usual, I didn't expect less from a coward representing neutral clans," said another goblin, glaring at the female one, "Gerra, you better return over the ridge and help there,"

"I don't know about others, but I and my tribesmen haven't forgotten our history and know what happened when we challenged a relatively small crowd of humans that appeared on the Continent," said Gerra without moving her glance of that goblin, "I don't think I have to remind you what happened afterward and how we ended up here in just several thousand years. Besides, I repeat there is nothing we can get from helping those nagas,"

"I don't care about it. Our youths should get some experience from fighting against humans and this is an amazing chance to stab those bastards and train our recruits in the process. When humans destroyed our last kingdom and pushed us here, our youths lost the opportunity to fight against them and now few goblins in the army can boast about their knowledge of their tactics and strategies. If this continues further, goblins would be eventually destroyed by the race that despises hierarchy,"

Hearing him, Gerra shook her head.

"Gillo, you and your war maniacs still live in the past, thousands of years have passed and there is no hierarchy anymore. Our patrons have long disappeared together with their empires. They are the overlords of this Continent now," said Gerra, looking at him, " We are only groups of survivors that gathered around our last- surviving leader to get a chance to rebuild. Our history is good reference material and an example of what we shouldn't do. Now, when we are much weaker, less organized, and have much fewer resources, there are no chances that we will succeed in surviving if they prepare another crusade against us!"

"We will only end up killing our people if we provoke them too much,"

The duo of war maniac and neutral goblin female continued to argue for some time when another goblin leader took his turn to speak.

"You are both right, we can't just agree to join and we also shouldn't forget about the blood debt humans owe to our race. Besides, humans only continue to improve and we need experienced warriors just in case they attack us" said Linek before looking at the Galus that gathered them here, "What will they give in exchange for our help?"

When Galus asked that question, almost immediately other leaders looked at him.

"Their mainland territory and a significant portion of spoils of war," said Gallus, "I decided at first to talk with you before giving him our answer,"

"So, what do you think?"

"Their territories on the mainland would be a good addition to our slowly rebuilding kingdom, but it's still not enough for making us send 4.000 goblins to participate in this war," said the female goblin.

"Though I want to participate in the battle against our enemies just like our ancestors, even I can agree with her that their offer is too small," said Gillo, "Our forces can change the situation on the whole war theater, creating many problems for the human scouts and their tamers that successfully pushed nagas to the swamps,"

"Seem like, those nagas underestimate our strength and look down on us," said Linek.

Hearing their opinions, Galus also shared his thoughts.

"By the way, we shouldn't forget about objectives given by our own leaders and the fact that we should finish gathering needed materials before migrating over the ridge,"

His words were like a bucket of cold water that quickly made them forget about this conversation and all of them nodded, agreeing with him.

When they made a decision not to participate in this war and wanted to invite the ambassador, something strange happened in the hut.

Out of nowhere a shadow, resembling a human appeared.

Almost immediately, all guards, presenting in the hut moved and prepared their weapons, aiming at that shadow.

In short, the atmosphere quickly became dangerous.

"Who are you," cried Gillo, putting his hand on the knife behind his back at the same time as other leaders also prepared for the battle.

"A messenger, a simple messenger of the Syndicate,"

At first, leaders prepared for the battle against the shadow, but when they heard his words, their expressions changed, all their desire for battle disappeared and a quick shiver passed through their backs.

"Why are you here?" asked Galus who was the 1st to recover.

"To buy your service," said the shadow, "I need your help to get rid of several squads in the expedition army. I don't care if you poison them, cripple, or kill, but I will pay for that,"

"Do you imply that our people will have to join the war to do that?" asked Linek.

The shadow nodded to his words.

"Just agree with terms naga ambassador offered, you would get both his and my awards for your work,"

"What do you offer," asked Galus, concentrating his attention on the shadow, "But, don't expect us to agree to join the war if your offer isn't sufficient,"

"Don't worry," said the shadow before taking several objects from his space ring.

When those goblins saw those objects, surprised expressions appeared on their faces when they saw rare mithril ore in the hands of that shadow.

"That's ..." cried Gillo, jumping from his seat.

"Impossible," said Linek, inclining towards the ore.

Even Gerra was amazed when she saw that ore.

"This is a piece of that unique mithril, your race uses to create your famous heavy-armored goblin squads armor. Besides, it's a pure one that would be enough not only to help you recover all the 10.000 armors you saved but also to create another 10.000 armors, using this mithril as final detail to material you have long ago prepared,"

"I can give it to you and your race in exchange for your service right now if you kill as many people in those squads," said the shadow before looking at them.

It took only a moment before all 4 leaders stood up and looked at the shadow.

"We agree, but we would like to get this ore and send it over the ridge with a small group of goblins while we and everyone else will fulfill your wish," said four leaders in unison.

The shadow smiled when he heard them and threw the ore to the closest goblin leader to him.

"Your 2.000 goblin riders should start creating ambushes and diversion all over this front while other 2.000 goblins and 2.000 naga warriors would move out to get rid of the 5th special squad, the closest squad to you" explained the shadow, "Kill as many knights and mages as you can, and if you succeed in killing their commander, I will give you another award similar to this one,"

A moment later, a replica of Stella's outer appearance appeared on several sheets the shadow sent to them.

"Even if you fail to kill her, but succeed in destroying her squad, you shouldn't consider your job done and will have to follow my orders till the end of this war," said the shadow in a threatening manner.

Hearing his words, all leaders nodded with serious expressions on their faces.

"Good, then you can start," said the shadow before disappearing in the shadows.

A moment later all four leaders sighed from relief and started giving orders to their people to begin preparations.