Chapter 108: Growing Suspicions

Fynel: “Careful with that, don’t you know how rare that is? I could buy a hundred of you for the price of that.”

Fynel yelled and complained to the women in Zane’s party as they harvested the many different flora situated around them.

Zane: “Mr. Fynel, we understand the value of your merchandise, we are treating each with the utmost of care. However, I must insist that you cease your baseless claims”

Fynel: “Hmph.”

With a snort Fynel went to survey an area, Zane assigning to of his party members to follow and protect him. Since they enter the dungeon, Zane and Fynel had begun a power struggle, Fynel testing the boundaries of what he could say or do. Zane on the other hand, was stuck between his responsibilities towards the guilds and his love for his party members.

It was hard watching his girls get yelled at for what was no real reason, but they all agreed to the assignment, so it wasn’t as if they didn’t know what they were getting in to. Though to be honest, his mind kept drifting away from the current situation.

As they went on their way, Elenora walked up to Zane, as he sighed for the umpteenth time in a row.

Elenora: “Zane, it’s not like you to sigh so much, what’s wrong? Surely you’re not letting this simpleton cause you such grief.”

Zane: “Ah no, it’s not that we’ve dealt with such characters before. I’m just worried.”

Elenora: “Worried, whatever for?”

Elenora smiled soothing smile, urging Zane to relinquish his worries on to her. Like always, she was there for him whenever he was feeling down or confused on an issue. And just like always she would push him on the right the direction, or more times than not the direction she wanted him to go.

Zane: “It’s Jasmine.”

Elenora: “Oh?”

The corners of Elenora’s mouth twitch upon hearing her name. Outwardly, she acted innocently enough, inwardly she curse her name, ever since she arrived the dynamic between Zane and herself was slowly being broken. It wasn’t mush except for a few choices Zane had made was based on her guidance. It drove Elenora up a wall whenever Zane took her advice, as small as it was, it was a nuisance. She had spent too much time molding Zane into the man he was to have him stolen away, however she had to play the long game.

Elenora: “Oh my, Jasmine, is about yesterday’s debacle, that nothing to worry about. Everyone is entitled to a mistake or two.”

Zane: “It’s not that, I worried about her being off on her own.”

Elenora: “She not alone, she with two very capable individuals. (As much as I hate that bitch, I have to admit the Lycanian is strong, if only she would stay away from my Zane) She will return as she always does (No matter how much I want her to disappear).”

Zane: “Yes, the stray flower is truly capable, ah perhaps through her friendship with Jasmine, she will be willing to join.”

Elenora: “Perhaps.”

Contrary to Zane’s plan, Elenora was doing the exact opposite. She was hoping that Jasmine and Nathan become good friends, so good the Jasmine would leave willingly and join Nathan’s party. Elenora nearly wretched in her mouth, spewing that bullshit to Zane, but if it cheered him up, it was nothing for it. Jasmine would never fit in with the girls, because Elenora deemed as so. She wanted that infuriating girl gone as soon as possible. And what better way than to make her understand that she is not welcome.

Party Scout: “Master Zane?”

Just while they were taking, one of the girls came running up to them in a panic.

Zane: “What’s wrong?”

Party scout: “There is a large group of people about half a mile away.”

Elenora: “It is not uncommon for large parties to move through the dungeon.”

Party Scout: “That’ just it, I don’t think they are. The way their moving is strange as well.”

Zane: “How so?”

Party Scout: “I watched them for a good while and they never moved out into the open, like they were avoiding detection. Then without warning they split into the smaller groups and took off in different directions.”

Zane: “Sounds like they didn’t want to be followed. On a rough scale, how many men.”

Party Scout: “At least three or four dozen.”

Elenora: “A large-scale subjugation, maybe a boss raid?”

Zane: “Then why spilt up?”

Zane quickly activated his map.

Zane: In what direction were they headed?”

Party Scout: “Roughly in this direction.”

The girl pointed out the general direction of each of the groups. Even as they spilt off, they all still seemed to be heading northwest.

Zane: “There are no boss monsters in that direction.”

Elenora: “Your right, the direction there headed, its roughly the Goblin territory, right? Why would anyone go there now, everyone should know that the goblins are fighting right now. They should be avoiding that area altogether not to get caught up in the conflict. What could they possibly be after?”

Zane: “Perhaps they’re after whatever the Goblins are fighting over.”

Elenora: “What, who would want anything like that? It wouldn’t be worth much.”

Zane: Yes, but Goblins going to war, is not something that happens every day.”

Elenora couldn’t deny that, since goblins are constantly being hunted by anything and everything, they tend to group together whenever possible. For them to fight, it had to be something so valuable, that they would be willing to destroy the already constantly declining race.

Zane: “I’m going.”

Elenora: “What, why?”

Zane turned to leave grabbing and jumping onto a horse.

Zane: “Whatever there doing, Jasmine may get caught in the middle.

Elenora: “I doubt Jasmine would willing interfere with whatever’s. In fact, she may be on her way back as we speak.”

Jasmine was only meant to escort the Lycanian to the nest and then head back immediately. She could arrive anytime now, if she immediately decided to return.

Zane: “Still, diving into the nest with stray flower isn’t beyond a possibility. If so, it would be better to go now. Something is about to happen if I head back through the Giant Vulture nest, I could catch up to them.”

Elenora: “By yourself, at least let me come with you.”

Zane: “I need you here, we still have a duty to fulfil.”

Elenora knew he was right, as much as she didn’t’ want him to go anywhere for that girl, she was happy that he trusts her to complete their assignment.

Elenora: “I-I understand, please be safe.”

Zane: “Move the client east of here, just in case of any complications.”

The Avian then shot off down the path. Zane didn’t understand why such a lost force was heading that way, but whatever they were after, he would not allow Jasmine and company to be caught up in their affairs.

Fynel: “WHERE THE HELL, IS HE GOING, WITH MY BIRD!?”

Nathan: “Sorry guys, really. But it worked right?”

Ash: “I said it was cool, it is doing exactly what we want it to do, we haven’t seen a single Goblin since we were sprayed.”

Nathan: “Yeah, see you get it, it was a tactical plan.”

Jasmine: “Tactical?”

Jasmine turned back to Nathan who flinched when he saw her face. She was absolutely livid.”

Jasmine: “We smell like the backside of Burn Boar. I don’t care how tactical it was, nothing is worth smelling like this.”

Jasmine took short quick breath, trying her best to avoiding the smell entering her nostrils. Nathan told them that the smell won’t last long, having experience the smell before. He offered Jasmine a piece of cloths to stick in her nose like he did, but she said that it was stupid looking, and she wouldn’t do it.

Ash: “Well we made it extremely far in without being spotted once, at least there’s that.”

Nathan: “A little too well, I hope the Goblin chief don’t avoid the smell.”

Jasmine: They won’t, they never lead the mating chambers except to eat and maybe if there being threatened. Besides, this flower smells, but not compared to the smell of that place.”

Nathan: “Worse than this?”

Jasmine: “Worse than anything.”

Nathan wasn’t too keen on entering anymore, but if he wanted that accessory, he didn’t have a choice. Jasmine waved at the two to wait, as a group of Goblins appeared. They were beaten and bloody, most likely a group who survive the battle that took place outside. They spoke in an intangible language before disappearing down an adjacent corridor. Jasmine made sure the close was clear before she guided them into another area of the cavern.

Jasmine: “Hey, what do you think the goblins are fighting over?”

Ash: “What?”

Jasmine: “You know, why would they fight, from what I been hearing about them, you think they would stick together.”

Ash: “Good question, as far as I know, they only care about food, sleep and mating. Beyond that, I don’t know what a goblin would find valuable.”

Nathan: “Maybe territory, they are growing in size, so maybe they need more space?”

Ash: “That could be it.”

Jasmine: “That doesn’t make any sense, why would the Shaman, trek several miles out of that forest that shall not be named, through areas with things that prey on goblins, for some territory? If they wanted more territory, it would be simpler to just expand their nest in the south.”

Nathan: “Well yeah, I guess. Then how about dominance, there can only be one leader or something like that.”

Jasmine: “That could be the case……. darn, yeah the more I think about it, the more it sounds plausible.”

Nathan: “Your upset about it?”

Jasmine: “Well, I was just thinking, if had something they would be willing to fight over maybe, just maybe it’s something valuable and it just so happens, their treasure rooms not far from here.”

Jasmine looked back to find that Nathan and Ash had ceased walking and were staring at her disbelievingly.

Jasmine: “What?”

Nathan: “Are you serious right now, you wanna go look for treasure?”

Ash: “Right after you just promise Zane to stay out of trouble.”

Jasmine: “W-What, I would never disregard Zane trust.”

Nathan: “Said, miss run into a forest for antlers and almost get killed by a mimic.”

Jasmine: “That was circumstantial, and you know it. Besides I wasn’t going to run off again.”

Nathan and Ash gave a dubious look, believing her for a second. Zane made perfectly clear, that she was to avoid all unnecessary detours, treasure hunting would count as such.

Nathan: “Then why bring it up?”

Jasmine: “I just making conversation, some food for thought.”

Ash&Nathan: “We’re not hungry.”

Jasmine: “F-Fine, forgive me for making conversation. Hmph!”

Jasmine turned around and walked off in a huff, Nathan and Ash resuming following her. They had gone deep into the goblin nest and as they moved along, the number of goblins they ran into decrease. Nathan would make quick work of them, making sure to kill them quickly and quietly. Lucky for them, after the skirmish, wounded goblins were found more often, along with some who had succumbed to their injuries and now lied dead in the corridors.

With such a stroke of good luck, they only way for them to be caught would be if they allowed one of the goblins to call for help.

Jasmine: “*whisper*Good we’re almost there. From this point on we shouldn’t run into anymore mobs. Regular goblins aren’t allowed near here.”

Jasmine walked halfway down the hall, veering around the corner she was surprise by the sight.

She put a finger to her lip, making they kept quiet as they moved to look. Not far off was several goblins, who seemed to be guarding a room. The goblins themselves didn’t seem that strong however there several guarding that room. It seemed a tad bit unnecessary to have so many guards or for that matter why guard a mating chamber at all?

Jasmine: “That’s it, but what the hell going on?”

Nathan: “Why are there so many guards for a mating chamber. And why do they look so different?”

Unlike the Goblins from higher, these goblins were bigger and better built then the one on higher levels. instead of the sticks and makeshift clubs, the goblins

Ash: “Shit, those are Goblin Elite.”

Nathan: “Are they bad, (Pry)?”

*Ding*

Goblin Elite Level: 14 Type: Fiend

A rank above normal goblins, they dawn basic armor and weaponry stolen from unsuspecting travelers. Mimicking adventuring parties, they work together in small groups, preferring skill over sheer numbers. Will call for Reinforcements.

ATK: 15

DEF: 13

Ability (Rally, Narrow Escape)

They didn’t seem too bad stat wise, but that ‘Narrow Escape’ ability seemed Annoying. The ability that guaranteed at least one would escape when fighting as a group, meaning no matter what, if we can’t take them all out at once, one will escape and return with reinforcements.

Ash: “They would at least put up more of a fight than ordinary goblins. We definitely would not get pass them without being noticed and the second they since danger they group together and call for backup.”

Nathan: “Jasmine, you sure this is the mating room?’

Jasmine: “What, of course it is, what else would it be!?”

Nathan: “I mean, you didn’t lead us over to the treasure room for the thing you think is valuable?”

Jasmine: “I-I didn’t, I mean I thought about it, but I decided against it. This should be the mating chamber and I was wondering the same thing. I’ve never seen it this heavily guarded before.”

Nathan: “So this isn’t normal?”

Jasmine: “No, they would usually only two or three regular Goblins here, this is over kill.”

Ash: “Could the Don, be in there and these are his guards?”

Jasmine: “I don’t know, I never actually came across a Don before, but this could be his guards.”

Ash: “So what are we gonna do?”

Nathan: “…………I will go alone.”

Jasmine: “What, are you crazy, how do you plan to get in alone?”

Nathan: “Ughhh, turn invisible and walk in.”

Nathan demonstrated as he told her, Jasmine forgetting the fact that he could do that.

Jasmine: “Oh, right.”

Ash leaned in close and whispered to Nathan.

Ash: “You want me to take care of Iris?”

Nathan: “No, I’ll keep her with me.”

Ash: “You want to take a girl, in there!?”

Nathan: “No, but if you need to fight, unless you plan to abandon Jasmine, your gonna need your hands free. She will be safer with me, since I be invisible the entire time.”

Jasmine: “Ah, oh no, we have to move.”

Nathan and Ash turned back around to see, two goblins elites break away from the group and was currently headed in their direction.”

Nathan: “Did they notice us?”

Ash: “No, only the two are coming, they’re probably going on patrol.”

Nathan: “Than we should go or else we’ll be caught.”

Ash: “Alright be careful.”

Nathan nodded to Ash and then vanished, while Jasmine and Ash made their selves scarce. He strolled on over the goblins, none of them the wiser as he slipped right passed them. One or two did catch the scent of the Mefytus and began to argue with one another over who cause the unsavory scent.

Inside the chamber, Nathan found a slope, that lead down into a pit. Larger rock jettisoned from the ground, obscuring visions and leaving blind spots.

Various sounds and smells drifted up towards Nathan, neither of which were pleasant to the senses. True to what Jasmine said, it was horrid smell and with Nathan’s senses heightened it was all the worse. Even with his nose blocked it was still coming through, but at least it was bearable for no, plus he wouldn’t be here long.

There were few goblins in the room, he counted out six. Two of them were passed out on the floor, while the rest were busy pleasuring themselves by assaulting female monsters, that were unlucky enough to be captured. Amongst them a bird like creature, a bipedal lizard and another that look like a giant humanoid mole, were all fighting to free themselves as the goblins held them down and had their way with them. There were others female bodies, but it seems their lives had long slipped away.

Nathan didn’t have time to feel sorry for the miserable monsters, his targets were insight. Each of the goblins down below sported some sort of makeshift jewelry. Made of bones and stones, they hung around either their necks, legs or arms.

Nathan: “(They must be it.)”

Nathan pumped his fist, all he had to do was to go below and simply remove the accessory from his chosen target. However, Nathan was extremely reluctant to go down below. They weren’t all to hygienic and the goblins didn’t seem to care about the mess or the fact they were merrymaking in a pool of they’re juices and continued their activities without much other thought then self-gratification.

Nathan: “(Yeah, I’m not setting foot and that, never ever.)”

Nathan had absolutely no thoughts of heading down into that veritable cesspool of goblin copulation and opted for a less disgusting route.

Nathan planted a few seeds, producing several Lillaby. He didn’t have any type of wind source, but from above it was enough to just have the pollen from the flowers float into the pit.

It took a while but soon enough, the occupants in the pit were fast asleep. Even whilst still entwined with their captives, soon they all slump to the ground, falling into a deep slumber. Making sure that everyone below were asleep, Nathan moved further down the slope before he planted a Snyare which reached down into the pit.

Nathan attempted to grab hold of one of the accessories and lift it off the goblin, but it was proving more difficult then he thought. He was never that good at the crane games and even with more control of the crane he still was having a hard time keeping a grip on the accessory. The goblins would twist and turn in their sleep making it difficult to keep from waking up while pulling the accessory free.

Nathan: “*Sigh*(This is gonna take a while)”