nownovels Chapter 18 Goblin Lair
Chapter 18 Goblin Lair
Shortly after the troops set off, a scout rode up on horseback towards the third company from the rear.
Gears noticed that the scout's leather armor was much newer than most scouts', and knew that this scout was one of Baron Keynes's personal guards, sent to deliver intelligence about the goblin's lair.
"This is what the Baron asked me to pass on to you. At the same time, the Baron requires that you must clear out the goblin lair and catch up with the main force before the main force arrives at Lugus City, otherwise you will be treated as deserters."
The scout handed the intelligence to Gerns, and although he was somewhat restrained in his speech, his tone still carried a hint of condescending arrogance.
Perhaps because he served under Baron Keynes, even when facing a company commander of a hundred men, this scout still felt superior to others.
This feeling was extremely uncomfortable for Gerns, but for the time being, he was helpless.
After all, this scout was one of Baron Keynes's personal guards.
Gerns gasped heavily, ignoring the scout's contemptuous look, and took the parchment scroll with the goblin's lair map from the scout's hand.
After watching Gerns take the intelligence, the scout snorted and rode his horse back towards the rear.
"Hmph! Just because he follows the Baron, he thinks he can look down on everyone. Without the Baron, he's nothing!"
Watching the scout ride away, Joms spat water on the ground and muttered curses.
"Never mind that for now. Our task is to wipe out the goblin lair. Let's find out its approximate location first."
Gerns patted Choms on the arm and opened the parchment the Baron had handed him. The drawings on the parchment were clearer than Gerns had imagined.
Gerns originally thought the map would be like the ones in the anime he had seen in his previous life, simply a few lines and patterns drawn on parchment, with an X and a circle drawn around the destination.
The parchment map turned out to be hand-drawn by a professional cartographer. It not only showed the approximate location of the goblin's lair and the landmarks around it, but also clearly depicted the number of trees around the lair and the distance between the lair and the main road.
In addition, there is a general description of the interior of the nest.
According to intelligence left on the map by the Baron's scouts, there are approximately several hundred goblins in this goblin's lair.
That's not the most important thing.
Importantly, it seems that there are also bear goblins among these goblins.
It seems that Gerns' original plan to lead half of his squadron to wipe out the goblin lair is probably not going to work.
"As expected of a cartographer who can stay by the Baron's side, the hand-drawn map is so clear and easy to understand."
Choms clicked his tongue in admiration as he looked at the map the Baron had sent.
Gerns rolled up the sheepskin map, hung it on his belt, glanced at the Fourth Squadron behind him, and discussed with Choms, "There are bear goblins in this goblin lair. It seems we'll have to send out the entire Fourth Squadron."
"OK."
After nodding, Choms turned around and sent scout Korog to report to the Baron that he was leaving the team to carry out the mopping-up mission. Then he looked at the entire Fourth Company behind him and waved for everyone to follow him out of the ranks to prepare.
After receiving instructions, all members of the Third Squadron, despite their doubts, exchanged glances and chose to obey orders. Amidst the strange looks from the main force, they lined up under the command of Gerns and Choms.
After the squadron separated from the main force, Choms, holding a map, led the entire squadron with Gerns, heading towards the goblin's lair in the direction shown on the map.
The morning mist enveloped the entire forest, making visibility comparable to that at night.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the still-dense fog in the air. Combined with the vegetation that appeared identical to Gerns, an ordinary person would never be able to discern the path.
After walking for a while, Gerns even felt that they had been standing still the whole time.
But Choms, holding a map, appeared quite confident, as if the path they were on was exactly the same as the one indicated on the map.
Gerns didn't say much, but simply led his squadron to follow closely.
The two company commanders stopped in their tracks, and the company members stood at attention.
The two squad leaders lowered their voices, and the squad members also became furtive.
"Captains, where are we going?"
Enzo, who was following behind Gerns and the other man, stepped forward and asked.
"Remember those goblins from a few days ago? Our squadron was given a mission: to wipe out their hideout before the main force arrives in Luggos City."
Gerns glanced at Enzo.
When the squad leader of the first squad heard that a battle was about to take place, he immediately became interested and excitedly suggested to the two company commanders, "Then I have to lead the charge later. I haven't been active for so long, I'm practically rusty all over."
"Don't get excited. Once we find the goblin's lair, follow our instructions. Don't rush in blindly and cause unnecessary casualties."
Gerns glanced at the squad leader of the first squad with a hint of warning, and the squad leader's excitement was calmed down considerably by Gerns's warning look.
After walking for about an hour and a half, a small earthen mound came into view.
In the center of the earthen slope, there is clearly a mud and rock cave carved by a living organism, with numerous traces of biological activity at the entrance.
A faint stench could still be smelled in the air.
Choms put away the sheepskin map, looked at the small mound in front of him, and lowered his voice: "We're here."
"Shall we just charge in?"
The squad leader, carrying two axes, had slightly reddened pupils, clearly ready for battle.
"There's probably no way out of this kind of cave."
Gerns looked around. Apart from the lush forest and the thin mist that slightly obscured the view, there was nothing else. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded: "You can go in."
"After a while, a squad leader and Enzo will lead a group of men to the front to draw fire, while Gerns and I will lead the main force in the middle, and the rest will be led by Korog to cover the rear."
Choms turned to look at all the squadron members and quickly assigned them their tasks: "Be careful, don't let your guard down."
After assigning their respective tasks, the third squadron entered the cave as arranged by the two men.
The moment they stepped into the cave, Korog, who was in charge of bringing up the rear, looked around the cave and exclaimed with a hint of doubt, "Huh? This cave entrance is big enough for two adults to walk side by side, isn't it? Playing with such a big cave entrance doesn't seem like the behavior of goblins."
"According to the intelligence we received, there seem to be some goblin bears in this lair. Everyone should be extra careful and try to avoid unnecessary losses before the battle."
As he spoke, Choms held up a torch and led the group deeper into the cave.