Volume 1 Chapter 11: The Legendary Goblin

The scene inside the large tent was a bit different from yesterday. The Goblin Elder was still lying on a worn couch. His son, Ged, wasn’t present, but there were two other strong Goblin guards instead.

Next to the Elder’s couch, several bundles were sorted and stacked. The two Goblin guards were responsible for guarding these items. They were likely part of the compensation the Elder had promised the prisoners.

“Welcome, esteemed guest. Please, have a seat!” The Goblin Elder looked much better than yesterday. Dealing with the biggest source of instability in the camp seemed to have put him in a good mood. “It’s almost noon now. You’re the very last guest to come claim compensation. It seems you found it hard to decide. Would you like me to pick something for you?”

“I purposely came late to avoid the crowd!” Qin Lun said with a faint, almost shy smile that made him seem boyish. “However, I am very curious about what my companions chose.”

“I’m sorry, young guest. I cannot reveal that information,” the Goblin Elder said, a sly glint appearing in his murky eyes as he chuckled proudly. “Every one of your companions specifically told me not to reveal what they received after making their choices!”

“Though, you should be able to guess,” he continued. “Most chose weapons and bikes. A few chose currency and ores. And then there were some… special products of our Lu-Lu Tribe.”

The old Goblin had observed the night before that these Dimension Travelers from another time and place didn’t trust each other. That’s why he had them come collect their items alone. He had even gone out of his way to inform “Firecracker” Rand and his partner, who weren’t present at the talks, about the previous night’s events.

For the Lu-Lu Tribe, as long as they could stabilize these twelve Probationary Apostles and ensure they successfully traded with the Floating City, a little compensation was truly nothing.

What skillful maneuvering by this old guy! A little compensation turned the twelve prisoners from a group into scattered sand! Qin Lun’s smile grew wider, but he didn’t push the Goblin Elder any further.

Even though the Serial Killers likely understood the old Goblin’s tactics, his methods were straightforward, making it impossible to refuse. Besides, how could any prisoner possibly want the others to know what they got?

Those who chose currency or ores would fear being killed and robbed by other Death Row inmates. The same went for those who chose weapons or bikes. Who thought they could live peacefully under the Elven Race’s protection once they reached the Floating City? These prisoners were criminals. Earth Federation laws didn’t bind them. Did anyone think they’d suddenly become law-abiding citizens in the Floating City?

“Alright, esteemed guest. Now, let me hear what you desire,” the Elder asked, reclining on the couch and squinting as he studied the seemingly shy young man before him, showing no sign of underestimation. “Or you might hear my suggestion. What about a fine magic bullet gun crafted by the Dwarves?”

As the Great Elder spoke, the two Goblin guards behind him opened a bundle on the ground. They took out a gun with a flared muzzle and placed it on the small table between him and Qin Lun.

The short-barreled blunderbuss gleamed with oil. Even the trigger had a sheen of lubricant. It looked like it was a new piece kept in good condition by the Lu-Lu Tribe.

“This magic bullet gun is easy to operate. It has low recoil and packs a punch at medium to close range,” the old Goblin leaned forward slightly, his tone dripping with temptation. “It’s an excellent weapon for personal protection. Even a beginner with no prior gun experience can use it well! If you choose this gun, I’ll throw in a Soul Force Gauge as a bonus!”

A Soul Force Gauge? Qin Lun’s eyes lit up. He immediately remembered the small pocket watch that allowed communication on a soul level. That was a truly useful item. However, he soon smiled and shook his head.

“Then, perhaps some common currency from the Shattered Starry Sky? A nice motorcycle, fully fueled?” the Goblin Elder finally frowned slightly as the young man kept shaking his head. “Then what do you want?”

“I want something the Floating City hasn’t prepared for me,” Qin Lun said almost sheepishly, lowering his head and speaking softly. “Aren’t these things you’re offering already going to be provided by the Floating City?”

The old Goblin’s expression froze. The wrinkles on his face twitched, and a sharp glint flashed through his murky eyes as he reassessed the young man before him. After handling eleven Probationary Apostles, it seemed this last one, with his constant slight smile, would demand much more of his energy.

“Young guest, you have more brains than most of your companions,” the old Goblin said meaningfully. “Then I suggest you choose ores. The ores our Lu-Lu Tribe extracts from the Crimson Gobi have immense value. These are things the Floating City cannot provide you!”

Facing Qin Lun’s inquiring look, the old Goblin immediately gave a brief explanation.

The truth was, the weapons and equipment the Lu-Lu Tribe was offering could only be used in the Shattered Starry Sky. Apostles couldn’t take them into an Other World. Likewise, weapons from other worlds couldn’t be brought into the Shattered Starry Sky. Different World Laws governed each space. Just think of the Particle Beam Guns and modern instruments from District 91 Base that failed when the laws shifted. Most prisoners seemed to misunderstand this point.

The weapons and equipment an Apostle truly needed must be Spiritual Equipment connected to their own soul. Only such equipment could travel with their soul and Law Body, moving between the Shattered Starry Sky and other worlds. The special ores mined from the Crimson Gobi by the Lu-Lu Tribe contained the precious metals needed to forge Spiritual Equipment. This was the very foundation of survival for all Scavenger tribes.

In fact, anything that could capture the attention of Apostles held immense value in the Shattered Starry Sky. Suspended Continents had even gone to war over such mineral resources.

“So, what do you say, smart young man? If you decide, I’ll pick out the highest quality ore pieces for you,” the old Goblin said, seeing the intrigued gleam appear in Qin Lun’s eyes. He chuckled, his old face creasing wider.

“No,” Qin Lun’s answer was brief and incredibly firm, causing the old Goblin’s smile to freeze solid.

Perhaps the ore was indeed valuable. But with Qin Lun’s physique, how much could he carry? Dozens of kilograms of ore – how much spiritual material could be refined from that? One hundred grams? Two hundred? Besides, raw materials weren’t the same as finished goods. If he wanted to exchange the ore for money in the Floating City, why not just ask for more common currency here instead?

“Then what do you actually want?” the Great Elder finally felt a sliver of unease and rubbed his temples, starting to get a headache.

Qin Lun remained silent. His faint smile persisted as a pair of bright, clear eyes locked onto the Goblin Elder.

Qin Lun had read extensively during his time in prison, self-studying whole subjects like clinical medicine and psychology. And the prison itself was a cesspool, full of evil things. This environment had gradually cultivated a special skill in him: the ability to see through people’s minds to a large degree.

One could say that from the moment Qin Lun touched psychology at eighteen, he had steadily grown into a master of the field.

However, Qin Lun had been isolated from regular society for years. He was not skilled in verbal interactions. That was why, although he had seen through Hansen’s little trick the previous night, he had nearly gotten into a deadly fight with The Disciple on the way.

Last night, besides quietly digesting the information provided by the Goblin Elder, most of Qin Lun’s thoughts had centered on the old Goblin himself. The Elder’s masterful understanding of human nature and his skillful control of the meeting had opened Qin Lun’s eyes. It was like seeing a path where the vast knowledge stored in his mind could be forged into deadly axes and sharp blades—a path fit for an Asura.

Qin Lun had a vague feeling that even if every prisoner ignored the compensations laid out by the Great Elder, the old Goblin must have another hidden card tucked away to keep them all stable.

Honestly, Qin Lun didn’t much care about what he would eventually receive. He simply wanted to see what method the old Goblin would use to satisfy him!

This was also why he had chosen to come last. He knew he might stir up quite a commotion. Compared to what he might obtain in the end, what Qin Lun truly desired was to witness how the Great Elder would perform when faced with someone like him—a hard nut unimpressed by normal methods—who didn’t come alone.

One old, one young; one human, one creature; big eyes staring into smaller ones without yielding. The atmosphere inside the large tent grew slightly tense.

The murky eyes of the Goblin Great Elder were now wide open, sharp and alert. All traces of the frail, ancient appearance from before had vanished.

In his youth, the Goblin Elder had been an anomaly among the Lu-Lu Tribe. He was physically strong, far smarter than his kin, and brimming with an adventurous spirit yearning to rise above. Unlike most tribesmen who pursued only peaceful lives, he had left his homeland upon reaching adulthood to venture out.

He had followed several powerful Formal Apostles, leaving his mark across numerous Suspended Continents and Floating Cities. He became a legend within the Lu-Lu Tribe and other Scavenger communities, even earning the respect of many powerful Sapient Races.

When the Goblin Great Elder’s age no longer allowed him to adventure, he gathered many tribesmen and formed a Scavenger tribe in the Crimson Gobi. Though individually weak, the Lu-Lu Tribe had claimed a place in this “Scavenger’s Paradise” because the Elder’s once-great prestige shielded them.

However, in the past few years, the Elder grew increasingly frail. He knew his time was dwindling. Upon his passing, the peaceful life enjoyed by the Lu-Lu Tribe would likely end. That was why he had been willing to pay any price to secure the tribe’s official residence permit within the Floating City. Merely relying on his own standing, however, wasn’t enough to gain the Elven Race’s acceptance. His needed a catalyst.

These twelve Probationary Apostles before him were that very opportunity for which the Great Elder had been desperately waiting. He absolutely would not allow anyone to destroy his lifelong pursuit.

Beyond this, the moment the old Goblin first saw these prisoners, he sensed that this group of human Dimension Travelers was unlike any other Probationary Apostles he’d met before. They carried the scent of blood. Some reeked of bloodshed deeper than even Formal Apostles. This seemingly quiet and shy young man standing before him was one such individual.

Perhaps I’m truly getting old, finding even a young man like this troublesome to handle, the Goblin Great Elder thought as the sharp glint in his eyes faded slowly away. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small pouch. From it, he shook out more than ten grain-sized fragments of orange-yellow crystals onto the table.

“Take them. This is what you sought. But you must swear on your Soul not to reveal what you obtained here today!”