Chapter One Hundred: Matru's Request

The red-haired girl captain, Reddy, Charlotte, and Matru were surrounded on all sides by the kobold troops and, in the end, had no choice but to surrender.

They were marched deeper and deeper into the forest.

Along the way lurked many dangerous creatures from another world, yet when faced with the kobolds’ heavily armed and imposing force, all of them chose to keep their distance.

“Ruluto’s nest!” After walking for a while, Matru suddenly cried out and pointed ahead. “We can’t go any farther! We’ll be killed by Ruluto’s army!”

At the sight of Matru stopping, several kobolds immediately jabbed his backside without the slightest courtesy with their iron spears.

Clutching his buttocks, Matru shouted, “You stupid kobolds! Ruluto will slaughter us all in no time!”

“Mr. Matru, please be quiet!” The red-haired girl pointed ahead and said, “Can’t you see? Ruluto isn’t attacking the kobolds at all!”

“Huh?” Matru looked where she pointed, and sure enough, when the kobolds passed by Ruluto’s nest, those enormous insect-like monsters merely came out to take a look before continuing their work as if nothing had happened.

He felt almost numb with disbelief. This had to be the most unbelievable sight he had ever seen in his life. Ruluto—an insect monster with such a fierce sense of territoriality, a desperate outlaw who would even dare to challenge magical beasts—was actually letting kobolds pass safely through its domain?

The four of them all held their breath as they were escorted past Ruluto’s nest. Yet those terrifying giant insects did not attack them, as though they were completely invisible.

After walking a little farther, the burly Reddy suddenly looked up ahead and said in astonishment, “There are human buildings inside the Monster Forest?”

The other three looked as well, and indeed saw a magnificent city encircled by walls.

Though the entire city was only as large as a village, the fact that it could stand in this terrifying Monster Forest, a place no one dared to set foot in lightly, was nothing short of a miracle. More astonishing still, men and women were bustling everywhere inside and outside the city. Some were picking fruit, some farming, some mining, and there were even squads of guards in heavy armor on patrol.

What shocked them even more was that the kobolds simply led them straight into the city, and the people here showed no fear of the kobolds whatsoever. They only glanced at the four of them with a trace of curiosity.

What on earth was going on? Why could such a savage kobold tribe coexist peacefully with humans?

Still filled with deep suspicion, the four of them were escorted to the front of the only walled residence in the city.

At the howl of the kobold chief, a handsome young man with long blond hair stepped out of the house. On his left stood a beautiful girl with long blond hair and a bright smile; on his right, a girl with short blue hair and an expression as blank as still water.

“What’s going on? Have your jobs turned into nothing but picking people up and bringing them home for me?” the blond young man said something the four of them could not understand to the kobolds, then waved a hand. At once, all the kobolds turned and departed.

Just as the four of them were full of confusion and unease, the blond young man finally said something they could understand: “Who are you?”

As long as they could communicate, that was enough. The thing they feared most was a language barrier...

The red-haired girl hurried forward and gave a slight bow. “I am Felice Stuart, captain of the Four-Leaf Clover Mercenary Group from Light City. I am also the daughter of Kurt Stuart, former Minister of Taxation in Light City. This one on my left is Reddy, formerly my father’s attendant and now my subordinate; the one on my right is Charlotte Stuart, my younger brother! And this gentleman here is Mr. Matru, representative of the Chamber of Commerce in Xiemir City of the Byt Empire, as well as the employer of our mercenary group on this mission! The task we accepted was to escort Mr. Matru and his caravan, along with their goods, back to the Chamber of Commerce in Xiemir City of the Byt Empire. However, because we lacked experience, we strayed onto the edge of the Monster Forest and were attacked by three Otrah Earth Dragons. By now, my mercenary group and Mr. Matru’s caravan have been nearly wiped out, and only the four of us managed to escape. Yet on the way, we were captured by the kobolds and brought here!”

“Sir, are you the leader here?” Matru asked, stepping forward with a mournful expression as soon as Felice finished introducing them.

“Well... I suppose you could say that,” Keane said, stroking his chin.

“You may simply call him Lord Keane!” Tina said with a smile. “Everything here belongs to Lord Keane!”

“Then it is my honor, Lord Keane!” Matru hurried forward, seized his hand, and lowered his head to kiss it.

“Ew—ugh—” Having his hand suddenly kissed by a fat man, Keane recoiled in disgust and hastily pulled back to wipe it with a handkerchief.

“Lord Keane, this is the highest form of courtesy in the Byt Empire toward someone of exalted status. The way you reacted was a little rude,” Tina softly reminded him at his ear.

“Who cares if it’s rude or not? Disgusting is disgusting!” Keane did not care in the slightest and scrubbed at the back of his hand with all his might.

Matru looked embarrassed, then forced a smile. “Lord Keane, my deepest apologies! I did not know your customs. Please forgive me!”

“Forget it.” Keane waved it off.

“Um... Lord Keane!” Matru rubbed his hands together and said, “I have a small request. Would you be willing to send troops to help me exterminate those three Otrah Earth Dragons outside and recover my property? If Lord Keane is willing to help, I am prepared to offer you fifty... no! One hundred gold coins as payment!”

“That sounds pretty good,” Keane said with a smile the moment he heard there was money to be made.

“No! You must pay two hundred gold coins, or there is nothing to discuss!” Tina suddenly said.

“This...” A pained look appeared on Matru’s face.

“Mr. Matru, there’s no need to feel bad over a few gold coins at a time like this,” Reddy said.

“You’re right!” Matru nodded. “I was cheaping out and hired your Four-Leaf Clover Mercenary Group, and that’s why I ended up in this mess. Money that should be spent still has to be spent! Two hundred gold coins. Deal!”

Both Felice and her younger brother Charlotte shot a resentful look at the burly Reddy. If he had not butted in, would Matru have gone on to humiliate their mercenary group once again with those words?

Reddy knew he had misspoken, and so he lowered his head, feeling miserable, and said no more.

Keane snapped his fingers, and a kobold patrolman immediately ran over. He ordered it to summon the kobold chief and have him lead his troops to the border to destroy the Otrah Earth Dragons. The kobold patrolman nodded repeatedly under the four astonished gazes, then sped out of the city like the wind.