Chapter 318 Timbo's Instructions

The goblins stood and marveled at the place, their wide eyes filled with awe. Never had they seen such a marvel: a massive piece of land, nicely leveled hard ground, and a small portion of a wall, which sent the new goblins gasping in surprise and wonder. Their excitement blew up as they spotted a sawmill and the rest of the structures built on Suzuka's land. Even though there were only temporary tents and a few sheds, for goblin slaves who had known nothing but pain and suffering, it was like stepping into a new world.

As they gingerly stepped onto the hard stone ground of Suzuka's lands, their puffy soft soles felt foreign on the surface they had never encountered before. Accustomed to the soft mossy forest floor, their feet now felt odd and out of place. But their wonders soon shifted to the sight of a crackling fire with big pots bubbling and emitting a delicious smell. The aroma was so tantalizing that some goblins teared up at the familiar smell of food, and a few others even fainted. These goblins had come from a particularly brutal breeding farm, subjected to starvation, denied even the smallest morsel.

Hermit stood in front of them and invited them to eat, a gesture that was entirely unfamiliar to them. They had been denied such kindness for all of their lives. Unsure of how to react, some goblins did not know what to do. Others took hesitant steps closer, only to step back again in nervousness. Yet, driven by the hunger that gnawed at their bellies, they dared to approach the pots.

Hermit and a few others stood by the pots, distributing the food and handing out bowls to the goblins. They could not believe they were being fed for the first time in their lives. All they had known since they left their eggshells was torture and pain. The only nourishment they had ever received was their feces, and even then, they were brutally punished if caught eating by the evil goblins.

One goblin, his face gaunt and his eyes hollow, reached out a trembling hand for a bowl of stew. As he took his first hesitant sip, tears streamed down his face. The taste, the warmth, the feeling of actual food in his mouth - it was overwhelming. Around him, other goblins were similarly moved, their eyes wide with disbelief as they tasted real food for the first time.

Some sobbed openly, others devoured their portions with a ferocity born of starvation, and a few simply held their bowls, unable to eat, too overwhelmed by the unfamiliar kindness. The scene was tragic and dramatic, a result of the horrors they had endured and the small miracles they were now experiencing.

Hermit, watching over them, felt a swell of emotion. He had been in their place not long ago, and now he stood as a beacon of hope and leadership. As the goblins ate, the fear and distrust slowly ebbed away, replaced by a tentative sense of hope. For the first time, they allowed themselves to believe that maybe, just maybe, their suffering was over.

Meanwhile, Suzuka and her team, having learned from their previous failed attempts to raid the goblin breeding farm, knew they needed a more strategic and nuanced approach. They couldn't rely on brute force or simple disguises.

As the night wore on, the goblins eventually settled down, their excitement giving way to exhaustion. They huddled together in a large, warm mass, their bodies providing each other with comfort and security. The camp was filled with the soft sounds of goblin snores and the occasional sleepy murmur.

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, the camp stirred to life. The goblins, refreshed and ready, looked to Hermit and Suzuka with eyes full of hope and trust. The next raid awaited, and with it, the promise of more goblin lives to be saved.

Now more confident than ever, Hermit stood tall (for a goblin) and addressed his kin.

"Today, we free more of our brothers! Today, we show them that hope and freedom is waiting for them!"

The goblins, who had once cowered in fear and despair, now looked up at Hermit with wide eyes filled with awe and admiration. Their hearts swelled with pride and excitement as they hung on his every word, feeling the power of his conviction wash over them like a tidal wave.

"We are not just slaves anymore!" Hermit continued, his voice rising to a fever pitch.

 "We are free! We are survivors! And today, we will become heroes! We will march into those breeding farms, and we will tear down the walls of oppression! We will rescue our fellow goblins, and we will bring them into the light of freedom!"

The goblins erupted in cheers, their voices a cacophony of hope and joy. Some jumped up and down, their tiny bodies quivering with excitement. Others pumped their fists in the air, their faces lit up with happiness. Even the youngest hatchlings, who barely understood the gravity of the situation, clapped their hands and giggled with glee, caught up in the infectious energy of the moment.

Suzuka, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but smile at the sight. She knew that with Hermit leading the goblins, they would do her bidding. She turned to her team, her voice steady and resolute.

"Let's get ready. Today, we change the lives of more goblins. Time to move out."

Larry, Jake, Max, Mia, and Olivia nodded in agreement, ready to move out at short notice.

With everyone ready to move to the last farm they planned to raid, Timbo tumbled out of Silvia's tent where his wounds were treated, and he had been resting. Hermit quickly scuttled to his aid, helping him to his feet.

Timbo, despite barely standing on his broken legs, croaked, "Hermit, take me with ya! I knows the last farm best. Nasty trap holes and sneaky tunnels to ambush and trick anyone who attacks. I knows the inside real good. I can show ya where the guards hide, where the slaves and hatchlings are penned up."

Hermit tilted his head, concern etched across his face, "But Timbo, your legs are still like jelly. How are you gonna run if things go bad?"

Timbo gritted his teeth, fear shining in his eyes, "Me legs might be busted, but my spirit ain't. I can help! I lead the way, sneak us in, know-how. And with me all beat up like this, our act gonna be even more real! The evil goblins there, they're the nastiest of the bunch. They won't expect us to be so clever."

Suzuka, listening to the conversation as one of the goblins translated what they were talking about, nodded thoughtfully, "Timbo's right. We need every advantage we can get. His knowledge could save lives. But Timbo, you gotta promise not to push too hard. We need you alive."

Timbo straightened up as much as his battered body allowed, "I promise, Master Helen. I'll be careful. But I gotta do this. For my kin. For freedom."

Hermit gave Timbo a firm pat on the back, "Alright then, friend. We do this together. Ya point, we follow."

Timbo's eyes gleamed with a mix of pain and fear. 

"Please, when you attack, hit 'em hard and fast," he pleaded, his voice breaking. 

"No mercy for those scum. And remember, the hatchlings are always kept near the center, closest to the biggest tent. That's where the guards are thickest too."

Timbo's eyes filled with tears as he continued.

 "They toss 'em in like garbage, y'know? No care, no mercy. Just... pile 'em up, one on top of the other. And then they throw a few goblin slaves in there, barely alive themselves, to look after 'em. It's hell. We need to help them, free them. Please, we must!"

The memory of the breeding farms sent shivers down his spine. He recalled the sight all too vividly: the hatchlings, barely more than newborns, dumped into the big tent in massive, writhing piles. Their tiny, fragile bodies were tangled together, a mass of green limbs and terrified eyes. They squirmed and cried, their high-pitched wails piercing the air, but their cries went unanswered. The cruel goblin guards merely sneered at their suffering, their hearts hardened to the pleas of the innocent.

A few goblin slaves, barely more than skin and bones themselves, were tossed into the tent to look after the hatchlings. Their bodies bore the marks of endless beatings, their eyes dull from the unrelenting torment. They moved slowly, each step a struggle, as they tried to soothe the hatchlings with soft murmurs and gentle touches. But their efforts were often in vain, as the sheer number of hatchlings overwhelmed them.

Timbo's voice grew more desperate. 

"You have to save 'em. All of 'em. They don't deserve this. No one does. Hit hard, hit fast, and get those little ones out of there. Master Helen, you gotta get 'em out. Those poor hatchlings... they don't deserve this. None of us do."

As he spoke, the memory of the hatchlings' cries echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of the cruelty they endured daily. The image of their tiny, trembling bodies, piled together like refuse, filled him with pain and sorrow that threatened to overwhelm him.

Suzuka listened, her heart cold despite the weight of Timbo's words. She turned to her team, her voice filled with a steely determination.

"We're going to save them. Every last one. No goblin left behind."

Hermit, his eyes wide with horror, nodded vigorously.

 "Yes, Master Helen. We’ll save 'em. All of 'em."

Suzuka turned to the rest of the group, her voice commanding, "You heard him. We stick to the plan, but we adapt. Everyone, stay sharp and trust Timbo's guidance."

As the team moved out, Timbo limped along, supported by Hermit. Despite his injuries, there was a fire in his eyes, a burning desire to see his kin free.

 The path to the last farm was fraught with danger, but with Timbo's insider knowledge, they had found it easily. When they finally reached the outskirts of the farm, Timbo took a deep breath and began to guide them through the treacherous terrain. 

"There, under that big rock, is a tunnel. We sneak through it and pop up inside the walls. But be careful, it's got traps. Follow my steps exactly."

The group followed Timbo's instructions to the letter, their movements precise and silent. They navigated the hidden tunnels, avoiding the deadly traps that littered the path. When they emerged inside the walls, they found themselves right in the heart of the enemy's stronghold.

Timbo pointed out the guards' positions, the locations of the traps, and the paths to the slaves and hatchlings. His guidance was invaluable, allowing the team to move swiftly and efficiently.