Goblin

The surrounding slaves also stopped their work, looking over here in disbelief.

After several seconds, immense joy and excitement finally overwhelmed the fear on Otto's face. He knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice choked, "Th-thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord! I'll work hard! I definitely won't disappoint you!"

Karl signaled him to get up. "Work hard. If you perform well enough, I'll pick a diligent and honest woman from the female slaves to be your wife later, so you can start a family."

These words were like water droplets thrown into boiling oil, instantly causing a huge stir among all the slaves!

A wife? A family? For these slaves who had long lost everything and were reduced to the status of livestock, this was an unimaginable blessing!

Otto was filled with gratitude, almost crying. After thanking Karl profusely, he returned to the team.

He immediately seemed like a different person, standing much straighter, and began loudly and energetically directing his team of slaves, their efficiency visibly improving.

Karl took the opportunity to announce loudly to all the slaves, "Did you all see? As long as you're willing to work hard and follow orders, you'll have opportunities for rewards! More food, promotions to captain, even women and families! The opportunity is in your own hands!"

For the first time, the slaves' eyes were no longer completely numb, but a faint flame called hope had ignited within them.

Although they were still skeptical, the lord's promise and Otto's example were right before their eyes.

Even the soldiers nearby were infected by the atmosphere. A few bolder veterans, already familiar with Karl's relatively easygoing nature, jokingly heckled, "My Lord! When will you give us some wives too?"

Karl chuckled at this, his mood slightly easing, and jokingly replied, "Just you wait! Once we establish ourselves in Carnford and build our own town, I'll bring back a beautiful girl from Fran City for each of you!"

The soldiers immediately erupted in cheerful laughter and cheers, and the fatigue of building the camp seemed to lessen considerably.

In this atmosphere of mixed hope, tension, and a touch of optimism, a camp more solid and better planned than yesterday's rose up at an astonishing speed.

Almost as the last fence post was driven in, the prompt in Karl's mind sounded again:

[Quest]: Establish Camp, Construct Solid Defenses. (Completed)

[Reward Information Issued]:

[Information Content]: Your party has been discovered by a goblin scout team hidden in a cave three kilometers to the northeast. They have observed your numbers, equipment, and camp layout in detail and plan to launch a surprise ambush at dawn tomorrow, when it is darkest and everyone is most drowsy, with the aim of plundering slaves and supplies.

Goblins, also known as hobgoblins or cave dwellers in the Northern Border, are very different from the more beast-like kobolds.

They are intelligent beings. Although small, usually only half the height of a human, they live year-round in underground caves or abandoned mines. Their bodies have specialized due to their environment and certain ancient magic, making them extremely adapted to darkness and confined spaces.

They retain human intelligence and are even more cunning, cruel, organized, and skilled in using traps, poisons, and ambush tactics, making them far superior to the disorganized rabble of kobolds.

Their dispatching of scouts and meticulous planning is entirely consistent with their nature!

Karl looked at this information and gasped, the last trace of his hope vanishing.

Brendan's feeling was completely correct!

He suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp, directed towards the undulating hills to the northeast that appeared completely normal.

The enemy was in position, their fangs sharpening in the darkness.

And they, too, were ready.

Soon, the night completely enveloped the camp in the wilderness. Apart from the crackling of the bonfire and the regular footsteps of the sentries, all was silent.

However, in the tent where the officers and NCOs were preparing to rest, Karl issued an order that stunned everyone.

"Relay the order: everyone, including auxiliary troops, sleep in full armor tonight! Keep weapons within easy reach! Maintain maximum vigilance and be ready to face battle at any moment!"

As soon as the order was given, the officers in the tent were dumbfounded.

Even the most composed old knight, Brendan, couldn't help but speak up to advise, "Sir, that... that was just a vague feeling of mine, perhaps just an illusion born of excessive tension. Having the entire army sleep in armor, isn't that a bit too much? Soldiers can't sleep properly wearing heavy armor, and they have a long march tomorrow. Their stamina will be greatly affected..."

The other officers nodded in agreement, feeling that the lord was overreacting.

Karl's gaze swept over them, his voice low but exceptionally firm, "Brendan, your feelings have never been wrong. I trust your intuition. Moreover, in this Northern Border wilderness, far from any protection, it is better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't – that is the first rule of survival."

"We are too weak. Any oversight, any small mistake, could cost us an unbearable price – the lives of everyone! Execute the order!"

His tone was decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

The officers looked at Karl's unusually serious face illuminated by the firelight. Although they still had doubts, no one dared to object further.

They silently saluted, turned, and walked out of the tent, passing down this strict order.

The news quickly spread through the camp, causing an uproar among the soldiers.

Sleeping in full armor? This was torture!

Karl's militiamen were doing alright; most of them only wore relatively light leather armor. While uncomfortable, it was bearable.

But the thirty veteran city guards brought by Richter were suffering greatly!

They were equipped with standard chainmail, which was heavy and cold, extremely uncomfortable to wear against the skin, making it difficult to even turn over. A few NCOs even had breastplates; the hard iron shells made it impossible to lie flat.

Complaints spread quietly through the camp, but years of military training and obedience to the lord's orders prevailed.

Muttering, the soldiers still helped each other re-don their armor, clasped their weapons, and lay down on the makeshift beds, trying their best to sleep.

The entire camp was filled with a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

Karl himself set an example. He put on the cold chainmail again, his butterfly helmet placed beside him.

He did not lie down on the cot but sat leaning against the central support pillar of the command tent, holding his longsword, eyes closed, resting.

He didn't need to pretend to sleep; he would personally wait, waiting for the anticipated, or rather, the clearly indicated by the intelligence, attack.