Goblin Village

After Miracle City's mercenaries left the Dungeon, they immediately received their lord's orders and instructions. They began searching along the river, moving through the dense forest for about two hours.

A Dungeon's potential depended on the quality of its Secret Realm.

But aside from that, its location and surroundings were also very important.

If a Dungeon had an excellent, safe location and abundant nearby resources, then even if its Secret Realm Creation was mediocre, it still had a chance of attracting adventurers to settle there permanently. Miracle City's surroundings looked quite promising.

Wool Warrior: "Resources are plentiful here. Should we hunt something to bring back?"

Lone Wolf: "One wild boar can be traded for quite a bit of Soul Sand in town!"

This was what gave almost every lord the biggest headache when employing adventurers. These people always had ideas of their own and were easily led astray. Sometimes, they would not obey orders completely.

However.

Although some were tempted by the suggestion.

Most did not agree.

Black Stone Hammer King: "Focus on completing the mission. If the lord catches us slacking off, we won't be chosen again next time."

Sleeping in the Wind: "Dungeons have harsh living conditions and are bound to be threatened by Dark Race forces. Every year, too many excellent Dungeons are destroyed by Dark Lords. It doesn't matter if other trash Dungeons disappear, but that cannot happen to Miracle City!"

Pig King: "Yeah, those damned Dark Races. Nine out of ten cities are destroyed by their hands!"

Bright Moon Reflecting Snow: "We need to gather clues about the Dark Races as soon as possible."

Black Stone Hammer King: "With such a rare treasure Dungeon, we must sustainably drain it dry. Only then can we squeeze more good things out of the lord."

Cat MeowMeow: "Agreed. We're not working our lives away for the lord. This is all for our own benefit!"

"That's true enough!"

Lone Wolf: "The problem is that this area is so huge. Forget one night—even if we searched for three or five days, we might not find any clues!"

However.

Before he could finish speaking.

A piercing shriek erupted.

With the adventurers completely unprepared, several were struck by sharp arrows. Fortunately, the Riot Zombies' helmets and armor had formidable defenses, so although they were hit, no one died.

"Who was that?"

"You dare shoot me?!"

The adventurers quickly spotted the attackers.

They were a group of humanoid Alien Races with little relation to humans. None stood over 1.4 meters tall, with wrinkled gray skin, dark red eyes, and pointed ears. They looked utterly repulsive.

"Gray Goblins!"

"Fucking Dark Races!"

"Damn, speak of the devil! Our luck is insane!"

"Hahaha, just what we were hoping for!"

"Kill them!"

Gray Goblins were widespread across the Chaos Continent. They were naturally cruel, cunning, and greedy. Their individual combat strength was generally not high, but once gathered in large numbers, they often possessed catastrophically destructive power.

There were only four Gray Goblins this time. Wielding hand crossbows and equipped with short blades, they appeared to be a hunting party. When they saw that the mercenaries had been hit by arrows yet seemed perfectly fine, they were horrified.

The adventurers immediately swarmed forward, using their numerical advantage to surround them, swinging their clubs at the Goblins' heads.

"You disgusting Dark Races, die!"

"Stay away from Miracle City!"

The adventurers' desire to fight was off the charts, and their attacks were exceptionally brutal. They knocked down three in quick succession, but one escaped with remarkable speed. Riot Zombies lacked mobility, and the forest terrain was too complicated, so they quickly lost track of it.

"Damn it!"

"One got away!"

"Cut the grass at the roots!"

"Chase it! If it goes back to warn the others, Miracle City could be exposed!"

"..."

The adventurers needed no orders from Qi Ji.

Before long, following the tracks, they discovered a small camp.

This was not a Dark Dungeon. Judging by its size, it was merely a small settlement under a Dark Territory, with over a dozen grass huts and an estimated thirty-some adult Gray Goblins.

There were also two plantations near the camp. One grew berry bushes, while the other grew herbs.

Gray Goblins were not skilled at farming. Working in the fields were a race that looked more human. They too stood only 1.2 to 1.4 meters tall, yet they resembled miniature humans scaled down in proportion.

"Huh?"

"Pygmies?"

Pygmies were also known as the Dwarf Race, Pygmy Race, Halflings, and so on.

They were also a fairly common race of the underground world. However, they had not been corrupted by the Dark Aura and were a neutral race that was naturally kind, gentle, and highly obedient.

Because they were inherently too weak.

They struggled to survive in the cruel underground world.

Thus, they were generally dependents of stronger races or slaves enslaved by the Dark Races.

"Didn't expect a special haul!"

"Capture them all and bring them back!"

The adventurers felt that Double Happiness had fallen into their laps. This operation was even more valuable than expected. Not only had they found a Dark Race stronghold, but they had also discovered a considerable number of neutral races that could be recruited.

If these Pygmies were absorbed into Miracle City, they should be able to create value for the city and improve its services.

Wouldn't the adventurers be the ones benefiting in the end?

The adventurers were thrilled!

Their luck today was unbelievably good!

On their first day as temporary workers, they had made such a huge discovery!

"Kill!"

"Take the camp!"

"Capture every Pygmy!"

"Kill every damned Goblin!"

"..."

These disposable temporary workers from Miracle City howled as they charged toward the camp.

When the Zombies came charging in menacingly, the Pygmies in the Goblin Plantation trembled with fear. Yet among them, a freckle-faced Pygmy girl showed a look of surprise.

This Pygmy girl had an ordinary appearance, but she possessed a pair of gemlike, crystal-clear eyes. Her gaze was lively, utterly unlike the numbness and cowardice of the other Pygmies. She had already realized that the ferocious Zombies were being played by surface adventurers.

Miracle City's first expansion battle had begun!

The Goblins had been alerted and made preparations in advance, but the adventurers were not intimidated in the slightest. Relying on their helmets and armor, eighteen Riot Zombies howled as they charged headlong into the camp through the crossbow bolts and poison arrows.

"Come on!"

"I can still fight!"

Adventurer Pig King was the first to rush into the Goblin Village. Fourteen or fifteen arrows protruded from his body, and he had been struck seven or eight times by short swords and sickles, yet he rampaged through the place as though nothing had happened.

Zombies possessed rather tenacious vitality.

With equipment protecting them, they were not easily killed.

Of course, even if they died, the adventurers would suffer no losses. Naturally, they had nothing to fear.

These Gray Goblins threatened the Dungeon!

Anything that affected Secret Realm grinding could not be tolerated.

They had to fight to the bitter end!

Cut the grass at the roots!

"Third one!"

Pig King smashed open the skulls of three Goblins with his club. Just as he prepared to seek a fourth target, a blast of scorching heat struck from his side. A burning sensation engulfed half his body, making him cry out as he lost control and fell to the ground on the spot.

"What the hell?"

Ahead, eight Goblins guarded a distinctly different Goblin as they advanced.

He looked older and thinner, but wore a relatively ornate beast-hide robe and held a wooden staff embedded with bone ornaments. He was probably some sort of village chief. Strange chants came from his mouth, and another fireball ignited above his staff.

Bang!

Another adventurer was hit.

Flames could inflict effective damage.

Even if they did not kill, they could leave their victims unable to move.

This adventurer screamed as he hit the ground, struggled a few times, and soon went still.