From Slave to King: My Rebate System Built Me a Kingdom With Beauties!-Chapter 54: Ambush?
Kragg and Maui were together, seated across one another with a drink in hand, the air was tense.
Maui knew she couldnβt hold out on him otherwise it might come back to bite her in the butt later. ππ£π²ππ¨π²ππ»πΌπ―π²π.π°ππ¦
"Tell me, what do you have for me?" Kragg questioned her, and Maui instantly adjusted her posture, a smile creasing her face.
It was like she had become another person entirelyβno longer the Maui that Byung knew.
"He bought it all. I have earned his trust," Maui said, leaning back into her chair with a sinister smile spreading across her lips.
"I knew you could do it," Kragg replied, pleased by the news. This meant he now had direct access to Byung himself.
"Heβs the mastermind behind everything. He has managed to create forges, but thereβs something else heβs been speaking about," Maui said, pausing to take a sip of the drink before her.
"Forges? What is going on?" Kragg thought to himself, not wanting to interrupt her.
"He has dreams about the sword," Maui revealed. It was information she had kept from Byung himself, making it hard to tell if what she was saying came from himβor if she had truly betrayed him.
"The sword?" Kragg asked, confusion on his face. Maui didnβt need to repeat herself. His eyes widened in surprise.
"The mythical sword? Thatβs just a story," Kragg said quickly, trying to dismiss it.
"How can he dream about something he never knew existed?" Maui asked, but Kragg didnβt consider it important enough to worry about.
It was just a dream, and who knew what Byung might have heard during his time in the mines? There were too many possible factors for it to matter, and in Kraggβs opinion, Maui was overreacting.
"Maui, itβs a myth. None of it exists," Kragg reminded her, because for a second, it looked like she truly believed it.
"Youβre right," Maui sighed aloud, though Kragg could see she was tense. The goblins must have her on edge. Perhaps she had stayed among them too long.
"Come here," Kragg said, gesturing for her to approach.
"I can still smell her on you. Donβt insult me, Kragg," Maui replied, rolling her eyes in irritation.
"Giyayaya! Donβt be like that, my love," Kragg laughed, brushing off her accusation.
Was that really all males thought about? No, that couldnβt be right. Byung would have asked her how she wasβso maybe not all were the same.
"What are you preparing for?" Maui changed the subject, and the smile faded from Kraggβs face.
"Vrognut is coming," Kragg said.
"Vrognut? Isnβt he wanted? Why would he risk everything to come here?" Maui asked, raising a brow. It made no sense.
"Thatβs what I want you to find out. Did they say anything among their ranks?" Kragg asked, but Maui couldnβt recall hearing anything.
Her blank stare told Kragg all he needed. It must be Drekk. There was no way she had access to him yet.
"I see... I need you to do something for me," Kragg muttered, and Maui sighed, already knowing what he was about to say.
"Itβs the full moon soon, isnβt it?" Kragg added, finishing his thought.
"It is," Maui replied softly.
"No one comes close to your tribeβs strength when the moon ascends. You should be able to take out Vrognut in this state," Kragg said, though the way he spoke implied Vrognut was stronger than an average orc.
Vrognut was cunning. He didnβt rely on strength to overpower his opponents but used his limited wits instead. Each mistake he made left a scar, and every scar was a lesson.
That was what set him apart from the regular goblinsβhe evolved through experience alone.
He was a deadly goblin who thrived on pain, violence, and pleasure.
If he came to this region, there was no doubt he would bring trouble. But Kragg knew he would only need Mauiβs help if Vrognut truly arrived.
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Deep into the night, the goblins continued their journey, laughing and talking but only three were on horsebackββ one of them was Vrognut.
It was rare to see such a sight, as livestock wasnβt common in the Western Province. But Vrognut understood the value of horses. He had once been defeated by an orc on horseback and learned firsthand the power they held.
He trusted horses more than anyone else. They gave their all as long as they were treated wellβand Vrognut treated them better than the females trapped within his mines to live out the rest of their lives as slaves.
Sometimes, he allowed the horses to have their fun with the women too, even if it ended in death or permanent harm to them. Why should he respect them when their kind treated his people with disdain?
The goblins didnβt rest, showing how much their endurance had grown. But hidden in the darkness, others were watching.
"These pigs are moving west. Should I go and exterminate them!?" an orc whispered in disgust. The sight of the goblins alone made his blood boil.
That was the nature of the Bloodfang Clan. The night favored them, even if they werenβt Shadowtooth.
The goblins suddenly halted. The orcs had taken every step to mask their scent, and it had worked. But they also had to suppress their bloodlustβa far harder task.
That was the effect Vrognut had on them.
If these had been ordinary goblins, the orcs would have struck without hesitation. But Vrognut was different. He was calculating.
There were three goblins on horseback and the rest on foot.
The orcs could have attacked the mine he controlled in his absence, but doing so would have drawn the Mogul of the region into action. That would mean an all-out warβa costly one, even if they won.
And with humans always watching for weakness, that would be disastrous.
"It looks like theyβre setting up camp," another orc said. Only four orcs were stationed here.
The goblins lit torches, setting up a small camp. The night was cold, and the fire served both warmth and security.
The orcs watched for over thirty minutes, waiting patiently. Then, the three mounted goblins dismounted and entered a tent together.
There was no doubtβVrognut was among them.
These were the targets. This wasnβt meant to be a full-scale attack but a quiet assassination.
If they caught him off guard, they could kill him. Even if they failed, Vrognut couldnβt take down a single orc aloneβespecially if they were ready.
But in groups? They were a deadly force especially when goblins were ready to use themselves shields to preserve Vrognutβs life. They didnβt fear death.
The other goblins slept outside. The three riders had the privilege of the tent.
That narrowed the targets down.
The orcs moved silently, creeping closer to their positions. It had to be done simultaneouslyβone alarm could ruin everything.
They reached their marks, hearts steady, breaths low.
"Three... two... one," one of them signaled.
The orcs stormed the tents and killed the three goblins inside before they could react. Not a sound escaped their lips. The mission was clean.
Vrognut was deadβor so they thought.
Before they could confirm the kills, spears tore through the tents, striking two orcs fatally and grazing another.
The two impaled orcs stumbled outβonly to see Vrognut standing before them with his platoon, spears in hand, ready to throw again.
"Y-you bastard! How are you alive!?" one of the orcs gasped, clutching the spear in his gut in pain.
Vrognut had been on horseback earlier, but he had switched places with one of his soldiers, expecting an ambush.
His noseβhis greatest assetβhad sensed the orcs long before.
He was blessed with an extra sensitive nose and it wouldnβt be an exaggeration to say he had the best nose among his kind.
Now, the tables had turned and the orcs had been outsmarted by the very thing they were hunting.
One orc charged at him, spear dangling in his right chest, the fatal wound would no doubt put anyone on their knees so this feat was impressive.
The goblins held their spears but didnβt throw them, leaving him to charge at his target uninterrupted. They wanted to watch.
No, the look in their eyes suggested something a lot more sinister as they salivated.
Vrognut stepped forward. With one brutal swing, he sliced the orcβs neck open with little to no difficulty.
Blood sprayed across his face, and he grinned, catching droplets on his tongue.
"I havenβt had anything to eat or drink. This should do it!" he laughed like a manic.
"Come on boys! Have your fill!" Vrognut screamed at the top of this lungs.
The goblins launched their spears, killing the other standing orc. Then they pouncedβbiting, tearing, devouring. The ground turned red.
βββ
"Fuck! This is bad!" the last orc hissed from within the tent.
The flap suddenly opened.
Vrognut stepped in, smiling wide.
"Well, well, well. Looks like dinner came to me," he said confidently.
He was sure of his victoryβbut would that be the truth?
