“Foolish child. Bow your head to Mir and then return now.”

  The King of Verdan narrowed his eyes at his grandfather and gritted his teeth.

  But just as he was getting ready to respond with a counter to his grandfather, the man spoke again, this time releasing a hint of his pressure.

  The world quaked and space itself threatened to rip apart under just a small amount of pressure from the old man.

  “Do I have to repeat myself, boy?”

  The King of Verdan closed his eyes and let out a breath, turned toward the thing that was still in the middle of its transformation, offered a light bow, then turned once more toward his grandfather, offered a deeper bow and without saying a word, he vanished.

  The old man’s gaze followed the figure of the King of Verdan for a few moments before turning his attention back to the still transforming Mir and let out a sigh.

  “Mir, I know you can hear me. Cease this.”

  Mir’s transformation paused, and then its voice could be heard.

  It was no longer the voice of a small child colored in distortion, but instead something that would quite literally cause weaker people to die. It sounded like death and corruption itself was speaking.

  There was no comparison to the sound that came out of the figure. Of course, the old man was strong enough to withstand the sound and even made sure to contain it to the area around them.

  “No. Wanted to kill new toy. Very annoying.”

  “New toy, huh. I sent him away, Mir. No one will be killing your new toy, at least not today.”

  Silence reigned once more before Mir slowly began to undo its transformation and return to that of a small house cat, only with its multiple tails and its color changing eyes.

  “You have to forgive my grandson, Mir. His but a youth…a child, and they can be foolish sometimes.”

  “If he comes back, I will kill him.”

  “I will ensure that he doesn’t, Mir. Though this new toy of yours is it alright if I have a conversation with him?”

  Mir’s eyes settled on red once more, but the old man spoke again.

  “Do not worry. I promise not to bring him harm. Only a conversation, then I will leave.”

  Mir studied the old man deeply and intently before going back to licking its paw, and the old man knew this was his answer.

  “Thank you, Mir.”

  The old man vanished and reappeared amidst the training of Rick and his Goblins in less than a second, but none of the Goblins got a chance to react before every single Royal Goblin in the area fainted, not even getting a chance to ring any alarm, draw any weapons, or levy any attack against the old man.

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  Rick, of course, took all of this in, and just as he was about to activate all of his skills at once and begin his final stand, the old man spoke.

  “Don’t worry. I just wanted to avoid the noise. I am here to have a conversation with the new King of Goblins. Will you humor me?”

  Rick, who was quite literally gearing up to attack with everything he had, was caught severely off guard by the words of the old man.

  ‘Will I humor… him?’

  [Rick. I think he is as strong as Mir.]

  ‘I know.’

  “Is Mir dead?”

  “Oh. Should I take this as you being all right with a conversation? To answer your question, Mir is not dead. In fact, there is nothing in this world that can kill it, at least not through conventional means.

  “So, since I’ve answered your question, I believe it is only fair you answer one of mine. Though I would like to have this conversation seated, if possible.”

  Of course the old man knew this was possible. He had already scanned not just Rick and the area around him, but the entirety of the Dark Lands of Mir. It didn’t even take a second for him to know exactly how many Goblins were here and how strong each and every one of them were.

  Though he showed no signs of that to Rick, who took a deep breath before responding to the old man.

  The old man was clearly human despite his age. There was nothing about him that looked weak or frail. He still had a head full of long, flowing white hair, a beard to match, and a physique that, despite being covered by pristine white robes, was clearly defined.

  “Please follow me inside.” The old man gave Rick a nod, and before long they were seated in one of the conference rooms in Rick’s mansion. The Royal Guards were still unconscious outside.

  Of course Rick had long since verified through the help of Velora that each and every one of them was not dead, and that was the main reason he was okay with leaving them for the moment.

  “So, a Goblin King, is it? Answer this question for me. What is your goal as the King of Goblins?”

  Rick paused, as that wasn’t the question he was expecting, but he didn’t have to think too long about his answer.

  “To ensure the prosperity of my people.”

  The old man’s eyes narrowed.

  “The prosperity of your people? Define that.”

  Rick did not like the interrogation but it didn’t appear as if he had a choice in the matter so he continued.

  “I want them to be able to live normal lives. To not have to fight because their survival hinges on it, but because it is something they chose. To not be hunted, to trade, to have families, all that and more. That is what I want for my people.”

  The old man went quiet for a bit before he asked another question.

  “And if others stand in the way of that prosperity, if the nations on the continent do not agree with what you seek for your people, what will you do?”

  This time it was Rick’s turn to narrow his eyes. A presence leaked out from him, a presence tinged with wrath. The old man could feel it quite clearly, even though it did nothing to him.

  “Anyone or anything who stands in the way of the safety of my people will be removed. I will not seek fights or arguments on my own, but if they come to me, I’ll respond to them.”

  “I see.

  “Then my final question, King of Goblins. Do you know what you are at the moment? What Mir sees you as?”

  “…A fighting partner.”

  “Fighting partner,” the old man said. “No. Mir sees you as a toy, something to be enjoyed until it gets bored, and then it will be disposed of.”

  Rick went quiet at that, the words of the old man ringing around in his brain before they settled. Everything settled. Rick had long since stopped living for himself. His life and everything it was belonged to the Goblins.

  “If being a toy protects my people until I’m strong enough to do it on my own, then so be it.”

  The old man almost allowed a bit of his power to leak out of his body at that answer, but then Mir reappeared in the room, not saying anything, not looking at either of them, just licking its paw.

  Seeing this, the old man froze in his actions.

  “Thank you for your hospitality, King of Goblins, and I’ll be leaving your lands now, Mir.”

  And with that he simply vanished.