Zectas Volume IV: The Salubrious City of Centzo by John Nest, You The Reader Page A

ears bleed from your poor attempt to speak in our intricate language."

Smoke was taken aback, as he didn't know that Gobble Goblins could speak normally. "I'm sorry if my poor Gobberish has offended you, but what I'm saying is true: I am not your enemy. I’d even be willing to release you from this cage if it would help convince you of that."

"Release us? Or will you just put us in a different cage?" asked the same elderly goblin skeptically.

"No, you'd be free to go. However, it'd be dangerous for you to leave on your own, with Horrabelle still out there and all," Smoke answered sincerely. "If you would come with us to our village, we'll be able to protect you."

He then remembered the other Gobble Goblins left in Verbrannt, the ones that still didn't trust him. "You could also help me convince the goblins we freed from Crucibelle’s clutches that we mean no harm."

The elderly goblin spoke in Gobberish to the other goblins before he turned to face Smoke again. "There are others of our kind in your village?"

"Yes, and it would be a great help if you could make them understand that I'm just trying to protect them," said Smoke in an imploring voice.

"That remains to be seen, but I suppose leaving this horrible place would be better than staying," replied the elderly goblin. He then spoke with the other goblins once more. After a few minutes, he faced Smoke and nodded in agreement.

After giving a nod in return, Smoke told the Tikbalangs to free the goblins. While they were waiting to be released, the goblins were spreading the word to the rest of them who were hiding in the back portion of the cage.

While waiting for the goblins to be liberated, Sierra spotted a desk filled with papers. "Smoke, over here."

Smoke walked over to her and found that the stack of papers was similar to the one in Schrecklich's chamber.

"Thanks, this could be helpful," said Smoke and gave her a smile.

He grabbed one of the sheets of paper and found an expected notification window.
    + Acquired Knowledge: Horrabelle's Gargantuan Goblin Transmutation [Page 12 of 20]

  [ BLOCKED: Information Window will not display until all pages have been read.]
    In less than a minute, Smoke read all twenty pages and the Information window finally popped up.
    + Horrabelle's Gargantuan Goblin Transmutation

  Step-by-Step Ritual:

  1. Gather 250 Gobble Goblins in a confined space.
  2. Inflict Berserk status on them (Terror Spell works fine, too).
  3. Watch the magic happen.
    Smoke sighed. He thought it would be something he didn't know already. He was familiar with the ritual because he had observed Crucibelle perform it near Banal village a while ago.

Sierra noticed his disappointed expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just thought I'd get some new information," he replied passively.

Unwilling to give up on getting what he wanted, Smoke took out the parchments Schrecklich dropped earlier. He immediately started acquiring the knowledge of the parchment entitled “Ultimo's Request - Three Troublesome Villages.”

After a few seconds, an Information window popped up.
     
    + Ultimo's Request - Three Troublesome Villages.

  Salutations,

  My Brandals have tried occupying the villages of Tatlong, Lugar and Pinagsama.
  These three places are close to and support each other, making the task difficult for us.
  Each time one of my battalions attacks one village, the other two send reinforcements to it.
  Perhaps you could assist me in conquering them?
  I hear that there are a little over a thousand people residing in each village, a fair part of them being children.

  Here are their Map Locations:

  Tatlong: Latitude: 95°23' N, Longitude: 234°54' E
  Lugar: Latitude: 93°23' N, Longitude: 232°54' E
  Pinagsama: Latitude: 95°23' N, Longitude: 232°54' E

  I believe cooperation would be mutually beneficial to our endeavors.

  May the bloodline of Vinceretus rule forever!