Chapter 436 - Where they came from?

Delicate with his tone, with no aim whatsoever to start a fight, fragile with his wordplay as if talking to a newborn. King Michael asked the first question after they've settled down in the Castle Dining room. "Sir Kutuk, you claim yourself and your Army as Goblin Demons. How exactly did you get here? You know this is a big title to claim, right?"

Confused, as if the sea salted fish hypnotized the Leader, he clumsily answered. "How we got near your place? We Walked."

Seeing the misunderstanding, and getting a little doubt that these Goblins have actual Demon origin, King Michael modified his question. "I figured that out, but my point is there isn't really a Demonic Branch that started on this planet. Did you get here through a Portal?"

Punching the table, making the fried fish fly 7 feet and drop in his mouth, swallowing it completely without even chewing, Kutuk got satisfied enough to answer. "Oh... yes. My ancestors did, in fact my Father did but he passed 30 years ago."

Trying not to annoy Kutuk, King Michael followed up lightly with an offer. "I have so many questions, I can pay you for answers."

Instantly liking the deal, Kutuk asked. "Pay me how much?" 

Trying not to sound scammy in order to fit in with the standards these species have set, letting silence stretch for a few seconds as he thought it through. King Michael answered. "I will pay you 10 Gold Coins per question."

Of course 10 Gold Coins aren't much... considering the average salary in Gaster Kingdom being 200! But these Demons don't seem to understand how the current economy works. It can become bad if they figure out how, the Goblin Demons can get pissed but they asked for 30 Gold Coins to begin with and they threatened war so the King's actions are acceptable.

An ill.u.s.tratian Guard walked with a leather sack full of gold over his shoulder. Barely 10 Kilos heavy, but for Qutuk this is paradise... Ironic.

After a quick greeting, "Hail to our King." The Guard placed the sack of Gold right near a Chair where Kutuk is at and explained his work's Origin. "These are the 400 Gold Coins you requested from the Royal Treasury."

Not paying much attention to the Gold, Kutuk glaredu upon the Guard. Holding his Iron Battle Axe tight even, expecting a fight. The Leader didn't shy away with his questions. "Why do you have these traitors here?"

Offended, but unwilling to say a word and let his Iron speak if the situation turns for the worst. The ill.u.s.tratian Guard grabbed his Sword's handle and expected the King to speak up.

Spotting the obvious fact that a Dilemma is one swing away, King Michael didn't spare his words to tame the masses. "I might understand why you hate ill.u.s.tratios, but every man and woman in my Kingdom is on my side. Each have put in work for the better."

Trusting the King's words, since he didn't fail to deliver all this gold. Kutuk loosened his grip around his Axe's handle and actually has the courage to say. "My apologies then, the ill.u.s.tratios in Meridionali Ignis are Devils. Which really says something, because I'm a purely breed Demon."

Respecting a man that can apologise, the ill.u.s.tratian Guard softly murmured. "It's okay." And turned his attention back to the King, Asking. "Do you have any other requests Sire?"

Glad that no conflict occured right now when he actually needs these Demons to stick close his Domain, King Michael first ordered the Guard. "I will be needing 200 more Gold Coins as soon as possible. This fine gentleman is cooperating with us."

...

Meanwhile in front of the Main Gate with a few sub leaders yelling out Commands, 15 Lines of Goblin Demons formed and are awaiting for the promised food. 

Preparing food for 700 individuals at the last minute is hard, but some Fishermen were sent to help out the Castle maids and throughout pale communication with the sub leaders they figured out how much food to give in order for every Goblin Demon to be fulfilled.

Although not the brightest, they are very disciplined and execute orders in just a few seconds after being told. What measures have been used to reach this level of Discipline is a shrouded Mystery, they used some kind of fear method likely but if it works than it's not stupid.

"Next!" Shouted a sub leader as each individual first in line was provided with a meal. 

The 15 men and women with a meal turned to the left and started walking away to make room for people behind them.

As for how much these species eat, half a loaf of bread can keep them fed for Dinner but for the whole day they would likely need more than that.

Being warriors, Winter chilling their spines as well. The best option is to feed them nice warm fish meat. Now there are more than 10 species of fish meat in the Castle's inventory, most of which are cheap. But it's better to use them all instead of putting one portion out of stock."

Good thing is, the Goblin Demons love this idea so it's a win win.

Each of them are getting about half a Kilo of fish meat alongside with half a Wheat Bread loaf. Of course they can eat this all, and it is their decision what to do with this food but they might feel bloated.

Last but not least, Water. With countless creeks in the forest supplied by the main River piercing the Continent, It isn't really a Dilemma to quench thirst of 700 beings although each of them would need a Liter a day or so to survive.

Treating these guests good enough at such short notice for sure required the serving men and women to be on their pique performance now and possibly for two hours but the Resources they have given away today can be replenished in a week without letting anyone go Hungry.

...

Coming at this directly, although King Michael did not ask a question regarding this topic. Kutuk stated. "We Raid for fun. We don't need Gold for food, we hunt our own food. But Gold Does look good in the Treasury."

Ignoring this senseless activity since it isn't inflicted upon his own Kingdom, King Michael asked the first question and piled up one Gold Coin over the other on the table, pushing it towards Kutuk with a fork. "For 10 Gold Coins, can you tell me when and how your Ancestors called this Realm home? I know a lot about everything, but I never heard about the glorious Goblin Demons."

Although ashamed, Kutuk sweet coated what happened. "An ill.u.s.tratio tricked us 250 years ago, we were locked in a Cave for 250 years."

Piling up 10 more Gold Coins and once again carefully pushing them towards Kutuk, Michael asked. "What did they lie about? Which deal did they break to the point of tricking you?"

Hesitant to answer this one, Kutuk glanced upon a young boy and asked. "Who is that kid? When did he get here?"

Turning around, King Michael didn't even notice the boy came in. "He is Eric, he rules a Kingdom of his own."

Although Kutuk wanted to say more about this but unwilling to infuriate Royalty he knows nothing about, he decided to answer Michael's question. Yelling it through. "An ill.u.s.tratio lied to us. He said that deep underground there are Golden Tree roots. We all went down there to find these treasures but got locked in a Cave by countless Boulders. The ill.u.s.tratio probably had hand in that too. But what's worse, he stole all our Loot we got for 10 years before being trapped."

As Kutuk revealed this important but also hilarious piece of information, King Michael did everything in his power to hold his laughter in while Eric was pushing his tongue against his teeth trying not to laugh.

Keeping a stiff firm face, trying not to infuriate the Leader since there still are a lot of questions that crave answers. Michael decided to show sympathy. "That's dark, I can see why you hate the ill.u.s.tratios."

Although feeling sympathy, King Michael couldn't resist the urge to use these potential enemies against Grand King Talato of Meridionali Ignis. "I hope you got your revenge on that wicked man and the ill.u.s.tratios in Meridionali Ignis who might have thought the same as him."

Shouting again, trying to sound tough and bad, Kutuk answered. "We tried! But it turns out Humans live for 70 years only. As for Kingdoms there, they have grown too large for us to Pillage."

Trying to reason with the man, King Michael stated. "As you see here we are nothing like the ill.u.s.tratios there and are willing to cooperate."

That should be enough to avoid trouble from these Goblin Demons so far, but now getting to a vital question. "You mentioned that your Ancestors went through a Portal, but why? Where you sent here to handle some mission?"

Waiting for King Michael to count the Gold Coins up, and push them over. Kutuk finally answered. "We had no exact task, in fact we weren't even sent to pillage. Our overlords wanted for us Goblin Demons to spread as much Havoc through this Continent as possible for 1 year and when we are done with our mission, we can go back to our Realm with 1,000 Hectares of land as a reward alongside with 100 Kilos of Diamonds."