"Oh my! What a cute little Puchi! I've always wanted to raise such a cute Puchi!"
"Yes, yes, yes, you chatter about Puchis all day long; my ears are almost calloused from hearing it. This time you finally encountered one."
Old Fish and Mengya muttered and discussed for a while in the distance, then put on kind and enthusiastic smiles. One in front and one behind, they slowly approached.
Regardless of whether that thing was the legendary Mushroom Tribe or not, abduct it first.
If it was, sending it back to the Empire would be a great merit.
If not, just treat it as an extra meal on the road of wilderness survival.
However, Mengya's Succubus skin could barely fake some kindness, but the old Goblin's face covered in wrinkles with pointed ears and a collapsed nose, no matter how much he squeezed out a smile, revealed a wicked vibe of a thieving rat.
Fortunately, Old Fish had self-awareness and deliberately fell half a step behind, shrinking behind Mengya to make himself less conspicuous.
Mengya walked up close. That Puchi still sat quietly on a small patch of sparse fungal mat, motionless.
She leaned over carefully and picked up the round Puchi, deliberately hugging it into her proud bosom, her voice sickeningly sweet: "Little cutie, let big sister raise you, okay? If you don't speak, I'll take it as you agreed!"
What she didn't know was that in No. 13's eyes, her posture of pretending intimacy was exactly the same as when it tricked the silly No. 4 into drilling into the Black Demon's nest back then—clearly harboring no good intentions.
Moreover, No. 13 only felt those two lumps of fat squeezing its mushroom cap until it was almost deformed, suffocatingly uncomfortable.
It tried hard to restrain itself not to immediately extend tentacles and pierce these two guys harboring sinister designs through. With the strength of its Knight Puchi body, it could totally do it.
In fact, No. 13 heard the two demons' supposedly secretive discussion clearly.
Possessing [Vibration Perception], as long as the Mushroom Tribe concentrated, they could hear sounds from a very long distance. Mengya and Old Fish only thought they were discussing quietly.
Empire?
It had heard other compatriots mention it; it was said to be the largest country on this continent, packed with uncountable non-mushrooms.
If it could trigger such a massive amount of non-mushrooms to emit wails of despair... just thinking about it made No. 13 tremble with excitement.
If it did that, the Fungus Lord would also be happy, right?
If the Fungus Lord was happy, maybe he would let it return to the Mushroom Garden.
Therefore, despite being squeezed uncomfortably by this non-mushroom, No. 13 still managed to extend a tentacle, seemingly obediently winding around Mengya's exposed arm as a response.
And this action, clearly distinct from ordinary Puchis and carrying a clear meaning of interaction, made Mengya and Old Fish's eyes light up simultaneously. Their suspicion about the Mushroom Tribe became a few degrees more certain!
Especially Mengya, who was so excited her heart bloomed with joy! If this was really a Mushroom Tribe member and she could successfully bring it back to the Empire...
Forget about her wasting time this time; even if she went back and slapped that harsh shapeshifter superior a few times, the other party would have to take it with a smile!
Getting promoted and getting rich, walking to the peak of demon life, was simply just around the corner!
Thinking this way, she hugged the "hope" in her arms even tighter, as if wanting to rub it into her body.
Slap—!
No. 13, unable to bear it any longer, suddenly swung its tentacle and lashed fiercely on that lump of fat squeezing it into panic.
Mengya cried out in pain, her arms loosening. No. 13 took the opportunity to break free from the embrace, landing on the ground with a puchi sound.
After landing, No. 13 quickly moved to Old Fish's side, who wasn't much taller than a Puchi. Its tentacle even rested amicably on the old Goblin's shoulder.
Mengya, who had suddenly taken a hit and hadn't fully reacted yet, stared blankly at No. 13 and Old Fish standing shoulder to shoulder, her face full of confusion and disbelief.
Old Goblin Old Fish shrugged his thin shoulders, pulled a helpless yet unconcealable expression of smugness, and said in a shrill voice:
"Looks like... it prefers staying with me."
Mengya: "???"
...
Having obtained No. 13, the two demons dared not delay in the slightest. They immediately turned around and rushed toward the port at full speed!
In fact, deep down, Old Fish still held a wariness about obtaining a creature suspected to be of the Mushroom Tribe so easily.
Things went abnormally smoothly.
However, those who wanted to study and even control the power of the Mushroom Tribe were the high and mighty Duke lords of the Empire.
For small fries on the frontline like them, the mission was only "find and bring back."
As for any problems or risks that might be triggered subsequently, naturally, the big shots above would worry about them.
Therefore, his vigilance was more directed at immediate threats that might occur before his eyes. For example, this Mushroom Tribe member might be a companion of some human adventurer squad, and its disappearance might attract tracking and retaliation.
As for deeper and more complex hidden dangers, that wasn't something an aged Goblin like him needed to worry about.
In fact, deep down, he had already begun calculating how to depict this encounter as more twisting and dangerous when submitting the report later.
How many human patrol squads they crossed, what thrilling maneuvers they experienced, how much effort they paid...
Only in this way could this credit appear heavier, making it convenient for them to ask for due rewards.
...
The two demons crossed the forest that had been chewed full of holes by the rampant slimes. From afar, the outline of the port finally came into view.
This first city taken by the Empire from human hands after the war began, humans called it Angus Port.
However, in the mouths of the demons occupying this place, it was usually just abbreviated as "The Port," a stronghold purely for use without needing a name.
However, the situation seemed somewhat wrong. Rolling black smoke was rising from a corner of the city, and flames were spreading among the buildings.
Chaotic noise came from afar: shouting, metal clashing, and some kind of... hiss?
It wasn't the organized war cries and horns of a human army attack.
Moreover, the defensive magic arrays on the city walls were abnormally turned off.
Just as they were in doubt and suspicion, a ball of blinding magical brilliance suddenly exploded in front of the heavy city gate of the port!
BOOM—!!!
The city gate was blasted open from the inside!
Shattered wood blocks and deformed metal flew everywhere.
Immediately after, panicked demon soldiers swarmed out from the breach, throwing away helmets and armor, their faces written with pure terror.
And that figure who just cast a spell to blast open the city gate—Mengya recognized him. That was a Diamond Rank mage officer of the port garrison troops!
What happened? A human raid? Or a rebellion?
Before they could sort out their thoughts, they saw that mage officer suddenly turn around in the surging flow of people and throw two blazing large fireballs consecutively into the gate tunnel!
Boom! Boom!
The firelight of the explosion instantly illuminated the gate tunnel. However, amidst the churning flames, the smoke was abnormally pulled outward for a distance, as if something had passed through.
In the next moment, in Old Fish and Mengya's line of sight, that mage officer who had just cast powerful spells had his body abruptly severed into two sections from the middle!
Blood and internal organs spilled out.
"Urgh... Ahhh!"
A shrill, distorted wail cut through the air. The upper half of the body fell to the ground, not dead yet, scratching the ground futilely with arms.
And his splashing warm blood briefly outlined part of the attacker's silhouette in the air.
A tall body, hideous carapace, six sickle-like sharp claws!
The monster roared, chasing after other demons fleeing for their lives.
Old Fish shuddered all over: "Isn't that those ghost things in the sea? How come they run onto the shore too?!"
Mengya and Old Fish didn't notice that a small floating eyeball in the sky looked over from afar.
(End of Chapter)
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