"Master, the only thing that I could add, is that the Eastern Horde and the Donnhe kingdom started a war a few weeks ago..."

The moment I heard these words from my minion, I now knew why the Maktraka Clan had broken their agreement with the Brow wolves and passed through the neutral territory.

(You have any details on the war?) I inquired the white Bearmen.

"Master, from what I heard in Morfir..." The bearman pointed at the land between the 2 factions on the map and explained to me.

"Almost a month ago, the Eastern Horde crossed the western border of Donnhe, conquered 2 fortresses and plundered the nearby towns and villages.

But despite their aggression, Donnhe on the other hand had simply evacuated to the east side and maintained a defensive frontline."

He then pointed to Gwonn. "I was told that at the moment Donnhe warned their ally Gwonn, they would soon send a massive army to help their ally repel the invaders.

But since mustering such army would take a while, the Eastern Horde has been focusing on breaking Gwonn's line before they arrive."

(That's natural, either they take on one enemy at a time or risk facing both at the same time...)

The bear then frowned.

"But what I don't get it, is why one of their clans focusing on this land that is so far from the frontlines, also why hit one of Morfir's villages? Even if the Black Legion doesn't care about one or two small villages being destroyed, they will retaliate the moment they see the troop movements..."

(Tell me one thing, how come the frontline only stretches on the west?)

"Uh? That? Well..." The Bear put his pawn on his chin. "I think its because of the dark mountains on the North and the fact that the Kirrum Empire owns the south?"

(The south I understand, but whats that thing? Dark mountains?)

"Dark mountains are the hardest mountains to travel, and they are especially dangerous on winter! If any of the sides marched, an army trough them, it would be the same as asking them to commit suicide!"

(What if they use a path that isn't in a dark mountain?)

"A path that isn't through a dark mountain? There is one wich can lead to both Morfir and Donnhe from Grogragh's barren lands, but its full of neutral forces, this is why the Black Legion doesn't have troops on the south as its naturally protected by wild monsters such as 2 massive wolfpacks..."

"Wait, actually now that I realize it, we are right in between the 3 factions..."

(Yes, from what I can tell, the Eastern Horde is probably using the Maktraka clan to clean up the path to Donnhe...)

With this action, the Eastern Horde could simply create a new path wich would cause Donnhe's defensive line to be useless and if their reinforcements did not arrive before that, there was a chance that their country would be erased.

[https://i.imgur.com/G80kgrw.jpg]

"That sure makes my life harder..." The bear sighed at this situation.

With this, there are higher chances, that all white bearmen who were captured would be killed or used as meatshields, and that the rich noble would simply run away to another country to avoid danger.

(Anything else that you know of?)

"No, Master..."

(Then you can go and get some rest!)

The white Bearmen nodded his head before leaving the room.

To the East, outside the Maktraka goblin camp, 40 brown wolves had been stealthy hiding nearby as their leader watched the camp closely.

"So it is true, these bastards want to steal our territory!" The olf brown wolf with a scar mumbled.

"What do we do?" Another wolf spoke to him.

"They have too many... Let us rejoin Lead Hunter!" The olf wolf commanded the pack.

The group immediately departed as it was impossible for them to kill 165 goblins with just 40 warriors.

As my minions kept watching the goblin camp, I remembered something. (Wait, from what the morgue said, doesn't it mean that the corpses will rot?)

With this in mind, Robur had spend most of the rest of the night cutting the furs of the remaining wolf and ratmen bodies allowing me to have 9 fur/skins.

At the same time, all the meat bodies that could not be hagged in the food storage walls were given to the slimes, this caused a slime baby boom, increasing their number from 380 to 12160.

(It is a good thing that these slimes stack so well together, if not, I would have a giant mess to deal with...)

As the group of slimes stacked well on each other, just one tile of the food storage could perfectly store 10000 slimes.

Slowly, another 6 goblins were turned into my minions, 2 lvl3 and 4 lvl2 goblins.

And now all goblins from the rescued group were now my minions while only 1 male goblin, 5 goblin mothers and their children remained unrecruited.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

(In a few hours, I will recruit the rest of the goblins!)

But at this moment, another problem rose up, the sleeping chamber could fit 36 small beds, and now, it only had 5 spots left as the rest was occupied.

(I don't even have beds for all the goblins...)

After thinking a bit more, I reached my decision.

(For now, I will just recruit that last goblin, those 5 females and 5 babies will remain in the goblin nest, and for now I will leave those 4 spots open, maybe for the Avian crows, but from their size, they will each use a medium size bed... geez... I never thought I would need more space this fast!)

It was now morning, and the elder goblin along with others, moved stacks of slimes to the goblin nest, so that they could have breakfast.

After the meal, the old Avian Crow turned to the goblin elder and informed him that he requested an audience with his boss.

(So it's his turn, uh? Bring him in!)

Soon after, the Avian entered the heartcore room.

"Old Crow has seen Red Lord!" The Old Avian bowed his head towards the massive red eye.

"It seems you are recovering well, and how's the wings?" The big eye spoke to him.

"They are improving well! Thank you for your food, and it seems to help us heal fast! I think we will be able to fly again at the end of the day!" The Old Avian spoke filled with happiness.

(Help you heal? Oh now that you mention it!)

At hearing the Old Avian Crow's words, I remembered that some of the newly recruited goblins were previously wounded before, but before receiving the "blessing", they were fully healed.

"It is good to hear that, but I wonder, what will you do after this night?" I inquired the Avian.

"If possible, we wish to return to our village, we have been away for a while and our families might be worried!" (Old Avian)

"I see... Well, I have no issues in letting you go, but before that, I hope you could help me with some issues?"

"Of course! I will help Lord as much as I can!" (Old Avian)

"Well then..."

At this moment, the bearman entered the room, with his left arm, he held a pile of red slimes.

(Show him the map.)

"Yes master!" Upon hearing my command, the bear took out the map and laid on the floor between the altar and the Avian, then he sat on his right side and kept eating.

The Old Avian looked at the map. "Oh! I haven't seen one of these in years!"

"Could you tell me what you know about the war between the Eastern Horde and the Donnhe kingdom?" I inquired the Avian.

"They are at war again?" (Old Avian)

"Yes, it started weeks ago!" (Bear)

"So you don't even know that they are at war right now?" (Red)

"No! I am sorry, but I don't have much knowledge about whats happening in the south of Morfir..." (Old Avian)

(Explain to him what we talked before.)

With a nod, the bearman explained everything to the Old Avian.

"It seems that the Eastern Horde will finally conquer Donnhe..." (Old Avian)

"What makes you say that?" (Red)

"Well, in the past wars, both sides were tied, but this time it is different!" (Old Avian)

"How different?" (Red)

"In the past, Gwonn and the Kirrum empire would help Donnhe while Morfir would remain neutral to supply troops and provisions to both sides for a profit.

But a few years ago, the Eastern Horde had made an alliance with the centaur clans, wich have been giving trouble to the Kirrum empire for a while.

And regarding Morfir, considering how they had done nothing when losing a village while allowing the Eastern Horde's troops to march in these snowy lands, it problably means they got paid to allow the Eastern Horde passge of the south territory..." (Old Avian)

"So you really think that Donnhe will lose that badly?" (Bear)

"It depends on how long they can last until reinforcements arrive..." (Old Avian) "I mean, the only reason they survived this long, was because of their strongholds and earth dragon knights!"

"Earth dragon knights?" (Red)

"Yes! They are far stronger than the giant boar mounts of the Eastern clan!" (Old Avian)

(I don't know what are those either...)

"What about your village?" (Red)

"Ah? My village is far away, to the extreme North, it's on a massive clift, near the sea on wich you can only get there by flying. It is the main reason why we have lived peaceful for generations..." (Old Avian)

"Good, perhaps some day I will visit you?" (Red)

"That would be an honor! We would welcome you with open wings!" (Old Avian)

"I wanted to know more about this war, but since you don't know more, I have a another thing to ask of you!" (Red)

"Oh! If I can help then, Lord can just say it!" (Old Avian)

"Would you help me get revenge against the goblins that captured you?" (Red)

The Avian was surprised at my words.

"As much as I would like to help you, we are not that strong in terms of fighting..." (Old Avian)

While the Avians where the same size of humans, they were very skiny, but were filled with feathers to disquise their frail figure, they have 2 legs, 2 arms, and the 2 wings on their back had great potential, but since their hands had only 3 fingers, they were not very good at using certain common weapons.

"Don't worry! The only thing that I ask is that if you are able to be fly fast and have enough strength to hold a goblin!" (Red)

"That's easy! We can do that once this day is over!" (Old Avian)

"Excellent!" (Red)

Day 4, 1st Month of the Winter Season, 600.AC