Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

Well that's not good, Morty thought as he looked over his accounting. While he was still in the black, the numbers were getting smaller and smaller. The mine wasn't his family's ONLY source of income. There were a few properties they owned down in Louisiana that still provided a bit of revenue.

But with his main source of income i.e. the mine gone and a growing army needing food and gear he needed to sort it out soon. While the goblins themselves he shouldn't have any issues keeping in line, the sisters as well as his repeated bloody displays doing enough, the Red Caps were going to be a different matter.

He wasn't stupid. He could tell that physically they were changing. Most of them weren't as repulsive to look at and they now reached his chest where the regular goblins still only came to his waist, and it looked like they wouldn't stop there.

Bullying the goblins was easy when they were already easily intimidated. But the Red Caps weren't so malleable. Which meant that he needed loyalty from them and not fear. Which meant good food and gear. Which meant more money.

Money he was quickly running out of.

At the rate his Vert Armee was growing it wasn't a question of IF but WHEN he was going into the red. He groaned as he stretched, while most of his wounds over the last week or so have healed he was still mildly bruised and sore.

He got up, fed up with accounting and made his way through the mansion. His first stop was the armory. Though as he entered it looked much different than just a few days ago. It looks to have been converted into a sort of officers hall. Mannequins and other displays have either been put to use or pushed aside.

A large table was now in the center where several Red Caps sat. Some drank tea or quality liquor or ate fine meals. Some also appear to be smoking from tobacco pipes. All in all it looked no different from where upper-class people would gather and socialize! They actually looked civil!

"Watch it you wretch!" A Red Cap bellowed as a goblin servant lightly bumped his arm, spilling but a drop of his fine liquor.

The goblin stuttered out a quick and hasty bout of apologies, none of which satisfied the Red Cap as he proceeded to beat the servant for his carelessness! If anything beating the goblin with said liquor glass spilled more than what the goblin had.

"Well, mostly civilized." Morty muttered as he watched.

He left the Red Caps to their pleasures and made for the backyard. Though it wasn't much of a backyard anymore. More a rallying field. The gardens and fountain were gone, in their place were lines of tents and various obstacle courses. Several dummies were placed and used for sharpshooting and melee drills. The pool house and said pool were there but they were now being used for aquatics training.

The south and west walls had been torn down to make room for the growing armee. The east wall was still where it was. Though it looked to have been fortified. A couple guard posts were placed and looked into the east. No doubt the Red Caps were taking the greenfeet as a bigger threat than he did. He didn't worry though. They were probably dead out in the wilderness by now. But if they want to play guard he wouldn't say no!

It seemed like only a select group of Red Caps stayed in the new officer quarters. Most were out here in tents, though they were still nicer than what the goblins had. Some stayed in their own, shared, tents. From the looks of them they were potential recruits for the Red Caps. Most of the goblins however stay in these small compact makeshift huts.

It was something to behold! Now he just had to figure out what to do with it and how to pay for it!

Which was harder said than done. It was fair to say that he had little love nor favor with the rest of the town. Every call he's made has either been met with silence or a series of insults and threats.

Even trying to get anything running back in Louisiana or elsewhere has been met with far too much complications. Either he would have to leave to deal with it, and leave the goblins on their own, or they were asking for too much for what they were offering.

No, if he was going to get money it had to be here in town. He just had to figure out HOW!

He left the army camp and headed back inside. He headed towards the kitchen where he pulled out a expensive decanter of bourbon. While he drank he tallied various potential projects.

He could do lumber. While it might be a bit risky giving the goblins access to chainsaws it wouldn't be that bad. But then he would have to deal with not only the town, but Jeb's family out in the hills. Neither he wanted to deal with anytime soon.

Farming briefly crossed his mind. But he doubt the goblins would, or COULD, farm. Though it wouldn't hurt to get them doing some small scale farming for basic food.

Going back to mining was a fat fucking nope! After the fiasco last time he was in no hurry to jump back into it!

He groaned and downed his drink before heading upstairs. Maybe the sisters might have an idea. He doubted it but you never know.

He entered his room. After their, enthusiastic, family making they moved themselves into his room. Which he didn't mind, even if it meant that he had an almost constant bruise on his pelvis! At least his bed was still, mostly, in one piece!

The two sisters laid on the bed, butt naked and sleeping. Also snoring like logs!

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"Ladies!"

The sisters grunted as Morty's voice woke them from their slumber.

"Master?"

"Good morning you two!" He said cheerfully.

"Morning!" Urga said as she stretched and rose while her sister was slightly less inclined to do so.

Morty walked over and sat on the bed between the two. Orga continued to sleep away while Urga shuffled over and cuddled Morty.

"I don't think I ever asked this. But what did you do before you came here?"

Urga got a sad look on her face as she picked Morty up and placed him in her lap.

"Well, we were enslaved by the orc."

"But what about before? What did you and your tribe do?"

"Oh!" Urga exclaimed.

"We didn't do much. We lived in the hills and mountains of our homeland."

"Surely you did SOMETHING though! You weren't just bumming it up in the mountains were you?"

She hmm'd for a moment as she thought before speaking up again.

"Well, sometimes adventurers would come by and try to kill us. Other times traders would hire us as guards through the mountains."

Killing fantasy pest control and guards. Great ideas, Morty thought sarcastically. Though, guarding doesn't seem like a bad idea.

He was interrupted from his thoughts as Orga chuckled, apparently paying attention.

"Sometimes we would threaten the traders for more money or food!"

Her sister laughed.

"Yeah! We'd threaten to eat 'em if they didn't give us more of what they promised!"

Guarding and extortion? Yeah, like that would work. Wait, Morty thought as the gears in his head spun. That COULD work! He has an army while the town just had a police force he could count on one hand!

He turned towards Urga.

"You're a genius!"

He kissed her deeply before running off with a manic glee. Urga looked confused as Morty ran off, she turned towards her sister.

"What did we say?"

Her sister just grumbled before going back to sleep. Urga shrugged her meaty shoulders before yawning and laying back down.

Morty meanwhile ran through the mansion looking for the Headman. Which he found in the officers hall. He was reading one of the books his family had stored in the armory. Though he wasn't sure if any of them could actually read or if they were just mimicking pictures.

While he was positive that the goblins couldn't read the Red Caps seemed like they could. At least to a degree.

He walked up to the Headman.

"What do you know of extortion and racketeering?"

The Headman looked up from his book and looked at Morty with confusion.

"Uhm? Wha' Boss?"

"Extortion? You know? Threatening people to give up their stuff?"

"Oh! Yeah boss! We's know it!"

"Great! Get about a dozen of your Red Caps and come with me!" Morty ordered and made for the garage. The confused Red Caps reluctantly following.

So him, the Headman, and a dozen Red Cap officers drove into down. Morty drove around until he found a decent place. A diner, run by an older couple but was popular with the rest of the town.

He got out and headed into the diner, Red Caps in tow. He threw open the doors and plastered his best snake-oil salesman smile.

"Good morning! How is everyone this fine day!"

The response was less than enthusiastic. Those that knew him grumbled and sneered while the rest just ignored him or gave him a glassy eyed stare.

"Well, then allow me to brighten it up! I am here asking for a generous contribution to a worthwhile cause!"

Most went back to eating their meals but a few snorted with indignation.

"Yeah? And what cause is that?"

Morty's shit eating grin went wider.

"I'm glad you asked! Why its the local militia of Somewhere! THAT is surely a worthy cause to contribute to is it not?"

"And why would we need a militia? Nothin' happens out here. When it does its them folk on the mountains, even then they keep to themselves!" A voice chimed.

"Or you!" Another heated voice sounded out.

Morty zeroed in on that voice. It came from a table to his left. From the looks of them it was filled with about six now former union workers from the mine.

"Oh? Have I done something that warrants this heated tone?"

"Don't play dumb! You're nothin' but trouble! If anyone needs protection its us from YOU!" The table cheered at the words.

Morty just smiled, and snapped his fingers. Three of the Red Caps moved on the table. They dragged the mouthy one out of his chair and proceeded to beat him! His fellows moved to intervene but were stopped as the rest of the Red Caps ran interference.

After a minute Morty ordered them to stop. He sauntered over and knelt down.

"You're right. You DO need protection!"

He stood back up and turned towards the rest of the shocked diners, who were now paying FAR more attention.

"In this day and age you never know WHAT or when trouble will come! So I, as a responsible citizen of these United States, have taken it upon myself to see to the defense of our fair town! So if you would find it in your hearts to donate but a small amount towards its defense and your safety, you will see that you are making a sound investment!"

Then his smile took a cruel turn.

"After all, it would be in your best interest to do so!"

A couple of Red Caps went around and collected the "willing offerings" of the generous diners. Some cash and a few bits of jewelry. Not a whole lot, but then this was just the first stop!

"I thank you all for your contribution!"

"You wont get away with this!" A voice from the union table hissed.

"Get away with what? Collecting willing donations from the general public?" Morty said in a sweet voice.

Just then, as luck would have it, the sheriff walked in.

"Mornin' Sally! I'll have the-"

He paused as he saw what was before him. A union worker bloody and Morty with his Red Caps.

"What's goin' on here?"

"He's here extortin' us!" Someone from the union table called.

"Non-sense! Me and my friends here came for some morning coffee and these thugs tried to attack me! No doubt as revenge for their failed attempt at a strike!" Morty countered with false offence.

"Liar!" Came the jeers and shouts from the union table.

"Enough! Is there anyone here that can back up your claim?" The sheriff asked.

The rest of the union table chimed up in support.

"Oh come on! Its obvious that they hate me and would join their comrade in this charade!"

While the sheriff quieted the union table as they hurled insults and threats at Morty, he subtly directed the Red Caps to keep the rest of the diners company.

"Is there anyone here, who DOESN'T have a bias towards Mr. Duval, that can attest to these claims?"

The union table looked around and waited for the whole diner to rise up and come to their aid. But none was forth coming. Any aid that might have arisen was quieted by a steely glare from a "friendly" Red Cap that was keeping them company.

"No-one? No-one at all?"

"He's intimidatin' them! He has his friends keepin' them silent!"

"Really?! Will these accusations continue?! Last I checked this was America and we are allowed to go where we wish in public! Are you saying that me nor my friends can come here and say hello to our fellow man? That we may not dine with them?" Morty continued his performance.

The sheriff, at the insistence of the union table, walked around to the diners and asked them himself. No answer was forthcoming however as they either kept their heads down and their mouths shut or were silenced by a glare from a nearby Red Cap.

After doing his due diligence the sheriff had no choice but to put the matter to rest.

"Well, since no-one is willing to come forward to corroborate I can't do anything about these accusations."

"But sheriff! He's-"

"Innocent until proven guilty! That's the law and so far the only evidence of guilt is from a biased source! So unless anyone else here wishes to speak up?" He asked and looked around the diner.

But still no-one stood up or spoke out.

"Then with that all I can say is, sit down and go back to your breakfast!"

With that the sheriff sat down at the counter and received his breakfast, while the union table returned to their seats grumbling and glaring at Morty, who took his own seat and ordered a coffee and some toast. He had to keep the act going. Even if that meant forcing down soggy toast and piss water coffee!

After gagging down his slop Morty and his Red Caps waited until the sheriff finished his breakfast and left. Then he got up and began to leave.

"Once again thank you all for your generous and heartfelt donations to a worthy cause!"

"You'll never get away with this Mortimer!"

Morty paused and sighed. He was getting really tired of being told that. He turned and walked towards the table. His full retinue behind him now.

"I don't think you quite get what's happening here so let me spell it out. I! OWN! YOU! My family had to play nice when we owned the mine because of you union parasites! But now? Now I don't have to do a fucking thing! You on the other hand? You'll do whatever the fuck I say and that includes giving me your fucking money!"

"No we wont! We'll just-"

"Just what? Go to the cops? Look how well that just turned out. Storm my home like your leader? What happened to him again? Didn't he take my money and run?" Morty asked with a mocking tone before leaning in and in a voice just low enough for the table itself to hear.

"Or maybe him and the rest of them are out in the woods somewhere! By all means! Get the rest of your union and assault my mansion like the Bastille! I dare you!"

Despite the fervent tone from the table moments ago it appeared to Morty that their bark was worse than their bite as they backed down and went back to their meals with nothing more than grumbling protests.

"I thought so. See you all next week!"

Morty and the Red Caps left the diner, pockets a little fuller, and made their way to the next target.