After the goblin great elder finished speaking, he took a labored breath, adjusted his bulky body with effort, took a sip of tea, and reclined in his chair to rest, his eyes closing in fatigue.

His son Ged, the current chieftain of the Lulu race, quickly draped a blanket over the elder, glancing back at the inmates with an irritated frown. Goblin lifespans were about a third of a human's, and at over forty years old, the elder was one of the longest-lived among his kind. But his vitality was waning, and the day's exertions, prompted by the inmates' probing, had taken a considerable toll.

Ged understood why his father was so accommodating to the inmates. The Red Gobi landmass they were on was currently visited by a floating city of the elf race.

Floating cities were very welcoming to potential apostles, but the details varied. After all, the Shattered Cosmos's floating cities belonged to various intelligent races, such as the temperate elves, fickle elemental beings, and the savage trolls. Not every potential apostle would immediately bond with the first city that took them in.

The closer the apostles' race and worldview to the floating city's governing race, the higher the apostles' sense of belonging would be in the future. Even if an apostle grew powerful, they would regard the first city that took them in as a second home. These were the apostles most welcomed by the cities, and they received the best foundational benefits.

Humans and elves were not of the same race, but they shared similar ideologies and forms, making them ideal candidates for the elves' city. Sometimes, floating cities would go years without finding a single apostle, making them desperate for any newcomers.

Delivering twelve space-time travelers to the elf floating city would grant the Lulu race a generous reward. Combined with other gains from the otherworldly base and the Lulu race's accumulations over decades, they might achieve the ultimate dream of all scavenger tribes.

This was to secure official residency rights within the floating city for some of their promising young. Floating cities, the mini-kingdoms of the ruling intelligent races, also housed many lesser vassal races.

However, vassal races lacked official residency and could only enter the city for temporary refuge during catastrophes.

Vassal races that earned official residency rights must have made exceptional contributions. This was an equal citizenship right, obligating the city to provide nurture, education, housing, work, and other survival rights for these members, with their children gaining official residency at birth.

Securing a certain number of official residencies was tantamount to keeping the embers of a race's lineage alive. For a scavenger tribe like the Lulu, it indeed represented an ultimate dream.

The Lulu could have disregarded the apostles' wishes and sold them to the elf city like slaves. After all, the most likely outcome for these twelve human apostles was to perish in their initial otherworldly missions.

Yet, there was always a "what if." If any of these human apostles survived and held a grudge against the Lulu, the outcome would not be to their liking. With hard-won residency rights, their members could easily become targets for assassination by vengeful apostles.

This was the main reason the goblin great elder risked his waning life to address the inmates' concerns and dispel their doubts. Like the floating cities, the Lulu race was betting on the future, on the untapped potential of the apostles.

Having received their desired answers, the inmates were silent, the atmosphere in the large tent turning strange.

To be frank, without possessions, the inmates needed the help of the native races to survive. They couldn't even leave the Red Gobi, let alone face the unknown otherworldly missions ahead. Yet, being traded like commodities did not sit well with these ruthless convicts.

"I know our guests harbor dissatisfaction, but please trust this old man—the elf floating city is currently your best option. If you agree to go, the Lulu race is willing to offer apologies and ample compensation afterward."

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As the inmates digested the information, the great elder opened his eyes again and spoke slowly, "This compensation will help you integrate into this world faster and prepare for the otherworldly missions..."

The inmates exchanged glances. The great elder's final proposition had moved them. Although the goblins had decided their fate without consent, it was beneficial for survival. If the Lulu could also respect their dignity, then following their arrangements was acceptable.

"Can we choose our compensation? Like your weapons and motorcycles?" Hanso's deep voice rang out among the inmates.

"Of course, but for everyone's safety, weapons and motorcycles will only be delivered in front of the floating city gates," the great elder's face finally brightened with a smile. "Other compensations can be settled immediately—this world's currency, food, fresh water, even the special minerals of the Red Gobi..."

"Elder, those minerals…" Ged stood up in shock.

"Ged, shut your mouth! No matter how valuable the minerals are, it's crucial that our guests see our sincerity!" The old goblin grinned meaningfully. "Weapons, motorcycles, minerals—everything in the Lulu camp is at your disposal. If our guests require servants, the Lulu race can even provide a few young and beautiful female members..."

After leaving the great elder's tent, the inmates felt like they had stepped into another world. They scattered silently, heading to their respective tents. The information they had received that night was overwhelming and required digestion. The great elder seemed to understand they needed time to think and told them to return individually for their compensation the next day.

Back in their tent, Quentin and his companions quickly found corners to rest. But the occasional tossing and turning told Quentin they were as sleepless as he was.

Floating cities, apostles, otherworldly missions, continental wars... A whirlwind of chaotic thoughts circled in his mind until the deep silence of the night finally lulled him into slumber.

...

"Brother..." A distant, ethereal call seemed to drift from beyond, stirring Quentin abruptly. His eyes snapped open, and he sat up straight from his sleep to find Lincoln and Lily already awake and whispering.

"Did you call me just now?" Quentin asked with a grim tone.

"No, what's wrong?" Lincoln and Lily looked puzzled.

"Nothing!" Quentin's expression softened as he shook his head as if to cast out some lingering thought.

"Um... Quentin, what do you think we should ask for as compensation?" Lincoln ventured cautiously.

"What do you want?" Quentin turned to face the playboy.

"I want one of those horn guns. It might be helpful for those otherworldly missions later on. What do you think?" Lincoln asked hopefully.

Quentin's eyes narrowed into a smile as he regarded Lincoln. The young man's psyche was transparent. Once in the floating city, their survival would be somewhat assured, and Lincoln wouldn't have to rely on the murderers. Having a weapon would offer a sense of security.

"The choice is yours. I won't interfere," Quentin said, his gaze flickering, as he shrugged nonchalantly with a gentle smile.

"Thanks, boss. I'll go see the great elder right now!" Lincoln beamed and darted out of the tent, disappearing from the other two's view.

Fool. Quentin's lips curled into a cold smile watching Lincoln's retreating figure. But when he turned back to Lily, his face was gentle again. "What about you? What do you want from the goblins?"

"I... I don't know!" Lily pouted, her chubby cheeks drooping in discontent, looking listless. "If we really can't go back to our world, I want to stay with you guys."

"Aren't you afraid Joey might hurt you?" Quentin raised an eyebrow in surprise at the nurse's response.

"I am! But I don't want to be alone," Lily nodded miserably, her eyes suddenly brightening as if struck by an idea. "At most, you could warn me when you're about to transform, so I have time to get away!"

"That's not up to me," Quentin's gaze softened further as he spoke softly. "If you're not sure what compensation you want, I could suggest something. Don't choose weapons or motorcycles, or even the currency of this world. Ask the goblins for something unique to them."

"Do you mean their ores?" Lily asked curiously.

"Not necessarily ores, just something unique to the goblins..." Quentin grinned, his smile as refreshing as a spring breeze.

"Okay, then... I'll go now!" Lily hesitated before stepping out.

Quentin allowed himself a faint smile. The tent was stocked with food and water provided by the goblins, the food still that potato-like mash, indicating the goblins' diet wasn't varied. After cleaning up, Quentin sat down to eat without hurry.

Lincoln and Lily returned, Lincoln rubbing his hands together with barely contained excitement, presumably having received what he wanted. Lily's expression was unreadable, but her lab coat's pockets bulged, hinting at her chosen items.

Quentin lifted the tent flap, gauging the sky. Feeling it was time, he headed towards the great elder's tent.

The great elder had told them to come for their compensation individually, not only to give them time to think but also for a deeper purpose.

Reflecting in the tent, Quentin realized the old goblin had controlled the conversation all evening.

Although this was because the inmates were desperate to understand the world, among them were four murderers with unstable psyches. The elder's ability to keep them from questioning him with mere words was impressive.

How interesting! With a glint of amusement in his eyes, Quentin lifted the tent curtain under the watchful eyes of the goblin guards...