The Forest Feeds No Idle Goblins

Chapter 250: Chapter 223: Something Strange

Shire carefully recalled the scene. Back in the Fallen Druid’s underground stone chamber, he hadn’t found any other books or notes. As for the one Sofia mentioned, *Mushroom Spores and Life Form Variants*, he hadn’t seen so much as a single page.

"Is that so?" Sofia looked at the goblin before her, as if trying to read something on his face.

"Alright," she said after staring for a few seconds, then nodded. "It seems you really might not have it. But I must remind you, if you see this book, you must not open it."

Noticing Shire’s inquisitive look, Sofia took a sip of her Red Bull and slowly explained, "That book is said to be a Magic Item. It entices people, making them constantly want to open and read it. Once someone starts, it plants a seed of madness in their heart. Eventually, the ensnared person begins to do whatever is written in its pages."

She let out a soft sigh. "Vissans once helped the Public Security Bureau apprehend a fugitive Mage, and that’s how he acquired the book. The Church originally thought that once he turned it in, there would be no more problems."

"But, unexpectedly, he had been under the book’s Enchantment from the very start. Before long, he infiltrated the Church’s secret vault, stole the book, and defected."

Shire frowned as he heard this, recalling what he had read in the *Experimental Notes*. "Alright, I understand. But I’d still like to ask, who sent him to assist the Public Security Bureau in the first place?"

Sofia glanced at the goblin. "That’s none of your business."

A moment later, however, she answered anyway. "It was the Lord Bishop."

Shire explained with a smile, "Thank you. You know, we goblins don’t really have faith in any Divine Beings, so I’m a little curious about human concepts like gods and the Church."

But inwardly, he was already putting the pieces together. ’According to the notes, Bishop Luther must have orchestrated the whole thing. After all, Vissans was constantly cursing the man in his writings. And now that I think about my own dealings with Bishop Luther, that old man always seemed a little too solicitous, almost unnaturally so, whenever he saw me.’

’That man is a troublemaker,’ Shire thought, absolutely certain. ’And Vissans was just a pawn. But where did *Mushroom Spores and Life Form Variants* end up?’

He felt like he had stumbled into yet another conspiracy.

"By the way," Sofia said, noticing the goblin before her had fallen silent. "You said you burned the *Experimental Notes*. You must have read it before you did, right?"

Shire nodded. The Druid Maiden across from him then asked, "How much of what was written inside do you remember?"

"Let me think." Shire feigned contemplation. He was considering whether to tell her the actual contents. ’If I tell her the notes were full of things about Bishop Luther, will that earn me the enmity of the Earth and Life God Church?’

’But if I don’t tell Sofia, and she goes back to report just like this, will that old fox Luther get her killed?’

To be honest, Shire didn’t want anything to happen to the Druid Maiden. From Little John’s stories to her just having delivered the goblin mother’s babies, everything proved she was a pious, kind-hearted Druid who abided by the *Earth Covenant*. Although her attitude toward him was tinged with a hint of Pride, Shire could understand. After all, it was difficult for humans to be truly respectful toward goblins.

Having made his decision, he tapped his fingers on the table and spoke slowly. "I remember some of it. I only skimmed through it at the time. You know that guy, Vissans, turned goblins into zombies and used Mushrooms to Control them. That’s why I burned the notes."

"And the notes were filled with the process of his experiments—the successes, the failures, all listed in great detail." Shire paused before continuing, "Right, there was also a person mentioned in the notes."

"A person?"

"Yes," Shire nodded. "A man named Luther. I don’t know who he is, but the notes mentioned wanting to prove to this Luther that his proposed experimental methods were wrong."

After he finished speaking, he stared at the Druid Maiden. "So, who is this Luther?"

Sofia’s eyes narrowed slightly. The movement was subtle, but Shire still caught it. He knew she must have thought of something.

"Perhaps a friend of Vissans’," Sofia said calmly, not revealing the truth to the goblin across from her.

With that, she drained the Red Bull in her cup and placed the wooden mug back on the table. "Well, now that I know what happened and have Vissans’s last possessions, I think my work here is done."

She stood up and straightened her robes. "This drink tastes quite good. More importantly, its energizing effect is very potent. I’m surprised I didn’t yawn once during our whole conversation."

"Leaving already?" Shire jumped down from his chair. "I still haven’t properly thanked you for helping my people and saving the goblin mother."

Sofia looked down at Shire, a rare smile on her face. "Giving me these things and helping me complete my task is thanks enough. As for saving that goblin mother..."

She placed her left hand on her chest, index finger pointing to the sky. "Our Divine Being tells us that life is worth saving, as long as it is a good one."

Shire froze for a moment. He gazed at the smiling maiden before him and recognized her gesture—it was the way the Earth and Life Church paid respect to their Divine Being.

"Then, I’ll see you out," he said at last, pursing his lips.

"No need. Have Little John see me out," Sofia said with a wave of her hand. "You should go check on the newborns."

With that, Sofia turned and walked out of the stone house. Shire followed her out and ordered a subordinate to fetch Little John.

A short while later, Shire was holding a swaddled goblin infant. The little one was already asleep, its entire body wrapped in a white cloth. He had previously told Bai Mao to prepare the necessary items for the birth, which included hot water and clean white cloths.

However, one thing did make Shire frown. ’These children don’t have any traits.’

The goblin mother had given birth to four infants. The little ones looked like wrinkled monkeys, and when Shire pulled up their panels, he saw they had neither names nor traits.

Having no name was understandable, but having no traits was a bit strange.

He stared at the sleeping infant in his arms, pondering. ’Is it because they haven’t experienced the survival and hardships of the forest yet, so their traits haven’t been determined?’

’If that’s the case, then if I raise them carefully from birth, can I cultivate more good traits?’

Shire figured that must be it. ’Looks like I’ve found a way to mass-produce SSRs.’

"Boss," footsteps sounded from behind. Little John had returned. "I’ve escorted Sofia out of the Fortress."

"She left from the Fortress? Not through the Teleportation Gate?" Shire asked, turning around.

"Yeah." Little John nodded.

Shire frowned. Something was off. Why would she leave from the Fortress gate? ’Is she trying to mark the location of my home?’

’Whatever, no sense overthinking it. She already knows about the Alchemy Workshop anyway.’ Shire didn’t dwell on it. He handed the infant in his arms to the broadly smiling Little John.

Deep in the forest, a chubby owl closed her left eye. Her right eye peered through layers of branches, staring intently at the distant Centaur Village.

’Why would the Main God bless this group of goblins?’

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