Chapter 419: Chapter 332: Curiosity Killed the Goblin? (Part 2)

The South District was planned to become the military barracks and training grounds where the goblins would conduct their drills. The main reason for locating it in the south was to defend against potential human threats. A large "stadium" would also be built there for the goblins to play their favorite stick-batting game. The North District, on the other hand, would be developed into a trade zone. Bordering Darren Lake, a port would be built there in the future, along with a residential area for the Frogmen and a commercial district. If humans ever wanted to visit the city, the North District would be where they would stay.

The West District would be designated as the animal husbandry area. Its proximity to the Darren River made it convenient for both water access and raising animals. As for the East District and the city center, Shire intended for them to be the main residential area for the Goblin Race.

For now, all of this existed only on Shire’s blueprints. Completing it would be a gradual process requiring the mobilization of all the goblins.

But for now, Shire had at least dispatched the Centaurs to meet with the Frogman Race. Once the cold winter was over, the Frogmen could move into the City of Ten Thousand Races and settle in the area he had designated for them on the shores of Darren Lake.

’For now, we can only build one district at a time.’ After walking through the entire city, Shire had a general plan. ’The port’s commercial district and the southern barracks can wait. We have to start by building houses in the East District. But before that, we need to level the ground, clear out the weeds and shrubs, and chop down some of the trees. We’ll build the roads first.’

These tasks would be troublesome, especially filling in the holes and felling the trees. Fortunately, with the help of the elephant herd, it would be much easier.

He planned to organize the workforce and begin constructing the city as soon as the excavation of the collapsed stone tower was complete.

...

"It’s so dark in here," Shire said from behind Red Eyes, gazing into the depths of the tunnel.

The goblins around him held torches that fully illuminated their immediate surroundings, but the tunnel ahead remained as black as ink.

"We’re almost there." The High Priest, leaning on his Bone Staff, walked down two stone steps. "Every time I go down to see the Feathered Serpent God, I take this path. We’re about halfway now."

"What could be in the Feathered Serpent’s lair?" Shire asked, examining the surrounding stone walls. They bore the clear marks of being artificially carved, but it was also obvious they had been abandoned for ages.

"I don’t know," the High Priest said, shaking his head. "Every time I went to see the Feathered Serpent God, I had to extinguish my torch. I usually had to feel my way through the final stretch in the dark."

"That mysterious?" Shire stroked his chin and frowned. ’I get the feeling that Feathered Serpent God was guarding some kind of treasure.’

"I wouldn’t know about that. We never dared to enter here on our own in the past." The High Priest reached out and touched a protruding rock. In the torchlight, its sharp edges were visibly worn smooth. "The Feathered Serpent God would occasionally emerge from the cavern, but it usually went to the sacrificial altar in the center."

’A sacrificial altar?’ Shire frowned. He didn’t need to be told to know what that place was. Strictly speaking, it was the Feathered Serpent’s "dining table."

"Let’s go. We’ll head inside and take a look," Shire ordered the goblins around him, and they resumed their exploration, moving forward.

After walking a little farther, Shire saw a stone platform about five meters wide. Its surface was pitted and scarred, covered in countless dark stains. They were bloodstains, long since dried, shed by the "offerings" as the Feathered Serpent God devoured them.

It was all goblin blood.

"This is the sacrificial altar, right?" Shire calmly scanned the stone platform and asked without turning his head.

"Yes." The High Priest sighed deeply. He had no idea how many goblins had lost their lives here since he became the High Priest.

"There will be no more offerings," Shire said softly. Even though he still thought of himself as human, the sight of a ritual involving "live goblin sacrifices" filled him with a deep-seated revulsion.

"Let’s go. Let’s see what that old serpent, the Feathered Serpent God, was hoarding." He waved his hand, urging everyone to press on.

Deeper in the cavern, the sensation calling to him grew stronger. Shire knew a metallic hemisphere was waiting for him inside.

But beyond that, he had no idea what else he might find.

’Will there be the Feathered Serpent God’s Snake Shedding? Or other "specialties" from the forest? Or maybe the bones of Magical Beasts it hunted?’

He had no way of knowing. Shire just hoped he wouldn’t find junk equipment, as he had in the Bear Goblins’ lair, or worse, just the Feathered Serpent’s droppings.

After walking for a while longer, they finally arrived in a vast underground cavern.

It appeared to be a modified natural cavern. The ceiling was a dozen meters high, and the space was so expansive that Shire felt even the Elephant Lord could turn around with ease.

The ground was littered with countless grayish-white bone fragments—clearly the remains of goblins eaten by the Feathered Serpent. In a corner of the cavern, piles of gray "leather" were stacked up. The material was broken into pieces and strewn haphazardly over the rocks.

"The Feathered Serpent God’s Snake Shedding?" Shire walked over the bone fragments to a piece of the shedding. He bent down and picked it up. The material was a bit thicker than leather, but it was brittle—he wasn’t sure if it was due to age or the nature of the material itself. As soon as he lifted it, a piece snapped off.

’This is trouble.’ He looked at the ancient, poorly preserved Snake Shedding, knowing it would be difficult to make into Leather Armor. Its brittle quality meant it couldn’t withstand a weapon’s strike. ’I’ll just have to show it to old man Marshall. Maybe he’ll have an idea.’

Shire decided it was worth a try. Perhaps the Magic Artisans would have a better idea.

He set down the Snake Shedding and ordered the others to spread out and search the area, to see if anything was buried beneath the sheddings and bones.

He, on the other hand, closed his eyes, silently focusing on the faint, ethereal call.

’It’s definitely stronger now. It seems to be coming from the left.’ Shire slowly opened his eyes, raised a torch, and walked in that direction.

CRUNCH... CRUNCH... His boots made a grating sound as he stepped on the bone fragments. As he neared the wall, the call grew clearer still.

Shire bent over, drew the Short Blade from his waist, and began searching through the pile of bones. He pushed aside a few pieces of Snake Shedding in the process, several of which snapped apart as he moved them.

’I think it’s here.’ Finally, his Short Blade struck something with a dull metallic thud.

He brushed aside the surrounding bone fragments, then used his Short Blade to dig away the soil beneath. Soon, a gray hemisphere was revealed.

The hemisphere was covered in irregular geometric patterns, making it nearly identical to the one he had stored at the bottom of a chest in the Fortress.

Shire carefully dug the metal hemisphere out and slowly wiped the dirt from its surface. Then, he called up its information panel:

[Item: Celestial Tower Key (Fragment)]

[Quality: Divine Level]

[Use: Opens the lock to the vault of the Heaven-Reaching Tower]

[Note: You have found it. You are one step closer to the final answer. Beware those who would stop you. They are formidable.]

"The second Celestial Tower Key fragment." Shire pursed his lips. He found it strange that the notes on the two Key Fragments were different.

Furthermore, the note on this one mentioned that ’They’ would try to stop him from reaching his final goal—from exploring the secrets of the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

’In that case, the Heaven-Reaching Tower must contain something the Four Gods don’t want the world to know.’ Shire thought, studying the Key Fragment in his hand. ’If I ever manage to assemble all the fragments, will I immediately incur the wrath of the Gods?’

A wave of apprehension washed over him at the thought. But the mysterious Key Fragments were right there in front of him, and an intense curiosity began to swell in his heart.

’I have to go and see for myself eventually,’ he thought. ’Curiosity may have killed the cat, but I’m a goblin now.’

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