Chapter 259 Quick Trip

Hermit's heart-wrenching cries reverberated through the cavernous depths of the goblin hatchery as he plunged headlong into the putrid mire. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he desperately clawed through the filth, his hands trembling as they reached out to cradle the lifeless bodies of the goblin hatchlings in a futile attempt to salvage the remains of his fallen kin. But as he pulled their broken forms from the muck, a wave of despair washed over him. Their tiny bodies, once full of promise and potential, now lay cold and motionless in his grasp, their squishy undeveloped forms twisted and distorted by the horrors they had endured.

As Larry listened to the anguished cries echoing from within the cave, a cramp of sorrow pierced his heart, knowing that Hermit's pain was immeasurable. He longed to offer comfort, but words failed him in the face of such overwhelming grief.

As he cradled the tiny, mangled bodies of the goblin hatchlings, he realized with a sinking feeling that his efforts were in vain. After a few minutes, Hermit emerged from the cave, his body slumped and weary, his once vibrant spirit now crushed under the weight of his sorrow. With each step he took, he seemed to shrink further into himself, the weight of his grief bearing down upon him like a leaden cloak.

Larry's heart twisted with anguish as he watched Hermit emerge from the cave, a broken shell of his former self. The goblin's once vibrant demeanor had been replaced by a haunting emptiness, his limbs hanging limply at his sides as if drained of all strength. Each step he took seemed to weigh heavily on him, his movements sluggish and clumsy, his eyes empty and hollow as he gazed out into the bleak landscape before him. His already miserable stature was reduced to a hunched, defeated figure. Once perky and alert, his ears now drooped low against his skull.

As Hermit stumbled into the open, a gut-wrenching wail escaped his gaping mouth, but it was a hollow cry devoid of any true sound. It was as though his voice had been stolen by the overwhelming sorrow that consumed him, leaving him to suffer in agonizing silence. His features contorted in agony, his eyes hollow and haunted by the horrors he had witnessed within the depths of the cave. His movements were clumsy and awkward, his gnarled fingers grasping at the air as if reaching for an elusive salvation. His gaping mouth opened in a silent howl of anguish, his voice lost to the depths of his own self-loathing.

As he stood there, a pitiful figure bathed in the dim light of the cave entrance, Suzuka approached with a mixture of impatience and frustration. With a swift motion, she delivered a stinging slap across his face, attempting to snap him out of his stupor.

"Enough already!" she snapped, her voice tinged with irritation.

 "We don't have time for your usual drama. Pull yourself together, Hermit. We have important things to do, and your tantrums won't help anyone. Man up!"

But Hermit could only gaze at her with empty eyes, his spirit broken and his body drained of all strength. He swayed on his feet with a soft sigh, his consciousness slipping away like sand through his fingers. His feeble body crumpled in on itself, a pathetic heap of flesh and bone.

And as he crumpled to the ground, his form lying twisted and broken, it was not just his body that lay shattered, but his very soul. For in that moment of despair, Hermit knew that he had lost more than just his voice - he had lost himself.

As Hermit crumpled to the ground, his body finally succumbing to the weight of his despair, Larry felt a surge of helpless rage swell within him. How could Suzuka be so callous, so cold-hearted in the face of such deep suffering? But even as he yearned to lash out at her, he knew that he was the one responsible for Hermit's pain. It was he who rushed in without thinking.

With a heavy heart, Larry knelt beside Hermit's prone form, his hand gently brushing against the goblin's cheek. In that moment of quiet sorrow, he vowed to carry Hermit's pain with him.

Suzuka approached Hermit's prone form on the ground with a disdainful sneer. Using her foot, she nudged his limp body a few times, the motion accompanied by a contemptuous snort.

"What will I do now?" she spat.

 "The useless goblin had one job, and he failed it miserably. He was only good for pathfinding, and now, with him going back to sleep, I can't get back to town."

She scoffed at the sight of Hermit, his pathetic form sprawled out before her like discarded trash.

 "What a useless goblin. Always failing at the most important parts."

Larry observed Suzuka's frustration with a stoic expression. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small crystal compass.

"Here," he said, his voice calm and reassuring as he handed the compass to Suzuka.

 "You can use this to reach town. It'll guide you back without needing Hermit's help."

But Larry wasn't done yet. With a thoughtful look, he withdrew another crystal compass from his belongings.

 "And this one," he continued, offering it to Suzuka, "will point toward my location. So you don't need to worry about traveling to town and back to us. You'll always know where to find me."

"Wow, Larry, you're a lifesaver! These will help me a lot. I will not waste any more time and get Mia to town as soon as possible, you can count on me, Larry." Suzuka said gratefully as she accepted the crystal compasses. 

Suzuka gently picked up Mia, cradling her in her arms, and made her way to the four-wheeler. She exchanged farewells with the rest of the team, promising to return as soon as possible.

Once Mia was securely strapped into the passenger seat of the four-wheeler, Suzuka wasted no time. With a firm grip on the steering wheel, she navigated through the dense and perilous forest, the gentle hum of the wheels cutting through the eerie silence of the jungle-like surroundings.

The goblin slave, trapped within the confines of the bag, thrashed and writhed in a desperate attempt to break free. His muffled cries of terror were drowned out as the four-wheeler sped through the darkened forest. With each jostle and bump along the journey, the goblin's frail form was tossed about like a ragdoll, his emaciated frame bearing the scars of a lifetime of abuse and neglect. The confines of the bag offered no solace, only amplifying the terror that gripped his tortured mind.

With each futile struggle, the rope binding him tightened its grip, cutting into his flesh and leaving angry welts in its wake. But the goblin's efforts only intensified, fueled by a primal instinct for survival and fear.

Throughout the harrowing journey back to town, the goblin's frenzied movements never ceased, his frail body contorting in agony as he fought against the confines of his prison. Every rustle and thrash served as a haunting reminder of the horrors he had endured, the scars of his past etched into his very being.

As the hours dragged on, exhaustion began to take its toll, sapping what little strength remained within the goblin's emaciated frame. His skeletal form bore witness to the cruelty of his existence, a clear sign of the relentless suffering he had endured on the goblin breeding farm.

Throughout the entire journey back to town, the muffled sounds of his distress echoed within the confines of the bag, a haunting cacophony of fear and anguish. His feeble struggles grew less and less frantic with each passing moment, the realization of his captivity gnawing at the frayed edges of his sanity. He was a pitiful creature, a broken shell of what he could have been, resigned to whatever cruel fate awaited him at the hands of his captors.

By the time Suzuka arrived at the outskirts of town, the slave goblin was barely clinging to consciousness, his spirit crushed beneath the weight of his suffering. As Suzuka navigated through the secluded alleyways, the goblin's desperate struggles went unnoticed by the outside world.

Suzuka guided the vehicle through the winding streets until she reached the secluded alleyway where Valerius' secret place lay hidden. Bringing the four-wheeler to a stop, she carefully lifted Mia into her arms, cradling her protectively against her soft chest.

Approaching the door, Suzuka banged against its weathered surface with urgency, the sound echoing through the empty alleyway. After a tense moment, the door cracked open, revealing a formidable bodyguard on the other side. His gaze swept over Suzuka and Mia, assessing them with a guarded expression. The bodyguard's scrutinizing gaze met hers, but without a word, he allowed her entry, unaware of the torment hidden within the dirty bag she carried.

Without hesitation, Suzuka met the bodyguard's gaze, her voice steady as she spoke. 

"I need to see Valerius. It's urgent. Also, take care of Mia, she needs medical attention. If possible, please get Dr. Jenkins to check on her. She took a big hit from a monster and was unconscious for a day and a half."

The bodyguard nodded and said, "Leave it to me, I will send my men to inform Dr. Jenkins. As for you, take a seat. Mr. Valerius is seeing someone."

After a few minutes of waiting the door creaked open, Suzuka's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected sight of David emerging from Valerius's office.

"David? What are you doing here?"

Her eyes searched his face, curiosity mingling with concern. She hadn't expected to see him in this place, and the sight of him leaving Valerius' office only added to her confusion.

David's demeanor shifted uncomfortably as Suzuka's gaze fixed upon him, his eyes darting nervously to the ground.

"Oh, um, hey Helen," he muttered.

 "I, uh, just had a quick meeting with Valerius. Nothing important, really."

He offered her a weak smile, his lips trembling slightly with unease. 

"I should probably get going though," he continued hastily, his tone hurried. 

"Lots to do, you know. Catch you later."

With a quick nod of farewell, David turned on his heel and scurried away, his movements betraying a sense of urgency as he disappeared down the hallway, leaving Suzuka to ponder the mystery of his sudden appearance and hasty departure.