Chapter 25: Kragg Arrives!
Kragg arrived much later in the day, and the heightened security told him everything he needed to know about what had happened.
He knew better than to stir them up, especially since he had no idea what Borg had told them.
Luckily for him, Drekk had already left the area, which meant Murkfang was the one he would have to deal with.
The goblins could tell at a glance that Kragg was far stronger than the one who had just left.
Kragg remained at the gate for nearly an hour with no one attending to him, yet he waited patiently. He wasn’t in a hurry to force his way in, knowing full well there was no way they could keep him out.
That was when Murkfang appeared. He was surprised to find this orc calmer than the other one, despite being clearly stronger. Even so, Murkfang wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice and let him inside. That would endanger his people, and he had already done that once. He wasn’t about to repeat it.
"Can I help you?" Murkfang asked, unsure of why this one had come.
"I apologize, but have you, perhaps, seen one of my kind?" Kragg asked politely.
Murkfang hesitated to answer, and Kragg understood the reason without being told. Still, the fact they weren’t attacking him was enough reassurance. It meant Borg hadn’t done anything that couldn’t be repaired.
"An orc did show," Gribnox cut into the conversation, revealing the very thing Kragg had been seeking.
"He attacked as well," Gribnox added, his tone sharp enough to sound like a threat.
Murkfang glanced over his shoulder and saw his friend fuming at the audacity of this race.
"I was afraid this was the case," Kragg muttered, embarrassed on behalf of his people. They had a good thing going with the goblins, and he intended to preserve it.
"Words don’t matter... Your kind attacked our mines and attacked us directly," Gribnox pressed, stepping toward him.
"We need compensation."
Murkfang rolled his eyes at the demand. He already knew exactly what his friend was asking for.
"Seriously..." Murkfang whispered under his breath.
"Hey. If we’re going to be tossed aside, we might as well have the last bit of fun before Drekk does it," Gribnox replied in a hushed tone.
Kragg considered it for a moment. Their request was fair enough, and it was no secret the goblins loved only one thing.
"I will give you one orc," Kragg offered.
But Gribnox shook his head immediately, refusing.
"Don’t push it, Gribnox!" Murkfang warned sharply under his breath.
"Now’s the only time I can! Hush and let me do my thing," Gribnox shot back.
Negotiation was not his strong suit—his demands were often so unreasonable that the other party had no choice but to walk away.
"I want three!" Gribnox declared, and Murkfang instantly knew it was too much.
Getting even one was difficult enough, but three? That was unheard of. Then again, the current situation was just as unprecedented.
"That is asking a lot," Kragg muttered. Just as Murkfang thought about telling him that one was enough, Kragg added,
"Is there anyone you have in mind? Three is awfully specific."
That was when Murkfang’s mind clicked. He remembered there were three orcs who fancied Byung, and he had promised Byung anything he wanted if he could deliver on his word. This was a golden opportunity. If he chose orcs who didn’t hate them, there was a chance this could turn into something more.
"Yes!" Murkfang exclaimed suddenly, startling Gribnox.
"Now who’s desperate," Gribnox whispered with a chuckle, proud that his friend was just as lustful as him.
"Shut up!" Murkfang shot back, though it was obvious he already knew which orcs he would pick, even if Gribnox didn’t.
-
Byung was given a separate room, closer to the mines. He had carefully lined up the stones on top of one another, creating a makeshift workstation.
Morkle assisted him, since there was no reason for the others to stop their work and join in on something that might not bear fruit. Byung had been at it for quite some time, though Morkle did most of the heavy lifting.
"More goblins," Byung requested, aware they were running out of time and that he needed more hands to speed things up.
This was his first time attempting such a creation. He had the practical knowledge, but no real experience, so he knew it wouldn’t come out perfect. Still, he didn’t care about perfection—so long as it worked.
"... 008," Byung requested next. Unlike him, they hadn’t been given names yet.
Borkle knew who he meant. 008 was among the latest batch that had come in. Though Morkle couldn’t see the vision behind this project—it looked like nothing but a mess—he still went to fetch more goblins they could spare.
The moment he left, Byung sped up his work, installing critical components of the design. Something told him Morkle wasn’t just supervising but also learning.
Byung couldn’t allow that. He needed to be the only one capable of crafting these things, at least for now. That way, they would remain reliant on him and, in turn, under his control. If they learned to make weapons on their own, the risks would be too great.
Thankfully, Morkle had already done most of the heavy work, including hauling and chopping the wood into various sizes. It took him over thirty minutes to return, and by then Byung had already laid the foundation.
At this pace, the forge would be ready before nightfall.
008 nodded at Byung with a smile, acknowledging his work. But Morkle hadn’t just brought him—he’d also brought the other two.
He was surprised to see how much progress had been made in his absence. The design was one thing, but the speed at which Byung had advanced the work raised his suspicions. Still, there was no time to question it. They worked away, racing against the daylight.