Pal Lord: A Different Kingdom Building

[Territory Summary: Current Resources: Wood30, Stone20, Hemp10, Iron0, 0 Gold 5 Silver 18 Copper, Food32, Elemental Crystals0...]

[Territory Prosperity: 1, Domain Reputation: 1]

[Resident Summary: Happiness -25%, Satiety 40%, Faith 0%]

[Resident Demands: Meowpaws wants a bed, Strong wants food, Mushroom Girl wants to go home...]

[Territory Development Advice: You must strengthen the domain's military power (urgent)!]

[Territory Development Advice: You already have enough citizens; as a slave owner, begin your plunder!]

"Meow?" Meowpaws watched in confusion as Pino crouched on the ground early in the morning, tapping away at a wooden cage.

"Come in and try it," Pino motioned for Meowpaws to test the size.

'Meow?! Is this... a bed made by my lord just for me?'

Meowpaws' eyes gleamed as it hopped into the cage.

Meowpaws turned around twice inside the small enclosure. The size was perfect; feline creatures liked confined, snug spaces.

[Meowpaws' affection for you +5]

"Hmm? Is this thing a masochist?" Pino gave Meowpaws a glance before directing the skeletal woodcutters to gather some thorny branches.

"Thorn branches, meow?" Meowpaws, carrying a bundle of dry grass, looked confused.

Pino showed the design for the spiked cage to Meowpaws. "This is for punishing lazy cats who mess around in the domain. Anyone who slacks off will be hung up in here."

"Meow!!!" The five cats' fur stood on end.

[Exploitation Point from cats +5]

Yesterday's exploration at the forest's edge had yielded good results. Pino had found four gathering workers, and today he decided to venture a bit deeper. After all, the outskirts were mostly poor villagers collecting firewood, while the remains of adventurers would likely be further in. Once again, he had Meowpaws accompany him. The other cats no longer needed to chop wood, so they were assigned to clear some grass to create space around the domain for future building projects.

The duo continued down the path they had taken the day before, and after about an hour, Pino was surprised to find a small trail in the forest. The branches on both sides had clearly been chopped, and the undergrowth was flattened by some sort of hoof-shaped tracks. These tracks spread out densely toward the deeper part of the forest.

"This is... the shape of horseshoes? Humans?" Pino frowned. Why would a human caravan enter the jungle? But who else would shoe horses, if not humans? The hoofprints were very clear, and it seemed the creatures had been carrying something heavy. They didn't appear to be knights, but rather pack horses, perhaps from a merchant caravan. A merchant caravan heading deeper into the jungle? Who were they trading with?

[Trace Analysis Completed, Gained Investigation Skill Experience +5]

[You have taught Meowpaws the skill: Investigation, Progress 5%]

The traces suggested a merchant caravan, and the completeness of the tracks indicated it hadn't been long since they passed. Pino decided to follow the trail. Meowpaws naturally led the way, clearing any potential dangers. After about two hours in the jungle, Meowpaws returned, excitedly gesturing to indicate that there was something ahead, but no danger.

Pino followed Meowpaws and, upon reaching the scene, was stunned. It was a battlefield...

A narrow path was covered in the intense marks of battle. The surrounding tree trunks were riddled with two kinds of arrows. One type was a finely crafted iron-tipped feathered arrow, clearly of human origin. The other was a crudely made wooden arrow, essentially just a sharpened branch, but with a green venom smeared on the tip. With this evidence, along with the small baby-sized footprints scattered on the ground, it could be deduced that the culprits were the forest's pests—goblins! So who won in this ambush? Hmm... the scattered goods everywhere...

A puddle of dark red paste lay on the ground, giving off a faint fragrance. Pino reached out a finger and tasted it... It turned out to be a precious spice and seasoning from the human world, along with some pigments, dyes, and broken glassware, all tossed aside like garbage. Clearly, the goblins had won. They had no understanding of the value of the items they had looted, and simply took what they could eat or use for clothing and weapons back to their lairs.

[Completed battlefield trace analysis, gained Investigation Skill Experience +10]

[You taught Meowpaws the skill: Investigation, Progress 15%]

"Green-skinned, meow! Dangerous, meow!" Meowpaws frantically waved its paws, signaling that these savage creatures were no joke—even mischief cats like them could be skinned and eaten by such monsters!

"That's why I need you cats to strike!" Pino grinned, "Go call over One-Ear and the others! We're going to make a fortune off these goblins who just looted the caravan!"

"Meow..." Meowpaws flicked its tail, still reluctant but finally scampering off to summon the others.

Pino couldn't send out the mental link at such a distance, so it was up to Meowpaws to go fetch the rest.

Once Meowpaws left, Pino didn't want to waste any time. He stayed behind to collect the arrows, hoping to craft a bow for himself. After all, as a refined poet, even though he wasn't strategizing behind the scenes, he certainly didn't want to be at the frontlines swinging a club like some mindless brute.

[Obtained Crow Feather Arrows (Common) 1]

[Obtained Crow Feather Arrows (Common) 1]

[Obtained Crow Feather Arrows (Common) 1]

Pino didn't even want to waste the spice powder on the ground. These were high-grade items sold by the gram, and only the ignorant goblins would smash them into the earth after a single taste. He carefully wrapped them up in cloth, planning to dry and sell them back at the domain.

"Gulo?" A confused sound came from behind.

"Gulo your head, help me collect these spices." Pino assumed it was Meowpaws and, without turning around, gave a slap.

Wait... something felt off... no fur?

He swallowed, turned around, and—A filthy green head, sharp ears, and a mouth full of jagged teeth was rubbing its skull, which had clearly just been struck. It was slowly showing a vicious grin.

[Goblin Hunting Team Leader Bruin]

[Level: 8]

[Health: 250/250]

[Attack: 15-25]

[Armor: 10]

[Skills: Brutal Strike, Goblin Slash]

Though it was less than 1.2 meters tall, the ferocity radiating from it rivaled that of a wild beast. Hanging from its waist were three shriveled human heads, proof of its brutal victories.

"Oh... mighty Goblin Lord, your fangs are as white and sharp as a blade, and your muscles strong and firm. Surely you are not lacking in the company of someone like me, a poor and destitute little poet... If you would spare my life, I will make sure to spread the word of your invincibility far and wide as the Goblin King!"

[Pino uses the skill: Beg for Mercy LV.10]

[Skill check in progress...]

[Pino: Basic Language 10 + Charisma 1 (Charisma is reduced for different races)]

[Goblin Leader: Rage 10 + Hunger 10]

[Skill check failed.]

"Hunger? Why do you feel hungry for me...?" Pino's voice trailed off in rising fear as his hand instinctively reached for the axe on his back.

But as everyone knew, goblins were a species that always traveled in groups. There was no way this one would be alone. At least three more goblins were perched on the tree branches around him, and there were surely more hiding in the grass. No matter whether he fought back or tried to escape, there was only one inevitable outcome.

"Do you want something fresher? Tie me up, let me season myself a little, and I'll guarantee a fresh and authentic taste~" Pino sprinkled some of the spices he had just collected onto his armpits, attempting to appease the goblins.

[Goblin Slash!!!]

The goblin leader swung its wooden club and leaped into the air, aiming directly for Pino's head.

[You take 25 points of dizziness damage, entering a state of fainting.]

And so, Pino was skewered like a roast pig, hoisted up by a group of goblins and carried back to their camp.

Hours later, Meowpaws arrived with the cat team, only to find that Pino was nowhere to be seen.

Strong: [The lord must have gone to eat, meow!]

One-Ear: [We can take the day off, meow!]

Meow-Two and Meow-Three: [Freedom, meow!]

Meowpaws walked around the area in confusion. Eventually, it found a small strip of cloth, torn from Pino's clothing, caught on a tree branch. Meowpaws' little mind began to turn.

"This must be a clue left by Lord Pino for us..."

[Meowpaws is attempting to break through the Investigation Skill]

[Checking in progress...]

[Trace: 5]

[Meowpaws: Intelligence 2 + Trace Identification 2]

[Check failed]

Meowpaws, with paws on hips, was adamant: "Lord Pino is clearly telling us to tear his clothes to pieces, meow!"

"Meow-ah! Meowpaws is so smart!" the cats all agreed excitedly.