Goblin Dependency

"Watch your tongue, Qianli. I don't mind having one less person in the team tomorrow."

"As you command, my captain."

The mockery at the corner of her mouth not only didn't disappear, but it deepened further.

But aware that the other's patience had reached its limit, the ranger spoke no more, merely tilted her head, looking out into the dark night outside.

"There's not much to say. Besides us, there's another group of adventurers in the village."

Marcus looked at the half orc and dwarf, explaining with an ambiguous attitude.

"Acting rashly will only expose our team to their sight and provoke unnecessary combat."

"Let's endure for a few more days. When we reach Vilgrove and Melted Scale Town, there're taverns and brothels enough for you all to enjoy."

"As for now... shut up and go to sleep! At dawn tomorrow, we'll set off. Anyone who dares delay for even a second, I'll chop off a finger!"

...

...

Xia Nan decided to temporarily spare these four "humanoid goblins."

He never considered himself a particularly kind person, nor would he out of some inexplicable compassion put himself in danger.

But honestly, during the past few days in Grey Valley Village, he had interacted quite a lot with the villagers, and regardless of their true nature, they at least appeared simple and enthusiastic in front of him.

Even if he just gave way, villagers would boast about it for a long time, and after Tom's family learned of his love for food, various expensive foods that an ordinary villager could only eat once a year were forced upon him daily.

He had a good impression of the villagers of Grey Valley.

With this premise, when Xia Nan saw the half orc throw an innocent farmwoman into the crowd and demand the village's most beautiful young girl for themselves from Chief Clapam.

A rush of strange emotions suddenly welled up from his heart, stemming from his own typical values.

As an adventurer himself, those countless days and nights spent in tavern halls made him acutely aware.

If he didn't intervene, he knew what kind of tragedy awaited this remote little village.

In just one night.

In merely one night, the village painstakingly built over generations would become one of those ruins forgotten in the annals of the Kingdom.

In fact, he had already prepared for battle.

The female human ranger in the room, carrying a longbow, was the primary target. With [Teeth Hunting] and [Gravity Control], he was confident of taking down this troublesome backline the moment the battle started.

Then there was that greedy mountain dwarf, who, despite his movements resembling a wanderer, wielded a double-bladed giant axe nearly as long as his body. A possibly niche profession, worthy of a [Gravity Etching] to eliminate any future threat.

The short-haired middle-aged man with scars on his face wielded dual blades and seemed to be the leader, likely the strongest in the squad, though when compared to Terry William and Lawson, his aura didn't match up; his Professional Level shouldn't be too high, thus within manageable limits.

As for the final half orc brute, he was of the type most countered by Xia Nan's fighting style. He could easily decapitate him, and there was no need for concern.

Thoughts drifted through his mind, murderous intent surged suddenly as the other party found the girl hiding in a secret compartment and was about to commit atrocity.

However, the leader's perception ability was unexpectedly decent, sensing Xia Nan's presence.

And fitting for someone with an eye for things, he swiftly halted the half orc's actions.

Voluntarily, through Chief Clapam, stating their team's stance: "We'll leave at dawn tomorrow. We won't stay and won't cause trouble."

Given that they did have four times his numbers and their precise strength wasn't clear, and they indeed hadn't killed any villagers.

And if he forcefully engaged them, risking the villagers' safety against his original motive to protect them.

Thus, he chose to spare them for now.

Once the team left at dawn, he would then decide whether to act or not.