Building a World Class Empire in another World
Chapter 56: Interrogation part 2

Chapter 56: Interrogation part 2

The exchange between Aric and the goblins had only lasted a few seconds, and the goblins were put down. Aric didn’t bother tying them up even after what they did.

"Pin both of them down. The crystal in their necks might be what is controlling them. We have to take it out," Aric said.

"Take it out? What if it can kill them?" Ron asked.

Aric paused. He looked at Ron. "That’s also a possibility. The crystal could be very essential to their survival, and if I take it out, they might die. But that’s why we have two of them—if one dies due to the removal, I’ll know not to remove it from the second one.

"I understand if this is too much for you three. After all, they are goblins like you at the end of the day. If you can’t be here, I’ll tie them up, and you three can leave," Aric said. He could understand how they would feel if they were about to watch one of their own get murdered.

"There is no need for us to leave, master. Even within a goblin tribe, the stronger kill the weak. In the case of another tribe, we don’t see them as one of us or in any way related to us," Ron said.

"Alright then. Thank you," Aric responded.

Ron and Lucas picked up one of the goblins and pinned him down while Gunam held the one he had tackled.

Aric came closer to the pinned goblin. He could see the rage in his eyes, his teeth bared, and the veins on his head popping.

"I’m sorry you have to go through this, but I can’t risk this place getting torn down so soon," Aric said. He tried to grab the crystal, but the goblin kept twitching. Aric held his neck down, and in a swift motion, he dug his finger into the neck and pulled out the crystal.

The goblin let out an ear-piercing shriek as the crystal left his neck. He trembled like he was having a seizure. Aric and the hobgoblins let go of him, standing back to watch.

After minutes of shaking, the goblin finally stopped. He took in a very deep breath, his body finally relaxing.

"It seems it didn’t kill him," Aric said. He looked at the crystal in his hands. It was a beautiful blue translucent crystal with smooth, flat sides.

"Appraisal," Aric called out, wanting to find out the details of the crystal.

[Object: Mana Crystal]

[Type: Mineral]

[Grade: Raw, low grade]

[Description: A mineral formed in a Mana-concentrated area, contains high amounts of Mana.]

[Rarity: Mid]

"So this is a Mana crystal," Aric said. He put the crystal aside for the moment—he had other things to deal with.

The goblin, now freed from the crystal, was finally moving. He stood up slowly and bowed to Aric, his head touching the floor.

Aric was shocked by this, but he didn’t say anything. He simply watched the goblin to see where this was leading.

"Thank you. Thank you for freeing me from the shackles of that crystal. That crystal has been inside me since I was just a goblin," the goblin said genuinely.

"So this crystal was what was controlling you?" Aric asked, just to be sure.

"Yes. It had a contract enforced on me since I was a goblin, with the crystal serving as the seal," the goblin said.

"I see. Luckily for you, I’ve pulled it out now, so you owe me—and you already know what I want," Aric said.

"Yes. I’ll tell you all I know," the goblin said. _{fr\(e)ew(e)b.(n)o (v)(e)l.com}

"Ron, take out the crystal in the other goblin. I’ll be taking this one to talk," Aric said and helped the goblin up to his feet.

He and the goblin walked to the other end of the building so they could talk in private. Aric sat on the floor cross-legged, and the goblin did the same.

"Tell me more about the cave in the mountain, the place you live," Aric said.

"The cave has been my home for as long as I can remember. I was birthed from a human and goblin intercourse," the goblin said.

Aric frowned when he heard that. "A human and goblin intercourse? Were you the only one from this birth, or were there others like you?" Aric asked.

"I wasn’t the only one. I can’t be the only one. There are several humans trapped inside the cave, and more come in from time to time.

"Captured and forced to have children with us goblins. Many of the goblins that live there are human-born," he explained.

Aric had never cared about the fact that goblins kidnapped humans to procreate, but now, hearing that they were doing it en masse, made his stomach churn.

"What about female goblins? Are there none there?" he asked.

"They are, but they aren’t used to procreate. They are taken into the deepest chambers of the cave when they evolve."

"What happens in the deepest chambers?" Aric asked.

"I don’t know. We are too low on the hierarchy to know what happens there. All I know is that we never see the female goblins again once they go there," the goblin said.

"I see. Well then, let’s shift from the issue of the female goblins to that of the crystal in your neck. How exactly was it put in you?" Aric asked.

"After we are born, we are force-fed Mana. The environment inside the cave is heavily saturated with Mana, forcing us to start evolving faster than we normally would.

"The ordeal is extremely painful, and we spend most of our goblin lives writhing in pain as the Mana forces changes in our bodies.

"Many goblins die in this process, and we, the survivors, feed on their corpses to grow stronger. When we finally show signs of evolution, the goblin shaman comes.

"He is the one who watches over all of us. He uses his magic to implant the crystal into us, and we evolve with it."