NOVPUB
Chapter 310: 310
The mirrored chamber began to flicker as the discussion came to an end, the reflections of the other goblin masters disappearing one by one. Vellok stood alone for a moment, the dark room feeling colder now.
As he teleported back to his own tower, his mind still raced with doubts. The ratpeople were clever, but they were also unpredictable. The emperor might see them as pawns, but Vellok suspected that the ratpeople saw themselves differently.
And pawns who believed they were kings could be the most dangerous of all.
Vellok was pacing back and forth when, all of a sudden, he stopped and took a knee. The air in front of him shimmered as a robed figure appeared, their hood pulled low over their face, hiding their features. Only the glint of yellow eyes could be seen beneath the hood, watching him intently.
"It’s been a long time, little brother," the figure’s deep voice spoke to Vellok, who remained silent.
Receiving no reaction from Vellok, the figure walked past him and moved toward the window. "How can I be of service to your majesty?" Vellok asked as he stood up and watched the figure.
"I told you, when we’re alone, you can refer to me as brother," the figure said.
Vellok still chose silence as his answer. Shaking his head, the figure said, "I see you’re hesitant and skeptical about my decision regarding the ratmen. You’re right to be, but I want to know where your concerns lie, brother."
Vellok stared at the figure before snapping his fingers, causing the room to turn dark. In front of Vellok appeared a hologram—an image captured by the regal female mage, showing Ikenga and Keles in their carriage with the imp demon posing as a goblin.
Pointing at the image, Vellok said, "They are where my concerns lie. I have every reason to believe the gods who made an appearance in this town are in that carriage, and somehow, they have one of our own working for them."
"I am still unsure about the goblin, but nonetheless, my point stands." He looked at the robed figure. "We have built and created something great for our people, something most goblins in most multiverses have never accomplished or will ever hope to accomplish."
"Yet, in our greatness, we still have a weakness, which I believe is the target of these gods. For centuries, I’ve watched you try to create a society that could cover these weaknesses, yet they remain—and will continue to remain."
"There can never be a perfect society or community. This is something even the mechanical beings have never been able to achieve, despite their oneness. Except for the one who cannot be named, no civilization has ever been perfect."
"Our history with the rodents and the flaws in our society are what I believe these gods are looking to exploit. And now, with your decision, I can see them taking advantage of that."
The robed figure slowly turned to the hologram, the glint of his yellow eyes narrowing as they focused on the image Vellok had conjured. Silence hung heavy in the darkened room, the weight of the conversation settling between the two brothers like a physical presence.
"You believe these gods pose a greater threat than the ratmen, or even the demons?" the robed figure asked, his voice laced with curiosity and something more elusive—perhaps doubt or concern.
Vellok’s expression remained impassive, but there was a spark of conviction in his eyes. "I believe their sudden appearance is no coincidence. They are not merely passing through, nor do they act without intent. They see our flaws, our weaknesses, as opportunities."
"Our world is suddenly being invaded, and now, all of a sudden, gods have appeared. You should have guessed it too, brother—the gods are somehow working with the demons, particularly an ambitious demon king."
The robed figure remained still, the glint of his yellow eyes fixed on Vellok. The weight of his brother’s words seemed to settle heavily in the air, casting a shadow over the conversation.
"You think the gods and demons are working together?" the figure asked, his voice sharp and questioning. "It’s a bold assumption, little brother. Gods and demons have been at odds since time immemorial. What makes you believe they would conspire now?"
Vellok hesitated for a moment, his mind racing through the memories of their shared past—the experiments that birthed their society, the countless battles, and the ever-present threat of their enemies. "The mages taught us that worlds can be conquered in ways far beyond brute force. They believed in subversion, in manipulating the hearts and minds of entire civilizations before moving in for the kill. We were created from that very experiment, and we flourished because of it."
He paused again, his expression hardening as if recalling something dark. "But this... what’s happening now? It’s different. The demons’ sudden invasion, the gods appearing soon after—it’s too well-timed. They aren’t acting out of pure chaos or divine intervention. They’re following a plan, one that aims to weaken us from within. And what better way to do that than by using the gods to gain our trust while the demons chip away at our defenses?"
The robed figure slowly turned back to the window, looking out over the vast city. "So, you believe the gods are merely puppets of a demon king—an ambitious one, at that."
Vellok nodded. "Yes, brother. The demon kings have always craved power, and this one is no different. He knows that a direct confrontation would be costly, leaving him a damaged world from war. By sending the gods ahead to soften our resolve, to manipulate our people and distract us with false promises, the demon king can ensure that when he makes his move, we will already be fractured, weakened, and ready to fall."
A heavy silence fell between them, the gravity of Vellok’s words settling like a shroud over the chamber.
"You have always been cautious, Vellok," the robed figure finally said, his voice low and contemplative. "Perhaps too cautious at times. But this theory of yours... it holds merit. If the gods and demons are indeed working together, then we face a far more insidious threat than we realized. One that cannot be fought with armies alone."
Vellok crossed his arms, his gaze never leaving the hologram of the carriage. "That’s why we must act now. We can’t afford to wait until they’ve already taken root. The ratmen are part of this, whether they know it or not".
The figure in the robe stepped closer to the hologram, studying the image of the carriage with the imp disguised as a goblin. His yellow eyes flickered briefly with recognition. "I see... so it is not just the ratmen that concern you. You believe these gods are orchestrating something larger—perhaps even manipulating the ratmen’s rise." 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
Vellok nodded sharply. "Exactly. The gods have always moved unseen, threading their influence through mortals and creatures alike. Their goals are beyond our understanding, but one thing remains constant: they exploit weakness. Whether it’s the flaws in our society or the ambitions of the ratpeople, they will twist it to their advantage. You and I both know that no matter how much we fortify our empire, no matter how much we try to cover our weaknesses, they remain. And the gods are well aware of it."
The robed figure exhaled slowly, his breath an eerie hiss in the still air. "I won’t deny that there are cracks in the foundation, but the flaws of our society are no greater than those of others. Even the gods are not perfect. They make mistakes. They are just as capable of overreach."
"Perhaps," Vellok said, his voice low and steady. "But our flaw is unique, brother. You’ve spent centuries trying to fix it, to make us invincible, but the truth is, our very nature as goblins is what holds us back. Our brilliance, our adaptability—it all comes with a cost. We can never truly trust one another, not fully. And that’s what these gods are counting on."
The robed figure fell silent for a long moment, his gaze returning to the window overlooking the vast city. The empire they had built together, a testament to goblin ingenuity and resilience, stretched out before them like a glittering tapestry. Yet Vellok’s words echoed in his mind—there can never be a perfect society.
"You speak of trust," the figure said at last, his voice thoughtful. "Trust is a rare commodity, especially among our kind. But I have placed my trust in you, little brother. You have always been my eyes and ears, my voice in the shadows. So tell me—if you were in my place, how would you act?"
Vellok straightened, his gaze unwavering. "I would be cautious. The ratmen are dangerous, yes, but they are a distraction. The true threat lies with the gods, demons and whatever game they are playing. If they have already managed to turn one of our own against us, as this image suggests, then the effect of their influence is deeper than we realized."
