Rabbit then revealed the most ingenious plan I’d ever heard. A plan that at least gave me a fighting chance. Without him, I’d be as good as dead. He seemed perfectly calm, even enthusiastic, about our wild and improbable idea.

  After strategizing with Rabbit, I carefully distributed the daggers from my inventory, even handing out a hundred arrows to those without weapons. Despite the urgency, I couldn’t leave any of the women unarmed. However, the Goblins informed me that not all the women could fight as many were at home, caring for children or handling domestic duties.

  Still, the ones who stood before me were fiercely determined to fight for their freedom, and I could feel a strong sense of unity among them. Interestingly, there was a pattern. The male Goblins who supported their wives were more likely to keep them at home, and away from the conflict. This gave us a slight advantage, reducing the risk of collateral damage.

  Leaders like Rock, however, treated their wives more like a harem, casting them aside once their tasks were done. Of course, that didn’t stop him from keeping a few wives close by, ready to attend to his needs even in the middle of the day while he slept.

  With some assistance from Bubble and Sparkle, they were able to recruit three warrior Goblins to join our cause. However, to my disappointment, they were among the weakest of their kind. It seemed that in their society, strength determined one's place in the hierarchy, and any males who didn't fit the traditional mold of dominance and oppression were relegated to the bottom rungs.

  I had a nagging suspicion that if someone with revolutionary ideas ever gained power, they would be swiftly eliminated by those already in charge. While I had no solid proof to support this theory, the thought lingered in my mind. It was a bleak reality, but I was grateful for any help in my mission to free these oppressed people.

  When we were finally ready, we began our journey through the tunnels. A sense of dread washed over me as the claustrophobic corridors seemed even tighter than before. I found myself constantly hunching to keep moving forward. I couldn't imagine how Jack or Carrick, with their bulkier physiques, would manage. My muscles were more defined now, but I was still far from having the build of someone who spends their nights at the Jersey Shore.

  I glanced at the three Goblins who had volunteered to come with me and felt a twinge of concern. They were neither the strongest nor the most skilled warriors, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we might be walking into a trap.

  The near pitch-black corridors made navigation even harder, and it would have been much worse if Rabbit hadn’t been with me. These Goblins not only hated the light but could see exceptionally well in the dark. The corridors twisted and turned in every direction. I was relieved I wasn’t the only one confused by the path we were taking, as the three male Goblins appeared just as lost as I was and seemed unfamiliar with these passages. It struck me as odd, but then again, residents of a house rarely used the servants' quarters, and even less so did guests in a hotel wander into the staff areas.

  I was utterly disoriented by the different routes we took, slowing down the group considerably. If I had to flee through these tunnels, I’d have been easily caught, despite my longer strides and ability to outrun them in open space.

  Rabbit, however, was diligently recording every twist and turn, providing a silver lining to our wandering. Though each new passage left me feeling more lost, I knew by the end of this journey, I’d have a detailed and accurate layout of this section of the city. As we neared our destination, I finally realized why the three Goblins had been just as disoriented as I was.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  The door to the leader's chambers and throne room was guarded by two female Goblins, standing stoically in the pitch-black corridor. Their presence caught me off guard because I hadn't even noticed them until they spoke, and I had to strain my eyes just to see them. Positioned at the top of the stairs leading to the door, I had to crane my neck to look up at them.

  “What are you doing with an Elf?” the first one asked with a hushed voice.

  The second one said, “We will be punished severely for it getting this far.”

  “Quiet, children,” Bubble said with authority. “We are leaving now and letting the men do their work.”

  As they descended the stairs, I couldn’t make out the details of the women above, but I heard the soft shuffle of their feet and the rustle of their clothes. Once they stepped out of the shadows, their features became clearer. Their faces were lined with worry, eyes flicking nervously between me and Bubble. Fear and confusion were etched into their expressions as they struggled to make sense of the situation.

  Whether they followed Bubble or not, punishment seemed inevitable. One of them paused midway down the stairs, her eyes widened as she spotted the three Goblin warriors standing behind me. Perhaps my size had concealed them, or the shock of my presence had distracted her from seeing the others. The sight of me, along with the three males, clearly unsettled them. These women were likely risking death for simply allowing us into these tunnels.

  “You brought men here. That is forbidden,” one said in alarm and stopped.

  Bubble bringing me down to the leader's chamber was obviously a risky move. It was evident that men were prohibited from accessing the passageways, and I could understand why. I could see the logic behind the law. If reaching this chamber was so easy, you wouldn’t want anyone who could threaten you to get here this way. Furthermore, it was unlikely that any Goblin warrior could persuade the women to allow them to pass and provide directions. Someone along the way would inevitably reveal the plot, jeopardizing their plans.

  I, on the other hand, was a complete outsider, and no politics was standing in my way. For me, it wouldn’t be some women favoring one leader or another. My only goal was to help the women gain their freedom with no strings attached. I was the best chance for a decisive blow. A force that could tip the scales in favor of the oppressed.

  It was clear to me that if any Goblin had the strength to challenge the leader, they would have done so in public. There was no need to resort to sneaking into the leader's chambers and plotting assassination. That was undoubtedly the way of the weak, but for me, as an outsider, there was no other way.

  I did the only thing I could think of to either help or hurt the situation. I pulled out my sword and ordered, “Go with her, now.”

  At that point, the women seemed to realize that further argument was pointless. Trained to recognize volatile situations like the conflict between two warring Goblins, they accepted my presence with resigned acceptance. I posed an immediate threat to them, while their punishment was only a potential consequence, depending on the outcome.

  They quickly fell silent and moved to the side to let us pass. As we climbed the stairs toward the door, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping up on me. The thought of walking into a dark, unknown room filled me with unease.

  One of the Goblins started muttering incantations and cast a spell on me. I received the prompt:

  Spell cast on you, Minor Speed Buff. You are now 5% faster for the next 30 minutes.

  I nodded my head in thanks and got ready to move in. I wasn’t entirely sure about that spell, but it seemed helpful if I had to run. If it worked in conjunction with my slowing Time Spell, I could make myself considerably faster.

  I stood in the center, my heart pounding with anticipation, as one of the Goblins slowly pushed open the heavy wooden door. The other two flanked me, ready for whatever lay ahead. The plan was simple, but the execution was everything. I would take care of the leader while they distracted the guards or eliminated them altogether.