Chapter 162: A Condition

"More than a hundred kobolds, around fifty elite warriors, and at least twenty-five elite archers?" The Chief muttered after hearing the report.

Red could tell that was bad news based on the Chief’s expression.

The Elite Kobold Fighter was already having a big problem for them with their numbers. Especially because they only had a little over forty hobgoblins left after the last battle. On top of that, the Chief was wounded. If the elite archers targeted him, he might be killed in this fight.

The three Goblin Champions were around as well, and they had the same pensive look. They were truly worried about the Elite Kobold Archers. They might have some experience against them. Maybe that was why they made such an expression.

Red had no way of knowing their experience, just a guess.

"I think we should distribute more cores for the goblins so they can evolve into hob quicker."

He was criticizing the Chief’s decision not to give the goblins the core. That was an indirect criticism in the form of advice, a suggestion if they won this battle.

"Why don’t you give yours to them then?" The Fool quickly retorted, feeling targeted by the remark.

"I did. I didn’t take all the loot from my kills. There were more than thirty fleeing kobolds, and I only took half of them. I wiped out the Kobold Archer by myself, and I didn’t take a single piece of loot from them. I also killed a few elite kobolds during the battle, and I didn’t take the loot as well."

Red answered seriously. Deep inside, he was snickering at the Fool.

"It’s not time to bicker!" The Chief quickly stopped them before it became a long argument or even a fight to the death between Red and the Goblin Champion.

"But I agree with this weird hobgoblin that we need to give the goblins more cores if we want to continue our battle into the kobolds’ territory. We are losing too many hobgoblins in our first raid into the first kobold village." The Reasonable agreed with Red.

"Let’s talk about the core distribution after we get rid of our enemy first." The Chief didn’t address the issue right away, but he was right. Something was more pressing than just a core distribution.

He looked at the kobolds at the edge of the jungle. "The kobolds only showed half of their number. They try to lure us out of the village, so we will not fall into their trap. Not when they have the elite archer. However, we have enough food, and they don’t have enough to camp outside there."

"We abandon that half-ruined wall! Pull the goblins and hobgoblins into the village. Tell them to hide from archers inside the house!"

That was a sound move, so the elite archer could not pick them off one by one from afar.

"Then we will wait. They will eventually come to take the village back. That’s when we will fight them!"

Red raised his hand, which earned a glare from the Chief. "What is it, Red?"

"What if they are waiting for more reinforcements?" That was a valid concern. If more kobolds came, they might not be able to hold this village even if they sacrifice all the goblins and hobgoblins.

"I didn’t find the kobold that could climb the tree like me. The one I showed you inside the jungle two days ago. I am worried that they are not here because they are going back to their village to get more kobolds."

The Chief fell silent, as it was a possibility. "So you want us to fight them now?"

"That’s right, let’s fight them now!" The Fool suddenly said as he pointed at Red, "We can have him kill those elite archers. Doesn’t he boast that he could kill the elite kobold?"

"If he could wipe out the elite archers, then we can leave the village safely and fight them!"

The Fool grinned ear to ear, thinking he had Red cornered. This was a dangerous task, more dangerous than the usual scouting. Especially when the enemy was the elite archer. Yet to his surprise, Red nodded along with him.

"Or we can do that," Red agreed. "I can try, but I can’t guarantee it will be a success. They are elite archers, after all. They might find me before I can attack them. However, I have a condition since I am taking the biggest risk by myself here."

The Fool frowned, but the Chief seemed to be expecting Red’s additional condition. He had figured out that Red might be the smartest among them.

The Matron reminded him, in fact, and advised him to kill Red, as Red might take over his position later. However, Red hadn’t shown anything over the line, never crossed the line that made him snap. That was why he kept Red close. Especially when Red had the biggest role in this campaign.

"What’s your condition?"

Red smiled and pointed at the Fool. "I am not asking for something outrageous like killing him just because he wants me dead. I can see the bigger picture to put that in the condition."

The Fool was livid, growling in anger. How dare a mere hob point his finger at him? That was what he thought, but the Chief extended his arm to stop the Fool from doing something stupid. He motioned with his head for Red to state the condition.

"It’s a reasonable condition. I want the loot from all my kills. I don’t want to share it, just for this battle."

"You will have all your loot!" The Chief didn’t hesitate to agree to it. That was a reasonable condition that he didn’t mind agreeing to. Just from the kobolds Red killed, which was at most a quarter of the total kobolds.

"Then I will prepare for the ambush."

Red left carrying just his bow and arrow, and his sword in his Storage Pouch. He didn’t have his spear on his back, and he would need it to kill the Elite Kobold Fighter.

He agreed with the Fool’s idea because it was also his idea. He would propose the idea himself if the Fool didn’t say anything. The condition just came on a whim because the Fool made the proposition.

Red strapped the six spears on his back, checking his arrows and quiver. He didn’t forget to take his sword out of the Storage Pouch, making it look like he left it behind inside the house. That was just to avoid suspicion that he had the Storage Pouch.

That preparation took five minutes as he returned to the Chief. "I am leaving now!"

Red left through the other side entrance. He had earlier snuck out through the jungle to the right of the village, and this time he took the left side of the village.

Of course, he took a detour first, gobbling his Blessing Food. He needed to eat the real food before attempting the dangerous task.