Chapter 372- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (11)
Hearing the commotion, Norris stopped in his tracks, feeling something was off. This was the central city, known for its excellent security, and judging by the storefront, this weapons shop dealt in high-end goods.
Even someone like Norris, who lacked magical abilities, could effectively defend himself with the enchanted weapons sold here. The shop had a strong reputation, and even Norris had heard of it. However, before he could decide to go inside, Mu Jin tugged on his arm and led him straight into the shop.
Inside, there were no other customers—only a shabby-looking goblin being viciously whipped and berated by a human who appeared to be the shopkeeper.
“Stop it at once!” Norris immediately shouted to halt the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper, startled by the interruption, looked up and noticed Norris’s luxurious attire. His expression quickly shifted to one of deference as he plastered on a smile and said, “Esteemed customer, how may I assist you today?”
Norris glared at the shopkeeper, clearly displeased by his indifference toward the injured goblin. Just as he was about to reprimand him, Mu Jin gently patted the back of Norris’s hand, silently signaling him to hold his tongue.
Masking the cold glint in his eyes, Mu Jin turned to the shopkeeper with a pleasant smile and said, “We came to look at magical tools, but it was quite the surprise to witness such a scene upon entering. Could you explain what this goblin has done to deserve such treatment?”
The shopkeeper immediately apologized, saying, “I’m terribly sorry to disturb you, honored guest. This goblin is one of our employees. He’s lazy and refuses to do his work properly, yet he dared to come to the front and complain. Naturally, I had to teach him a lesson.”
“I apologize for the unsightly scene. After all, you’ll find ungrateful troublemakers wherever you go.”
As he finished speaking, the shopkeeper cast a threatening glare at the goblin, who flinched before scrambling to his feet and retreating to the back of the shop.
The shopkeeper then laid out an array of enchanted artifacts in front of Mu Jin and Norris for them to peruse.
Watching Mu Jin casually inspect the enchanted tools, Norris sensed something was amiss. However, he said nothing and silently followed Mu Jin, observing him carefully. Eventually, Mu Jin selected a small, exquisitely designed, and outrageously expensive crystal orb.
When the shopkeeper saw Mu Jin spend such a large sum, his face lit up with delight. With a fawning smile, he asked if the item should be delivered to their residence. After Mu Jin declined, the shopkeeper went out of his way to prepare a particularly elegant gift box. He carefully packed the crystal orb and handed it to Mu Jin before personally escorting them to the door with exaggerated courtesy.
After leaving the shop and walking a good distance, Norris couldn’t help but ask Mu Jin with a puzzled expression, “Xiao Jin, why did you do that earlier? Is there something special about that crystal orb?”
Mu Jin simply shrugged and replied nonchalantly, “It just looks nice, that’s all.”
Then, he raised a finger to his lips in a gesture of silence and tugged Norris around the shop, leading him to the back of the building.
Once they bypassed the courtyard wall of the shop, they found over a dozen goblins toiling away without pause. Their clothes were tattered, their faces etched with exhaustion, and many bore whip marks on their bodies.
A few goblins who were on break sat eating their meal. The food was a murky stew thrown together in a wooden bucket, its contents unidentifiable and its stench revolting—more like pig slop than anything meant for a living being. Yet the goblins devoured it hungrily, their eyes vacant and devoid of spirit.
Seeing this, Mu Jin casually cast a few spells to seal off the doors leading to the courtyard, ensuring no one could enter. Only then did he approach the goblins, pulling Norris along with him.
The moment the goblins noticed someone approaching, they flinched instinctively. Even those who were eating hurriedly put down their food and shrank back, as though expecting to be scolded or beaten.
Their reactions spoke volumes about the kind of lives they led—lives full of fear and abuse. It was clear that mistreatment was a routine occurrence for them, explaining their panic at the sight of humans.
Even Owen, who stood behind Norris, clenched his fists tightly at the sight.
Slavery had long been abolished in the kingdom. While true equality among races was still a distant goal, incidents of outright abuse and exploitation like this were meant to be relics of the past.
Yet here were these goblins, visibly oppressed and battered, their suffering plain to see.
Owen’s face darkened with anger, but his heart was heavy with worry.
Although it seemed to Owen that Mu Jin and Prince Norris were incredibly close, he couldn’t forget that Mu Jin was, after all, an outsider—and more importantly, the envoy of the dragon. If Mu Jin were displeased and went to the dragon to complain, leading to the dragon punishing their kingdom, what could they possibly do?
Unaware of Owen’s inner worries, Mu Jin focused on the nervous goblins before him. Waving his hand in a soothing gesture, he said gently, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”
Then, Mu Jin turned to face Owen and glanced at the bundle he was carrying.
On their way here, not only had they sampled a variety of delicious foods, but Norris had also ordered all of Mu Jin’s favorite snacks to be packed up, which Owen had been tasked with carrying. Now, Mu Jin gestured for Owen to hand over the large bundle full of food.
Opening the bundle, Mu Jin laid it out before the goblins. He then stepped back a little and motioned to them, saying, “Don’t worry. I’ve already set up a barrier around this area. No one will come, and no one will hear us talking. Go ahead and eat something.”
The goblins hesitated, their gazes flitting between Mu Jin and the food. They had been confined to the weapon shop’s courtyard for days, laboring tirelessly without proper rest or nourishment. Even the spoiled slop they were fed was given sparingly, and the shop’s staff paid no heed to their survival or well-being.
Now, faced with the fragrant and appealing food before them, the goblins couldn’t help but focus all their attention on it.
The older goblins managed to maintain their composure, but the younger ones, who seemed to be tasked with menial chores, couldn’t suppress their hunger. A few even began to drool at the sight of the food.
Finally, the youngest goblin, unable to resist the pangs of hunger and the tantalizing aroma, crept slowly toward the bundle. Tentatively, he picked up a beef pie from the pile. After casting a cautious glance at Mu Jin, he suddenly stuffed the entire pie into his mouth in one swift motion.
Although goblins had large mouths, the beef pie itself was sizable, instantly filling the young goblin’s mouth to the brim.
Still chewing furiously, the young goblin tried his best to swallow the food as quickly as possible, worried that if he didn’t finish fast, the human before him might change his mind, leaving him with nothing to eat.
Mu Jin watched the goblin’s anxious behavior and sighed softly. Opening his palm, he conjured a small orb of water and gently sent it floating toward the goblin with a breeze. “Eat slowly, don’t choke,” he said warmly. “Here, have a sip of water.”
The other goblins stared wide-eyed in astonishment. The human in front of them wasn’t just any ordinary person—he was a noble mage! And not only was this mage offering them food, but he was also giving them water conjured by magic.
At first, the young goblin hesitated to touch the water orb. But the beef pie was incredibly dry, making it hard for him to swallow. Without anything else to drink, he finally mustered the courage to lift his head and take a deep sip from the floating orb. With that, he managed to swallow the pie.
Seeing the young goblin take the lead, the others slowly approached the pile of food. Once they realized Mu Jin truly intended for them to eat, they began grabbing the food with trembling hands. The goblins, assured of his kindness, quickly devoured the offerings.
Mu Jin had a hearty appetite, so the food Norris had packed was plentiful. Though there were many goblins, their small stature meant their appetites were much smaller. As it turned out, the large bundle of food was just enough to fill them all.
After eating their fill, the goblins seemed noticeably more at ease around Mu Jin.
Recognizing the protective barrier around them, an older goblin, who appeared to be the leader, cautiously stepped forward. With a slight bow, he addressed Mu Jin, his voice trembling. “Honored mage, is there something you need us to do?”
Mu Jin recognized this goblin—it was the same one the shopkeeper had cruelly whipped earlier. His arm and leg injuries made his movements stiff and labored, and his tattered clothing made him appear even more pitiful.
Mu Jin sighed again and casually cast a healing spell over the goblin, mending most of his wounds.
This older goblin had intervened with the shopkeeper earlier not for his own sake, but because the younger goblins had been starving. He had pleaded on their behalf, only to suffer punishment in return.