Chapter 381: The Smart Goblin
Although transport ships were larger than floating battleships, with a length of 150 meters,
their structural complexity was much simpler, making them easier to construct.
As a result, their building time was actually shorter than that of floating battleships.
Floating battleships had extremely compact and reinforced structures,
the materials used were several times that of transport ships.
Thus, their construction difficulty and duration increased exponentially.
------
Another new day, afternoon.
Throne Tribe, Throne Hall.
In the hall, 47 goblin captain leaders gathered.
Their nearly three-meter-tall figures made them look exceptionally strong and imposing.
Watching his subordinates kneeling in orderly formation, Li Meng grinned.
"From now on, your training area will change. You will go to the Ogre Mountains, near the human borders."
Hearing this, the goblin leaders were thrilled.
Heading to human territory?
"This mission is reconnaissance, not combat."
"The floating battleships must maintain an altitude of 3,000 meters."
"If human scout ships come to investigate, shoot them down."
"Do not leave the Irisis Principality's territory."
"Remember, you may only patrol above the Ogre Mountains. Do not enter human lands."
"Also, all floating battleships must disperse. Do not cluster together."
"Soon, the humans will dispatch an army into the Ogre Mountains. Your task is to locate them."
"If a mage attacks, retreat immediately. Do not engage."
"Do not reveal your identity. Do not let the humans discover that goblins are operating the floating battleships."
If a floating ship appeared over the Ogre Mountains, it would naturally attract human attention.
But that would only be a concern.
An altitude of 3,000 meters was beyond human reach.
While levitation magic existed, it merely slowed descent from great heights.
True flight magic did not exist.
Only creatures with wings could fly.
Even Wind God-tier mages lacked the ability to fly freely.
They could only use wind currents to glide.
It was slow and drained large amounts of mana.
As for Saints, they were legendary figures capable of making their souls immortal.
Even if their physical bodies perished, they could reincarnate through their racial lineage.
Through repeated reincarnations, they sought true immortality.
However, this process was highly uncertain.
Each reincarnation required them to regain their power from scratch.
Although a powerful soul granted great talent, growth still took time.
If they were killed before achieving divinity, their souls would be damaged.
If they failed to reach Sainthood again in the next life, they would face true death.
"Yes, my king!"
The goblin leaders responded in unison.
Li Meng waved a hand.
"Prepare and depart immediately!"
The goblin leaders stood up and marched out.
Once his subordinates had left, Li Meng also rose from his throne and exited the hall.
------
After another enjoyable night,
the next morning, Li Meng left the Throne Tribe for the Iron Cavern.
------
Morning, Iron Cavern.
Compared to a year ago, the Iron Cavern was far noisier.
Looking toward the underground river, a large number of water-powered wheels clanked loudly.
Forges and quenching pools had grown in size.
To manage heat, the furnaces were spaced further apart along the riverbanks.
Countless ogres and high goblins toiled over massive anvils,
swinging enormous hammers repeatedly.
"Still a long way from industrialization."
Standing by the riverbank, Li Meng mused at the grand scene before him.
He wished to push his goblin forces into the industrial era.
But the effort required was daunting.
With his current knowledge, this was the limit.
Further progress would have to come from trial and error.
Yet such development demanded an enormous investment of time and energy.
This made Li Meng hesitant and reluctant.
He had no desire to be a scientist.
His brain wasn't suited for it.
Runes had great potential.
This world could fully utilize magic to develop magical technology.
Li Meng entertained the idea,
but he hesitated to take the first step.
Once he committed, his future would be dictated by research.
Li Meng always considered himself selfish.
No, a selfish goblin.
He just wanted an easy and comfortable life.
Even though he was burdened with a world-saving mission,
at least there was hope of completing it.
And there was no time limit.
As long as he slowly worked toward the goal, he was fine.
"Xiao Bai, is it possible to create intelligent goblins?
I don't need them to be strong, or even capable.
They can be weaker than regular goblins, I just need them to be smart."
[It is possible, but their lifespan will be short,
since an intelligent brain requires more nourishment.]
"Their lifespan cannot be too short.
A short-lived intellect is meaningless."
Li Meng wanted intelligent goblins to research magical technology on his behalf.
If their lifespan was too brief, transferring knowledge would take too much time.
That would severely slow technological progress.
[Stronger maternal bodies can extend their lifespan.]
"Xiao Bai, which race would be suitable?"
[Dragon bloodlines are the most adaptable.
Dragons make the best maternal hosts.]
Hearing this, Li Meng rolled his eyes.
"Dragons are not easy to deal with.
Annie is still young. I can't bring myself to do it."
Since Annie had become his subordinate,
it was his duty as her leader to protect her.
Once she matured, if she was willing, that would be another matter.
[Not all dragons live on Dragon Island.
Many exiled dragons reside across the Augus Continent.
The Dragon Island does not care whether they live or die.]
"There are dragons in the Southern Continent?"
[Yes. The current queen of the Dragon Kingdom is a half-dragon.
Her ancestor was a female dragon.
She now slumbers beneath the palace of Hazel, the capital of the Dragon Kingdom.]
The Dragon Kingdom?
Li Meng pondered.
He had heard of this palace during his travels.
Located in the northern part of the Southern Continent,
it was the closest kingdom to the Central Continent.
Thus, it was often the first target of draconian invasions.
Several past half-dragon incursions had been fought in the Dragon Kingdom.
As a result, its military strength ranked among the top three on the Southern Continent.
As dragon descendants, half-dragons held high status in the Dragon Kingdom.
Pure-blooded half-dragons possessed exceptional talent,
excelling in both magic and combat.
On the Southern Continent, the Dragon Kingdom had the most god-tier warriors.
Most of these elite warriors were half-dragons.
Due to their pure dragon lineage, half-dragons lived far longer than humans.
It was said that the current queen of the Dragon Kingdom was already 700 years old.