Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 27: Dealing With Gaylord.

A figure streaked through the night, propelled by a powerful gust of wind, eager to reach his destination.

After his swift journey, the figure finally came to a halt. Magnus was gently lowered to the ground by his summon, who had carried him in a somewhat undignified princess style lift. Yes, it was embarrassing, but speed was of the essence. He needed to arrive as quickly as possible, and this unconventional mode of transport, courtesy of his incredibly fast summon, was the only option.

Magnus smoothed his clothes and straightened his posture before starting forward. In the distance, the Gaylordia territory was clearly visible. Magnus had instructed his summon to stop a short distance away; he preferred not to arrive directly in front of the territory in such a compromising position.

"Let’s move on," Magnus said, and his summon fell into step behind him.

They were close, and within moments, they stood before the Gaylordia territory. Kael was waiting for them.

"Where are the others?" Magnus asked, scanning the area. He had instructed several other summons to meet him here.

"They’re securing the perimeter and ensuring everything proceeds according to plan," Kael explained.

"Good," Magnus murmured. "And the task?"

"They’ve all been captured, including Kragnir. They’re waiting inside," Kael reported.

"Excellent work," Magnus said, a smile spreading across his face as he clapped Kael on the back. "Lead me to them."

"Certainly, this way," Kael replied, his own happiness evident, buoyed by Magnus’s praise.

The Gaylordia territory was eerily silent as Kael guided Magnus forward. Kael and Magnus’s other summons had already neutralized the guards stationed at the wall and the patrolling guards, ensuring a smooth and undisturbed passage. The rest of the goblin population slumbered peacefully in their homes, completely oblivious to the night’s events.

The duo moved stealthily, their footsteps barely audible on the cobbled path. Soon, they reached their destination: a large house, the largest in the territory—Gaylord’s quarters.

Kael led Magnus inside, and into a spacious chamber illuminated by strategically placed lamps. The warm orange glow revealed the scene within. Several figures knelt, chained, their heads bowed. Gaylord, his five commanders, Krogg, and several others – the very individuals Nutgrove and his men had identified. They appeared defeated, resigned to their captivity, cold sweat glistening on their skin.

Hearing Kael and Magnus’s approach, they looked up. Magnus’s gaze met theirs with an intensity that sent shivers down their spines. They wondered who these humans were and what they wanted. They had been abruptly roused from their sleep, seized without a chance to defend themselves, and brought here. Confusion reigned.

The arrival of these two figures seemed to promise answers. With a single look, they understood that Magnus was the orchestrator of this operation.

Before they could speak, their eyes widened in sudden, horrified recognition. Gaylord was the first to realize.

"Is that...?" he stammered, his voice trailing off, his gaze fixed on Magnus in disbelief.

One by one, the others also recognized Magnus. Aside from Gaylord, his commanders, and Krogg, the remaining captives held positions of influence within the territory. They had participated in the ambush against the army Magnus had led not long ago. They had also seen him with his father, Arthur, the former leader of the Lancaster territory.

Magnus’s face darkened. The anger and hatred the previous Magnus had carried before his death surged to the surface. Every single one of these individuals had played a part in the ambush. They deserved no mercy.

’This can’t be happening. How is this possible? Wasn’t he in a coma? How did he gain control of awakened humans to do his bidding?’ These thoughts swirled in the minds of Gaylord, his generals, Krogg, and a few others who had learned of the intel Nutgrove had delivered just a day before. They stared at Magnus, speechless and shocked.

’Is Nutgrove double-crossing us? Did he feed us false information to lull us into a false sense of security?’ Gaylord wondered, suspicion gnawing at him. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

He quickly dismissed the idea. It simply didn’t add up. Nutgrove was deeply implicated in the betrayal. There was no way he would be working with Magnus and the Lancaster forces. He’d be a dead man the moment they discovered his central role in the ambushes. Knowing Nutgrove, he would have fled the moment things turned sour.

Furthermore, the aura emanating from the individuals who had captured them screamed awakened human, not the unranked humans that comprised the bulk of the Lancaster forces. Providing false intel to make them relax would have been pointless. Magnus and his team’s success tonight was guaranteed, regardless of any information Nutgrove might have provided.

Gaylord and the others felt their minds racing, struggling to make sense of the situation. Silence hung heavy in the air. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to speak; they were simply too stunned to form words.

Magnus ignored them, his gaze shifting to another corner of the room where he spotted three figures. Two were his summons, clad in combat armor, weapons at the ready. Between them stood a third figure, a goblin in ragged, tattered clothing, his face etched with bewilderment, as if he still couldn’t comprehend the unfolding events.

Unlike Gaylord and the other captives, this goblin looked like he’d never known a day of comfort. Bruises marred his green skin, dried blood crusted over open wounds. His clothes, little more than scraps of fabric, barely concealed his body. He reeked of filth. This was Kragnir, looking as though he had just been pulled from the depths of Gaylord’s prison. His skin stretched taut over his bones, thinned by starvation and stress.

Feeling Magnus’s gaze upon him, Kragnir shivered. He had no idea what was happening. He had been languishing in his cell, awaiting death, when these humans had dragged him out and brought him here, to stand before the very person whose alliance their territory had betrayed. They had ambushed their territorys forces, killed his father, and slaughtered countless soldiers. Magnus’s gaze felt like a burning laser.

Kragnir had been imprisoned after the first ambush, cut off from the outside world, so he knew nothing of the second attack that had injured and ultimately killed the previous Magnus. But he could sense the seething anger radiating from Magnus. He desperately wanted to proclaim his innocence, to explain that he had vehemently opposed the ambush, but he doubted his pleas would be heard.

A flicker of hope remained. He was the only goblin standing freely. The others were bound and kneeling. Surely that meant something.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Magnus spoke. "So, you must be Kragnir?"

Kragnir was startled by the question. He couldn’t explain why, but the way Magnus spoke his name made his heart skip a beat.

"Um... y-yes, sir," Kragnir stammered, his voice trembling.

"Good. I imagine you’re wondering why you’re standing here while the others are over there," Magnus said, gesturing toward Gaylord and his companions.

Kragnir simply nodded.

"That’s because I still have a use for you. A little birdie told me you’re the most trustworthy goblin in this territory. Is that true?"

Kragnir was taken aback. He was speechless, unsure how to respond.

But Magnus’s burning gaze compelled him to answer. "Um... I’m not sure. You praise me too much," he mumbled, his lips quivering. Magnus cut him off sharply.

"Answer the question. I don’t have all day," Magnus said, his voice hard, laced with a chilling coldness that sent a shiver down Kragnir’s spine.

Kragnir flinched. "Um... yes, I suppose," he managed to say after a moment of stunned silence.