Wizard: I am a goblin

Chapter 10 The Goblins' Grand Plan

Today is the fifth day since I obtained the Book of Sand.

Gebu has gotten used to the life of cultivating alone.

He spent his mornings gathering herbs, hunting, and practicing his spells. With the Wizard's Hand, he could now reach herbs in remote, obscure places, significantly improving his efficiency.

I read in the afternoon.

The goblin found that his learning speed had slowed down. It wasn't because his brain was failing or full, but rather because the more advanced the knowledge, the more it intersected with other disciplines. For example, obtaining the materials for advanced potions involved unfamiliar knowledge such as alchemy, plant and animal ecology, and geography.

If you want to improve, you need to learn these things simultaneously; otherwise, it will be too complicated and inefficient.

Geb is a pragmatist; everything he does now is to help him achieve his wizard rank, and he can improve his knowledge later.

He crammed on "Anthropomorphic Ecological Studies: Goblins and Totem Beliefs" and "Woodland Ecology of the Old Kingdom." He had some exposure to this knowledge, and his progress was quite impressive, allowing him to make some indirect connections.

Evenings are meditation time.

After completing the second node, breaking through to the third node became very difficult. The Book of Sand told itself that to complete the next breakthrough, it would need the aid of a potion.

[Deep Sleep Potion]

This potion is based on the same ingredients as the Tranquilizing Potion, both requiring Golden Daisy. However, the Deep Sleep Potion requires another ingredient: the King Lizard's Tail.

This is hard to find; this kind of lizard doesn't exist in this forest. But it's not entirely impossible to get one...

The old shaman's herbal workshop.

Yes, the old shaman's herbal workshop has all sorts of precious materials, including those that the goblins risked their lives to find in the forest, as well as those that were purchased from the wanderer's market.

The wanderer's market is three days' journey from here... We must leave the forest and venture deep into human territory.

Those herbs were the old shaman's treasures, and he wouldn't allow ordinary goblins near them. Only "Unhappy" and his confidants were allowed in, and even then, only with the old shaman's permission.

Geb thought about his current situation.

He had over 20 gold coins, which he got from the half-elf. He also had animal hides, herbs, and potions that he could trade.

Can Gebu travel alone...?

The answer is no. Although he can use the Wizard's Hand and fire arrows, and can fight wild beasts in the forest, if he leaves this place and ventures into human territory on his own, he'll be no different from a rat crossing the street.

No matter how powerful the flaming arrows are, they cannot fight against the entire human society.

Moreover, even in places that tolerate goblins, such as the wanderer's market, a lone goblin carrying a bunch of valuables and a glittering golden book... isn't that just easy prey delivered to your doorstep?

Half-elves can unleash massive fireballs, but Geb can't.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, Gebu was still unable to break away from his tribe. He needed the resources from the old shaman and the protection provided by the tribe.

However, Gebu never wanted to live that life of being bullied and looked down upon again.

I'll go back, but I absolutely won't be a beast of burden.

If you're going to do something, be the boss!

Yes, I want to be the boss, but not a bear boss.

Why?

Because the bear boss is irreplaceable, and goblins are creatures that admire strength; they worship large muscles. And their own muscles could never be larger than the bear boss's.

He's a bear goblin, a natural muscle giant.

Furthermore, a goblin tribe needs a powerful leader. Otherwise, they'll lack prestige when going out to raid, and the morale of the entire tribe will drop.

Keeping Boss Xiong around as a figurehead and henchman is no problem. She's straightforward and doesn't have any ulterior motives; I'm sure I can manipulate her completely.

Gebu wanted to sit in the old shaman's seat.

They manipulate everything from behind the scenes, sending others to their deaths while reaping the benefits themselves. They have whatever resources they want and can sacrifice whomever they choose.

By sitting in that spot, one can obtain the materials needed for meditation and gradually become a powerful wizard.

It sounds simple, but the old shaman had been in the second-in-command position for decades. Ever since Gebu could remember, the old shaman was the old shaman, and no goblin dared to challenge his position.

Take it slow, first infiltrate his inner circle... then seize the opportunity to act.

Gebu pondered for a moment, wondering what resources he had at his disposal.

Herbs, medicines, animal hides...

No, the greatest resource is wisdom. I need to use my brain to think...

What does the old shaman need?

Gebu recalled what the old shaman had done. Once, a young man had tried to curry favor with him, attempting to prove he could help the old shaman, by gathering herbs, grinding them into powder, and making a poultice…

The next day, this sycophant was sacrificed to Magnubier.

Putting aside what the old shaman needed most, what he least needed was an apprentice. Someone who could replace him.

Therefore, you must never reveal your knowledge of herbalism, and you must never let him know that you have magic.

The old shaman once complained that his goblins were incompetent, and the herbs they gathered were either wrong or defective.

Gathering herbs—that was something Gebu could do. Gebu felt that his knowledge of herbalism was no less than the old shaman's… and perhaps even better.

This "Outline of Herbalism" was written by the famous halfling herbalist Harden, and it is far more comprehensive than the knowledge that an old goblin tinkered with in his cave.

I'm an academic. He's just a self-taught guy.

I have to please the old shaman, help him gather herbs, but I can't let him know I'm knowledgeable about them. What a hassle!

Geb scratched his head, extremely annoyed. He really wanted to burn him to death with a fireball. That old Deng was too cunning; Boss Xiong was much easier to fool.

Why not start with Boss Xiong and send her some nice things?

Would Boss Bear like bear skin?

Unfortunately, the bear was burned beyond recognition by the half-elf and rotted for several days, becoming both broken and smelly.

No, I need something even more impressive to impress Boss Xiong.

Gebu had an idea and decided to keep the plan in mind.

What else? Oh right, the trio.

He intends to replace the old shaman, and these three must be dealt with. If he can't win them over, he'll have to eliminate them...

Goblin thought about the ugly face and felt annoyed. Then he remembered the stolen honey. His petty, goblin-like nature kicked in.

That bastard, trying to win him over? Win him over my ass, we have to kill him!

The other two might be useful to Gebu, but it depends on the situation.

At the same time, Gebu needs to establish his authority within the tribe. Even after eliminating the old shaman, he still needs the support of the other goblins to become the second-in-command.

How could this be done? Geb wondered. Goblins were cruel, treacherous, and foolish, worshipping strength… Even if he knew magic, his current strength was still insufficient. A fire arrow could burn one or two goblins to death, but could that alone subdue an entire camp? Obviously not.

To make one's power appear much stronger than it actually is, through a combination of bluffing and deception, there is a chance of success.

Hmm... I need to learn some magic for pretending to be a ghost.

Geb thought to himself. He paced back and forth inside the cave, his pace quickening as he became more excited.

A grand plan slowly took shape in the goblin's little mind.

1. Ingratiate yourself with Boss Xiong and the old shaman, and enter the old shaman's inner circle;

2. Eliminate the trio to make room for yourself to take over;

3. Secretly build up personal reputation;

4. This is also the final step.

Get rid of the old shaman and become the true master of the tribe!

Thinking of the bright future, Geb couldn't help but dance with joy, rolling around on the ground, his heart pounding. In his mind's eye, he saw himself sitting next to Boss Bear, shrewd and calculating, hiding his merits and fame... all the goblins kneeling at his feet, vying to kiss his toes.

"Your kiss wasn't sincere enough! Guards, drag him out and feed him to the hyenas!" Gebu waved his little hand, and the goblin cried out in despair.

"Please, Your Excellency Gebu, give me another chance. I promise I'll kiss you with all my heart and with all my might... Please spare me!"

"Alright, I'll give you one more chance. Not because you begged me, but because Geb is a merciful god," Geb said calmly.

This is so awesome! I can't sleep just thinking about it!

Lost in his fantasies, Geb was completely unaware that on the other side of the forest, torches suddenly ignited, illuminating the charred and mangled corpses of seven goblins…