Chapter 49: Tribal Treasure!

Lyle received the item from his good friend, Mukua, with great interest.

Looking at the ancient, pristine bone necklace in his hand, it was evident that it was unlike Mukua's somewhat grubby appearance. The surface of the ancient necklace was remarkably clean.

At first glance, Lyle hadn't noticed anything unusual.

But after closer observation, he discovered that the billiard-ball-sized bone at the center of the necklace faintly emitted a green glow.

It was the magical sheen of an enchanted item.

"This is made from the bone of a Great Horned Elk," Mukua explained.

"The Great Horned Elk is a beast from the depths of the forest. Its antlers are enormous, reaching this size..."

Mukua gestured dramatically with his hands as he described the origins of the magical item. His pained expression made it clear just how significant this magical artifact was to both him and their tribe, the Gigu.

Under Mukua's slightly uncertain explanations, Lyle finally understood the true capability of the bone necklace.

According to Mukua, the Great Horned Elk was a beast that naturally possessed the ability to move freely through dense forests. As such, the magical artifact crafted from its skull inherited a similar power.

The necklace granted a specific magical ability: "Forest Traversal."

Much like the "Camouflage" spell, this was another faith-based magic.

The exact potency of the magic—whether third-tier or fourth-tier—eluded Lyle's memory.

But!

This "Forest Traversal" ability was far more practical than "Camouflage."

Knowing the utility of the bone necklace, Lyle had no intention of returning it. However, unlike Mukua, who wore it around his neck, Lyle wrapped it around his wrist instead.

Magical artifacts need to be placed on specific parts of the body to activate their effects.

For instance, a ring must be worn on a finger to unleash its power.

As for the necklace, although it was named as such, it was essentially a bone the size of a billiard ball—hardly a decorative item.

The woven vine cord was merely for the l hobgoblin's convenience in carrying it. Even if the vine cord was removed, the magical properties of the artifact would remain unaffected.

"Alright, enough small talk," Lyle said after securing the necklace.

"It's time to discuss business."

Mukua looked stunned.

"Business?"

"Exactly," Lyle replied, his gaze cold.

He hadn't slain the hobgoblin earlier because it wasn't his primary goal. His true aim was tied to what he planned to do next.

"Since you're responsible for scouting promising goblins from the outer regions, you must be well-acquainted with all the goblin settlements in these areas," Lyle remarked with a smile.

"How about you guide me to them?"

Mukua's expression froze in shock.

Over the past two weeks, Lyle had been hunting creatures in the forest, relying heavily on luck.

The Forest of Tob was massive. Its dense vegetation and challenging night conditions made navigation difficult, significantly slowing down his progress.

While reaching Level 10 had been manageable, gaining experience beyond that had become a tedious grind. To level up further, he now required a staggering 5,000 experience points per level.

If he continued at his current pace, spending his days hunting goblins and other forest creatures for only a few hundred experience points daily, he wouldn't achieve another level within the remaining two weeks of his time in the forest.

Mukua's appearance gave Lyle a new idea.

When it came to knowing the locations of goblin settlements and other tribal domains, who could be a better guide than a goblin leader himself?

It was the perfect plan.

He needed a leader now, and the goblin standing before him—despite being only skilled at talking and negotiating—was simply the most suitable candidate. No, not just suitable. He was perfect for the job.

"Humans are... big. Sir, you can't kill them. You could kill them..."

The Hobgoblin, Mukua, stared at Lyle's smile, feeling as if he was gazing into the face of a demon. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, and he stammered through his words.

Was this real?

Thanks to his near-human intelligence, Mukua quickly grasped the implication behind Lyle's words. He understood exactly what Lyle wanted him to do.

"This isn't a negotiation," Lyle said with a smile.

Lyle stepped forward and stomped down hard on the goblin chief's left ankle, shattering the bone with a sickening crunch.

"Ahhh!!!"

Mukua's scream echoed through the forest, startling birds into flight with a series of loud chirps and flutters.

After a round of "friendly" persuasion...

The hobgoblin Mukua soon agreed to Lyle's ingenious proposal. Without hesitation, he disclosed the location of the nearest goblin horde.

Satisfied, Lyle hoisted the hobgoblin over his shoulder and began making his way toward the indicated location.

A shadow darted swiftly through the dense forest.

The thick undergrowth, shrubs, and interwoven branches seemed to part willingly, creating a clear path for the figure.

It was the work of the magical artifact "Forest Strider."

The artifact allowed Lyle to move several times faster than usual. What would have hindered an ordinary traveler—the dense jungle terrain—was no longer a disadvantage.

Moreover, his movements were virtually silent.

The combination of Forest Strider and his Camouflage skill ensured that unless someone actively used detection magic, it was nearly impossible to spot him.

No wonder Mukua had been trailing him for so long without being noticed.

The next encounter would be a massacre.

With Mukua providing precise locations and the artifact enhancing his mobility, no goblin in the horde would escape Lyle's grasp.

Over the course of the following days, Lyle obliterated a massive goblin encampment of over 200 goblins, supported by five ogres.

Without Forest Strider, the odds might have been stacked against him. Facing five ogres in a direct confrontation would have left him with little choice but to retreat.

But thanks to the artifact's ability to nullify the forest's terrain, Lyle easily outmaneuvered and eliminated all five ogres using his speed advantage.

The goblin horde, once formidable, was decimated. Those who had resisted were cut down without mercy.

Mukua, who had struggled against the situation at first, had now fully surrendered, resigning himself to the role of a reluctant tour guide.

Lyle knew exactly what Mukua was thinking.

With goblins being notoriously greedy and cunning, a complete lack of resistance often signaled treachery.

But after seeing such a powerful goblin horde wiped out, Mukua clearly realized that further defiance was futile.

For now, the hobgoblin had given up all thoughts of resistance.