Chapter 295 - 268: Caocao’s Clone?

Chapter 295: Chapter 268: Caocao’s Clone?

"Can this thing really work? Won’t it just tip over before it even fires?" Shire squatted on the ground, looking at the new version of the Rune Mortar Agatha had made. He reached out and tapped on the iron barrel, finding it wasn’t much different from the previous prototype.

"I did as you said. I calculated the gradations and the range scale, so the barrel itself didn’t need many changes." Agatha stood to the side, explaining to Shire. "The only major change is this."

She picked up a Hand Grenade Fruit from nearby. It was a Hand Grenade Fruit, but a wooden tail fin had been attached to its base.

"I had the other Rune carved on the bottom of the tail fin. I got One-Eyed to do it," Agatha said, pointing to the Rune for Shire. "I have to say, One-Eyed’s woodcarving skills are getting really good. I think he could consider making some wooden ornaments to sell in the future."

"One-Eyed?" Shire carefully took the Hand Grenade Fruit and stared intently at the Rune carved on it. ’To be carved so small... it seems One-Eyed’s skills have really improved a lot.’

Shire remembered how, in the beginning, One-Eyed had only carved vertical lines on a wooden plank to count the days he’d been alive. After joining the tribe, he couldn’t let go of this "craft," so he changed it from counting the days he’d lived to the days he’d eaten his fill. This continued until one day when Buck Teeth, reciting his own poetry, unexpectedly inspired him. From that day on, One-Eyed began using a Small Knife to carve wooden blocks, progressing from small animals to little figurines, and now, Shire had even commissioned him to make a simple wooden map.

Shire sometimes wondered if these goblins had their own hobbies and habits. For instance, the goblins from the Feathered Serpent Kingdom would gather to play a game in their spare time, a game they called "Little Flying Stick."

The rules were simple: place a straight stick at an angle on the ground, then use another stick to strike one end, launching it into the air. Then, with a powerful swing of the stick in your hand, you’d hit the airborne stick and see how far it could fly.

The game was fundamentally simple. The sticks were easy to find in the forest, and it could be played anytime, anywhere—as long as you were careful not to hit anyone.

Shire had watched them play many times and found it quite interesting. He figured the activity probably originated from the motions goblins made while gathering supplies in the forest. After all, swinging a stick was something every goblin seemed to know how to do from birth.

He had even joined in a few times himself and discovered it wasn’t as easy to play well as it looked. First, launching the stick required careful control. Too much force, and the stick would fly off spinning, making it nearly impossible to hit it again in the air. Second, hitting the stick far required quick eyes and reflexes, good reaction time, and hitting it at the right angle.

After watching the tribe’s goblins compete amongst themselves a few times, Shire decided to organize an official "Little Flying Stick" competition. It would be held every seven days, with snacks as a reward for the winner.

To his surprise, the goblins were incredibly excited about the competition. For one, the snacks were genuinely delicious—all tasty treats bought from humans. For another, the idea of not having to work, competing together, and never having to worry about going hungry was something the goblins had never imagined possible.

Shire was very supportive of the goblins developing such activities. Food and drink were gradually becoming less of a concern. While they weren’t yet wealthy, the entire Nightmare Forest was a treasure trove. Its resources were sufficient for the tribe to trade with the outside world for living supplies. In this situation, the goblins could begin to develop their own culture, and sports were the easiest place to start.

Games like soccer and basketball all started as spontaneous fun among the common folk before they were gradually refined and formalized.

’Little Flying Stick seems crude now,’ Shire thought, ’but if my Goblin Race can develop steadily for ten, twenty, fifty, or a hundred years, maybe it will turn into some kind of ’Little Flying Stick Super League’.’

"Did he only make this one?" Shire held the Hand Grenade Fruit up to the mortar’s muzzle. The size was a near-perfect fit, leaving only the slightest gap.

"He made several, though we haven’t test-fired them yet. The size is consistent, though." Agatha smiled slightly as she watched Shire. "I never knew your subordinates were so full of hidden talent. I’m starting to believe what you’ve been saying—there are all sorts of interesting individuals among the goblins. They just need someone to uncover their potential."

"Besides One-Eyed, who else have you noticed?" Shire looked up at Agatha, curious about what other new developments were happening in the tribe.

"It’s not a goblin," Agatha said, shaking her head slightly. "It’s Caocao."

"Caocao? That Giant has started carving planks too?" Shire raised an eyebrow. ’Giant Demon Caocao is three meters tall. It’d be difficult for him to find materials if he wanted to take up carving for fun. Besides, knowing Caocao, he’d much rather sit on the ground and dig snacks out of his pouch.’

"He’s not carving planks," Agatha said with a shrug. "I don’t know what happened, but I’ve had Caocao helping me move those Pure White Stones. For the past few days, he hasn’t been doing it himself. He’s been making his ’Clone’ do it instead."

"A Clone?" Shire’s eyes flew wide open. He shot to his feet, then glanced at the Hand Grenade Fruit in his hand, ensuring his sudden movement hadn’t disturbed the "Bomb." "How does Caocao have a Clone? What kind of Clone is it?"

"Well," Agatha said, tilting her head in thought, "it’s a red Caocao. It looks to be a size smaller than Caocao himself, but it’s completely red. I tried touching it a few times. It doesn’t feel like a person; it has a jelly-like, gelatinous texture. But it can actually move those stones, just like a physical being."

"Take me to see it," Shire said, still gripping the Hand Grenade Fruit. He had no idea why Caocao would have a Clone. As far as he knew, Giants possessed the Regeneration Ability at most. Their intelligence made it nearly impossible for them to learn any kind of Magic. The fact that Caocao could create a Clone was utterly incredible to him.

But Caocao was different from other Giants. Shire had given him the Blessing of the Evil God. ’If this is the power of the Feathered Serpent Evil God,’ he thought, ’then it could be dangerous. I need to figure out what’s happening right away.’

The two of them went through the Teleportation Gate to the Rune Language Material Warehouse. The place was now piled high with all kinds of "White Holy Stones." A few had previously been taken by the Naga Prince, Pazani, back to the Naga Kingdom at the bottom of Darren Lake to create Rune Language: Frosty Winter.

The moment Shire arrived, he saw it: a red, gelatinous, humanoid object was moving a Pure White Stone from one spot to another. Meanwhile, Caocao was just sitting off to the side, eating nuts from his pouch.

"What is going on?" Shire was stunned.