Back in the real world, Rain was deeply engrossed in studying all the books he could find about civilization and Hobgoblins.
As he delved into the literature on territories, a particular detail caught his attention. It struck him that only after he earned his Novice Lord title was he granted an official one-hectare piece of land to govern.
While one hectare might seem substantial, it was barely enough to accommodate even a small village or town.
This limitation was why other lords often sought to conquer adjacent lands. They were fortunate if there were no neighboring towns or villages, as this minimized the risk of war, which would inevitably break out otherwise.
Rain had also heard that some inhabitants of the Spirit Realm harbored a strong dislike for players, resulting in frequent conflicts between the two groups.
Shaking his head, Rain reminded himself that this wasn't the time to get sidetracked; there were more pressing issues at hand.
Hobgoblins.
Before leaving his territory, Rain made sure to delegate tasks to the others.
Chi was assigned the critical mission of locating the Hobgoblins' lair. He emphasized the importance of observing from a distance without engaging, ensuring she wouldn't be spotted.
If things went south, he instructed her to lead the Hobgoblins away from their shelter and lose them in the vast wasteland.
Given Chi's speed, Rain was confident she could outrun the Hobgoblins. She also had access to the maps, which reassured him that she wouldn't get lost.
It was convenient that his troops had access to the map and his inventory, provided he gave them permission.
The Hobgoblins weren't that fast, so it made Rain theorize that the reason why they had managed to kill the Quillwolves was because the pack couldn't leave their lair and their young ones behind. Some might have managed to escape, but others definitely fell prey to the Hobgoblins' ambush.
Rain was confident that Chi would be alright. If necessary, she could snipe them as she ran and lose them in the process.
As for his other troops, Rain simply designated them to secure the shelters and defend them. He also instructed them to make a lot of wooden spikes from the scavenged wood materials that he and Chi had collected.
Additionally, he instructed them to gather large boulders and all the wood they could find in the area.
#4 had a special designation since he couldn't do much in his little state. Therefore, he was relegated to being the statue defender, a role he assumed very seriously.
"In fact, too seriously," Rain thought as he recalled that #4 had swatted his hand when he attempted to touch his own statue.
"At least he feels better knowing he's being relied upon for an important task," Rain mused, feeling happy for #4.
Returning to the task at hand, Rain decided to consult the Forum for quick tips on how to deal with Hobgoblins.
"That's right. Have you ever encountered one?"
"Can't say I have . . . my territory isn't exactly in the most habitable areas . . .
So no Hobgoblins here so far. Ohohoho!"
"Is that so? Thank you, then. Sorry to bother you."
"Not at all, not at all. Call me if you have any more questions, and I'll be glad to help."
"Thank you, and good luck with your Apprentice Lord Title."
Rain then dialed Fifi next.
"Hobgoblins?"
"Yes, my territory happens to be located near a Hobgoblin dwelling, and I fear they might discover it at any moment."
"I see . . . that is a problem . . ."
"Uhm . . . , any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated."
"I can't say that I have personally dealt with one . . ."
"Oh . . ." Rain's shoulders slumped.
"But I've heard that they aren't that smart and they fall easily to traps."
Rain gasped and his eyes shone. "Really?"
"Well, that's what I heard, but I couldn't be sure . . ."
"Thank you! That's a great lead to start!"
"Eh? Really? W-well, I'm glad that I could be of help."
"I owe you one, Fifi. Thanks a bunch!"
Rain ended the call and decided to read everything he could gather about traps. He knew this information could be the key to dealing with the Hobgoblins and protecting his territory. He spent the next few hours immersing himself in various strategies and trap designs, feeling more confident with each passing minute.