Green Monster Epic

Chapter 563: Each With Their Own Plans

In the dead of night, Elvis sat alone in the simple yet spacious living room of his home, lost in thought. His children and partner were sound asleep, but he himself was once again suffering from insomnia.

"You should pull yourself together, instead of being so distracted like this. It's easy for people to notice something's wrong!"

A magnetic voice suddenly came from the shadows in the corner, startling the already tense Elvis. However, he quickly suppressed his emotional reaction; he was all too familiar with the owner of that voice.

Elvis's eyes turned towards the chimney leading to the outside world from the corner closet, the very spot from which the voice originated, and also the favorite location of his shady friend.

"You still dare to take action? Aren't you afraid of being discovered, and then we'll both be dragged out and torn apart?"

Elvis's tone was cold, filled with resentment and fear. The scenes from the previous days replayed in his mind, leaving him no choice but to feel nervous and worried.

"Heh heh, rest assured. Since the previous operation didn't lead to your capture, it means your identity hasn't been exposed. So, your worries are completely unnecessary."

The owner of the voice still didn't show himself, indicating that he was still very cautious. However, after he spoke those comforting words, Elvis's expression softened somewhat.

"Your task now is to remain silent. I will contact you once a year from now on. At that time, you can hand over the Green Field Tribe's military intelligence you've gathered over the year. At other times, just live your life as you normally would."

"This time, the kingdom's spies planted in the Green Field Tribe were completely wiped out. Even the Muer Fortress didn't escape unscathed. You could say you are the kingdom's only eyes and ears in the Green Field Tribe. So, for your safety, unless it's an absolutely critical emergency, we won't be giving you any more tasks."

After hearing his companion's words, Elvis naturally felt much better, and the heavy stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

"That's good, that's good!"

Elvis's identity was somewhat different from the other goblin spies in the Green Field Tribe. From the moment he was born, he was already considered half a spy.

Elvis's great-grandfather, Xia'er, was a spy planted by the Elven Kingdom in the Oakleaf Merchant Guild when he was young, responsible for monitoring the actions of the Thorn Fort branch of the Oakleaf Merchant Guild. Later, as the Green Field Tribe near the Tagan Desert began to emerge, and since Elvis's great-grandfather had studied under the dwarf goblin appraiser Firok for a period of time, Xia'er, who was originally just a pawn of the Elven Kingdom, took advantage of the arrangements after Firok's death to join the Green Field Tribe.

The Elven Kingdom's level of civilization and living conditions were naturally more attractive to the wilderness natives. Xia'er was also indebted to the Elven Kingdom for saving his life, so he wholeheartedly pledged his loyalty to the Elven Kingdom. In the years that followed, Xia'er stayed in the Green Field Tribe for his entire life. With the education he received in the Elven Kingdom and his status as Firok's student, Xia'er and his descendants completely gained a foothold in the Green Field Tribe. For generations, the goblins held mid-to-high-level positions in the tribe.

However, from a young age, Xia'er began to subtly teach his descendants about his past and the Elven Kingdom's kindness to him. Moreover, as the Elven Kingdom saw the Green Field Tribe becoming stronger and stronger, and the legendary leader Allen's reputation in the Northern Frontier grew louder, they attached even greater importance to Xia'er's line of mid-to-high-level pawns in the Green Field Tribe, thus increasing their treatment. So, Elvis naturally became the Elven Kingdom's most important eyes and ears in the Green Field Tribe.

After a long, long time, no more sounds came from the closet, and Elvis knew that his contact had left. His thoughts returned to the safety of himself and his family.

"This time, such a big thing happened in the town. As the town chief, I am here to conduct a self-criticism and take primary responsibility!"

Trick, who was gradually entering the threshold of old age from middle age, now acted with increasing authority. Although his individual strength had hardly improved in these years, his prestige and leadership in the town were second to none except for Chief Allen.

At the town's monthly routine meeting, Trick spoke with a serious expression. Dozens of the town's backbone managers were gathered around, making the hundred-square-meter meeting hall seem somewhat crowded. The town's population was approaching one hundred thousand. If the populations of several satellite strongholds such as Rushing Tides Bay and Mustang Slope were included, there were more than one hundred thousand goblin inhabitants, causing the ranks of the Green Lake Town's backbone middle and lower-level managers to swell several times over.

"In these years, I and all of you managers present have inevitably become somewhat complacent! Especially with your fixed positions and powers, the subordinates you've promoted are all your own people. The effect from top to bottom is that the group of guys at the bottom are now bold and audacious, neglecting their work..."

"So, taking advantage of this operation, I plan to rotate everyone's positions and reorganize the management rules from top to bottom!"

"What do you all say?"

In this roundup, in addition to the batch of spies who were executed with the death of a thousand cuts, Green Lake Town did indeed arrest a batch of guys who embezzled tribal property, took bribes, and otherwise harmed the interests of the tribe. Those with serious crimes were sent to the execution platform along with the group of spies. The only difference might be that their families were not affected, unlike the families of the spy members who were sent to the West Mansha Quarry to work as slave laborers.

The rest, whose crimes were relatively minor, were either sent to the quarry to do hard labor for decades, or had their positions stripped and their property confiscated, reverting to ordinary, impoverished families in the tribe.

"...Town Chief, many positions require different professional knowledge. If we rashly rotate and take turns, there will definitely be problems with management!"

There would definitely be people who disagreed. After all, everyone had been operating in their positions for a long time, and most of their goblin subordinates were their confidants, or had been promoted by them, and were basically able to obey their management. Now that Trick suddenly said that everyone should rotate positions, it would obviously cause these managers and leaders to have to reorganize and smooth out the connections they had cultivated for more than a decade, or even decades, which naturally made some people dissatisfied.

"Are you so unconfident in your abilities? Are you a bunch of good-for-nothings in other areas besides the things you do in your current positions??"

Trick faintly possessed some of Allen's authority. Although his tone wasn't particularly heavy, his few words and his pair of eagle eyes swept across the faces of the goblins in the meeting hall, causing the vast majority of the managers and leaders to lower their heads. Only a dozen or so members still held their heads high, indicating their support.

"In that case, what am I keeping you bunch of bastards around for? The tribe now has plenty of talented young people, as well as talents from the academy. I'm not afraid of you throwing down the gauntlet and quitting!!"

Trick was not actually discussing things with this group of guys at all. In the wilderness, those in power and decision-makers would never allow power to fall into the hands of others; otherwise, he would not be able to suppress this group of tribesmen below him. As his tone became heavier and his eyes continued to sweep around with an icy gaze, none of the tribal mid-to-high-level members, most of whom were goblins mixed with a very small number of other races, dared to meet Trick's gaze.

"...How about we first inform Elder Koer?"

The earth spirit chieftain, Marvin, slowly raised his head, expressing a different opinion under immense pressure. He knew that with the powerful attitude that Trick the town elder was displaying at this moment, if he didn't speak up, no one else would dare to.

In terms of seniority, Marvin was actually a generation younger than Trick. The power he held wasn't necessarily stronger than some of the older generation. Originally, it wasn't his place to speak up. However, Marvin, who was in his prime, had even more confidence because he was a personal student of the clan elder, Kouer, and was her favorite. After all, Marvin was a descendant of the earth spirit Barton, whom Kouer had once admired.

It was this relationship that made Marvin a rising star among the middle-aged and young earth spirits, and he already had his own small circle around him.

"I've already spoken to Elder Kouer about this matter, and she agrees with my handling of it."

Trick's eyes glanced over, and although his tone was indifferent, it still made Marvin's heart tighten. The prestige Trick had built up in the town over the years was not something that a middle-aged earth spirit like Marvin, who had just climbed to the higher levels, could contend with.

"... Okay."

The momentum that Marvin had managed to muster was completely deflated by Trick's casual words.

The remaining management didn't dare to speak, and in the end, they could only silently accept the upcoming arrangements.

"... Brook will be transferred to the position of head of logistics for the defense forces, and the current head of logistics, Elvis, will be transferred to the head of the Green Lake Town commercial department..."

Elvis, who had been the most composed, felt a sudden jump in his heart when he heard his name, but he quickly regained his composure and responded in a deep voice.

This department change came suddenly, leaving Elvis unprepared, and even making him feel vaguely uneasy. Compared to his current position as head of logistics, the commercial department head position seemed to be a department transfer of the same level, but in reality, there were huge differences in terms of skimming profits and actual power.

Of course, more importantly, the importance of Green Meadow tribe intelligence accessed in the two positions was different. The army's war preparedness was definitely valued more by the Elven Kingdom, while intelligence on tribe commerce was somewhat less important to the Elven Kingdom.

However, the unease in his heart lessened when he saw the genuine dissatisfaction in the eyes of his surrounding colleagues. Most of the dozens of colleagues present had been rotated to different positions, even Trick's confidants, so it was obviously not just targeting him.

Fortunately, this year's Green Lake Town army size and war preparedness data had already been sent out. He still had a year to slowly find other ways to collect intelligence, and with the help of a few close associates he had placed in the logistics department, he thought carefully, and such a transfer might not bring much trouble to his mission.

"... Finally, starting today, our town will launch a rectification campaign, focusing on cracking down on corruption and eliminating laziness in the management system!!"

"... After you all go back, take advantage of this major management adjustment and use this rectification campaign to clear out some vacancies under your new positions, and promote your trusted subordinates to help. This can be considered my way of helping you open up your new positions."

Trick's voice reached everyone's ears, sounding relaxed and considerate, but in reality, the content contained in these words had already stirred up a shocking wave in the hearts of the managers and leaders below.

It turned out that in addition to the transfers of these mid-to-high-level personnel, a major rectification of various mid-to-low-level positions would inevitably follow Trick's words. The managers and leaders who had been transferred would definitely take advantage of this so-called rectification campaign to clean up the original subordinates in their new positions and replace them with their trusted members.

However, the original subordinates of the managers and leaders present would definitely not all be able to come over and continue to follow them. First, their positions were different, and the required professional knowledge was also different. Second, these subordinates might not be willing to leave their original positions and venture into new positions, after all, many middle-level managers were not young and really didn't have that kind of adventurous spirit and fighting spirit.

"Lord, I heard that Green Lake Town has recently been engaged in a so-called rectification campaign, and several high-level managers and dozens of chiefs have been kicked off the stage and become ordinary earth spirits."

As a long-time competitor, Facado's Namur Fortress was thousands of miles away from Green Lake Town, but his eyes and ears had never left Green Lake Town for a moment. Soon after Green Lake Town started the rectification campaign, Terris of Namur Fortress had already obtained the most detailed information and reported it to Lord Facado.

"Rectification campaign??? What tricks is he up to now?"

Facado narrowed his eyes, seemingly drowsy, but in reality, his expression was full of seriousness.

Although his age was similar to Trick's, and he was already heading towards old age, the habits he had cultivated over the years made him immediately interested when he heard about Green Lake Town.

"I heard that they are rectifying illegal and irregular members in Green Lake Town, and cleaning up those who don't do their jobs and embezzle money."

"Oh? Then tell me, how is the situation in our city compared to Green Lake? Do we need to carry out such a rectification?"

Facado slowly opened his eyes and asked his most trusted confidant.

"This... I will follow your instructions, Lord!!"

Terris's expression was slightly embarrassed. He really didn't have much say on this issue. If Facado hadn't considered their many years of friendship, he probably would have taken the opportunity to deal with this corrupt element, Trick, when he handled the spy case before.

"Follow my instructions?"

A cold light flashed in Facado's eyes, and he seemed to have already made a decision. When he raised his head again, the look in his eyes towards Terris was meaningful.

"We can't fall behind that guy Trick, it's time to rectify this bunch of bastards in the city."

"I'll leave this matter to you. Can you clean up those who don't have eyes?"

"Ah?"

Terris was slightly stunned, then immediately expressed his determination and firmly responded: "Your subordinate will definitely do it."

"Remember to bring Lokes and the others, let him follow you and learn well."

Facado nodded with satisfaction, and then took out a document and handed it to Terris: "The earth spirit talents above are the future hope of our Namur Fortress. See if there are suitable vacancies during the rectification, and put them in. It's time to let them train!!"

"Understood!!"

After hearing the name Lokes, Terris quickly realized that the Lord was paving the way for his descendants!

The earth spirit Lokes was Facado's second son. Compared to the eldest son, Ilya, who was dull and fond of martial arts, the second son, Lokes, perfectly inherited Facado's talent for intelligence. With the strict education he had received since childhood, Facado had high expectations for Lokes.

Although the power to choose the leaders of the two major strongholds had always been in the hands of the clan leader, Alan, Facado still believed that his child had a great chance of inheriting his mantle and becoming the next city lord candidate. What Lokes lacked now was perhaps the practice of his management skills, and he also didn't have his own team and connections yet.

Facado believed that Green Lake Town's large-scale cleaning of the town's mid-to-low-level chiefs was probably also paving the way for his successor.