From Slave to King: My Rebate System Built Me a Kingdom With Beauties!-Chapter 197: SOS! [FIXED]

Gribnox rushed to the mine without hesitation, not even taking the time to properly dress or gather supplies beyond throwing on clothes and grabbing his staff. He knew logically there was a chance his son was simply in his head, that the vivid nightmare was just a dream born from the boy’s unusual development and overactive imagination. Children had nightmares all the time—it was natural, expected, nothing to panic over.

But it couldn’t be a coincidence. Not with how specific Grimgor had been, not with the absolute certainty in those golden eyes, not with the way his small body had trembled with conviction rather than confusion. The details were too precise—white and cold, magic holding him, something dark approaching. Those weren’t the vague terrors of normal childhood dreams but specific imagery that suggested genuine vision.

Naz supported his decision immediately and without reservation because she knew how important Byung was to their survival, to the entire settlement’s prosperity and future. The goblin king had given them safety, purpose, a chance at life beyond mere subsistence. They had nothing to lose by making sure this was just a dream, by verifying that Byung was fine and their son had simply experienced an unusually vivid nightmare. Better to look foolish rushing to check on someone who didn’t need help than to ignore a genuine warning and live with the consequences.

The truth was, they were both deeply uneasy with what their son had said. Things had been going well lately—almost too well, with abundant harvests, successful training, the hybrid child thriving beyond all expectations. That very prosperity made them nervous, waiting for the other shoe to drop. And there was a very real chance this was not just a vision born from imagination but something more, something connected to whatever bond had been forged when Naz consumed Byung’s blood during her transformation.

Gribnox saddled the farm’s best horse with hands that shook slightly from adrenaline, the animal snorting at being woken up but responding to his urgency. He arrived at the mine in just over an hour, making exceptional time thanks to the well-fed horse at his disposal and the improved roads that Byung’s administration had constructed. What used to take half a day of careful navigation through rough terrain now required barely more than an hour of steady riding on paths that were maintained, marked, and patrolled for safety.

He rode directly to the mine entrance, the horse’s hooves clattering on stone as they approached the fortified gates. The goblins on watch duty recognized him immediately—Gribnox was well-known as one of Byung’s inner circle, the father of the miracle child, someone who commanded respect despite his formerly soft appearance.

The goblins greeted him warmly, granting him entry without question or delay. "Gribnox! Welcome back! It’s been weeks since we’ve seen you at the settlement!"

"Is everything well at the farm?" another guard asked, genuine concern in his voice. The farm’s productivity was crucial to everyone’s wellbeing.

"The farm is fine," Gribnox assured them quickly, dismounting and handing the reins to a stable hand who materialized to care for the horse. "I need to see Byung. Is he available?"

The guards exchanged glances but gestured him through. "You’ll have to check with Murkfang or Maui. They’ll know the king’s schedule better than us."

Gribnox walked through the entrance into the settlement proper, and his eyes widened with genuine surprise at what he saw. There were plenty of female orcs here, far more than he’d seen during his last visit weeks ago. They were mingling with the goblins in the communal areas—chatting, laughing, working together on various tasks with an ease that suggested established routine rather than new arrangement. The female orcs moved through the space with the confidence of people who belonged, who had claimed this place as their own. He didn’t know the Stonehide tribe had so many females.

They were all stunning in their own ways, each looking more impressive than the one he had just passed. Some had scars that told stories of survival, others had softer features that suggested they hadn’t seen as much combat, but all carried themselves with the poise and strength that characterized their people. Gribnox found himself staring a bit too long, his eyes tracking a particularly tall orc woman with intricate braids before—

He felt a hand clap down on his shoulder with enough force to make him stumble forward a step. Gribnox spun, staff half-raised defensively before recognizing the grinning face behind him.

"Gribnox, my friend!" Murkfang laughed, his scarred goblin features splitting into genuine pleasure at seeing his old companion.

"You never change, do you? Still getting distracted by pretty faces even when you’ve got Naz waiting for you back home!"

Gribnox felt heat rise to his cheeks, embarrassment mixing with relief at seeing a familiar friend. "Murkfang! I wasn’t—I mean, I was just surprised to see so many—"

"Relax, relax," Murkfang waved dismissively, still grinning. "I’m just giving you shit. It’s good to see you! How long has it been? A month?"

"About three weeks," Gribnox confirmed, relaxing slightly and returning the smile despite his urgency. "Training with Naz has kept me at the farm mostly. The boy keeps us busy too."

Murkfang was taken back by his features but didn’t comment about it, not yet at least.

"How is the little miracle?" Murkfang asked with genuine interest. "Still growing faster than weeds?"

"Faster than should be possible," Gribnox admitted. "He’s already speaking in full sentences, asking questions that would challenge adults. It’s... unsettling sometimes, but amazing."

They proceeded to have a little back and forth, catching up on the past weeks with the easy familiarity of old friends who had survived terrible things together. Murkfang shared updates about the settlement’s expansion, the influx of Stonehide orcs, the new forges being constructed. Gribnox talked about the farm’s yields, his training progress, the strange quirks of raising a hybrid child who seemed to learn everything instantly.

But after a few minutes of pleasant conversation, Murkfang noticed the tension underlying Gribnox’s demeanor—the way his eyes kept darting around, the slight tremor in his hands, the forced quality of his casual tone. "You didn’t ride all this way just to catch up with me," he observed shrewdly. "What’s wrong? What do you need?"

Murkfang led him toward his dwelling as he spoke—a modest home near the administrative center, better than most but not ostentatious. They walked through streets that had transformed dramatically since Gribnox had last visited, now sporting proper drainage, organized layouts, even decorative elements that suggested community pride.

"I’m here to see Byung," Gribnox said as they reached Murkfang’s door. "It’s urgent. I know it’s late, but—"

Murkfang shook his head, opening the door and gesturing Gribnox inside. "I haven’t seen Byung since yesterday evening, actually. He’s been keeping odd hours lately. But Maui would know—she watches his movements more carefully than anyone."

"Borkle!" Murkfang called toward a shadow near the doorway that Gribnox hadn’t noticed. "Get Maui. Now. Tell her Gribnox is here asking about Byung urgently."

A smaller goblin materialized from the shadows, someone who had been standing so still behind the door that even Gribnox’s improved awareness hadn’t registered his presence. Borkle nodded once and vanished into the evening, moving with the speed of someone who understood the gravity in Murkfang’s tone.

Within minutes, the door opened again and Maui strode in with the controlled urgency of a warrior responding to potential crisis. Her green eyes swept the room, taking in Gribnox’s pale, anxious face and Murkfang’s concerned expression. "What’s wrong? Why are you looking for Byung at this hour?"

"When did you last see him?" Gribnox asked immediately, cutting straight to the point. "Where is he?"

Maui’s expression shifted to something more guarded. "I saw him leave early this morning, before dawn. He left alone, wouldn’t tell me where he was going. Just said he had something important to handle and would return when it was done." She paused, studying Gribnox’s face. "Why? What happened?"

Gribnox felt his stomach drop, cold dread flooding through him. He glanced out a window and saw that the sun was already setting, painting the sky in oranges and purples that marked day’s end. If Byung had left in the morning and it was now evening, that meant he’d been gone for twelve, maybe fourteen hours.

This was when Gribnox made his decision, the words tumbling out before he could second-guess himself. "My son had a dream tonight. A vision. He woke up screaming, said Byung was in trouble—trapped somewhere white and cold, magic holding him, something dark coming for him."

The casual atmosphere evaporated instantly. Maui’s face went rigid, her tactical mind immediately shifting into crisis mode. Murkfang’s expression turned pale—as pale as green goblin skin could manage.

"Then this cannot be a coincidence," Maui said with immediate certainty, her voice hard and controlled. "Byung doesn’t just disappear without contingencies. He’s too careful, too strategic. And your son having specific visions about him being trapped?" She turned to Murkfang. "Start gathering our best trackers quietly—I don’t want to cause panic, but we need to be ready to move."

"Where would we even search?" Gribnox asked, frustration and fear making his voice crack. "If he didn’t tell you where he went—"

"He told me nothing," Maui admitted, her jaw tight with barely controlled anger—at herself for not pressing harder, at Byung for his secrecy, at the situation. "But he must have left some clue. Byung is too smart to vanish completely without leaving breadcrumbs for exactly this kind of emergency."

"His room," she continued, already moving toward the door. "If he left indications of where he went, they’ll be there. Small things—maps left out, supplies missing, anything that suggests direction or purpose."

"And if there’s nothing?" Gribnox pressed.

Maui’s green eyes flashed with determination. "Then we send out search parties to locate him anyway. We have Stonehide trackers now who can follow trails days old. If we need to cover every mile between here and the horizon, then so be it. Byung saved all of us—we don’t abandon him when he needs us."

As they hurried through the settlement toward Byung’s quarters, Gribnox found himself praying to gods he didn’t believe in that his son’s vision was wrong, was just imagination.

But deep in his gut, he knew better. Grimgor had seen something real.

A few weeks ago, they would have all dismissed all of this as nonsense but they all witnessed Byung come back to life and transform into a creature that shouldn’t exist.

They couldn’t rule out anything but there was one thing they were all certain of.

Byung was running out of time.