Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

Chapter 138 Polly's Plan

"That was the dumbest decision they ever made - waking up that insensitive mother."

"Is that the 'aunt' you were talking about?" Ron guessed.

For hags, "Aunt" or "Grandma" is a title of honor rather than a true blood connection. The oldest, wisest, and most powerful hags are called "Grandma" by other hags, and some of them are as powerful as some of the Supreme Goblins; lower-ranking but still respected hags are called "Aunt", and the status of an "Aunt" can be achieved by living long enough, being a member of a powerful hag coven, serving a "Grandma" directly, or having many descendants.

The mother that Polly was referring to was most likely such an "aunt".

"No, my aunt is another surviving hag, and a member of the coven I'm in now. My mother is secretly controlling and seducing her, exploiting most of the power she has gained."

Polly shook her head and gritted her teeth, "As for us sisters, we will suffer even more severe double exploitation. Even in this situation, stupid Sally is still unwilling to cooperate with me to overthrow them. She even betrayed me, causing my aunt to take away all my belongings and let me sink in the swamp to die!"

"That's too short-sighted, isn't it?" Sylvia frowned. "What do you mean by cooperating with her? To overthrow Auntie together? Or to overthrow your mother?"

"Together? No, no, no," Polly frowned, "I want her to give me all her resources so that I can complete the task of overthrowing my mother and then take over the control of Aunt."

"It's a gathering of three witches, and you want three resources by yourself. No wonder your sister would go after you." Polly's train of thought completely refreshed Ron's understanding of this species. What was she thinking?
"You don't think Sally doesn't think so, do you?" Polly curled her lips in disdain. "She must have the same idea as me. I just acted first!"

"Unfortunately, the power of 'Aunt' and my mother is far beyond my imagination. I can't resist them..."

"What do you think they'll do next?" Ron asked. "Will someone else be found to fill the vacant seat at the assembly? Or will your mother step out from behind the scenes and directly exploit her sisters and your sister?"

"The vacant seat at the assembly will need to be filled, but it won't be quick, as it's hard to find a replacement around here right now," Polly said. "As for my mother, she's not in the right shape and won't come out on her own - even I haven't seen her much since that incident."

"Maybe if I pretend to admit my mistake, I can get back into the rally."

"is it possible?"

"They have no choice," Polly snorted, "but before that, could you do me a favor and remove the shackles from my feet?"

"This damn thing is keeping me from using my own powers. I can't open it!"

This is a big problem for the controlled hag, but it is no big deal for outsiders, just a matter of unlocking with a knocking spell.

"Ah, I feel refreshed!"

As the restraints were removed, Polly's aura began to become unpredictable; "I am shocked by your innocence and stupidity, maybe we can make a deal?" The witch laughed strangely, and waved her hands to create all kinds of horrifying or bright environments in the hut to show her current strength, but she did not attack Ron and others or show any hostility.

"What deal?" The deals made by witches usually only benefit themselves, but it's okay to just listen.

"You pretend to be my servants, and I will offer you to Auntie and my sister as an apology," Polly's eyes flashed with cunning and sinisterness, "When they lose their vigilance, you will join me in attacking and killing them!"

"I don't care about this kind of 'assembly' of oppression and exploitation. I will not become a vassal of others, even my mother and sisters!"

A hag in a gathering is usually much stronger than an independent hag. Polly's decision is tantamount to giving up the pursuit of power. It is conceivable how much unfair treatment she has suffered before.

"This is a very dangerous thing. Not counting your sister, who knows how powerful two ghost women who have lived for a long time are?" Ivy frowned, "And what if you regret it after you succeed?"

"I don't have the habit of breaking contracts, and I don't want anyone who trades with me to have that habit either." Polly said in a deep voice. She took out an old trading document from the bookcase. "This was signed between me and a passing merchant. I generously helped his terminally ill child recover, and asked him to bring me magic materials from other places every year."

"He ungratefully left and never came back, so his child is now in my basement, suffering from a terminal disease and unable to die."

Hags vary from one to the next. Some will take bets as part of a deal to increase risk and reward; some will never volunteer information, only answer questions; and some will offer generous terms, but the cost of breaking them is very high. Polly clearly belongs to the third category.

She might induce traders to default, but if they were able to avoid the various traps, they would indeed receive considerable compensation from her.

"If you can really help me complete my revenge plan, I promise not to harass your people forever - including unborn fetuses; we can coexist peacefully, don't mess with me, I will pretend you don't exist."

"I can't make you any promises right now," Ron put down his teacup. "We lack too much information. I can't risk the lives of my family."

"And speaking of which, we just saved your life, what are you giving us in return? Come to your cabin for tea and snacks?"

"It's hard for me to trust you like this."

"Okay, young man, I admit that what you said makes some sense - wait a moment, I will give you a reward." Polly looked at Ron with an uncertain expression, and finally motioned for Ron and the others to wait for a moment, and disappeared in a cloud of fluorescent powder.

"Take this and leave." After a while, the witch reappeared in front of everyone and handed Ron a hand mirror. "On every full moon night, you can talk to me for an hour through it; and if you break it, it will be regarded as you have released a thunder summoning spell."

"There are still five days until the full moon night of this month. You have plenty of time to go back and consider my deal. If you agree, we can discuss the details further."

(End of this chapter)