Chapter 150 : Chapter 150

Chapter 150. The Enemy at the Gates

Thorne ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍City, at the first light of dawn.

Pale ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍golden sunlight tore through the night and scattered across the towering walls of Dragon Gate, dispelling some of the chill.

Eli ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍leaned against the cold battlement wall, half-sitting atop the city wall.

One ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of his legs was casually bent, while the other dangled outside the wall, swaying lightly.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍unconsciously pinched a small stone in his hand, his gaze somewhat unfocused as he looked at the gradually awakening streets inside the city. Yet his thoughts had already flown far into the distance.

Obsidian ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Territory… I wonder how Buck and the others are preparing. Is the territory stable?

And… this feeling of entrusting his own safety to others was not pleasant.

He sighed softly and flicked the stone in his hand, watching it draw an arc and fall into the busy crowd below without causing the slightest ripple.

Over the past few days, although he had not obtained any relevant intelligence, he had not been idle either.

Relying on Lucius’s appointment, as well as some necessary methods,

such as rewarding well-trained soldiers with extra meat, eating and chatting with low-ranking officers, and personally instructing several talented young archers,

he had successfully taken over and initially integrated the five hundred ranged archers.

He had also left an impression among the defenders throughout Dragon Gate’s defensive zone.

At this moment, a young officer named Helen jogged up onto the city wall.

He was one of the archer officers Eli had promoted over the past few days. He was clever in handling matters, and his eyesight was unexpectedly good.

He was carrying two wooden bowls in his hands, filled with steaming oatmeal porridge and a piece of black bread.

“Hehe, you really are here. Here, Lord Eli, eat something first.”

Helen handed one portion of food over, his face carrying respect and a little concern.

Eli returned from his thoughts, and a gentle smile appeared on his face as he accepted the wooden bowl and bread. “Thank you, Helen.”

“Hehe, Lord Eli, you are too polite.” Helen scratched his head and asked with some curiosity,

“Why do you often like staying in this spot? The view is good, but the wind is rather strong too.”

Eli stirred the oatmeal porridge in the bowl with a wooden spoon and answered casually,

“Mm… because from here, I can see farther, and I can see more clearly…”

He had only spoken halfway when his voice abruptly stopped.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning sharp as a hawk’s as he looked toward the distant horizon outside the city.

There, several tiny black dots were moving toward Thorne City at a panicked speed.

Behind them, the Golden Lion banner that had been raised with difficulty could vaguely be seen.

The puzzled Helen followed Eli’s gaze and also saw those black dots.

“My lord… are those… our scouts returning? Why are they running so urgently…”

“Helen!” Eli’s voice instantly became solemn.

Helen trembled at the sound and immediately straightened by instinct, standing like a javelin. “Here!”

“Report to Count Quintus immediately! Hurry!”

“Yes, my lord!” Helen realized the seriousness of the situation and had no time to care about the food in his hands.

He put the wooden bowl on the ground, turned, and sprinted toward the gate tower command post at the fastest speed possible.

Eli then shouted loudly toward the infantry captain responsible for this section of the defense at another part of the wall. “Captain Carrick!”

A burly middle-aged officer wearing chain mail immediately ran over. “Lord Eli!”

“Order all soldiers to immediately enter the highest state of alert!

At the same time, immediately send people into the city and notify all soldiers in our defensive zone to gather and stand by at the designated area below the wall!”

“Yes, my lord!” Captain Carrick’s expression turned solemn. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately turned and went to carry out the order.

The section of the city wall that had still carried some morning sluggishness instantly erupted like cold water thrown into boiling oil.

The soldiers grabbed the weapons beside them one after another and gathered in their assigned areas.

The archers and crossbowmen quickly checked their bowstrings and placed arrows within easy reach in front of them.

Eli himself hurried along the wall-walk for a stretch and reached the area directly above the gate tower facing the main road outside the city.

He shouted to the nearby soldiers on duty, “Prepare the hoist baskets! Quickly! Bring our scouts back up!”

“Yes, Lord Eli!” The soldiers also immediately began moving.

Several men worked together to push several heavy wicker hoist baskets used to lift supplies and personnel to the edge of the battlement, preparing to lower them.

At this moment, the scouts outside the city had already rushed desperately beneath the wall.

Now that they were close, Eli could even see the lingering terror on their faces and the thick white breath spraying from their horses’ mouths and noses.

The leader was Count Quintus’s nephew, the young Varik Quintus.

He raised his head and shouted hoarsely toward the wall while gasping for breath.

“Quick! Open the gate! No! The baskets! Eli! Hurry and let us up! Gather the troops! The enemy! The enemy is here!”

“Come up quickly!” Eli leaned over the battlement and shouted down, while waving for the soldiers operating the hoist baskets to move faster.

The scouts hurriedly abandoned their horses, which were so exhausted they had almost lost all strength, and scrambled into the lowered baskets in a panic.

The soldiers on the wall shouted in rhythm and worked together to quickly turn the windlass.

They pulled the hoist baskets up along with the scouts inside, who were still shaken.

Eli reached out and hauled the deathly pale Varik out of the basket, helping him stand steady.

“Varik! Calm down! What did you see?”

Varik’s lips trembled as he answered. “Eli! Men! So many men! There are people everywhere!”

“How many?”

“Very… very many.”

Eli frowned tightly, knowing that he would not be able to ask this young master for any specific intelligence.

His gaze turned toward the other scouts, and one of them stood with some hesitation and said,

“My lord, Lord Varik caused a disturbance, and we… did not have time to observe carefully…”

Eli nodded helplessly. Then he grabbed Varik’s arm and half-dragged, half-pulled him as he strode toward the command post.

At the same time, he instructed the nearby soldiers, “Take these brothers down and get them some hot soup. Let them rest for a while!”

He then looked at another familiar soldier. “Jack!

You, head to Lion Gate at once and warn Lord Lucius as quickly as possible!

Tell him that the scouts at Dragon Gate have reported the discovery of a large-scale enemy force approaching! Hurry!”

“Yes, Lord Eli!” The messenger named Jack accepted the order loudly, then turned and rushed down the wall like a gust of wind.

Eli pulled the dazed Varik through the corridor, which had already begun to stir with commotion, and entered the command room directly.

Inside the room, the atmosphere was grave. Count Quintus stood before the map, his face ashen.

Several main officers had also gathered there, all with tension on their faces.

“Lord Quintus!” Eli released Varik and stepped forward.

“Varik and the others have returned. The situation is not good.”

Count Quintus’s sharp gaze immediately shot toward his nephew.

“Varik! What did you see? How many enemies are there? How far away are they? What is their troop composition? Do they have siege equipment?!”

Pierced by his uncle’s gaze, Varik became even more panicked and stammered,

“Uncle… I… we saw many people… very many… there were many banners too… they were not far behind us…”

“You fool!” Count Quintus was so furious that he slammed a palm onto the table, producing a loud bang.

“What I want is specific numbers! Distance! Formation!

The men you brought out were all veterans. How did you bring back such useless news? I should never have softened my heart and sent you!”

Varik lowered his head under the scolding. His face was filled with shame and fear, and he almost began to cry.

Seeing this, Eli spoke at the right time. “Lord Quintus, now is not the time to pursue responsibility.

I have already sent people to gather the reserve forces in the rear of our defensive zone, and I have sent someone to warn Lord Lucius.

No matter what, there is nothing wrong with making all possible preparations to meet the enemy first.”

Count Quintus took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger. His gaze returned to its usual calm, for he knew Eli was right.

“Captain Victor!”

“Here!” an officer responsible for the wall defense immediately answered.

“Go at once and order the soldiers on every section of the wall to maintain the highest state of alert! Without orders, no one is allowed to leave their post without authorization!”

“Yes!”

“Sergeant Major Avey!”

“Here!” a stout officer responsible for logistics and equipment roared.

“Take your men and immediately move all the rolling logs, throwing stones, and fire oil from the warehouses to the designated positions on the city walls! Quickly!”

“Understood!”

“Baron Ron! Adjutant Wick!”

Ron and another officer immediately stepped forward. “Here!”

“You two will immediately go to the gathering point for our defensive zone inside the city.

Lead all forces and, according to the defensive plan we prepared in advance, assign them to the designated positions behind each section of the wall and inside the city gate!

Ron, once the arrangements are complete, return to me at once and stand ready for orders!”

“Yes!” The two accepted the order and quickly left.

Afterward, Count Quintus turned his gaze toward Eli, and his tone softened somewhat. “Eli.”

“Here.”

“Go gather all of your ranged forces and assign them to the shooting positions across the walls according to what we discussed before.

Remember, without my order, you are not allowed to loose arrows on your own!

But once my order is given, I want to see an arrow rain covering the designated area! Do you understand?”

“Understood!”

Count Quintus finally swept his gaze over all the officers inside the command room. His eyes passed over every face, whether young or weathered.

“Everyone! I will not waste words. Behind us is Thorne City!

Inside the city are our families, our property, and the land we have guarded for generations!

Decades ago, centuries ago, our grandfathers and fathers stood here and repelled countless invading enemies!

Today, it is our turn!”

He paused, then abruptly raised his voice like the low roar of a lion.

“In this battle, there is no retreat! We must defend Dragon Gate at all costs!

For the Western Frontier! For La Roche! For our honor as soldiers!”

“Yes!”

All the officers straightened their chests at the same time and struck their right fists heavily against the armor over their left breasts, producing a dull and orderly impact.

“For honor!”