The midday sun shone on the fence of the Aldor military camp, reflecting a blinding light.
Eugene dismounted, surrounded by ten heavily armored guards. His legs were a little weak. He had represented Abar on missions to other powers countless times, but never before had his heart been pounding like it was going to explode.
The endless camp, the neatly arranged cannons, the soldiers training in formation, the fluttering red dragon flag... everything reminded him: the master of this place has already trampled the grassland under his feet.
After being informed and searched, Eugene was led to a simple military tent.
The tent flap was lifted, and Paul Greiman, wearing an ordinary gray woolen cloak, stood alone before a table, looking at an open map of the steppe, with several guards and officials standing beside him.
"So young..." This was Eugene's first thought upon seeing Paul Greiman in person.
This was the first time Eugene had met Paul. Before the orcs invaded the kingdom of Aldor, he had never even heard of him, or rather, someone had mentioned him but he had forgotten.
At that time, the orcs were mainly investigating Crystal Radiance, Sentinel Legion, Giles... They could never have imagined that this unknown young lord would drive them out of Aldor and even lead an army to invade the grasslands.
Paul looked up, sized up the old orc for a moment, and asked, "What brings you here?"
Eugene swallowed hard and forced a bow: "I am Eugene, the Chief Administrator of Zarg, here on the orders of Great Chieftain Abar... to relay the Royal Tent's decision to you!"
"Oh? Please go ahead."
Cold sweat beaded on Eugene's forehead, and his voice involuntarily went dry: " The Great Chieftain said... the warriors of Zarg would rather die in battle than... surrender!"
"Hmm." Paul finally looked up, glancing at him indifferently. "Go back and tell Abar I understand."
Eugene stood frozen in place.
He expected to see anger, mockery, or at least a "you just wait and see" threat, but Paul simply turned back to look at the map, as if his previous comment was merely a weather remark.
Eugene staggered back two steps, bowed and took his leave, walked out of the tent, and mounted his horse with his guards, galloping all the way to Blackstone Fortress.
Inside the military tent, Paul rolled up the map, tossed it onto the table, and said in a deep voice, "Let's have a meeting of all the generals."
Fifteen minutes later, the tent was full of people: Schroeder, Andrew, Claude, Carter Holly, Derrick... and intelligence officer Derson Plante.
"There's something I need to inform you all about." Deson placed a thin stack of letters on the table, his voice low and clear:
"I just received intelligence from my informant that a caravan from the Gabella Empire is traveling across the grasslands, and the wagons are full of provisions, armor, and weapons for the Blackstone Fortress. Antonio has officially extended a helping hand to the orcs."
The expressions of the people inside the tent changed slightly, but no one panicked.
Schroeder tapped the table: "Is this intelligence reliable?"
Deson nodded in confirmation: "The orcs of the Mastiff Clan can still be trusted, especially now that the Royal Tent is on the verge of defeat. They shouldn't dare to deceive us."
The crackling charcoal fire in the brazier inside the tent cast flickering light on everyone's faces.
Claude frowned and tapped the edge of the table: " The weapons Gabella sent to support the orcs... if they're the same kind they used against the Papacy, wouldn't they pose a threat to us? I heard that their Fire Dragon Legion used these things to blast the Papacy's War Elephant Legion to pieces, and even the paladins' heavy armor couldn't stop them."
Paul looked up at Deson, who had fallen silent.
" Deson, you used to be with the Arcane Society. How much do you know about those magical weapons?"
Deson stood up, looking slightly embarrassed.
As the Papacy suffered a crushing defeat in the war against Gabella, spellcasters across the land became increasingly daring, and vendors could be found secretly selling potions on the streets of Lakeheart Town, though the authenticity of these potions was uncertain.
Deson's identity as a mage remains a secret, but it has been widely known within Lakeheart Town's upper echelons; at least those present today are aware of it.
He bowed his head in apology, his voice filled with regret:
" Lord Glaeman, I'm sorry. When I left the Arcane Society, the Fire Dragon Legion's armament program had just begun. Perhaps you should ask Ms. Marianna; she was the one who actually turned them into standard military equipment."
The people inside the tent listened with varying expressions.
Paul was somewhat disappointed that Mariana wasn't around at the moment.
Inside the tent, the threat of magical weapons was being discussed when a guard outside shouted, "Report!"
"What's up?"
"My lord! A messenger from Sentinel Legion has arrived. He is in a great hurry and says he has important business to discuss with you immediately!"
Paul's brow twitched: "Let him in."
He knew the Sentinel Legion was heading towards the oasis in the Redstone Desert, but what urgent matter could it be? Abar was already overwhelmed with problems, and Paul didn't think he had time to worry about those distant protectorates.
A moment later, a disheveled young knight was brought in and strode in. His Sentinel Legion badge on his chest was stained with blood and dust. He was swaying and about to collapse, but he still knelt heavily on one knee and held up a crumpled wax-sealed urgent letter in his hands.
" Sir Colin... ordered me to deliver it to Marquis personally!"
Paul took it, tore off the sealing wax, pulled out the thin paper inside, and his expression changed drastically after just one glance.
Everyone inside the tent tensed up.
The messenger looked up, ashamed, and said, "Seven days ago...at Dalos Plains, we...were defeated!"
He explained how Gabella had interfered with the Ausser Army's operations in the Redstone Desert.
" Sir Colin led us on a long march, but unexpectedly... during the battle, the Free Men suddenly rebelled and attacked the artillery positions from behind! Our allied forces also collapsed..."
" Gabella has deployed its magic legion. Their Fire Crossbows are no less powerful than our firearms in terms of range, accuracy, and firepower! The explosive fireballs fired by the Thunder Hammer ballistae can topple a 12-pounder cannon with a single shot!"
"The legion has suffered more than half its casualties! Of the thirty-four Cannons, less than twenty were brought back... Sir Colin led us out of the encirclement, fighting our way west, all the way to Granite Duchy!"
Paul circulated Colin's letter among the generals, and silence fell over the tent.
" The Free Men have betrayed us…" he repeated softly, as if savoring the weight of those four words. He recalled the almost humiliating reply the leader of the Free Men had given him.
"It seems that His Majesty the Emperor's reach extends further than we imagined."
Paul stood up, looked at the lone marker for Blackstone Fortress on the map, and lightly tapped it with his fingertip:
" Aldor's homeland is under constant threat from Gabella, and the fighting on the plains needs to end as soon as possible! We cannot allow Abar any chance to turn the tide!"