Mr. Borukh is not called 'Borukh' with the honorific 'Mr.', but his entire name is Mr. Borukh. Matching this name, he seems to be born for it. Brakada was just a small relay station on the border before, but under his governance, it has developed into a fairly large town in just a few years. He also rose from an official as small as a fluff of chicken down to become the administrator of a town.

  Mr. Porukan is now very worried. He sat on that big chair with his hands propping up his own head, staring blankly.

  That band of thieves disguised as a merchant caravan has been gone for over a month now. Lord Borukhin stood at the gate and watched them leave, seeing Asa and Xiao Yi dressed up as merchants mixed in with them.

  It would take about twenty days of travel westward to cross the Barbarian Highlands and reach the western nations, but that was only the narrowest part of the southern end. In the north, there were still vast lands surrounded by the Lizard Marshes and the Sandfist Mountains. However, there were no valuable resources or relics worth exploring, just a wilderness scattered with forests, hills, and roaming beasts. Since the imperial army swept through the beastman tribes several years ago, hardly anyone had set foot in that place. If the beastmen really wanted to build a city-state, it was most likely to be there. From a temporal perspective, they should have arrived by now.

  What is the situation there, really? Is it a relatively rational country? What attitude will the beastmen have towards the empire that has been sweeping them away all along? He hopes Asa can come back soon. Although unlikely, he hopes the news brought back will bring some turning point to the impending war.

  Footsteps echoed down the corridor. There must have been several people, as someone was shouting, but only one set of footsteps could be heard. This sound alone covered all the other footsteps with its majestic momentum. The stride was large, the landing was loud, and it was a kind of heavy, steady thud, from which the enormity of the person's physique and aura could be inferred.

  Mr. Borukan sighed, what was supposed to come would eventually come, it's just that he didn't expect it to be so soon.

  The door was pushed open, or rather, it should be said that it was knocked open. The two doors had just opened and immediately rebounded against the wall with a loud "bang". A huge figure then appeared in the room.

  If someone doesn't know how to write the word "WeiMeng", just take a look at this person and they will immediately understand. This person seems to be transformed from the concept of "WeiMeng" itself, with every part of their body filled with the fierce and powerful aura of a warrior, from the top of their head to the soles of their feet. A golden yellow hair flows out of their helmet and mixes with their equally golden yellow sideburns, while the scars on their face blend together with the marks of time, making it seem like war rather than age has aged this person. With a massive body that is one head taller and one shoulder wider than ordinary people, they wear an improved steel armor suit that only protects the important parts of their body, leaving other areas completely exposed, revealing rock-like muscles with scars from knives and axes. At their waist hangs two double-bladed axes that ordinary people would struggle to lift.

  Borogan waved his hand at the several city hall people who followed behind, telling them to leave. This person had burst in without a word, and they hadn't been able to stop him. Borogan stood up, nodded and said: "Hello, General Sanders."

  "I'm not well." General Sanders stared bluntly at Lord Porukan. "I came from the southern border two thousand miles away, and I rode ten fast horses to death. I'm tired and in a bad mood, so I'm not well."

  "Where is your troop? Do you want to take a rest first..."

  The general looked indeed very tired, but even a more exhausted lion was full of majesty and killing intent. "I've already told you: I'm not well. That means don't say those polite nonsense."

  Mr. Boru nodded, he had been in charge of the relay station here for ten years and was very familiar with the general's temper, knowing that it was best to follow his words in this situation.

  "Do you know why I'm in such a hurry to get here?"

  "I don't know."

  "I heard some strange rumors about the western wilderness highlands, I heard that a beastman city-state is being built there."

  "I know."

  "Do you know about Captain Sanders of the Holy Knights recruiting mercenaries in your city half a year ago?"

  "I know."

  "Do you know why he wants to recruit mercenaries?" The general asked repeatedly, his voice getting lower with each question.

  "I don't know." It seems like Lord Borukai can only say these few words now.

  "Did you hear anything about him and his unit later on?"

  "No."

  "None?" The general's two flame-shaped eyebrows converged into a ball, his voice like a fierce beast growling low. "Then do you know what that unit is going to do?"

  "I don't know."

  "That was the Grand Master of the Holy Knights and I who secretly dispatched him to the western wilderness to scout out the movements of the beastmen. But within half a year, I haven't received any news from them, and now I hear that the beastmen have already established a city-state in the highlands." The general's voice sounded like a lion roaring. "In my last letter, it only said that you refused to lend him your soldiers, so he had no choice but to recruit mercenaries here. And yet, such a group of people disappeared around your town, and you knew nothing about it?" The general stared at Lord Borukai's face, asking word by word. "Explain this to me."

  Baragorn took a deep breath and explained slowly and in an orderly fashion: "Officer Sanders didn't tell me what task he was going to carry out, he just asked me to lend him the city's guard troops, but he didn't have any relevant documents, so I didn't hand over the troops. He gathered his soldiers and recruited mercenaries together and entered the depths of the Barbarian Highlands, which is really too far away, so we had no contact with them at all. I thought they returned to the Empire from elsewhere later, so I didn't pay attention to it. As for the beastman establishing a city-state...I only heard about it recently."

  The general stared at Lord Borukan in silence for a while, then asked: "Just because there is no such document, you are not willing to hand over the troops to him? You should know that the title of the Holy Knights' team leader is much higher than yours, and what is more important than the military mission related to national security?"

  Mr. Porukan said, "No matter what task he says he wants to perform, without procedures, it is just a private request, and I cannot hand over the troops to others because of the height of official positions. I must maintain local law and order, I am the local official of this town."

  With a loud crash, the axe that had been hanging from the general's waist was now lodged in the office desk, and the sturdy wooden table collapsed entirely. "You damn officials!" The general seemed to want to tear the short man in front of him to shreds with his voice. "If it weren't for us soldiers fighting desperately on the front lines, you dog officials wouldn't have the chance to play with power in the back. It's all thanks to us soldiers that the people on the border don't have to suffer from those beastly invasions, and the trade routes to the west can flow smoothly. Your wealth and glory are all bought with the lives of our soldiers, do you know that? But it's precisely because of dog officials like you who only care about power that I was tied up in that damned southern place and couldn't come over, so he had to go recruit some mercenaries to scout ahead, but there's been no news from them for half a year... those beastly people have even established a city-state next to our empire..."

  The axe had only chopped into the center of the office desk, but the entire table, including the lowest corner, was pulverized, as if it were just a decoration made of flour. Lord Borukin stared at the axe in front of his nose, and if this thing had fallen another foot forward, he would have been mixed with the wood shavings on the ground, sweat dripping down his chin.

  The general glared at him, his killing intent and grief swirling in his eyes before finally returning to the depths of his pupils. He slowly withdrew his hand and rehung the axe at his waist, pulling out a document from his chest and flinging it onto Borukada's face. "This is the document you wanted. Now that the Empire has entered war, all matters on the border frontlines are under my full authority. Trade with the West will be suspended immediately, and Brakada will be used as a military base. You are no longer the official of this town."

  "Already Duke Mlak's envoy has gone to that city-state to gather information, if we wait for them to bring back the news perhaps there is no need to go to war..." said Lord Borukh.

  "I never repeat my orders." The general's eyes twitched, showing that his patience had reached its limit. "I'm telling you for the last time, I'm in a bad mood. Get out."

  Mr. Borukan remained silent, quietly picking up the scattered documents on the ground, turned around and stopped at the door, saying in a low voice: "I deeply apologize and regret what happened to your son, but I had to do that, it's also my duty."

  The general remained standing in the middle of the room, as still as a stone statue. The sound of Mr. Porukhin's footsteps grew fainter and fainter down the corridor, followed by his voice calling out to other employees at City Hall.

  The general slowly walked over to the chair and sat down, burying his face in his hands. The long journey and the great fluctuations of emotion had made him seem to age ten years all at once.

  Everything changed two years ago when the current emperor ascended to the throne and replaced the prime minister. After the new emperor's accession, an imperial edict arrived, stating that the Western regions had been pacified and no longer required a large military presence, while several countries in the South were becoming restless. The order was given to transfer all troops to the South, and since this region did not share borders with other nations, there was no need to leave any troops behind; local guards would suffice.

  He knew it was the intention of the new prime minister as soon as he received this order. There were not a few people in his family who had long been eager for the trade route to Western countries, and he had always been at odds with these people, often strictly checking their merchant teams. Of course, they would not let him continue to guard there. Never mind, he has never been very interested in politics, since the imperial edict said to transfer the troops to the south, then he will do so.

  Half a year ago, the son of the captain of the Holy Knights brought a secret letter from Roland, saying that there seemed to be beastmen active again on the western border's desolate highlands and asked him to investigate.

  However, due to the deterioration of relations with several southern countries, war could break out at any time, and the imperial court had ordered that no troops be withdrawn. He had petitioned the imperial court several times to increase appropriations in order to dispatch troops to garrison the west, but there was no response whatsoever, not to mention that someone was playing tricks on him, which made him deeply resentful of those politicians. However, no matter how angry he got, he was after all a military man and could not move without orders.

  The Knights Templar are the empire's most elite troops, and can only be deployed with the simultaneous consent of both the Emperor and the Church. Therefore, Roland could only secretly send people to investigate this time, but it was not possible for the investigating personnel to go without any training or preparation, as the wilderness is too vast and too dangerous, requiring a considerable number of troops to conduct a thorough reconnaissance. The politicians in the court, led by the Erni family, have always been trying to interfere with the military, so they have been working hard to deal with Roland and other military leaders through political means. This beastman's news was only heard by Roland from a small path, without any basis, if they arbitrarily mobilize troops and make things public, it would be easy for those people to seize the handle.

  Although he didn't quite believe that the beastmen, who had been almost exterminated by him, would make any moves, he also knew that Roland wasn't one to make a big deal out of nothing. So, he quietly withdrew some soldiers from his own troops and let his son take them west to gather some local troops to go on reconnaissance together. But this time, it was like throwing a stone into the ocean, and there was no news for half a year. With the heavy responsibility of guarding the border, he naturally didn't dare to leave his post, and no matter how hard he tried to find out what happened, there was no result, until finally Roland got hold of conclusive evidence and reported it to the imperial court, then an imperial edict came down saying that the beastmen on the western highlands had established a city-state, ordering him to immediately dispatch troops to the west.

  As soon as he received this news, he knew that his son had died at the hands of the beast people. He was his youngest and last son.

  No matter what price is paid, all beastmen must be killed off completely.

  This was a vow he had made more than twenty years ago, when he had silently invoked the gods to bear witness. This time there were no prayers; he felt that even the devil could be an assistant if need be.

  News of the war descended on the residents of Brakna like a summer storm.

  But people soon adapted from the shock and disbelief, and began to pack up their belongings and leave. The brief stay of a few years was not enough for them to develop feelings of nostalgia or attachment. In just three days, the once thriving scene had vanished from the city.

  Mr. Boruqan stood at the corner of the street, staring blankly as people left with their luggage, this was the last batch of residents leaving. The doors of the taverns were wide open, only empty tables and chairs, furniture and trash were left inside, the windows of the rooms upstairs were blown by the wind, occasionally making a crashing sound.

  The vanguard has arrived, the gleam of swords, spears and armor is everywhere, and the fatigue of a forced march cannot conceal the ferocity of this cavalry.

  "Is it going to be a fight?" A man in a long gown came out from the corner of several houses and walked to Lord Borukhin's side, looking at the scene on the street together. "I just arrived here a few days ago, how come I see a fight already."

  "Yes. It's going to be a fight." Lord Borukan replied casually.

  "There are so many people." The man looked at the soldiers around him. Porukan's voice was barely audible, but compared to this person's voice, he could be a great singer. "If it really comes down to it, even this town will be flattened."

  "Yes." Lord Boralin looked at the man. He was probably a vagrant with some kind of disease, wrapped in a long cloak that only exposed the upper half of his face.

  "I don't know when this war will start or when these people will set off." The man gazed blankly at the soldiers passing by on the street.

  "Probably tomorrow." Just resting for one night, General will probably let these people go ahead and scout out the situation. Lord Borukan thought.

  The vagrant let out a sigh. "It's so soon, I'd better hurry up and leave."

  "Yes, let's go." Lord Borukane turned his head and left. He still had to go to the city hall to explain in detail to the officers about the terrain around this area and the distribution of buildings within the castle, telling them where it was suitable for storing grain, where to hide soldiers, and where to be vigilant. This was the last task he had to fulfill as a local official.

  He gazed at the empty tavern and let out a bitter smile. Every house here was personally planned by him, and he watched as each brick was laid. When he had combined the city's brothels, inns, and taverns into one plan, he had even felt a little proud of himself. As he walked, he kicked up a small stone that flew out and hit the door plank on the side of the road, producing a dull thud.