After that night when the first snow fell, Todd's speech set the entire town of Twilight Town on high alert in preparation for the impending battle.

A notice written in the handwriting of the chief priest was posted in the square in front of the church, and the catechumens loudly explained to the people what was about to happen.

In his proclamation, Todd first detailed the immense crisis that Twilight Town would face next spring. Then, while emphasizing that he and the Knights of Twilight would remain until the very end, he allowed the townspeople to evacuate with their belongings, and Twilight Town would arrange evacuation routes and safe havens. Finally, for those townspeople who were willing to stay and fight alongside them, the Knights would provide them with weapons and train them to join the battle as militia.

After figuring out what the notice said, and following a brief period of confusion, the residents each chose different paths.

Some of the wealthy new immigrants packed up all their valuables and fled Muxi Town in their carriages that very night.

Some of the timid residents, knowing that they could not go far in this snowy season, gathered at the church entrance, hoping that the Knights would arrange for them to evacuate to a safe place.

But many more chose to stay. These included the artisans and fishermen who were among the first to join Muxi Town, the farmers who had fled from the nobility, and the refugees of other races seeking asylum…

These residents, who swore to live and die with the town of Muxi, went to the Knights' recruitment point, took up arms, and joined the militia; the women tore down their curtains and ripped the linen from their beds to make cloth armor, which they donated to the church.

At the recruitment points, this scene can be seen every day. Elderly people with full heads of white hair and young boys who are not yet old stand in front of the recruitment officers, loudly questioning why they are not allowed to join the army.

It's now mid-December.

At noon, the sun was high in the sky, and the snow reflected a blinding white light. The streets of Muxi Town were deserted, devoid of the usual bustling crowds and noisy din. The men were on the training grounds, receiving weapons instruction and formation training from the soldiers; the women and children were at home, making arrows, herbs, bandages, and other supplies for war.

Todd was presiding over the second pre-battle assembly of the Knights of Twilight in the church chapel.

Besides Cumberland, Mary, Hudgens, Alfonso, and others who attended the last meeting, Brother Joe, who had immediately set off for the monastery after successfully developing cement, had just returned to town a few days earlier with more than thirty monks and arrived in time for this conference.

This monk, in his thirties with a receding hairline, was energetic and outspoken. Before everyone was even properly seated, he stood up and volunteered: "Grand Master, if you agree, I am willing to go to Silver Ring City and persuade the enemy to abandon their attack on us."

Todd pursed his lips and gave a wry smile. He had to explain the situation in Twilight Town to this passionate monk once again. Seeing that the other man had finally given up his idea and sat down, he nodded to Harkins.

The latter stood up, looked at the paper in his hand, and said in a deep voice, "There are currently 1,075 residents in the town, of whom 829 are willing to stay."

Upon hearing this, Todd asked again, "Aside from the elderly, women, and children, how many people can be organized into a militia?"

Huggins looked up: "290 people."

Todd frowned, gestured for Huggins to sit down, and then asked Cumberland, "How's it going in Silver Ring City?"

The old knight replied, “According to a message from an old acquaintance of mine, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the commander of the Southern Legion, Earl Emerson, was placed under house arrest last month, apparently because he refused the nobles’ demands; the bad news is that the Silver Ring Army attacking Muxi Town this time includes not only the Southern Legion and noble private soldiers, but also a group of Northern Legion troops temporarily transferred there, so the total strength may exceed 1,200 men.”

Hearing this, Alfonso asked in confusion, "The Northern Legion? How did they get involved in this battle? Isn't Silver Ring City worried that the northern barbarians will take advantage of the situation...?"

The knight stopped speaking abruptly, his eyes widening. He stood there, stunned.

Cumberland sighed: "The most likely scenario is that the Silver Ring Kingdom and the barbarians have already reached an alliance."

Alfonso roared incredulously, "Have they gone mad? Haven't they considered the consequences of this? Silver Ring City will become the common enemy of all the parish kingdoms!"

The knight Dion, dressed in a white formal suit, said, "I suspect that when the Silver Ring Kingdom decided to attack Twilight Town, it had already made up its mind to form an alliance with the northern barbarians."

Todd, standing on the pulpit, frowned and looked at Rachel.

The woman stood up and took out a palm-sized piece of cloth from her bosom: "According to the intelligence sent by Beidao, the tribe that attacked Muxi Town by sea this time is called 'Panya'. They have come out in full force, using ten warships, 200 pirates, and can carry about 300 barbarian warriors."

"Does the enemy force at sea number 500...?" Todd suddenly thought of the berserker warrior with the 'adrenal parasite' he had encountered when ambushing pirates in the past, and hurriedly asked, "Are there any rumors of incredibly strong berserkers in this pirate tribe?"

Rachel shook her head: "Grandmaster, you must be referring to the Berserkers of the North Island. These people are extremely rare. I have never heard of such people in the 'Coiltooth Tribe'."

Feeling somewhat relieved, Todd gestured for Rachel to sit down and began to calculate the relative strengths of the two sides.

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