A solitary mansion, a withered garden. Emerson's residence is located in the northeast of Silver Ring City, nestled in a secluded grove.

The count led everyone into his home. The huge front hall was empty and deserted, and even the sound of footsteps was amplified to the point of being noisy due to the echo.

"Where are your family members?" Brunhilde looked the count over and asked.

“They’re gone.” Emerson looked at the empty room and said calmly, “I let them go.”

An elderly butler, nearing seventy, walked towards the crowd from one end of the hall. He walked with a trembling gait, but his manners were impeccable.

Emerson rubbed his forehead: "Old Kemp, how could I forget about you? Gentlemen, this old man is my family's steward, and he's older than my father. When I asked my family to leave Silver Ring City, he was the only one who insisted on staying."

Old Camp bowed slightly and gave Cumberland a respectful greeting, saying gently, "Your Excellency, it's been a long time. My young master often speaks of you."

Cumberland, who hadn't been addressed as "Baron" in a long time, paused for a moment, then smiled at the old man he had known since childhood and said, "Old Camp, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The old butler glanced at Brunhilde, who was lagging behind, turned to the side, and pointed forward: "Guests who have come from afar, please come into the living room. I have personally brewed hot tea and prepared refreshments."

Emerson waved to the old butler: "No, I'm afraid we don't have time for tea and chats. I have important matters to discuss with these people. Cumberland, our plan needs to be discussed and refined. Take what you promised, and we'll meet at our usual spot."

Cumberland nodded, took a 30-centimeter square wooden box from the servant's bag, and followed Emerson toward the study.

After taking only a few steps, the Earl turned around and saw Brunhilde following behind the two of them. He frowned and said to Cumberland, "I remember saying that it was just the two of us."

The old knight shrugged at his friend: "She's an assistant I brought in, and an indispensable part of our plan."

Emerson glanced at Brunhilde again, then continued walking without saying another word.

The three entered the study. The count pressed a hidden compartment in the bookcase, and the bookcase slowly slid open, revealing a hidden door behind it.

Compared to Brunhilde's surprised expression, Cumberland, who was used to such things, appeared much calmer.

After passing through a hidden door and walking several dozen meters along a narrow passageway that only allows one person to pass at a time, the three arrived at a secret room hidden underground in the courtyard.

Cumberland looked at the maps covering the walls, along with the numbers and dates marked on them. After carefully observing how old and yellow the paper had become, he looked at Emerson with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

The latter seemed to understand his old friend's expression, and while tidying up the notes on the table with both hands, he said with his head down, "This country has turned its back on God and abandoned morality, and has long since lost its reason for existence."

Cumberland found a chair and sat down, looking at Emerson for a long time before finally choosing to remain silent.

The Earl extended his hand to Cumberland: "Where is what I asked you to bring?"

Cumberland opened the wooden box he carried with him, and the curious Brunhilde leaned over and saw more than twenty seals lying quietly inside.

Emerson picked up a coin and examined it closely by the firelight. He exclaimed sincerely, "The imitation is superb! It's practically identical! Even details that most people wouldn't notice, like the wear and tear on the edges, are perfectly replicated! A flawless fake!"

"Fakes? His Majesty prefers to call them 'radish stamps'."

It took Emerson a while to react: "Your Majesty? Oh, you mean the King of Muxi..."

Cumberland placed the wooden box on the table and asked, "Are you sure a fake military order won't attract attention? We used this trick last time to speed up the Silver Ring Alliance's march. Will they fall for it again this time?"

Emerson nodded and said, "Because only a few people saw the fake military order last time, the Silver Ring Council regarded the explanations of these defeated soldiers as lies and defined them as attempts to evade responsibility. Therefore, the way the military uses seals has not changed. However, compared to before, there are more rules regarding the number of seals and their order."

"Sir, I've brought tea and refreshments." The old butler's voice, coming from the darkness, startled the three of them.

Brunhilde slowly drew her spear, her eyes fixed on Cumberland and Emerson.

The count shook his head at the Valkyrie and said, "Put down your weapon! Old Camp is my most reliable man; he even helped draw many of the maps on this wall."

Old Kemp watched as the woman slowly sheathed her spear, placed a plate of pastries on the coffee table, and handed her a cup of vanilla tea. Then, he went to Emerson's side and offered him another teacup: "Young master, this is your favorite honey ginger tea."

Emerson took the cup, took a sip, and nodded with satisfaction.

Brunhilde frowned as she looked at the dark green hot tea in her cup and said, "Don't you have any ale? If not, fruit wine will do."

Seeing old Camp shake his head, she put down her teacup, picked up a piece of flour pastry, and complained again, "No jerky? Fried fish?"

The old butler's second shake of the head completely dashed Brunhilde's hopes.

She popped a piece of pastry into her mouth, chewed it only twice, and her eyes slowly lit up: "Delicious! So delicious! Much better than the pastry shops in Muxi City!"

Ignoring the old man and the young man talking about desserts in the room, Emerson pointed to the defense map of Silver Ring City and said to Cumberland, "There are about 1,200 garrison troops in the city. The number of barbarian troops and Silver Ring troops is roughly equal, but there are also four barbarian tribes stationed outside the city, with about 800 people."

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