In the conference room of the Lone Rock City barracks, Jennings, his face ashen, sat in a chair, looking at the map in front of him, and calmly said, "So, as early as half a month ago, the enemy fleet had already set sail from the port and headed north."

"They bypassed the lookout range of Lone Rock City, transported a large number of troops to the Moon Creek Plain in the north, and then used a frontal attack to draw our attention."

The short, stout knight wearing the Umbrella emblem nodded in agreement: "That's right. This fleet landed north of Lone Rock City and waited for your request for help before starting to intercept the reinforcements."

Jennings rubbed his temples and said irritably, "That's why the enemy troops at the outer city gates are taking their time negotiating with us. Their goal is to besiege Lone Rock City and then defeat the reinforcements one by one, so they are not in a hurry to attack the city."

The knight nodded again and said, "That's true."

Jennings looked at him and asked, "Excuse me, regarding your identity, could you please...?"

The knight cleared his throat and bowed to Jennings: "The Knights of Twilight, Sir Horn, salutes you."

Jennings glanced at Randall in the corner and said, "I heard that you and your men were originally guards escorting the Goldfinch Theatre Company?"

Horn smiled wryly and said, "Yes, we had already escorted the Golden Lark Troupe to near the border, but then I heard gunfire. In desperation, I had to split my men into two teams: one to continue escorting the troupe back to Twilight City, and the other to rush to the battlefield and rescue the messenger... But ultimately, it was too late..."

Jennings forced a smile: "Sir Sir Horn, please don't blame yourself. On behalf of everyone in Lone Rock, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you. Without your help, I would never have dreamed that the enemy had already circled around to the rear of the kingdom."

Horn and Jennings talked for a while longer before Horn made an excuse to leave the room first.

Randall watched Horn's retreating figure, bowed, and followed him out, leaving Jennings alone, staring helplessly at the door.

“Knight Commander Horn, may I speak to you in private?” Randall followed the short, stout knight commander, tilting his head to signal him to follow.

The two arrived at a secluded spot, and Randall asked, "Approximately how many Imperial troops landed from the north?"

Horn stroked his chin and thought for a moment before replying, "I don't know the exact number, but it should be no less than five thousand, and there are quite a few cavalry."

"So, it seems the reinforcements from Lonely Rock City are most likely..."

Horn sighed: "I'm afraid they'll never come... The Southern heretics have used this tactic of besieging a point and attacking reinforcements more than once."

Randall glanced at the Knight Commander: "Your return to Lone Rock this time is probably not as simple as just returning the messenger, is it?"

Instead of answering Randall's question, Horn asked in return, "I'm asking you, if Lone Rock falls, what impact will it have on Twilight City?"

Without hesitation, the latter replied, "If Lone Rock City falls into the hands of the Ayub Empire, it means that the enemy can directly cross the mountains and enter the flat plains. If they march quickly, they could even reach Muxi City within a week."

"Lone Rock is a fortified city, but it is also a barrier, a barrier to separate the northern and southern worlds." Horn's face darkened, and he said seriously, "The Southern Empire is now unified by Saladin, and its population, technology, territory, and military are far superior to the fragmented North. Twilight City is the only kingdom in the northern diocese with the potential to rival it, but its development and expansion still require time. Controlling Lone Rock is the greatest guarantee for Twilight City to gain time to develop."

Horn said, word by word, "The gain or loss of Lone Rock is not just about a city; it also means whether the faith in God will be plunged into eternal darkness."

Randall looked at Horn's face, the knight commander who was always playful and unpredictable, and for the first time showed a serious expression in front of him.

"So, you came here to protect this city."

Horn grinned and said, "No, I came here to protect God."

Randall shook his head slightly: "The situation in this city may be worse than you think."

Tell me about it.

"The city's garrison numbered less than a thousand. The long period of peace had left them with little combat experience, and they were as timid as sheep when it came to fighting. As for the residents, they were terrified of the empire's military might and spent their days hiding at home, only knowing how to pray to God."

Horn was slightly surprised when he heard the number of troops Randall mentioned, but he quickly regained his composure and said to him, "While we were at the border, I wrote a letter and had my men deliver it to Lord Cumberland. It won't be long before the kingdom sends an army to reinforce Lone Rock."

"How long exactly do you mean by 'not long'?"

"Ten days."

Randall shifted his gaze into the distance, his face filled with worry: "Ten days...can this city really hold out for ten days?"

Horn suddenly widened his eyes and slapped Randall on the shoulder: "Oh right! I almost forgot something very important!"

"What?"

Horn pointed behind Randall and whispered, "On the way back with the Goldfinch Troupe, one person refused to go back and insisted on coming here with us to find you..."

Randall turned around and saw the person Horn was talking about. He froze for a moment, as if his brain had lost its ability to think, and he stood there like a wooden statue.

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