Early morning.
Blake arrived early at the courtyard where Kana and the others were resting.
"This is the Count's reply."
Kana took it but did not check immediately; instead, she looked at Blake: "Do you have something to say?"
After all, there was no need for Blake to deliver a reply.
Blake nodded, stood straight, tapped his right hand on his chest, and performed a knight's salute.
"Sorry, Your Highness, I may have to return to Lake City; the situation at the front line is somewhat tense.
I've received orders from the Count; I need to go there to fight and can no longer protect your safety."
Beside him, Alyris glanced at him, thinking: I am the Guardian Knight of His Highness.
"Is that so? Then be sure to stay safe. As for my safety, don't worry, we are still far from the front line."
Upon hearing Kana's words, Blake nodded, looked at Alyris, and finally said: "I'll leave His Highness's safety to you."
I am the Guardian Knight of His Highness! No need for your input!
Alyris shouted internally, but as she disliked arguing, her words turned into, "I will."
Damn it! Alyris, you should have strongly refuted him! She was dissatisfied with her own response.
Blake bid farewell and departed.
Only two people and one mouse remained in the courtyard.
As for the mouse, it was sitting on the stone table in the courtyard, silently eating.
"Are you guys at war?" Bobo asked.
She just heard Blake's words; it sounded like a war was underway, and moreover, the war didn't seem optimistic.
"That's right, we are being driven out of our own country with almost no hope of victory."
Upon hearing this, Bobo quickly jumped down and rushed over to ask anxiously, "Did something happen? Why hadn't I heard about it before?"
If such a major thing happened in this country, even if she was on a ship at the port, she should have heard about it.
After all, she couldn't disembark, but those sailors could.
She had been taken into the woods only for about a month.
In such a short time, did this country undergo such earth-shattering changes?
"This country gave birth to a new Race—Blood Race, an undoubtedly evil Dark Race.
Apart from my uncle—the Count's Lake City, all cities have fallen, and a large number of refugees are fleeing to the Cohen Kingdom."
Kana briefly explained.
Bobo opened her eyes wide in shock; it had only been a month, and how did such terrifying things happen all of a sudden?
She couldn't help but ask, "An evil race? And it overturned the entire country? Then why not seek the help of the Holy Light Church?
They should be quite willing to address these issues, right?"
Hearing this, Kana glanced at her, silently saying, "You should have simply understood this country, it's extremely averse to non-native organizations.
Almost no organization or force is allowed to enter this country, and this naturally includes the Holy Light Church."
Bobo then nodded, as if realizing that's how it was.
"Then can we seek help from the church in the Cohen Kingdom? In matters of combating evil, I believe they will ignore past grievances."
Although that's what one would say, realistically, there're always certain issues.
Kana went back to the room, took out a map, set it on the stone table, and explained to Bobo and Alyris.
Also to organize his own thoughts.
"See, only near the mountain range here and this gorge to the left are still under our control.
The rest has swiftly been taken over by the Blood Race."
"Is this so-called Blood Race that powerful?" Bobo was a bit puzzled, given it was such a short period.
She didn't know the Blood Race was precisely the nation's nobles.
Kana didn't explain and continued.
"The area bordering Cohen Kingdom and Safro Kingdom actually only has this gorge to the west, where there's a fortress for defense.
The rest of this vast region, including the area near the mountains, Cohen Kingdom hasn't effectively developed it, and it's still mostly wild.
Only scattered residents live here, and more are wild animals."
Listening to Kana's account, someone like Bobo who understood the outside world roughly got the point.
Most of the world was in this kind of situation.
"So, the church's influence in Cohen Kingdom is mostly distributed in their country's west?
And the crisis exploded too quickly, by the time these refugees get there, by the time the church hears the news, it might be more than half a month, even a month later.
The church still needs to gather manpower to send messages; when the main force comes for support, it'll be at least two months after the crisis broke out."
Based on the map and Kana's info, knowledgeable about the church, Bobo gave a reasonable prediction.
Kana nodded: "That's right, and now do you know how long it's been since the crisis broke out?
About two weeks, but you have seen it; after two weeks the problem is more exaggerated than we imagined.
After another half month, I think we'll either die here, or we'll have to escape this country.
Most refugees might only now be passing through the gorge fortress to enter Cohen Kingdom."
After hearing Kana's account, Bobo was even more puzzled.
She looked at Kana in confusion and then glanced around.
"And what about this town? Why is it still so peaceful?
They should be urgently fleeing now, otherwise, they won't get away when the time comes."
That's how it should be, but unfortunately, Bobo was in the perspective of an observer, guided specifically by Kana.
Those involved, due to all sorts of issues, couldn't make such precise judgments.
For instance, the Count had attempted to overestimate the Blood Race's prowess, given he himself was a royal member.
But he still underestimated it.
Moreover, since learning of this, the Count had been preparing in his territory for this moment.
He didn't want to be simply and easily chased out; he wanted to hold onto a region.
After all that preparation over the years, and yet it barely lasted a month when the real battle began, it was inconceivable to him now.
Thinking of this, Kana opened the envelope in hand, reading the information inside.
After reading the letter's info, Kana couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Although it didn't provide the manpower and authority he requested, it at least met Kana's most basic expectations.
The letter stated.
Permitting Kana to lead and recruit a squad of 10 soldiers, with their pay and logistics supplied by the town.
Permitting Kana to recruit a certain number of villagers and craftsmen for boat and raft construction.
But the recruited personnel can't exceed 30.
Pay and supplies to be similarly provided by the town.
Though far from the requirements Kana specified in the letter, it was better than nothing, and for Kana's plans, it was sufficient.
No surprise, Jonel should already be prepared.
"Let's go to the military camp."
Kana led Alyris and Bobo.
Jonel indeed had been waiting here for quite some time, having received clear orders.
"The soldiers who acted with us last time, I want them. Plus, one George, you don't mind, do you?"
Upon Kana's words, Jonel nodded. Adding just one Hunter wouldn't cause him to object over such a trivial matter.
"As for manpower for work, call over those two shipwrights first."