Scene shifts as Shang was interrogating the landlord, whose name was Darius Greythorn. Kazuki, Arthur, and Ezabela were present too, quietly listening to the conversation.
Darius, visibly injured and exhausted, spoke through gritted teeth, "North Ryehem… they won't be attacking the border this time… instead, they're sending two dragons to assault our kingdom directly. I don't know the exact time… but it will happen."
Shang gave a calm, confident smile. "Is that so? Well then, it's fine. Isabela is still in the kingdom — she can handle a pair of dragons."
Darius looked incredulous. "Aren't you even a little concerned? What if those dragons attack the civilians before Empress Isabela becomes aware of it?"
Shang replied evenly, "The protective barrier around South Ryehem will buy enough time until Isabela gets there. There's no need to panic."
"But still," Darius argued, "we should send word — troops, or at least a messenger, to alert everyone. We can't take a risk this big."
"I understand your concern," Shang said firmly. "But we have to trust our kingdom's defensive wards and authorities. Pulling troops from the border now would only weaken our defenses here — and we need every soldier to hold the line."
Darius sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine."
As Shang, Arthur, Ezabela, and Kazuki left the medical tent, Kazuki turned to Arthur. "Brother, where did Uncle Darius go that he ended up so badly injured? And why was he even outside the South Ryehem camps in the first place?"
Arthur explained, "About a week ago, Ezabela and I left the front lines to return to the capital — we had to deliver reports to Father and take a short break. Around that time, North Ryehem sent a much larger wave of soldiers than usual. The South Ryehem troops were forced to retreat to avoid being overwhelmed. But Darius… he stayed behind, fighting them alone to hold the ground. When Father arrived at the camps, he immediately led a counter-attack and reclaimed the lost area. But by then, no one could find Darius. Ezabela returned to the front quickly too, and I stayed back in South Ryehem a little longer."
Kazuki's eyes narrowed slightly. "So he's been fighting alone in enemy territory all this time…"
Arthur nodded. "Yeah. He must've been looking for a way to get back or gather information. And now he's brought us this warning."